Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword (MP)
Explorez tous les épisodes de Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03 Feb 2022 | Wednesday, February 2, 2022 - This crossword was great, and that's a FACT | 00:12:57 | |
A terrific mid-week crossword by Meredith Colton Hazy, with a rebus that Jean actually enjoyed. How can that be? To find out, and to discover the origin story of Groundhog-Crossword Day, soon to be a motion picture by Joel and Ethan Coen, you know what to do ... download and listen up! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 04 Feb 2022 | Thursday, February 3, 2022 - I write sonnets, therefore IAMB 😀 | 00:15:31 | |
Oooh, a tough Thursday, or should we say lough lhursday? (That will make a whole lot more sense once you hear the episode). Curiously, language played a role in both of our dynamic puzzle-solving duos difficulties. Jean had a spot of bother due to her rusty Hindi skills, and Mike's non-existent Italian almost doomed him for a second time this week (see the ROME v. ROMA fiasco from Tuesday). Still, we rate this a major success, agonizing but definitely a 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 05 Feb 2022 | Friday, February 4, 2022 - A VERMONSTER of a crossword | 00:15:33 | |
Lots of interesting factoids in today's crossword - 38A, Nickname of 6'9" NFL great Ed Jones, TOOTALL; 14A, Ben & Jerry's sundae with an estimated 14,000 calories, VERMONSTER; and our favorite, 32D, "America's Missing: Broadcasting Emergency Response" vis-à-vis Amber Alert, e.g., BACKRONYM. In another news, it's Fun Fact Friday, and Jean lives up to the promise by delivering a truly fun fact. For all that and more, all you need to do is download and listen up! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 06 Feb 2022 | Saturday, February 5, 2022 - AREPAS and BIBIMBAP and BANANACREAM, a gastronomic wonderland! | 00:13:51 | |
A tough, tough Saturday crossword by Kameron Austin Collins. Saturday's are traditionally the toughest crossword of the week, and Kameron barely holds back. For example ... 28D, Majors, say, BRASS, 50A, Gets tight, TENSES, and 31D, One way to put on a coat, PAINTGUN, are just a sampling of what's in store. For the complete blow-by-blow, along with the announcement of this week's JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), hit the big ol' Subscribe (and/or Download) button and enjoy! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 07 Feb 2022 | Sunday, February 6, 2022 - It's a Stephen McCarthy Sunday puzzle: shields up! | 00:18:08 | |
For sci-fi fans, today's crossword will surely rekindle the debate - which was the better franchise, STARWARS or STARTREK. Stephen McCarthy answers it brilliantly. How did he do it? Consider these show notes a cliffhanger, and to get resolution, download and listen up to today's fine installment. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 08 Feb 2022 | Monday, February 7, 2022 - PEDRO Almodóvar, director extraordinaire! | 00:08:46 | |
An educational Monday crossword, with references to famous Spanish directors (1A, Director Almodóvar, PEDRO), the Spanish word for island, (34A, Ibiza, e.g., to a Spaniard, ISLA), and a gadget that we had no idea needed inventing, but clearly did (17A, Good accessory for the owner of a shedding dog, LINTROLLER). For all this and more we give it 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 09 Feb 2022 | Tuesday, February 8, 2022 - This crossword was PHAT! Probably too many TOTINOS 😀 | 00:14:59 | |
A NEAT Tuesday crossword by a TRIO of constructors. There was a nice intersection -- 59A, Longtime Nabisco cookie [force], NEWTON, crossing 53D, Some members of the family Salamandridae, NEWTS; and some fun facts -- which we'd tell you here, but we'd rather have you hear -- so hit the ol' Enlightenment button (aka Download) and enjoy! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 10 Feb 2022 | Wednesday, February 9, 2022 - Nothing's ever odious at the ODEUM | 00:09:35 | |
There's something slightly ... well, actually, quite fishy about today's crossword, which is a fine example of what crosswords should do -- entertain, educate, and make you want to go undersea exploring. OK, that third point might not be quite right in the general case, but it certainly does apply in today's fine oeuvre by veteran crossword constructor Grant Thackeray. For all the deets, download and listen up! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 11 Feb 2022 | Thursday, February 10, 2022 - A crossword to GUSHOVER | 00:14:44 | |
This has been a very good week for New York Times crosswords, and this great Thursday crossword by August Miller keeps the streak alive, with a very inventive theme that shows a real ... eye for detail. And once you've listened to today's podcast, you'll find that last sentence to be a real knee-slapper, trust us! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 12 Feb 2022 | Friday, February 11, 2022 - Oh, URANIA, you are so amusing! | 00:15:53 | |
An interesting Friday crossword - 6 15-letter answers, 3 at top, 3 at the bottom, a sight that can inspire a SHUDDER or two, and for good reason. But if one remembers 36D, "Just try to be calm...", BREATHE, then a WIN is possible. Did it happen hear? Or did the dynamic duo go down in metaphoric flames? To find out, all you need to do is download and listen up. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 13 Feb 2022 | Saturday, February 12, 2022 - APERY, the sincerest form of flattery? | 00:14:06 | |
While the answer HAH! wasn't actually in today's crossword, it certainly was hovering nearby, because between the curious spellings of 30A, Russian dumpling, PIROGI, and 58A, Condiment made with peanuts, SATESAUCE, the presence of 29D, Noted spelling expert, MERLIN, was apt to trigger that reaction. For all the deets, as well as the winner of today's JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award™️), just download and enjoy! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 14 Feb 2022 | Sunday, February 13, 2022 - The SHRINKING ... INDIGO?? | 00:15:23 | |
