A few drIVE-By thoughts … I like the adjacency of STRUT and SIDLE. Good clue pairing also [Move with swagger]/[Move with stealth]. Speaking of PAIRs, others include ARIAS/OPERA, ASPS/VIPER, HER/SHE and EXECUTIVE BRANCH/EVIL. Nice to remember ABE VIGODA. No weird vibe, just a smooth solve. Congratulations on your debut, Matthew.
Further thoughts on the Ragnarok in the comments these days. I've believe the puzzles are getting easier, and have begun going *way* back, more than the couple years I've tried before. So I went back to March of 2003. No doubt the puzzles then were harder. But here's something I've brought up before, but did not emphasize. Many of the answers from 2003 simply aren't going to be fresh to the mind. For example, I got stuck and had to lookup 2 Down for Sunday, March 9, 2003. 2D was clued "Midsized Oldsmobiles". I could not solve the NE corner without looking up ALEROS. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/crosswords/game/daily/2003/03/09" target="_blank">https://www.nytimes.com/crosswords/game/daily/2003/03/09</a> First of all, Aleros were only made up until 2004, shortly after the puzzle was published. I think that *maybe* in 2003, I might have been able to come up with Alero, but to recall a relatively modest model of an Oldsmobile over two decades is a pretty big ask. So I have to say this: at least *part* of the apparent difficulty in archived puzzles *has* to be the staleness of some of the answers. We may debate how *much* a part it plays but it definitely means that two puzzles, twenty years separated, all other things being equal, will be more difficult now than 20 years ago. Even Oldsmobile doesn't really exist anymore. Also, one puzzle answer was clued [Group with the 1997 #1 hit "MMMBop"]. The answer is HANSON, but certainly that would have been easier in 2003 than in 2026.
@Francis You say that, but as somebody who almost never knows any American trivia - and thus as somebody for whom it being current or not matters not, generally - I'm finding most older puzzles immeasurably more difficult than present ones. On average, there is much more misdirection, and the clueing is much less direct.
To clarify - there is much more misdirection and less directness *in the archives*.
@Andrzej I didn't claim how important this effect is. My suspicion is that many puzzles are not affected significantly, but maybe 15-20% might have situations such as I described above in a critical place. At the very least, a single problem answer can bollix up an entire sector of a puzzle, and take a fair amount of time to sort out, if at all. Please nobody get me wrong. I'm not saying everything is copacetic as things are. The older puzzles are notably more challenging. All I'm saying is this greater challenge could have a number of factors, IMHO.
@Francis I'd say that most people who knew Hanson in 2003 would still be able to come up with the name. Those who couldn't weren't around yet, weren't paying attention then, or were too young. ALERO was so commonly used as crosswordese back in the same timeframe that older solvers should remember it, too, and what's more, it still shows up once or twice a year. Newer solvers might not know it, and younger solvers might never have heard of it. But newer or younger solvers aren't the ones complaining that the puzzles are getting too easy. And a solver of several decades are more likely to get those two answers, even now, than some of the Gen Z clues like YEET. The very first NYT puzzle, in 1942, started with the clue [Famous one-eyed general] at 1A and solved to WAVELL. Now that's outdated trivia no one's going to know.
@Francis I’ve considered that, but I find that the cultural references from the earlier puzzles are actually easier for me than more recent ones, so I don’t think that’s a significant affect at all. The biggest difference I see is the willingness to clue older clues very ambiguously which I don’t see today as much.
@Francis I actually just did the very first puzzle in the archives, a Sunday from 1993. Yes, there were cultural references I didn't get. But many of the clues for regular words were more vague and harder to guess than they would be today. I actually had to think about the clues, instead of just filling them in automatically. I made several mistakes and had to correct them. I had to remember how to spell GEWGAWS. In short, it was far more interesting and challenging than the puzzles have been lately. (It also has PIA Zadora in it, and she was in the greatest Christmas movie of all time: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.)
Good Monday VIBEs today from the constructor and the guest columnist. Thank you both.
