Leaving my constructor notes here, since I didn’t get them in on time to Sam, due to time differences mixed with a heavy dose of jet lag: I have been solving crossword puzzles constructed by the inimitable Andrea Carla Michaels since I was a kid (first in the TV Guide and eventually graduating to the NYT) but we did not meet until 2023 at which time we became fast friends. Collaborating with Andrea is a quick way to learn how to construct a classic Monday puzzle like this one. Hope you enjoy!
@Dena R. Verkuil née Witkes Congrats on the puzzle - I rarely enjoy a grid as much as this one 👍🏾
@Dena R. Verkuil née Witkes Thank you for posting your notes, and congratulations on your NYT debut - an enjoyable Monday indeed!
@Dena R. Verkuil née Witkes Thanks for checking and congrats on your NYT debut. It was a good one.
@Dena R. Verkuil née Witkes Congrats on the debut NYT puzzle. Hope to see more from you.
Dena, As long as you're up, ACME wrote: The editors chose to leave out last names in the clues — e.g., “Forget about it, Mr. Feliciano!” for NO WAY, JOSE — which I think makes for a harder-than-Monday solve... I was curious to know which last names had you submitted for the others (particularly FELICIA). Thanks, and thanks for the puzzle!
@Dena R. Verkuil née Witkes I appreciate all constructors. They all go to heaven.
@Dena R. Verkuil née Witkes I really enjoyed your puzzle, which for a Monday and me says a lot.
Said the watch to the clock, "You tockin' to me?" (The clock was ticked.)
@Mike You're scaring the daylights out of us. I hope your hands are clean this time and that there's nothing even remotely to be alarmed about. Maybe it's a setup?
@Mike Made him a tick-tocker he coudn't refuse, eh? ...
@Mike What's the difference between a croc analog?
My five favorite original clues from last week (in order of appearance): 1. Wear on earth? (5) 2. Shops for a short time? (3)-(2) (6) 3. Found a parking spot (3) 4. Layer of gold? (5) 5. Deer stalking aid? (5)(7) ERODE POP-UP STORES SAT GOOSE SANTA TRACKER
My favorite used-before clues from last week: [Places to bear witness?] [Unlocked?] ZOOS BALD
@Lewis For the Santa Tracker...there's a subscription app called ForeFlight--it's an aviation app. Has dozens of features that make flying easier and therefore safer. On Christmas Eve, they get very clever with the weather part of the app. They write in reindeer sightings, Santa being around north of the airfield, and the like. Jingle Bell noise abatement procedures, etc. Fun. But that's not why I came to this part. Is it just me, or the connection between the theme and the fill sorta loosely-goosey? Or did I miss something deeper?
@Joe Horton - I also think the revealer was not much of a revealer. GeezLouise, WhoaNellie, NoWayJose are very common. Felicia less so. (I like Get off the bus, Gus better).
Fun, breezy puzzle with an enjoyably innocent theme!
Very smooth start to the week. A Monday collaboration so nice that it gets a pass on OREO number 502, the eighth cookie served up in 2025. Congratulations, Dena R. Verkuil on your NYT debut, and hats off to Andrea Carla Michaels for sharing your love of crosswording with other constructors (and solvers!)
@Whoa Nellie Some of us LOVE OREOS! Although the real thing is much better than than the xword variety, of course!
@Whoa Nellie, You’re in the Crossword today!!!
@NYC Traveler NUTS! 😯 A typo, woudn't ya know it!
Fun puzzle and I have no serious complaints. But I gotta know, who actually says “holy camoly!”? I thought maybe I’d made a mondegreen with Holy Cannoli, the term I’ve used for years. So I googled camoly and got a few hits but not nearly as many as my phrasing of choice. I guess it’s working its way into usage but I’m still going to, ahem, take the cannoli.
JMF, I was shocked to discover that "holy kamoley" (yes, with a k) and HOLY [Camoly!] seem to predate "holy cannoli." I also leave the gun.
@JMF And I've always said "holy moly" which led me to making the pun joke "What is that Mexican sauce made using holy water? Holy mole?"
@JMF And I thought it was holy guacamole!
@JMF Thanks! I will put the etymology info in my “TIL” category! And I’ll share the word joke with a friend who loves mole. lol!
@JMF always "holy gamoley" for me.