A lovely crossword from David Steinberg, and we don't use that word often or lightly: to find out why it's so appropriate here, you'll have to do what multitudes have done before you -- download and listen up. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 15 Feb 2022 | Monday, February 14, 2022 - A fine day in FRESNO (as well as anywhere else that a NYTimes Crossword is handy) | 00:06:54 | |
A robust Monday crossword, with a few clues -- 55A, Cocktail favored by Carrie Bradshaw on "Sex and the City", COSMO; Mike's favorite, 6D, Cask makers, COOPERS; and Jean's favorite, 23D, ______ walsy, (chummy), PALSY -- that were particularly SALIENT (if we may dip into Sunday's answers for a moment). We liked it, nay, this is Valentine's Day, we loved it! -- and give it a 5 squares on the JAMCR (Jean And Mike Crossword Rating) scale as a consequence. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 16 Feb 2022 | Tuesday, February 15, 2022 - MEARA, MEARA, on the wall | 00:12:53 | |
Any crossword that references Sponge Bob Square Pants is bound to be good -- and this one definitely falls in that category. It was a Tuesday, so the difficulty level was set to simmer, but there were enough crunchy clues to make it fun. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 17 Feb 2022 | Wednesday, February 16, 2022 - SCREE, SKRY, so, um ... | 00:11:46 | |
An extra crunchy Wednesday crossword, both Jean and Mike flailed about in the northeast corner waiting for their respective muses to chip in with an answer or two. Unfortunately muses are notoriously fickle, as likely to sit in their tents and sulk as join in the fray. Did they eventually wade in? Or did our dynamic duo suffer the ignominy of defeat? To find out, all you have to do is download and enjoy! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 18 Feb 2022 | Thursday, February 17, 2022 - Welcome to Season 4!!! | 00:10:17 | |
Let the trumpets sound, let the banners fly, it is time for celebration because this episode marks the start of the 4th season of Jean And Mike Do The New York Times Crossword! Thanks, loyal listeners, we are in your debt, and promise to have even *more* cutting edge analysis, maybe a new feature or two, and guarantee that we will never have any more advertisers than we have now (that would be ... approximately ... zero!) We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 19 Feb 2022 | Friday, February 18, 2022 - Care for some TEA? Or perhaps some BOXEDWINE? | 00:13:55 | |
A slightly tricky Friday crossword: Jean was, ALAS, temporarily mired in the bottom-left corner, and Mike got slightly HUFFY when he couldn't figure out the answer to 9A, Irritated, HUFFY. But both rallied, and emerged from the struggle, if not unscathed, just slightly scathed. For all the deets, or perhaps we should say, for all the TEA, download and listen up! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 20 Feb 2022 | Saturday, February 22, 2022 - A BEARHUG of a crossword | 00:13:02 | |
Although GENIUSLEVEL shows up in the crossword, by Saturday NYTimes Crossword standards this was more of an EXTREMELYBRIGHTLEVEL crossword, with some great clueing, a cool looking grid design, and a reference to Mike's favorite band. To find out who that is, and more significantly, who was the winner of this week's JAMCOTWA, you know the drill -- download and listen up! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 21 Feb 2022 | Sunday, February 20, 2022 - Ah, le crossword de New York Times, c'est manifique! | 00:09:35 | |
A bilingual crossword! OK, perhaps that's a bit of an exaggeration, but French words do pop up even more than usual in today's grid, and for a good cause. The entire grid, come to think of it, was well done, with lots of fun cluing, and it did manage to hit that sweet spot, being not too hard, nor too easy, but juuuuust right. We approve, and give it an enthusiastic cinq squares on the JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 22 Feb 2022 | Monday, February 21, 2022 - MADEA and MAJA and NAN, oh, my! | 00:08:46 | |
The reviews were mixed on this one. Jean thought it a typical Monday, but Mike encountered an ocean of natticks (ok, two, although it seemed like more) in the top-left corner. On the plus side he did set a record for longest indoor Mac Book Pro throw (25' 4"), so there is that. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 23 Feb 2022 | Tuesday, February, 22, 2022 -- A surfeit of TWOs? SHIRR thing! | 00:13:23 | |
TWO is often cited as the loneliest number, but not in this crossword, which is teeming with them. The crossword was a little crunchier than normal, with you-should-have-paid-more-attention-in-school clues like 26A, ___________ Ghiberti, sculptor of Florence's Gates of Paradise, LORENZO, and 42A, Beowulf's first combatant, GRENDEL. A nice crossword overall, we give it a 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 24 Feb 2022 | Wednesday, February 23, 2022 - I knew a Shiba INU | 00:10:22 | |
A straightforward Wednesday crossword, a very nice debut by constructor Rose Conlon. Jean had just one minor sticking point and it was Mike's best time of the week. For all the deets, all you need to do is download and enjoy! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 25 Feb 2022 | Thursday, February 24, 2022 - RAFA, King of the Grand Slam | 00:13:12 | |
Jean tore through today's crossword like nobody's business, while Mike ran into a spot of botheration in the top-left corner, having convinced himself that AABBQS was a real thing. There is a perfectly good reason for this, of course, and to find out what that was, and how he eventually unconvinced himself, may we recommend that you tap the big ol' download button and then the bigger, older play button, and enjoy. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 26 Feb 2022 | Friday, February 25, 2022 - A crossword with a certain JENESAISQUOIS | 00:17:15 | |
