Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

As today's podcast makes abundantly clear, our cohosts had entirely different experiences solving today's puzzle. One of us (hint: the one with the higher voice) breezed through it, the other (hint: the one with the even higher voice when stressed) moved through it like a finalist in a human mannequin competition. While their solving experiences might have diverged, they both agreed that the crossword, Brandon Koppy's 16th, was most excellent, for reasons spelled out within. Show note imagery: CALABRIA, the toe of Italy Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

If you are allergic, you might want to brace yourself before tackling today's crossword, because it is quite flowery and fragrant, all in aid of a theme that we found ... flowery, fragrant, and fun. Deets inside, so have a listen, and let us know what you think! Show note imagery: A lovely example of a FREESIA Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

The record does not state whether Michèle Govier, the constructor of today's crossword, was hungry when she set to work, but the presence in the grid of PEAS, NILLA, OREO, BREADFRUIT, TARO, and, as a topping, OREGANO, does make us wonder. What we are not wondering about is the quality of this crossword - excellent, 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. Our justification is as close as your download button, and as a bonus you can check out Jean's epic struggle in today's Triplet Tuesday™️ segment. Show note imagery: GIBRALTAR, a British territory visible from Africa Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

Another day, another debut crossword, this one by Tom Locke -- who has published in other well-known venues before, but this is indeed his first in the NYTimes. In the best tradition of NYTimes Monday crosswords, the theme was amusing, understated (certainly compared to its flashy Thursday sibling), and not too difficult to souse out. Deets inside, so have a listen, don't forget to subscribe, and please tell others about us on social media. Show note imagery: A pair of BLUEWHALEs looking, well, a bit BLUE Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

Today's crossword, a debut in the NYTimes by Mike Ellison, was a relatively gentle Sunday crossword with a host of curious clues, such as 94A, Hats worn by Napoleon, BICORNES; 86A, Golf gimme, TAPIN (not to be confused with last Thursday's golf phrase, HOLESOUT); 80A, Settings for timers, OVENS (nice!!); and the fine 53A, Needles holder, CONIFER (awesome!!). An auspicious debut indeed, and we look forward to many more contributions from Mr. Ellison. Show note imagery: The Three Musketeers - Aramis, ATHOS, and Porthos Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

A challenging Saturday crossword by Rich Norris - his 188th!! -- with a nice mix of deceiving and educational clues. Examples of the former include 2D, "Say no more", ONIT, and the aforementioned 26D, "Do I have news for you!", EXTRAEXTRA. Latter examples include 17A, Like some coins, BIMETALLIC (huh), and 7D, NASA rocket since 1957, ATLAS. Today is Saturday, meaning it's time to announce this week's JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), and this week the winner was ... nope, no spoilers here: check out the podcast, though, all will be revealed there. Show note imagery: LOME, the capital of Togo, in the Gulf of Guinea Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

This was a delightful Friday crossword courtesy of Matthew Stock and Christina Iverson (with Joel Fagliano ably editing). It had plenty of crunch, thanks to SCADS of challenging clues -- 43A, Porto-Novo's country, BENIN; 28D, Contend, HOLD; and 28A, Second hand, HELPER (😀) -- but they were reasonably fair (for a Friday!), and both cohosts concur that this crossword was worth 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. It's Friday, time for Fun Fact Friday! We won't tell you the fact right here, other than to hint that you might want to don a monocle before listening. Show note imagery: The great game of PLINKO Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

Just when you thought that the PHENOMs who construct NYTimes Crosswords couldn't possibly come up with one more theme, they ... come up with one more theme, and this one, by Hanh Huynh, is so novel that it deserves a standing ovation. Have a listen, and you'll see why! A reminder that the entire crossword, filled out and with clues, is available at xwordinfo.com. When listening to this podcast, if you haven't filled out the grid yourself, you'll probably find the convo a lot easier to follow if you have that open first, it is one awesome resource for cruciverbalists (that's you!) everywhere. Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

Jeffrey Martinovic has graced the pages of the NYTimes before, and one glance at this crossword will tell you why he was invited back - a splendid piece of work, a brilliant (and helpful) theme, with an ARMY (60A, Host) of educational and entertaining clues. Those included 5D, Sound of hesitation ERM, and its counterpart, 68A, Sounds of hesitation, UMS; 71A, Media inits. since 1851, NYT (yay, our favorite newspaper!!); and, of course, the unforgettable 70A, Bottomless pit, ABYSM, a clue into which we hope to take a, ahem, deep dive, at a later date! Show note imagery: An example of LATERALSYMMETRY Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

Judy Bower's debut crossword has much to commend it, including 45D, Word with bad or blood, SPORT; 34D, Certain Scotsman, GAEL; 38D, "Ha, no surprise there!", IKNEWIT; and, of course, the awesome theme of which we have more to say inside, so to speak. Show note imagery: SCREENAGERS! Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