Sweet whimsical theme. Quirky charming phrases tied together by an iconic movie phrase – “You talkin’ to me?” – that evokes a mood that’s fun to feel. I love the rhyme of the LOUISE and JOSE phrases. Lots of lovely serendipities in the box today: • Food references: OREO, NUTS, FED, EATEN, ASADA, FETA, FAVA. • Speaking of FAVA, row 12 – GRIN / AHH / FAVA – Reminds me of “Silence of the Lambs”. • PuzzPair© of STYE and MUST ACHE. • Sea jargon cross of AYE and AHOY. • Boggle-style TED neighboring LASSO. Congratulations, Debut Dena, and to you, Andrea, on your 88th Times puzzle. Your puzzle left me in a splendid mood -- thank you!
Good golly, Miss Molly! That was an easy one.
I knew it! Constructors are mining the Wordplay comments for content! Sunday we had SLOG and the clue, "Obscure." Monday we have SLOG again but also WHOA NELLY, the name of one of our solvers, and GEEZ LOUISE, from a comment made by @HeathieJ on the Sunday puzzle just hours ago. These constructors are certainly speedy to be able to put together a whole puzzle so quickly. But don't you think we should get a percentage of the ginormous fee from the NYT? We'll be rich!!!
@Beth in Greenbelt GEEZLOUISE was literally the clue for 93A in yesterday's puzzle. So I think the conspiracy is larger than you realize. ;-)
“You do an eclectic celebration of the dance! You do Fosse, Fosse, Fosse! You do Martha Graham, Martha Graham, Martha Graham! Or Twyla, Twyla, Twyla! Or Michael Kidd, Michael Kidd, Michael Kidd, Michael Kidd! Or Madonna, Madonna, Madonna!... but you keep it all inside.” Armand (Robin Williams), The Birdcage
@M. Biggen That's worthy of its clip. <a href="https://youtu.be/6XZLJ4o70TE?si=Uh_fbhH_QUUkM4D4" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/6XZLJ4o70TE?si=Uh_fbhH_QUUkM4D4</a>
@M. Biggen I could swear "Balanchine, Balanchine" was in that bit @Francis "Dyin' ain't much of a living, boy."
Jeepers creepers, that was quick and a lot of fun. Congratulations on your debut-for-two, and thank you for this neat puzzle.
I enjoyed the puzzle. However, I am *completely* stumped by BYEFELICIA. What's the origin, smart people?
@Francis You made me curious, so I had to look it up. Pretty interesting: <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bye,_Felicia" target="_blank">https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bye,_Felicia</a>
@Francis It even has its own Wikipedia page: <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bye,_Felicia" target="_blank">https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bye,_Felicia</a> I was not aware of where it came from when Mr sister and I started using it. It just sounded funny to us.
I'm surprised the term "Lighten Up Francis" didn't make the cut, from Stripes.
@Francis BYEFELICIA was new to me too, but my daughter in law said it’s pretty common in her age group
A very enjoyable puzzle - Monday-easy but satisfying to solve 👍🏾 I've never seen "Taxi Driver" 🤣. I know the line, however, because it featured in Poland's most liked 1990s comedy, "Killer", about a nice Polish guy who gets mistaken for a world-class assassin, and tries to imitate movie tough guys before his mirror to get into character. I got the theme. I didn't understand how the revealer was supposed to work, though. I needed the column to explain that to me 🤣 The themed entries were easy to get. I stumbled on the last one for a minute. I thought all the names would be female, and I momentarily forgot She-ra was a Princess of Power. I wanted NO WAY JANE there 😃. aH YES worked. nHERA looked very weird though, so I gave the entries there another look and suddenly remembered both the expression NO WAY JOSE and the name SHE-RA. D'oh! Btw, is it me or is the satisfied sound randomly (arbitrarily?) spelled either AHH or AaH? Speaking of SHE-RA, in a way: He-man was one of the few Western shows on Polish TV in the 1980s. I was 7-ish at the time but already spoke basic English. I was so puzzled by that name: why the double indication of masculinity? Isn't that a bit weird? The realization may have been a prelude to my deep dislike for overblown, toxic masculinity in my middle age. As for my favorite movie lines, they are all from "Seksmisja" by Juliusz Machulski and "Miś" by Stanisław Bareja (Polish comedies from the 1980s), so quoting them here would be no use.