My five favorite original clues from last week (in order of appearance): 1. Casting groups? (6) 2. Things that send people into hiding (8)(7) 3. Be a hero, say (7) 4. Drinking game? (3)(6) 5. Things that are tough on the outside and doughy on the inside? (7)(4) COVENS SURPRISE PARTIES COSPLAY PUB TRIVIA ARMORED CARS
My favorite encore clues from last week: [Brady bunch?: Abbr.] (3) [Giant Jesus] (4) TDS ALOU
I can see that if I were just starting out in solving crosswords, this puzzle would not only have been gettable, but it would have motivated me to try more. I would have been thrilled to have filled in a NYT puzzle, even if I had to look up a name or two. I love the consistency – each theme answer has two words, and the VIBE mix connects them. Also, every clue is direct. The theme got me thinking about anagrams and I wondered if any other answers in the box anagrammed to nouns. A scan revealed 18(!), including four for OPTIN (pinot, point, pinto, and piton). Yes, I am a wordnerd. I like that RAISE anagrams to ARISE, and that ATOLL backward sweetly echoes yesterday’s LOTTE. This was a sterling Monday puzzle, solid and perfectly pitched. Congratulations on your debut, Matthew. It’s always a gift to brush against excellence, and thank you!
Bela Fleck is among the performing artists who canceled their Kennedy Center appearances for political reasons. <a href="https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/5676519-bela-fleck-kennedy-center" target="_blank">https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/5676519-bela-fleck-kennedy-center</a>/
@Marcia I will never forget Bela Fleck. He was an answer in the last Tuesday puzzle I failed. If you ever want to never forget something, fall flat on your face over it, and it'll be with you until the end. I have also realized what a talent he is, as an additional side effect.
Nice Monday puzzle! Wishing all a great week!
It's hard for an experienced solver to get excited about a Monday puzzle. In general, these are intended as CARROTS to serve as INCENTIVEs for the beginner solver. And I'm all right with that. One way to pique my interest on a Monday, however, is to give me an original theme and a lovely revealer. And I'd give this one a B+. It left me with a good VIBE, ready to face the week. And for those too young to know ABE VIGODA, or too old to know PEDRO Pascal, get off your computer and go see a good movie. Or better yet, go see an OPERA, and prove Timothée Chalamet (and A.O. Scott, apparently?) wrong.
As I am currently starring in "Covid: The Relapse" and out of breath from coughing, I truly appreciated the joy of this puzzle. It had it all: aha! moments, LOL moments, discovery moments, and learning moments. Even the comments gave me a lift today. Thank you commenters. It is now time to attempt to do something that benefits society, without spreading evil sprays of germs. Stay well, friends!
The revealer for this theme, WEIRD VIBE, makes me think the constructor is a consumer of cryptic puzzles. "Weird" is one way the clues in cryptics signal that an answer can be found by unscrambling a word.
@Steve L thanks for explaining this, it’s what I came to the comments to find out
I didn't even have to think about writing ABEVIGODA because I'm old. When I looked at the four mixed-up letters, I knew all the theme answers would have those letters. So I breezed through the puzzle thinking "ho-hum, just another anagram puzzle." It was only when I got to the revealer that I saw how well this was executed, and that changed my whole take on the puzzle. Thanks, Matthew. Enjoyed the column, too.
ABE VIGODA was born as an old man, I think. When I was a kid, I watched "Barney Miller" and VIGODA's character, Lt. Fish, was always complaining about how old he was and how difficult his job was and couldn't Barney find someone younger to do his work? When he died in 2016, my first reaction was "He was still alive?" No disrespect intended. He was old in 1975, and I didn't think he could be immortal, but....you never know. Thanks to "The Godfather" -- and the NYTimes crossword -- he lives on.
@The X-Phile I agree... Loved his character/acting in "Barney Miller"....which I watched in my late 20's...
This was probably one of the easiest puzzles that I've done, although it's mostly because I'm old and I knew most of the answers. But it was a lovely trip down memory lane, and a fond memory of watching my beloved "Barney Miller". Thanks for a fun Monday puzzle!
Solid debut and engaging for a Monday, so congratulations on this fine achievement Matthew Luter!! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 Way to start off the week with good VIBEs 😎
Good job, Mr. Luter. I feel smarter already. Thank you!
My attempt to complete a no-look-up Monday failed again: I had not heard of ABE or ARGO or PEDRO and so ... VIGODA is not a name that's easy to guess. The rest was fairly straightforward for me. I wondered why FILM BUFF didn't fit - how could I forget it's a MOVIE? I got VIPER with the crossers, and I RULE and SAD. I haven't heard the expression 'bummed out'. I wish there weren't quite so many film and TV references!