A fine fun-filled Friday effort by Demon Gulczynski that deftly threads that fine line between too easy and mind-bogglingly difficult. This puzzle had something for everyone: 16A, One leader of the Army of the Potomac, MEADE, for fans of American history; 53A, Dugout, e.g., CANOE, for fans of watercraft; 5D, Chief inspiration for the Mannerist style of art, MICHAELANGELO, for fans of fine art. We are fans, too, and so give it a 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 27 Feb 2022 | Saturday, February 26, 2022 - Rock the KASBAH! | 00:14:31 | |
A slightly easier-than-usual Saturday crossword -- still with plenty of bite, but both Jean and Mike concurred that they'd seen harder crosswords earlier in the week. There was some great clueing - 11D, Person you're in with, CELLMATE (and its counterpart, 35D, Was in prison, DIDTIME); 35A, End of a waiting list?, DESSERTMENU; 34D, It makes waves, SEAWATER; and much, much more. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 28 Feb 2022 | Sunday, February 27, 2022 - LEON Bridges, soul singer extraordinaire | 00:15:30 | |
A stupendous Sunday solve, with some of the most superb anagram answers in recent memory. This puzzle definitely pegged the JAMCR-meter, and to find out precisely why, merely download and listen up. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 01 Mar 2022 | Monday, February 28, 2022 - OKEFENOKEE, as fun to visit as it is challenging to spell! | 00:11:03 | |
Another crunchier-than-usual Monday crossword, with a few words and phrases that might send CHINCHILLAs, er, we mean chills, up one's spine -- we're looking at you, OKEFENOKEE (if that's your real name). Still, the intrepid duo persevered, and to hear about all their derring-do, do dare to download and listen up to today's podcast. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 02 Mar 2022 | Tuesday, March 1, 2022 - NEVE say NEVE | 00:11:11 | |
This crossword was clearly a celebration of MARDIGRAS and the BIGEASY, albeit with some answers that were neither particular big (e.g., 11D, St. Charles or Esplanade, AVENUE) nor easy (e.g., 37D, Cajun shellfish-over-rice dish, ETOUFFEE). Even 34A, Celebration with king cakes, MARDIGRAS, eluded Mike for a time, as MARRIAGES looked so promising ... until it didn't. In other news, it's Triplet Tuesday, and the MARDIGRAS kid is at the bat. Will he swing for the fences, or just hit himself in the kneecap? Tune in to find out! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 03 Mar 2022 | Wednesday, March 2, 2022 - Was this a great crossword? NODUH | 00:11:41 | |
A nice Wednesday puzzler by Dylan Schiff, with an amusing theme, crisp cluing, and an opportunity to use TROPE in a sentence - who could ask for more? For all the deets on what surely must be 5 squares on the JAMCR scale, may we recommend that you download, listen up, and enjoy! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 04 Mar 2022 | Thursday, March 3, 2022 - Rebus, oh, reeeebuuuuus, come out, come out, wherever you are | 00:11:37 | |
An unusual and highly entertaining Thursday crossword with a most noteworthy theme (and we're not just talking about the FRENCRNS). Incidentally, if you thought that there was a typo in that last sentence, then this would be an excellent time to download today's episode so you can be disabused of that notion! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 05 Mar 2022 | Friday, March 4, 2022 - How do you clean up a muddy document? With DOCUSOAP! | 00:13:21 | |
Opinions were divided on today's crossword. Jean, abetted by her vast Wikipedia-like knowledge of everything, breezed through it, whereas Mike, impeded by his lack of knowledge of just about everything except the phrase "I before E, except after C" -- which turned out to be of only limited assistance -- had to dig deeply to get to the finish line. Still, we both liked the crossword and give it a 5 squares on the ol' JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 06 Mar 2022 | Saturday, March 5, 2022 - Iceland, awash in ... MOSS? | 00:17:51 | |
A tough Saturday crossword. Jean got waylaid in the bottom right corner, while Mike basically did the crossword twice, replacing his instinctive and usually fabulously incorrect first guess with something that oft times tended to be somewhat closer to the correct answer. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 07 Mar 2022 | Sunday, March 6, 2022 - ATACAMA, for those who like their deserts *extra* dry | 00:22:14 | |
A very busy Sunday crossword, with a tradition-breaking grid, a whole slew of OOOOOOOOOOOOO's, and an arcade / gambling game of Japanese origin. There's definitely a lot to unpack, so grab your favorite beverage and podcast app and gather round ... we have a story to tell! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 08 Mar 2022 | Monday, March 7, 2022 - Scoping out SKOPJE | 00:08:33 | |
A middle-of-the-road Monday crossword, and as is always the case we have to ask: did Jean break the 5-minute barrier, or did her keyboard melt under the strain of her rapid typing? To find out, you'll have to do what multitudes have done before ye: download and listen up! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 09 Mar 2022 | Tuesday, March 8, 2022 - All hail GERTRUDEELION! | 00:10:59 | |
Today's crossword is a tribute to International Women's Day, with a noble salute to salutary women, in particular, those who have won the Nobel Prize. While not all of those listed may be household names, they deserve to be, for all that they have done to change the world. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 10 Mar 2022 | Wednesday, March 9, 2022 - Does this crossword make me look PHAT? | 00:13:09 | |
Perhaps not the most New York Times Crossword ever, but the theme definitely puts it in the running, as a celebration of a certain punctuation mark (that we will refrain from mentioning here to build suspense and wonder as you prepare to listen to the podcast). We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 11 Mar 2022 | Thursday, March 10, 2022 - OYEZ, OYEZ, we judge this crossword quite NOICE! | 00:13:42 | |