A celebration of Earth Day and a word ladder, who could ask for more? We love word ladders, so today's crossword, by David J. Kahn (his 189th!!), hit the sweet spot. There were also several Earth Day related clues not tied to the word ladder -- 18A, Sustainably produced electricity, GREENPOWER; 54A, Carbon-based energy source, FOSSILFUEL; and in between, 36A, One symptom of climate change, GLOBALWARMING. All in all, a timely and enjoyable Monday puzzler. Show note imagery: The San Gorgonio Pass wind farm Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

Michael Schlossberg has created a dazzling Sunday crossword with a doozie of a theme, definitely worth 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. We have all the deets inside, so we cordially invite you to have a listen (and don't forget to subscribe!) Show note imagery: TEDTtalks, which are apparently limited to 18 minutes in length Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

Another challenging Saturday crossword - no surprise there, Saturdays are designed to be the toughest crossword of the week - but at least the trivia / pop culture references were mercifully few. Jean had a spot of bother in the middle of the crossword, while Apple aficionado Mike thrashed about trying to recollect 48A, Popular video editing software, IMOVIE. Deets inside, as usual, as well as the big reveal, this week's JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award) winner. Show note imagery: An APPLETINI Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

An entertaining and educational Friday crossword by Kate Hawkins - just the way we like 'em! Jean knew pretty much every answer in the grid, although it took some time to connect each word/phrase to its clue! Mike, meanwhile, knew ... PHASERS and EDEN, although many of the rest of the answers looked vaguely familiar. Besides our analysis of the crossword proper, it's Fun Fact Friday, so check out that segment (including the US Fish & Wild Service web site mentioned there). Show note imagery: The Alhambra PALACE, in Spain Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

Today's crossword did not have the rebuses (rebusae?) that one of us (cough, Mike, cough) forecast yesterday, but it made up for that omission with a terrific, and terrifically taxing, theme, and an accompanying throng of challenging clues. We're still gasping, in awe and exhaustion, from having gotten this puzzle solved. For all the deets, have a listen, and then let us know what you think - crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Show note imagery: Check out those pink PLUMES Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

Another fabulous midweek NYTimes crossword, thanks to a glorious theme that is about as NYTimes-ish as they come. We will leave you in suspense as to what that theme might be, or ... you could just download today's episode where all will become clear, in particular why this crossword rates a full and enthusiastic 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. Show note imagery: A real escape pod (from a B-58 Hustler) Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

A splendid Tuesday crossword by Adam Vincent (edited most ably by Joel Fagliano), with quite a few lively clues to keep the solver interested. We are referring to (beyond those mentioned in the podcast proper) to 51A, San Fran athlete, NINER; 65A, Deserving of a fire emoji, as a party, LIT (say what? 😀); and 36D, Quartet + Quintet, NONET (awesome!). In addition to our deep dive into the grid, it's also Triplet Tuesday, and Jean's in the hotseat! To find out how she fared, subscribe / download / listen up / enjoy! Show note imagery: Dimension X, a marvelous old time radio show Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

We are philosophical about today's crossword (a debut by Amanda Winter), mainly because today's crossword -- particularly the theme -- contained a large dollop of philosophy. We will leave you in mild suspense as to the exact nature of that philosophy, but you may assuage that suspense by checking out today's episode! Show note imagery: Yesterday, a DERBY; today, FEDORAS; tomorrow's forecast ... TAMs! Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

A crunchier than usual Sunday crossword by John Rippe and Jeff Chen, a side-effect, perhaps, of a brilliant theme that had Jeff Chen's fingerprints all over it. There were many clever clues - 35A, Something you might break into, SONG (ha!); 9D, Game with annoying pop-ups, WHACAMOLE (raising again, that epic question, where'd the K go?); and 97A, Outstanding, OVERDUE (like Lucy v. Charlie Brown, we always fall for that clue!). But the pièce-de-résistance of the entire puzzle had to be the theme, timely, epic, and elegant. Deets await inside, so have a listen, and please tell others about us on social media! Show note imagery: Don't fret, it's just a FRETSAW Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!

A challenging debut (!) crossword by Jess Rucks. Our intrepid cohosts found said challenge in different areas of the grid, Jean in the mid east, Mike in the northwest. But, after exploring their respective mind palaces - Jean's approximately the size of Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Mike's approximately the size of a pup tent you can find for sale at the REI in Green Bay, Wisconsin - they were able to seal the deal. We have all the deets inside, as well as the big reveal - this week's JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award). So, for all that and more, please subscribe, download, listen up and ... enjoy! Show note imagery: Your basic DERBY, all felt, all the time Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!