@Andrzej I never know how to spell "ahh" or "aah". Those kinds of words are just a crapshoot, spelling-wise. I came a generation ahead of you, and I don't think we were inundated by the six-pack-abs, arms-like-thighs males like you were. I think I would have hated that. We were more inclined towards the cowboy type...the strong, silent type which Clint Eastwood, IMO, has probably had the last, unimproveable word. And I kind of rejected them, gravitating towards the funny guys, the Dick Van Dykes and the Bob Newharts, the Smothers Brothers. Entertainers. Johnny Carson (although I cringe almost every time I see a clip from his shows). This all probably helps explain why I am so out of phase with the masculinity culture we have now.
@Andrzej It's not just you. Puzzle creators choose AHH or AaH based on what they need to make the fill work. When I'm faced with the choice, I just fill in the first A and the last H, then wait for the cross to tell me what the middle letter needs to be. (That's what I did tonight).
@Andrzej Emus hunting me down tonight. I tried to respond, I'll leave out all the filthy language: My generation was modeled more on the cowboy as the ideal of masculinity. I disagree. I wanted to be Dick Van Dyke.
@Francis The Marlboro Men are all dead. Dick Van Dyke, though, is still dancing.
@Andrzej "Taxi Driver" is worth watching. It always seemed particularly ironic to me that a substantial portion of the young male fans of "Taxi Driver" just saw the protagonist as an action hero. The whole point of the movie just blew right past them. I saw a YouTube video where someone was demonstrating, step-by-step, how to rig up a real-life version of the sleeve gun.
@Andrzej You come across as very well read and with a great command for the American English language, to which I applaud, If you don't mind my asking, why your hatred for brand names? Do you practice patent and trademark law? Personally, I have my own disdain towards big retail, big pharma, large conglomerates and venture capitalist firms, but I digress. Help a brother out?
@Andrzej Brands are artificial constructs that mean nothing by themselves. They are used to exploit people, making them make irrational decisions. I once had an Audi. Some of its parts were exactly the same as in the much more plebeian VW. They were made in the same factory. They were just branded with a different logo. The "Audi" part cost 3 times as much as the - exactly same - VW part. My students eat cheap food, because they can't afford better, yet they buy Balenciaga backpacks because they have been conditioned to perceive their self-worth via the brands of the products they are seen with. I could go on like this for days. Also, I know enough marketing people to appreciate what a load of bee ess brand building is.
@Jerry That previous reply was meant for you, not myself, obviously.
@Andrzej as an explanation of the revealer, all the theme clues are common phrases (or common-ish in the case of the last one -- new to me) that have a person's name at the end. Maybe they are all film quotes too, but the inclusion of a name (the "me") seems more relevant.
This puzzle was smart, witty and so much fun. More from these puzzle makers please!
I enjoyed this collaboration from Andrea and Dena. That’s a fact, Jack.
Well that was fun. None of the lines are in common use over here, but 61A was the only I’ve never come across at all. @Jane Wheelaghan came up with some potential British alternatives; I’ve added my imagined take on the above. In general I believe we Brits use much more colourful language for slang/insults. I blame the Vikings! Favourite line/one used most often in our family; ‘One does not simply walk into Mordor’ (/my bedroom/the kitchen/the barn/the pub etc etc). What can I say. I’ve proudly raised a family of LOTR nerds.
@Helen Wright Thanks for sharing those alternatives. Loved them.
Very enjoyable even if it took me "too" long to finish. As far as I'm concerned any Xword puzzle with NENE is my favorite. I nearly lost it when I first went to HI and saw one! Bravo!
Thinking back on my impressions of Taxi Driver, which I saw when it came out, but not since, is how perfect Robert DeNiro was, and how dirty and gritty NY was and all the characters who toiled in it, turning into animals, soulless and amoral ones, schooled in the arts of survival. Like that sordid scene when Travis Bickle takes Betsy (young Cybill Shepherd) to a movie, some weird x-rated grainy film with Wilhelm Reich's involvement -- watching it, I felt the molasses ooze of NY inching up my pantleg and into my system... well anyway, great movie, but never wanted to see it again. Much more comfortable when De Niro plays a CAPO, which he's done several times, like in that long beauty from Scorcese, The Irishman (2019). And here I was thinking "Bye Felicia" was from the doo-wop era, like "Goodnight, Irene." Or Wake Up, Little Susie. Or couldn't you see Elvis singing it? B-b-b-b-b-b-b-bye-bye bye Felicia, bye bye bye bye bye bye Felicia...