A solid effort by John Westwig: Jean liked it slightly more than Mike, who was disappointed in the presence of HOSER and the absence of PASTEYMAN as a DC Comics supervillain. Still, it's hard to stay mad at any crossword that manages to work SCHWA into the grid: we give it a 4.5 squares on the JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 12 Mar 2022 | Friday, March 11, 2022 - Can TABULARASA be worked into a sentence? That's a DEFINITEMAYBE | 00:12:02 | |
A Robyn Weintraub Friday crossword, it's the equivalent of comfort food for crossword aficionados: not too hard, not too easy, and always amusing. We have the deets, as well as a fabulous fun fact for Fun Fact Friday, in our hot-off-the-presses episode. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 13 Mar 2022 | Saturday, March 12, 2022 - Is this a CAESURA I see before me? Gasp! | 00:12:45 | |
A challenging Saturday crossword ... Jean had to dig deeply into her encyclopedic knowledge of, well, everything, to claw her way to victory, and Mike, well, JEEPERSCREEPERS! And to explain what that's about, as well as all the other really, really fine clues in today's crossword, all you need to do is subscribe / download / listen up. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 14 Mar 2022 | Sunday, March 13, 2022 - A Rebus-travaganza! | 00:08:13 | |
A Sunday crossword that Loki would've approved of, the grid was brimming with tricky word puzzles. Mike somehow got through it, but it was touch-and-go for the longest time, and the longest time was just how much he spent on this crossword! Fortunately, we have prepared a précis just for you (and all the crossword aficionados in your life). We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 15 Mar 2022 | Monday, March 14, 2022 - This crossword was FAB! | 00:05:59 | |
Any crossword that manages to bring the likes of STEVEURKEL, KIMMYGIBBLER, WILSONWILSON, and FREDROGERS into one grid has to be applauded, and we are happy to oblige! For all the deets, just subscribe and/or download and/and enjoy. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 16 Mar 2022 | Tuesday, March 15, 2022 - This crossword? ITS(NOT)THEPITS | 00:16:12 | |
A fun Tuesday crossword, with a witty theme. Jean tore through the crossword in 10:10, Mike, naticked by 55A, Gymnast Aly with three Olympic gold medals, RAISMAN, intersecting 52D, Christine of "The Blacklist", LAHTI, fared ... well, not well, but he's done (waaaaaaaaay) worse. For all the deets, as well as the outcome of today's Triplet Tuesday, download/subscribe/enjoy. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 17 Mar 2022 | Wednesday, March 15, 2022 - It's ducks, all the way down! | 00:10:46 | |
Today's crossword was just ducky! And not that we're trying to SHIRK our responsibility, but in order to AVOID any spoiler alerts, and DODGE controversy, we will eschew any further references to a theme that is guaranteed to quack you up! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 18 Mar 2022 | Thursday, March 17, 2022 - SANTASLAP - a comfy place or a precursor to coal in a stocking? You be the judge! | 00:09:32 | |
A highly satisfactory Thursday offering, with a brilliant theme, and the sort of terrifically crisp cluing that suggests Jeff Chen is involved. This is definitely a 5 squares on the JAMCR scale, and to find out what it takes to get into that rarefied echelon, download / subscribe / enjoy! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 19 Mar 2022 | Friday, March 18, 2022 - JOYCE Bryant, aka The Belter | 00:14:29 | |
Today's crossword was a toughie. Both Jean & Mike flailed about in the northwest corner, where some deliciously EVIL (and we say that in the best possible sense of the word, and also because EVIL happened to be one of the answers!) cluing made for a hard slog. The rest of the grid was no cakewalk either, but still, we like a challenge, and doff our hats to the constructors, and would rate this a definite 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 20 Mar 2022 | Saturday, March 19, 2022 - LONCHANEY, the "Man of 1000 Faces" (and 3 New York Times Crosswords) | 00:16:27 | |
Saturdays are generally regarded as the toughest crosswords of the week, and today's is an exemplar: but like the best of the Saturdays, it does not flood the grid with cultural references, but just uses witty cluing. Who cannot but applaud clues such as 20D, Something often seen with trunks, BARECHEST? Or 37A, Came out of the blue?, CHEEREDUP? Those are just a few of a bevy of brilliant clues and answers. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 28 Mar 2022 | Sunday, March 27, 2022 - A puzzle to prove your solving CHEOPS | 00:11:04 | |
We're back! After a week on the French Riviera (or possibly Green Bay, they are easily confused). Speaking of confused, today's crossword was a doozie, with a Pyramid, a Pharaoh, and much, much, more. We've got all the analysis you've been craving inside, so download and enjoy! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 29 Mar 2022 | Monday, March 28, 2022 - BENTOBOX - simultaneously a Japanese-style lunch box and a product-placement coup for BentoBox Restaurant, Inc. | 00:08:48 | |
A fairly straightforward Monday: Jean came tantalizingly close to breaking the 5-minute barrier, while Mike ... did not. For the deets, as in who knew what when, and who thought that CANON should be spelled with 2 N's, we cordially invite you to subscribe / download / enjoy. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 30 Mar 2022 | March 29, 2022 - That's ASADA Taco! | 00:14:43 | |
Today's crossword is right down to business, and while the more pedantic might argue that it is, technically speaking, right across to business, we not only stand by our statement but maintain that it might be the germ of a future crossword theme. In the meantime, this crossword also had a theme, which you'll surely want to make your business: so download, listen up and, as usual, enjoy! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 31 Mar 2022 | Wednesday, March 30, 2022 - Needin' the skinny on SHINNY? Start listenin' now. | 00:11:32 | |