@Jane Wheelaghan Not much of a MOVIE BUFF, are you? Americans do say "film" too, but when they do, they're being someone artsy and pretentious. Just like we say "autumn" from time to time. But why call it a "film" when there's likely no film involved anymore? Force of habit, I guess. There are other words commonly used in the UK that are only used in the US for comedic effect, or to affect a British vocabulary, like "knackered" or "gobsmacked," although a lot of Americans might not even be familiar with those words at all.
@Jane Wheelaghan The author of the Wordplay column used to be a film critic for the New York Times. "By A.O. Scott A.O. Scott started solving puzzles around 1980 and came to work at the Times 20 years later — first as a film critic and, since 2023, as critic at large for the Book Review."
@Jane Wheelaghan I also had not heard of ABEVIGODA, although I instantly recognized his face. PEDRO was also unfamiliar. Perhaps ARGO could have been clued as [Jason's ship in Greek mythology] for balance.
I sometimes indulge in Lewis’ “Guess the theme” challenge. Today, after the second themer: “Aha, it’s gonna be VIBE SHIFT” So close!
@Cat Lady Margaret. Strange VIBE. For me
@Cat Lady Margaret Mixed VIBE, for me.
@Cat Lady Margaret -- I got as far as ????VIBE before I uncle-d. I thought maybe it was "mixed VIBE", but no. My brain loved the work involved in trying to crack the riddle, though.
@Cat Lady Margaret I correctly guessed the theme! And my first thought was that I can't wait to tell Lewis. @Lewis I correctly guessed the theme!
If you're looking for a real challenge this morning, try today's New Yorker puzzle by Natan Last: <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/puzzles-and-games-dept/crossword/2026/03/23" target="_blank">https://www.newyorker.com/puzzles-and-games-dept/crossword/2026/03/23</a>
@Steve L I love the little caricature portraits of the constructors at the New Yorker site. It helps me see them as real human beings, while also acknowledging their right to be treated as celebrities.
Steve, That was a nice one!
@Steve L I'm still working on the Elizabeth Gorski Sunday NYT challenge from 10/18/2009 that Sam Corbin highlighted in her newsletter, which I had to have done back then, but will try this one right after I get some sleep. Thanks.
@Steve L Fun one! It didn’t ultimately take me that long on paper…but it sure *felt* like a slow, incremental solve.
Steve L, I found it hard, a lot of proper nouns I didn’t know. In the end, I mussed up one cross guess in the NE.
I love Monday crosswords. I rule.
What a hopeful cross at 40A and 41D! Cheers to a really delightful theme with, dare I say, an immaculate aura - thoroughly enjoyed this one.
I've seen the godfather and I've heard of Barney Miller, but I just tried to google "A Bevi Goda" because I had no idea.
@Dan Do an image search for Abe Vigoda. He has...had... the kind of face that you know you've seen. While you're at it, YouTube a Barney Miller segment, just for the pleasure of a good laugh at clever writing/acting in 20 minutes.
Am I the only one who confidently entered CINEPHILE for 50A on the first pass?
Today's poem made from words found in today's crossword puzzle<br> <br> a/ a soul of green <br> a soul of gold <br> the soul of nobody at all <br> the song of a lover <br> the sleep of the old <br> d/ the tiny sounds of a tiny bee <br> and by and by the centipede <br> the sounds of the forest a/ tree <br> <br>
38A: satanic is not a synonym for evil and puts satanists in a bad light
SKA, OVA, ICEE, ARIAS. Where are the oreos?
Nice way to start the week. Quick, easy puzzle.
I'm just old enough to remember "Barney Miller" but it might have been in re-runs. That was back when SOO was clued with Jack, not Philippa. Or the canal locks.
Heavens to Murgatroyd, Murgatroyd, bo-burgatroyd . . . Breezy Monday puzzle, but a thudding heavy ear-worm. Can i sing myself to sleep with that?
For all those who thought this was too easy, i have one word for you - or is it two, or even three?? ABEVIGODA This verbal kint put me right off my stride. PS A secret: puzzles make you cleverer! So if you wonder why they seem easier, it’s because you’re doing them. Happy Monday to all!
