Shows
Jean & Mike Do The New York Times CrosswordThursday, October 31, 2024 - Boooooooo (in honor of the day); Yaaaaaaaay (in honor of the crossword)This was a scary crossword, because of the theme, or, to be precise, just how difficult it was to figure out the theme (and many of the other clues besides). it was rated as a Thursday crossword, which generally means that it will be on the tough side, but when Sarah Sinclair and Paolo Pasco are the authors, that really should be uber-tough side. Uber-tough but fun, for reasons that we expand upon in today's podcast.Show note imagery: Tinker to EVERS to Chance, an awesome double-playWe love feedback! Send us a text...2024-11-0124 min
Jean & Mike Do The New York Times CrosswordSunday, July 28, 2024 - A favorite of the IOCC (International Olympic Crossword Committee)Send us a Text Message.In honor of the Paris Olympics, Paolo Pasco has put together a fabulous tribute, one that has to be seen to be believed. It was slightly more challenging than a typical Sunday crossword, but that must surely pale in insignificance compared to the challenge of constructing it! To see what we mean, check out the completed grid at xwordinfo.com, and, of course, check out our analysis of it ... right here!Show note imagery: Some SABOT shoes (aka clogs)Contact Info:We love listener mail...2024-07-2918 min
Fill Me InFill Me In #438: Once the tiger goes extinct, you’re left with Gena Rowlands.This week, reigning ACPT champion Paolo Pasco stops by for a chat, but not before Ryan and Brian learn a few new facts about defiant bagel slingers, George Lopez, and the curious lives of Captain and Tennille. Here are links to Paolo's work at the Atlantic, The New Yorker, his XWordInfo profile, his blog (which has good content, though hasn't been updated in a while), his crossword book for kids, and even though we cut most of the discussion from the podcast, he loves the movie Cats. If you get bored (how could you?!), write...2024-04-161h 33
Jean & Mike Do The New York Times CrosswordThursday, November 16, 2023 - This crossword was constructed with TLCToday's crossword, by veteran cruciverbalist Paolo Pasco, had its ups and downs, but that was by design, and the payoff - which we discuss in today's episode but don't want to spoil by revealing here - was an absolute delight. The clues were on the trickier side, as befits a Thursday - 33D, So called "African Unicorn", OKAPI, comes to mind (well, it does now ...), as does 25D, Noted feature of "The Brothers Karamazov", EPILOG, and 48D, Lake that feeds the Truckee River, TAHOE (who? what? where?). All in all a fine piece of work, clearly worthy of the P...2023-11-1718 min
Jean & Mike Do The New York Times CrosswordSunday, October 16, 2022 - The Sunday SCARIES!A deftly constructed crossword by Paolo Pasco, with a theme that has to be seen to be believed (and arguably to be able to figure out the crossword). Fortunately Jean was able to do both, and to find out exactly what that theme was, and how it helped, we cordially invite you to download, listen, and enjoy!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!2022-10-1715 min
Fill Me InFill Me In #354: People could just pin a beard straight onto my face.This week, Ryan and Brian seek value in Taylor Swift, Usain Bolt, Bojack Horseman, and the musical Wicked, and struggle pronouncing words like "restaurant" and "comfortable." All that plus a new contest crossword, which you can download at https://www.dropbox.com/s/g4pvk5sqfsl9qoh/fmi354con.puz?dl=1 Stuff to click: Lollapuzzoola! Coming to NYC or your computer on August 27 Daily Crossword Links (because it's waaay better than a repository) People we mentioned on the show who make puzzles: Lila Goldenberg, Steve Mossberg, Paolo Pasco (the latest post features Chandi Deitmer, also mentioned...2022-07-261h 43
Fill Me InBut if you went there to ski, it’s not the best.This week, Ryan and Brian feel super old, don't understand bean memes, and fail to pronounce names accurately. There's a new contest crossword (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi290con), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: Buy a set of puzzles and support the Baltimore Abortion Fund Who Am I? metapuzzles Paolo Pasco's "puzzle #89: [post title here] DO NOT PUBLISH EARLY" Vox Crossword (yes, these are good now) Et Tu, Etui? (no, w...2021-04-061h 06Fill Me InThe goal is going to be to tolerate hot sauce while solving a cryptic crossword puzzle.This week, Brian screws up his microphone input (sorry, viewers), and it almost sounds as bad as the first series of the show, ca. 2009. Also: a new grid from Sid, a new song from a-ha, and a new word for the spelling bee. There's a contest crossword from Sid Sivakumar (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi288con), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." Round Britain Q...2021-03-301h 05Fill Me InI lured you in with baseball, and then slapped you in the face with the prime minister.This week, Ryan and Brian hang out for a while with self-proclaimed computer girl and crossword maker Malaika Handa, creator of 7xwords.com. We have a contest crossword (you can download it at (https://bit.ly/fmi280con), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: Malaika Handa on Twitter (and her bot) - and of course, her 7x7 crosswords project at 7xwords.com Boswords, and the Winter Wondersolve Grids These Days, puzzles by Paolo Pasco Steve M...2021-02-021h 09
CrossnerdsGood Grid, It's Sid!Welcome to Crossbirds! We've ALIT beside Sid Sivakumar (@sid_sivakumar) who, in just the last three months, made his debut (6/22), dibut (8/8), and tribut (9/3) in the New York Times; celebrated the yearniversary of his indie crossword blog, Sid's Grids; and contributed puzzles to several charity packs and to xword tournament Lollapuzzoola. Meanwhile, I was eating a popsicle. We gab about the wonders of the crossword community, the beauty of indie publishing, and Important Topix such as: Lexical gatekeeping The dangers of specialization Constructor credit as a commodity Crosswords vs. Scrabble Sizeism (in puzzles, ahem) Cryptics in India, Britain, and...2020-09-0247 minFill Me In1-Across PercentThis week, Ryan and Brian do their best to stick to the script – it's a Thunder Round of fun puzzles, a new Contest of Now (download it here), and don't forget our Twitch stream for cryptic crosswords and P&A Magazine (Wed. and Sat. @ 7:00pm ET). Today's hot links: MSSNG VWLS puzzles Self-referential story Will Nediger's Escape the Grid Boswords Puzzles for donations to #blacklivesmatter causes: Lone Shark Games • Erik Agard • Paolo Pasco If you get bored, write something for the Fill Me In wiki. And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our Patreo...2020-06-1649 minFill Me InFill Me In #163: An Isotope of ToastThis week, Ryan and Brian grind up cereal, screw up spoilers, and put up a play. This show: Will Nediger's blog and this particular puzzle Women of Letters Paolo Pasco's blog Learned League Lollapuzzoola scores If you enjoy our show (or even if you don't), consider leaving us a 5-star review on iTunes. This will help new listeners find our show, and you'll be inducted into the Quintuple Decker Turkey Club. Drop us a note or a Tweet or a postcard or a phone call — we'd love to hear from you. Hel...2018-09-251h 44Fill Me InFill Me In #154: The Purest Form of the HuntThis week, Ryan and Brian figure out how to get Ryan a part in Into the Woods, discuss the joys of John Williams, and finally get the date right. This show: Sporcle's Puzzle Hunts Frank Longo's The World's Longest Crossword Puzzles San Francisco's Pi Bar Patrick's Puzzle Pandemonium Erik Agard's Twitch Stream Symptomatic's Cryptic Crossword Paolo Pasco's Grids These Days Upcoming tournaments: Boswords / Lollapuzzoola / Crosswords LA If you enjoy our show (or even if you don't), consider leaving us a 5-star review on iTunes. This will help new listeners find our show — and you'll be i...2018-07-241h 47