@john ezra Loved your comments on "Taxi Driver". I, too, felt immersed in sewage about 15 minutes into the film, which of course was such masterful cinematography. And, DeNiro was spectacular. At certain points you could believe he was a basically good guy, with enough on the ball to get a date with Sybil Sheppard. Then at other points you can't believe how every little thing he does just oozes intimidation... I've seen it more than once, but it's not a movie I gravitate toward rewatching.
I could have had class. I could have been a contender. I could have been somebody... instead of a bum, which is what I am.
Thank you for your charming puzzle, Dena and Andrea. As for Sam's question, M Biggen already posted one of my faves, but here are two from just one guy, Pacino. Attica! Attica! -Dog Day Afternoon Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in. -Godfather 3 And one from Dustin Hoffman I'm walkin here! -Midnight Cowboy
@Vaer Sandra Bullock I'm gliding here!
@Vaer Three in a row! All worthy! It’s possible that the Dustin Hoffman line, like the revealer in today’s puzzle, occasionally issues from my own mouth. I’m aware that my versions are pathetically pale in comparison to the originals. I just can’t help myself. I’ll add my thanks to Dena and Andrea for one of the most fun Mondays in recent memory. I’m sure many are familiar with Andrea’s work and happy to welcome Dena whose notes posted in the comments below. Sam, I was hoping more commenters would run with your opening question. It sent me down a wonderful rabbit hole. (I’m still there.)
@Vaer Well, since we're doing Pacino... Say hello to my little friend! -Scarface
My name was in this glorious Monday puzzle. A delight to fill in.
🤔 "Y." "Y?" NOWAYJOSE!
@Whoa Nellie And isn’t it “Felisha”?
@Whoa Nellie, At least it wasn’t WOAH!
Frankly my Dear, I don't give a damn! Rhett Butler (Clark Gable), Gone With The Wind
@Sam, first line to hit me was "... we're not in Kansas anymore".
@Lewis My mom had Minnesota roots, and her uncle knew the Gumms; he performed as a comic Swede in vaudeville in the low ethnic humor of the time, but quit for a day job; never too successful in show biz. My mom felt some kinship with Judy Garland, they were about the same age. So lots of quotes like yours from The Wizard of Oz popped into my head. Your quote is amazingly durable, from vets in foreign wars to Harvey Milk in my old neighborhood.
I wasn't aware that Hemingway had "Papa" as a nickname, but I have heard "Papa Haydn." There's even a little children's song, to the tune of the Surprise Symphony (mvt.2). Papa Haydn's dead and gone, But his memory lingers on. When his tune was one of bliss He wrote jolly tunes like this.
@OboeSteph I knew Papa Hemingway but not Papa Haydn.
@OboeSteph It's weird...reading the lyrics, I couldn't help but set it to music.
@OboeSteph I'm with @Beth in Greenbelt on this one. I'm rather surprised how many commenters had not heard the PAPA Hemingway moniker! Picture him circa Old Man and the Sea, all round face and white beard...
I was somewhat surprised that our columnist was unaware of PAPA for both Haydn and Hemingway.
I have tried thrice now to leave a comment with favorite movie lines but the comment board keeps shutting down on me. Bye Felicia!
To our constructors: Bless you both, for this fine Monday offering. (Who an Elly? You an Elly!)
Dustin Hoffman's ad-libbed line (when he was almost hit by an IRL cab) in "Midnight Cowboy": Hey! I'm walkin' here!
@Deri IMWALKINHERE was in one puzzle from just about a year ago; a Wednesday from June 26, 2024 by Rebecca Goldstein. And... it was the 'reveal' in that puzzle, clued as: "Memorable ad-lib in "Midnight Cowboy" … or what the starred clues would say about their answers" And... those clues and answers: "*Jesus" SEAOFGALILEE "*Dorothy Gale" YELLOWBRICKROAD "*Neil Armstrong" TRANQUILITYBASE Here's that Xword Info link: <a href="https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=6/26/2024&g=52&d=A" target="_blank">https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=6/26/2024&g=52&d=A</a> ...
Delightful puzzle. Favorite movie line: "Oh my G-d, I'm surrounded by Assholes." (Spaceballs)
I actually saw the movie "Friday" when it first came out, remember the line "bye, Felisha", but never knew it was a common thing. My favorite line from that movie is still "don't nobody go in the bathroom for about 35, 45 minutes"
@Larry It became a common thing after Ice Cube created it!
“As you wish….!” A personal best this Monday morning and, like others had a few wait and see moments including pick for CAPO and yarn for WOOL. No google searches required. Thanks for a fun start to vacation week. Bye, Felicia!