In today's war between velar nasal and alveolar nasal, good ol' al was the victor, as many g's were sacrificed in the making of today's pun-riddled grid. Some of the clues were quite fresh: 19A, Preserve, as ashes, INURN, and 22D, Philosopher Zeno's birthplace, ELEA -- were definitely new to our dynamic duo, but those PUNS? Oh, YEAH! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 04 Apr 2022 | Sunday, April 3, 2022 - ADAMSON, Born Free! | 00:11:34 | |
We are back after a brief unexpected hiatus due to some logistical problems. And what a crossword to come back to! Jean persevered, Mike went, like 7A, "... and it flopped", PFFT, as his usually near-eidetic memory when it comes to mid-20th century naturalists failed him ... the name was ADAMSON, not ALAMSON. For all the gory details, we highly recommend you download, and listen up. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 05 Apr 2022 | Monday, April 4, 2022 - Could you FETA VELOCIRAPTOR in the ARGO? EYEROLL! | 00:07:37 | |
A straightforward Monday for those schooled in the spelling of dinosaur names; a slightly more arduous task for those who were not. Regardless, it's the journey that counts, and to hear how ours went, all you need to do is click / tap download to get the full travelog. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 06 Apr 2022 | Tuesday, April 5, 2022 - Who carries out ecotage? An ECOTEUR! | 00:11:55 | |
It is a little known fact that any crossword with HOLDMYBEER in the grid automatically earns 5 squares on the JAMCR scale, and so it is with great pride and only a tinge of wry humor that we announce that today's crossword has earned that rare honor! We have much more to say about today's crossword, to find out what that is (and to enjoy Mike's struggles during Triplet Tuesday™️), download and listen up! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 07 Apr 2022 | Wednesday, April 6, 2022 - What TRICKERY is this? COMMA over here and explain thyself! | 00:09:56 | |
A fun Wednesday crossword by Damon Gulczynski, who is undoubtedly a stickler when it comes to punctuation. To see why we make that bold assertion, and to enjoy a light hearted conversation in which we guarantee that every punctuation mark is exactly where it should be, just download and, listen up. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 08 Apr 2022 | Thursday, April 7, 2022 - YOHO, YOHO, a crossword-solver's life for me! | 00:17:00 | |
A fun Thursday crossword, because Lucy Howard and Ross Trudeau don't know how to write any other, and for that we are truly grateful. Need proof? We've got it in spades, just download and listen up for all the deets! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 09 Apr 2022 | Friday, April 8, 2022 - SPLEEN and META and PIQUE, Oh My! | 00:16:03 | |
A peg-the-difficulty-meter Friday crossword, Caitlin Reid not only pulls out all the stops, she rips them to shreds and then buries them where nobody can find them! But we went spelunking, and META with some success, so to hear what we discovered, download and enjoy! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 10 Apr 2022 | Saturday, April 9, 2022 - Que CERA, CERA | 00:19:23 | |
Usually, Jean & Mike, solving independently, have a somewhat similar experience when working on the crossword. Today was not one of those days. For all the deets, as well as to learn who won the JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), we cordially invite you to download and listen up. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 11 Apr 2022 | Sunday, April 10, 2022 - AESIR -\ ˈā-ˌzir - (n) 1.Set of Norse gods, 2. Font of future MARVEL movie plots | 00:13:00 | |
If you like anagrams, you'll love today's crossword -- an incredible feat of cruciverbal engineering that really has to be seen to be believed. If you've done the crossword, you've already seen it: if not, wander over to xwordinfo.com to see the grid in all its glory. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 12 Apr 2022 | Monday, April 11, 2022 - The best kiln ever, the OAST of the town! | 00:08:39 | |
A slightly crunchier than usual Monday puzzle, and the debut for crossword constructor Rachel Simon. Both Jean and Mike ran into a few potholes on the road to success, but managed to eke out the win -- albeit in nowhere near their stretch goal of a 5 minute crossword. Want all the deets? Of course you do, so download now and enjoy! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 13 Apr 2022 | Tuesday, April 12, 2022 - Edith PIAF, la chanteuse enchantée | 00:11:49 | |
ODDS are you'll find today's crossword a good 'un, with a LIGHT, diverting theme, but with multiple OHO moments that hopefully won't have you saying OYVEY when enlightenment does strike. For a full discussion, and to see how Jean fared on Triplet Tuesday, you know the drill! Download and listen up. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 14 Apr 2022 | Wednesday, April 13, 2022 - ROSHAMBO! | 00:05:37 | |
ROSHAMBO might sound like a cross between a religious holiday and a Sylvester Stallone film, but it is not: rather it is the name of a game that you have likely played many times in your life, but might not have ever heard of by this name. Take a guess, then take a listen, to see if you got it right. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 15 Apr 2022 | Thursday, April 14, 2022 - Today's puzzle analyzed, FROMSTEMTOSTERN | 00:14:08 | |
An appetizing Thursday puzzler by Ashish Vengsarkar and Narayan Venkatasubramanyan: the clever clues come thick and fast, the theme comes extra crunchy, all in all a delicious mid-week treat. For all the deets, and some fascinating analysis you will, we promise, not find anywhere else, download and listen up! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 16 Apr 2022 | Friday, April 15, 2022 - What do we think of our listeners? XOXOXOXOXO! | 00:12:40 | |