Nice Monday puzzle. Typical slow start for me, but finally catching on to the trick was the big turning point and that's always a nice touch. A couple of puzzle finds today. The first one... ... a Thursday from November 29, 2007 by Elizabeth C. Gorski. Four rebus squares in that one, every one of them in a corner of the puzzle. A couple of examples: ST(AMEN) crossing (AMEN)ITIES TUTANKH(AMEN) crossing MILITI(AMEN) And then at 1 down: (AMEN)TOTHAT ..crossing the reveal, which was... (AMEN)CORNERS Here's that link: <a href="https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=11/29/2007&g=65&d=A" target="_blank">https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=11/29/2007&g=65&d=A</a> I'll put the other puzzle in a reply. ....
@Rich in Atlanta As threatened: A Wednesday from October 31 (!), 2007 by Ken Stern. Six rebus squares in that one, but the implied rebus was different for each of the across and down answers. A couple of examples: PRE(TREAT)MENT crossing (TRICK)SOFTHETRADE RE(TREAT) crossing STPA(TRICK) And then in the very middle of the puzzle. A pair of across answers crossing a down answer. The top across answer: (TREAT)ISE The lower across answer: HAT(TRICK) So the implied down answer crossing both of the rebus squares was: (TRICK)OR(TREAT) Here's that link: <a href="https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=10/31/2007&g=24&d=D" target="_blank">https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=10/31/2007&g=24&d=D</a> ...
One more puzzle find. Very unusual. A Thursday from March 29, 2001 by William I. Johnston. Three theme answers in that one. "Half of a decoder ring" ABCDEFGHIJKLM And then at the bottom: "Other half of the decoder ring." ZYXWVUTSRQPON And then across the middle: "Secret message" LFIXLEVIRHYOLDM And that was it. Here's that link: <a href="https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=3/29/2001&g=20&d=A" target="_blank">https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=3/29/2001&g=20&d=A</a> ....
Thanks for mentioning Bela Fleck. Solving today's puzzle immediately sent me down Fleck/Wooten Video Lane for the rest of the day. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKNm05OeCgQ" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKNm05OeCgQ</a>
@Cory Here's another old-timey banjo favorite--and it's from a movie, too!! <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDlZLsJJkVA" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDlZLsJJkVA</a>
@lucky13 Really? Here's the good stuff. Yes, that Steve Martin <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrlqQ1_vZVE&list=RDrrlqQ1_vZVE&start_radio=1" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrlqQ1_vZVE&list=RDrrlqQ1_vZVE&start_radio=1</a>
Just my kind of Monday, thanks for the perfect puzzle to pair with morning coffee.
This was my fastest Monday ever by a good margin. (I’m not particularly fast, for what it’s worth.) Good fun, and nice to have a speedy solve on a Monday!
Some gremlins have been at the Spelling Bee, guys, so brace yourselves for frills and furbelows if, like me, you usually visit Yesterday's to see what words you left out (or did not know.) I solve until I surpass the Genius score and then usually move on. This morning it took me a while to find my way to Reveal the previous day's list. Other than that... Welcome to Monday! Thanks, Matthew--nice, workman-like puzzle with a familiar trick and a couple of fun PAIRs, such as 63 and 66 Across. Just for the record: there are ways to mine for gold besides PANning...
Unfortunately, I miss-typed the revealer - switching the e and I positions. Which resulted in the alternate spelling of FAIRY (FAeRY - which is itself an alternate spelling to faerie) and a legit word - FLiCK - but with no connection to a “Tiny particle”. I convinced myself that, since FAeRY was possible, then FLiCK might be some obscure definition of a tiny particle. Took an extra minute to find the error… staring at WieRDVIBE for some portion of that minute before face-palming.
Not a fan of crossing actor/movie names. First time in forever I had to look up to finish a *Monday* puzzle.
Good VIBEs to kick start the week; and with a side order (marimba) for good measure. Watching the performer with a PAIR of mallets in each hand is SPELLbinding.🎼 <a href="https://youtu.be/oFiYxK95oyQ?list=RDoFiYxK95oyQ" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/oFiYxK95oyQ?list=RDoFiYxK95oyQ</a> Thanks All, Bru
Liked this one. Was able to guess the revealer, so the theme was certainly quite solid. Nice start to the solving week.