What happened to "Heavens to Betsy"?
@Jane Wheelaghan Heavens to Murgatroyd!
“Never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line!”
@Xword Junkie A couple of weeks ago, my 4 yo niece told her mom, "Inconceivable!" in a completely appropriate context.
Just a perfect Monday puzzle - the theme was clever and tight. And it made me chuckle, What else could you ask for?
A little slower than the average Monday, but the clever theme was totally worth it.
A good one. Faster than my average Monday. Enjoyed it lots. Thanks!
Probably would have had my all time PB if I hadn’t started out with PICK in 1A instead of CAPO. That and all the typos.
@Jamie With the exceptions of the likes of Mark Knofler, Jeff Beck, Derek Trucks, and every classical guitar musician, the pick is not really an accessory, as such. Could it be? Sure, why not. It's practically essential for good sound and the right attack. The Capo would be, in that, it's an attachment to the neck. Personally, I don't see it as an accessory, but when I'm on-line shopping for strings, etc., capos and plectrums do come under "Accessories" on Sweetwater's website. Did I just contradict myself? Gah!
@Jerry At least it wasn't a wawa pedal.
Fun Monday puzzle and delightful constructor notes as one must expect from Andrea.
Great collection of phrases and a fun revealer! I'd never heard "holy camoly", just "holy cannoli". And always thought it was NELLie, not NELLY. But otherwise, loved this one.
@Dan I prefer "holy frijoles!" Camoly was news to me.
I was today years old when I found out that it’s not Holy Cannoli. Fun puzzle- nice work!
@Lake life In that case, what in heck is "camoly"???????
@Lake life it’s “holy whatever you want.” Holy macaroni. Holy ravioli. Holy bologna. The fun never has to end.
My only takeaway from today's puzzle is how it largely contains a myriad of essential “filler” words every beginner solver needs to know. I tip my Phrygian hat to the constructor. Icing on the cake to this whimsical theme would have been a reference to a Vintage TV spot for JGE Appliances: "What's the story, Jerry?" That's just me, though. You New Yorkers get it. “Carping” was very clever, only solvable by the crosses for me. Very nice! “Hands out hands” and sea si’… equally clever.
@Jerry A Crazy Eddie reference! Read a good book about him recently. It was all a tax and stock scam.
Instead of a real comment, I added comments on other comments... Belatedly, it came to me that our family 'borrowed' (more like 'confiscated') "We don't need no stinkin' badges!"... with the [whatever] we don't need/have forgotten/lost inserted in place of the badges. In other news, we attended the Vicksburg Symphonic Society concert yesterday; (PhysicsDaughter plays the viola.) All the standard patriotic songs (plus, of course, the national anthem) were on the program. When "God Bless America" began, the entire audience jumped to their feet...(we were belated and slightly bewildered. When did this become A Thing?) Nit to pick: the Army Artillery ballad has been conscripted, and instead of "the caissons go rolling along," it's the entire Army that goes rollin'..... Nothing is sacred anymore.
@Mean Old Lady If this comes across as preachy or haughty, I seriously mean no harm or ill intent. I would consider the standing during God Bless America a collective feeling of patriotism, with the audience rendering the respect the song deserves in their own way. A thing? It doesn't need to be mandated, just felt right, maybe. If I find myself in Vicksburg, a city of such paramount historical significance, I would do whatever the citizens see fit. During my brief stint in the Army (‘76-’98), the word “caisson” had already been substituted with “Army” for quite some time. I remember Mitch Miller and the Gang using “caisson,” and I was puzzled when we sang it without the reference to Artillery. I wonder what the Space Force song is… theme from Star Trek with words? 😎 I had to look up your stinkin’ badges comment. I remember that! Probably wasn't meant to be funny, but it made me laugh.
@Mean Old Lady They wanted a song for the Army, so they did that little switcheroo and called it a day. As I remember, there was a competition and that won. Tom Lehrer had a better entry, though.
@Mean Old Lady They ask people to rise for that song at baseball games, so maybe it's just a reflex.
TIL it's not "holy cannoli" hahaha "Bye, Felicia" got a giggle out of me
I actually found this to be a little tricky for a Monday.
@Josh Yes. It’s the first time in a while when I had to go back ands change a few entries.
@Josh tried it on a Monday and my heart stood still. Da do ron ron da do ron ron.