george

Are people really complaining about clues with misdirection/word play? What the heck has happened to this comment section? The "aha" moment that comes with figuring out a tricky clue is one of the best puzzle solving moments there is.

Incredible crossword construction. Jeff Chen is a master. I had such fun filling the puzzle in that I rue how easy it was.

I understand why a lot of other commenters are complaining but this puzzle, in my opinion, was fantastic. Very hard (~15 mins over my average) but totally solvable. I haven't had an excruciatingly fun experience with a puzzle in what feels like 2 years. These hard puzzles are what the Times Saturdays should be.

"boom roasted" I assume comes from one of the best scenes from the american version of the office, in which a rapid fire list of insults are rattled off with each followed by "boom roasted" For example: jim you're 6'11" and weigh 90lbs, Gumby has a better body than you. Boom roasted. Loved the puzzle. Five stars.

I really loved this puzzle. It had great flow and fresh clues and answers. Maybe, maybe a tad easy for a Friday but I thoroughly enjoyed my short time spent with it. Congrats on your solo debut Carolyn!

All the people complaining to the times about there not being a = sign on their iPhone keyboard should probably be complaining to Apple instead. How do you all not have access to such a basic symbol. = = = = = Set from my android.

I hope this puzzle isn't an indication that Joe and the nyt are bowing to all the complaints about the last few weeks Friday and Saturday puzzles being too hard. The last few Friday/Saturday puzzles were great don't let the grousers take over.

This puzzle felt way harder while doing it than my time shows. I was expecting to finish well over my average after the first few passes but once I shook off the Saturday morning sleepies I was able to come in under by a good margin. While I must have gotten in the flow considering my time it never felt like it while filling it in.

Joel don't listen to all the haters bring back the actually hard puzzles! Doing Friday and Saturdays in a third of ones average time is incredibly unfulfilling.

Nice theme and well constructed but I didn't really have fun solving it. For me it didn't flow and that's where I get my word enjoyment.

Shonda, Sherman, and Zoolander made this a little bit too easy for me. I know that everyones knowledge base is different but being able to fill those in straight away took so of the bite out of the puzzle.

Great puzzle! Would have preferred it on a Friday as I like to struggle a bit more on Saturday mornings.