Just in case you are one of us who have already gotten older (a little bit, anyway), here are some GOOD VIBRATIONS: <a href="https://youtu.be/apBWI6xrbLY?si=LRllyRv4gA9MiQXj" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/apBWI6xrbLY?si=LRllyRv4gA9MiQXj</a>
@ST I second that emotion!! <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sti_tuBiv5g" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sti_tuBiv5g</a>
@ST Nice. And for a slightly younger demo, I give you Funny VIBE. from Living Colour. I was slightly disappointed when that was not the revealer, but I'll take WEIRD. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag2KgtwATfI&list=RDag2KgtwATfI&start_radio=1" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag2KgtwATfI&list=RDag2KgtwATfI&start_radio=1</a>
Congratulations on a fine Monday debut, Matthew. It gave off a great VIBE to me -- well done!
Nicely done! A surprisingly fun and clever puzzle to start the week off. Looking forward to seeing more from you, Matthew!
One and done. No lookups. Whee... Talk about MOVIEBUFFS. I definitely am a movie buff. Two I saw in the last few days are: "Roofman"...sort of a comedy but sad they romanticized this "weirdo" as he is called in the movie. I really bad bad man. Based on a true story. Funny depiction of (spoiler alert) a guy living in a Toys R Us store. Next movie--"Song Sung Blue," biopic about the Lightning and Thunder Neil Diamond "Interpreter" duo. Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson do a great job...including vocals. But also very sad story. It might satisfy the Wordplay columnists search for stuff "his age." Also a true story...always a bonus. Next up--on DVD from the library: another "Blue" movie: "Blue Moon." Another biopic...based on a true story.
@lucky13 I would add Nirvana the Band the Show the movie. What a hoot.
The metaphoric phrase for INCENTIVE is actually “Carrot or a stick”. The meaning being to choose using a positive or negative motivator. Carrot on a stick is not correct.
@Mark Carrington Unfortunately, the donkey doesn't realize that he'll never get any closer to that carrot. Does anyone know people who have treated them like that? <a href="https://www.shutterstock.com/search/donkey-carrot-stick?dd_referrer=https" target="_blank">https://www.shutterstock.com/search/donkey-carrot-stick?dd_referrer=https</a>%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
@Mark Carrington Always risky saying something categorically. In my world, carrot on a stick is the expression. The carrot is tied to a string and dangled on the end of a stick. The carrot is then dangled in front of your beast of burden, giving said beast INCENTIVE to walk forward, thinking he will get to eat that carrot. Lucky13's link shows that. When speaking metaphorically, it's sometimes shortened to simply carrot. Carrot or stick is also used to illustrate a choice, smacking or giving a treat, but it all started with carrot on a stick.
@Mark Carrington What a strange “correction” to issue. Sure, carrot vs. stick is a metaphor that has to do with incentives…but so is a carrot on a stick. Here’s a Seinfeld quote that evokes the image as clued (albeit without explicitly referring to the stick): "I'm telling you right now, Elaine, that guy's gonna dangle that dress in front of you like a dirt farmer dangles a carrot in front of a mule."
The appearance of CAREBEARS in this puzzle seems to be more than a coincidence. And how about that weird vibe at the Scripps Bee, when the word is “Stupefy!” and everybody just sits there…
What? It took me about 7 minutes to finish this puzzle. I left, came back, and now the timer says 39:22. I don't really care about my time, but if I did that would be really annoying. I can't help but feel that all the "improvements" to the Games site lately have just been making things worse. I'm looking at you, obnoxious little badges that pop up at random when I do something unimpressive.
Now that's a classic NYT Monday puzzle. Thanks!
Oh... one more puzzle. A Wednesday from October 30, 1996 by A.D. Cover. First theme answer: "Start of an old song lyric." ABCDEFGHIVE Then... "Middle of the lyric" GOTAGAL And... "End of the lyric" INKALAMAZOO Here's that link: <a href="https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=10/30/1996&g=16&d=A" target="_blank">https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=10/30/1996&g=16&d=A</a> ....
@Rich in Atlanta Oh, and one more. A Tuesday from April 4, 2006 by Robert Dillman. Thought this one was quite clever. Anyway... clues and answers: "Phoenix" BYTHETIMEIGETTO "Kalamazoo" IVEGOTAGALIN "Buffalo" SHUFFLEOFFTO "New Orleans" WAYDOWNYONDERIN Don't recall another one clued like that. Here's the link: <a href="https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=4/4/2006&g=26&d=A" target="_blank">https://www.xwordinfo.com/Crossword?date=4/4/2006&g=26&d=A</a> ....