An eXcellent Friday crossword, with a grid that is just overflowing, almost, with X's, and also features a remarkable dearth of black squares. Jean found today's puzzle to be an entertaining solve, and Mike found that he didn't know how to spell PYRANEES, um, we mean PYRENEES (whew!). For all the deets, as well as today's Fun-Fact-Friday fact, we cordially invite you to download and listen up! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 17 Apr 2022 | Saturday, April 16, 2022 - TIOGA and TICOS and TALKIES, Oh, My! | 00:16:30 | |
A grueling Saturday crossword, the sneaky-clue meter was pegging all over the grid. Jean hit a sticky wicket in the top-left, while Mike's unfamiliarity with vodka -- he knows how to spell it, and has a vague recollection that it is odorless, but that's about it -- left him bereft in the southwest corner. There were some great clues in today's grid, though, and you can hear all about them by clicking Play (or subscribe, as you see fit) right now! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 18 Apr 2022 | Sunday, April 17, 2022 - Today's crossword got it EGGsactly right | 00:13:54 | |
A terrific Sunday crossword. Constructors love to plant little easter eggs as rewards for the keen-eyed, but today's easter eggs were especially on the nose because they were ... wait for it ... easter eggs! Rather a lot of them, in fact. Intriguing? Want to know more? The answer lies within, so download and enjoy! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 19 Apr 2022 | Monday, April 18, 2022 - Tracee Ellis Ross rides again! | 00:11:20 | |
A marvelous Monday crossword, a CHALLENGE in spots, but pleasingly LIGHT on pop culture, EYEROLL! Jean and Mike both found it took a wee bit longer than usual for a Monday, but was still eminently doable, and worthy of 5 squares on the still, remarkably, unconstrained-by-supply-chain-shortages JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 20 Apr 2022 | Tuesday, April 19, 2022 - Spare some time for a striking crossword | 00:12:01 | |
An educational Tuesday puzzle, with such enlightening clues as 46D, Only mortal Gorgon in Greek myth, MEDUSA; 67A, Disney heroine whose name means "ocean", MOANA; and the curious 51D, Attempting to, casually, TRYNA. There was also a theme, about which our head themestress ™️, aka Jean, has much to say. Of course it's Triplet Tuesday: will Mike make a fool of himself, or merely ... make a fool of himself? Download now, and all will be revealed! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 21 Apr 2022 | Wednesday, April 20, 2022 - TIMDUNCAN, NBA MVP and ideal doughnut spokesperson! | 00:16:01 | |
A slightly more intense crossword than usual, the cost, perhaps, of having to squeeze in 4 names that contribute to an awesome theme. Our themestress ™️ Jean has all the deets, so to find out what that theme was, and where all the particularly crunchy bits of this crunchy crossword lay, just download and hit play. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 22 Apr 2022 | Thursday, April 21, 2022 - FAWNs, EFTs, GARs, ERNEs and TIGREs, it's a zoo in here! | 00:12:54 | |
A very nice Thursday crossword, with a brilliant theme (well, some of the time: at others you can't see it at all). And if that last sentence didn't appear to make sense, fear not, all will be revealed when you download and listen up! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 23 Apr 2022 | Friday, April 22, 2022 - Airfare to the FAROE islands? it's fair! | 00:14:26 | |
Friday crosswords are meant to try one's souls, and by that standard today's puzzle by Daniel Sheremeta was a smashing success. Jean loped through it in decent time, whereas Mike, solving in tai-chi mode, took just a tad bit longer. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 24 Apr 2022 | Saturday, April 23, 2022 - From 1A, CODERED, to 46D, ALARM, this crossword HASITALL | 00:11:50 | |
A relatively straightforward Saturday puzzle, at least compared to the Mt. Everest level-of-difficulty of last week. It was by no means easy, but clues like 1D, They might smell fishy, CATTREATS, and 33D, It goes hand to hand, CLAP, were balanced by clues like 8D, Beat, TIRED, and 40A, Peter Pan alternative, JIF. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 25 Apr 2022 | Sunday, April 24, 2022 - Attack of the ... ANTCOW?? | 00:14:58 | |
An easy/ludicrously-difficult crossword, according to Jean/Mike. Also a controversial one, according to the massive number of comments that this generated on Word Play (the NYTimes column for discussing NYTimes Crosswords, highly recommended). We have our own take, and we'd be curious to get your take on it too: crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 26 Apr 2022 | Monday, April 23, 2022 - Lucretia MOTT, woman of distinction | 00:12:18 | |
A nice Monday crossword, the perfect palette cleanser after yesterday's epic battle (for one of us, no prize for guessing which). It was a debut for Li Ding, and hopefully we'll see more of him in the future! Today's episode also features the exciting debut of a new catchphrase -- so if you want the origin story and/or be able to tell your grandchildren you were there when the catchphrase was born -- all you need to do is download and listen up. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 27 Apr 2022 | Tuesday, April 26, 2022 - The JIG is up ... there, in the top left corner, to be precise | 00:13:44 | |
A blast-from-the-past, with a handful of rock bands from the 70s and 80s, deftly woven into the grid with great APLOMB. We liked it ... a lot, and give it 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. In other news, it's Triplet Tuesday, so to find out how Jean fared, hit download, or better yet, subscribe, and start listening ASAP! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 28 Apr 2022 | Wednesday, April 27, 2022 - Bill EVANS, Bebe REXA, ABBA, Young THUG, it's a musical cornucopia! | 00:10:44 | |
A fine Wednesday crossword by Alex Bajcz, and if you like pinball games, doubly so. There was much to like in today's grid, with fun clues like 1A, One inclined to go in and out, RAMP (nice!); 31D, Drollery, WIT (drollery, truly one of the great words of the ... 17th century?); and of course 21A, County north of the Firth of Forth, FIFE (of course it is). So hat's off to today's constructor, we give this a 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 29 Apr 2022 | Thursday, April 28, 2022 - We are totally ↓ with this crossword! | 00:12:49 | |
A terrific Thursday crossword, with a fabulous theme the likes of which has never been seen before! At least certainly not in recent memory. We don't want to spoil the surprise, so try the crossword first, and then check back for our analysis. Suffice it to say, this deserves a very enthusiastic 5 squares on the JAMCR scale We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 30 Apr 2022 | Friday, April 29, 2022 - THEREMINS & The SHIRELLES, uber-soothing! | 00:16:13 | |
Today's crossword, by first-timer Erica Hsiung Wojcik, was a real workout, with some great/humbling clues like 42D, Tonal language family, BANTU, 20A, Romeo and Juliet, e.g., TEENAGERS, and 24D, It's on the road again, USEDVEHICLES, that made you sweat, and when you figured them out (if you did), grin: in short, perfect Friday fare. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 01 May 2022 | Saturday, April 30, 2022 - Is that a BROGAN? NAW! | 00:19:14 | |
A sly Saturday stumper by veteran crossword constructor Joe DiPietro, with some really tricky corners, and, come to think of it, a grid full of cruciverbal traps. We have all the deets, as well as the winner of this week's JAMCOTWA (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award) just waiting for you, so hit download then hit play for an episode that we hope hits the spot. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 02 May 2022 | Sunday, May 1, 2022 - Will this be a great podcast? Why, it's a SHOOIN! | 00:08:36 | |
Opinions were divided on today's puzzle -- Jean found it a snap, Mike, alas, found it a much bumpier road, done in by his lack of knowledge of basketball, northern New Jersey cities, and the Salt-N-Pepa back catalog. Still, a decent crossword, we give it a 4.5 squares on the JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 03 May 2022 | Monday, May 2, 2022 - It's just a common KURTA, see. | 00:11:28 | |
Erik Agard is a legend in the crossword world, and even on a Monday, where there are arguably fewer opportunities to demonstrate one's crossword constructing chops, he manages to do so anyway. How, you ask? Well, we have a comprehensive, stem-to-stern report on today's grid, so just download, subscribe, and enjoy! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 04 May 2022 | Tuesday, May 3, 2022 - A noble crossword, with an IGNOBEL answer | 00:12:46 | |
An educational Tuesday offering by Julian Lim, including a refresher on Chinese dynasties (MING, TANG, CHIN, SUI and HAN, to name 5), the fact that DIMES (presumably American) are 1.35 mm thick, and a reminder that NORI is a type of seaweed that goes around sushi. Now you know. There were other fine bits as well, download today's 100%-ad-free-podcast for all the deets. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 05 May 2022 | Wednesday, May 4, 2022 - W.E.B. Dubois is back! | 00:09:15 | |
A gentle Wednesday crossword, with a GLEEEEEEEful theme, an AVALANCHE of fun clues, overall a fun time. Highly recommended, 5 squares on the JAMCR (Jean And Mike Crossword Rating) scale, so if you haven't solved it yet ... do that first, and then download and listen to our blow-by-blow second. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 06 May 2022 | Thursday, May 5, 2022 - 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, .... and if you know what's next, thank a MATHTEACHER | 00:11:58 | |
Another reminder that the NYTimes Crossword, at the top of its game, has no equal, and they're in fine form today -- where, to be specific, that fine form is a SPIRAL. We have all the deets on this dizzyingly impressive puzzle, so to get the 411, download, hit play, and enjoy. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 07 May 2022 | Friday, May 6, 2022 - SNOODS and SENSEIs and SEAMAPs, Oh My! | 00:19:16 | |
An easy / incredibly difficult crossword, according to Jean / Mike, the former benefitting from having memorized Wikipedia, and the latter disadvantaged by having forgotten it (well, almost all of it, the exception being WAKANDA). All in all, a GEM of a crossword, and except for (or perhaps because of??) a few DREAR moments while one of the cohosts, aka Mike, struggled to get traction, a truly delightful puzzle. We give it a glowing 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 08 May 2022 | Saturday, May 7, 2022 - BOOYAH, a crossword with MADAM C.J. WALKER | 00:15:25 | |
It's Friday all over again: Jean tore through this crossword like nobody's business, and again Mike took approximately twice the time to get to the happy music. To quote Jean, when asked, "to what do you attribute your great success", she replied "it helps if you know the answers". Words of wisdom to live by! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 09 May 2022 | Sunday, May 8, 2022 - Bravo, bravo! A fun, fun Sunday crossword! | 00:13:23 | |
A terrific Sunday crossword, with a theme that literally halved the time required to figure out the themed clues. Jean got through expeditiously, no surprise there, but Mike shockingly managed to solve it on his first go round. Today's episode has all the deets, as well as listener mail 😀, so for guaranteed enjoyment, or your money cheerfully refunded, just hit download/subscribe, play, and enjoy! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 10 May 2022 | Monday, May 9, 2022 - Bring in the OUTRO! | 00:11:07 | |
TOOBADFORYOU if you neglected to do this crossword, because it'd be sure to put you in a HAPPY mood, no JOKE! So much for the executive summary, if you want the full 411, we cordially invite you to download and listen up. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 11 May 2022 | Tuesday, May 10, 2022 - AMONRA, Sun god and bane of the SFCS (Society for Consistent Spelling) | 00:16:02 | |
A thoughtful Tuesday puzzler, not too difficult, and with some fun clues to entertain and educate. Jean momentarily forgot her blood types, and Mike momentarily forgot that EBEAMS are not a thing, but other than that our dynamic duo managed to make it through this puzzle unscathed. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 12 May 2022 | Wednesday, May 11, 2022 - The name's Shady ... Slim Shady! | 00:11:12 | |
A not-at-all shady crossword by Michael Paleos, as a quick ONCEOVER of the grid will REVeal. It did include a few TIL /R (Today I Learned/Remembered) moments (for Mike: Jean knows all) including 9D, Jazz piano style played by Fats Waller and Mary Lou Williams, STRIDE; the aforementioned 13D, Slim Shady by another name, EMINEM; and 8D, Island like Kiritimati, ATOLL. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 13 May 2022 | Thursday, May 12, 2022 - an überly good crossword! | 00:11:50 | |
Ross Trudeau is at the helm, meaning we're in for a treat, and the great man does not disappoint -- with an LOL theme that you need to see (or hear) to believe your eyes (or ears). We have the deets, so download, and prepare to be blown away! [Not literally, unless you're in a very windy area, in which case we highly recommend that you get to shelter and then download today's podcast.] We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 14 May 2022 | Friday, May 13, 2022 - TCHOTCHKE, a spelling bee contestant's worst nightmare! | 00:15:52 | |
A tough Friday crossword, with Brooke Husic and Nam Jin Yoon combining to make for a fiendishly clever puzzle, with the verbal misdirections coming fast and furious in every corner. Consider: 52A, Blue book alternative, ADULTSITE; the glorious30A, Body with a floor, SEA, and Mike's favorite, 53D, Card display?, STL. Yikes! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 15 May 2022 | Saturday, May 14, 2022 - A SCHWA? What's that? ITISWHATITIS 😀 | 00:15:01 | |
A relatively easy Saturday crossword - Jean knows from personal experience, Mike knows because Jean told him. The fun factor -- heavily weighted in the complex computations that go into calculating the JAMCR score -- was particularly high, which is how this earned a stellar 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 16 May 2022 | Sunday, May 15, 2022 - 🎵Get your kicks on ROUTESIXTYSIX 🎵 | 00:17:32 | |
A delightful Sunday puzzle by Daniel Mauer, a nostalgic trip along THEMOTHERROAD, (21A, Nickname for ROUTESIXTYSIX coined by John Steinbeck). While Mike had scarcely heard of the thing, Jean lived right *by* it, and so will be your expert tour guide in our exploration of today's theme. Subscribe, download, enjoy! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 17 May 2022 | Monday, May 16, 2022 - Smile! It's a SIMILE 😀 | 00:09:52 | |
A SIMILE-filled grid that's just right for a Monday, the best day of the week for novice crossword solvers to start honing their craft. We have all the deets inside, as well as an awesome bit of listener mail, so you know the drill: subscribe, play, and enjoy! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 18 May 2022 | Tuesday, May 17, 2022 - This crossword was ENFUEGO! | 00:13:38 | |
A spritely crossword by Richard Allen, Jean cruised through it in no-time flat, Mike was temporarily STYMIEd as he made a SUBTLE error (literally, answering 38A, So as not to stand out, as SUBTLE, rather than SUBTLY). Still, it all worked out, eventually: and to hear all the deets, as well as to see how he fared on Triplet Tuesday - the 3 most exciting minutes in podcasting - we humbly beseech thee to downloadeth and enjoyeth today's episodeth, er, we mean episode. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 19 May 2022 | Wednesday, May 18, 2022 -- YETI another cryptid clue 😀 | 00:11:33 | |
Jean was able to piece together today's puzzle with great alacrity, whereas Mike just went to pieces in the top-left corner, having jigged when he should have jagged, so to speak, before he was able to finally SEETHEBIGPICTURE. A great crossword, we give it 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 20 May 2022 | Thursday, May 19, 2022 - Extraction satisfaction! | 00:16:15 | |
A curious Thursday theme, Jean was somewhat taken aback by it, although it had absolutely no effect on her as usual blisteringly fast solve time. There's a fascinating story there, and so to be regaled with the whole epic saga, just subscribe/download/enjoy! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 21 May 2022 | Friday, May 20, 2022 - VELAZQUEZ, a painter's painter! | 00:17:59 | |
A very nicely done Friday puzzle by Hal Moore, chockfull of fascinating clues and amusing misdirections. We've got most of those covered in today's episode -- as well as a fascinating fun fact for Fun Fact Friday™️, so we cordially invite you to download, play, and get ready to be amazed. We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 22 May 2022 | Saturday, May 21, 2022 - ALLINALL, a GOODVIBE puzzle | 00:10:19 | |
A (19A, Chic) MODISH Saturday crossword - after all it did have (29D, Luxury attire for white-tie events) OPERACAPES, and the allegedly official snack of the NYTimes crossword, (15A, It's always black and white), OREOCOOKIE, yum! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||
| 23 May 2022 | Sunday, May 22, 2022 - MANOHMAN what a crossword! | 00:11:40 | |
A dazzling display of cruciverbial daring-do, today's crossword by the Steinberg family is one that will surely have you awed, amazed, astounded, and many other words that don't necessarily start with a. We have all the deets inside, so download and enjoy! We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: | |||