James B
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@Matt M. Saturday's tough unthemed puzzle by Sam Ezersky actually took me a minute longer than today's. The balance between challenging and fun is tough to nail, but I think the constructors and editors do an admirable job of it.
Very impressive and enjoyable! I skipped over all the entries around the color lines, not knowing which side of the line might contain the two-letter answers. Then I made it allll the way to the explanatory 113 Across. "Oh! The lines ARE the letters!" And in ROY G BIV order, no less. Great work. I can't imagine the dedication required to construct such a puzzle.
I had a blast with this one! Luckily I'm as much a math nerd as I am a word nerd. Thrilled to see one of my favorite actors at 54 Across. Not only a stage legend, Oscar winner, and insurance pitchman, but the portrayer of TWO comic book second bananas on film: J. Jonah Jameson and Commissioner James Gordon.
Finished, but over 20% slower than my average time. Agree with commenters' complaints about failing to cross-reference linked clues. The completed puzzle just looks bizarre due to the "clever" phrase being shoehorned in with no regard to sense or symmetry. A frustrating experience.
About 20 minutes without hints, way above my average for Saturday. I wouldn't call it fun, but certainly challenging. After a long while staring at a bunch of blank space, I managed to solve most of the center then build out to the corners. Some clues were maddening stretches (demerit, headscarfed, court order, under cuts), but I appreciated the double-meaning clues (off, cup alternative). Pretty sure I've seen IRS clued in the "dodgers" context before. And I have a distant memory of Uh-oh Oreos being a thing. "Oh, he meant London, Ontario!" That one broke my brain.
I didn't realize the potholes were all in "street" clues until I finished the puzzle and read the article. Cleverly done!
@BrianQ Agreed. Once I got that first cluster, the rest were a breeze. Momentarily tripped up by forgetting the former PAC-10 is now the PAC-12. The math wasn't mathin'. 😆
@Lpr Agreed on the awkward cluing. Also, the definition of FEMS made this cis man pretty angry on a Sunday morning.
Very fun! Finished 34% faster than my average Sunday, so I guess the cluing was relatively easy, but of course YMMV. For the key: I got _X_T from a first glance at the clues, so the rest was obvious. Guess I got lucky. Loved it. Hope we see constructors Zhang and Curry again.
Fun, and fast! Finished in less than half my average Saturday time. Great construction on the long answers, if maybe a tad too easy? But I had a blast with it.
I filled in the holes last, then saw the worm theme. Thank goodness the rest of the clues were not too obscure. More satisfying after seeing where the rest of the answers came out! I enjoy these sorts of puzzles, but I understand ymmv.
@Molly My kids are too old for me to know about those shows. Count me among the ADAM WEST wishers for 35D. But I still drive the same Sienna I used to schlep them around in when they were young.
@Sam Lyons agreed. Scanning the puzzle before entering my final letter (Model T or A?), it just looked bizarre. A creative construction, but far from elegant.
@Rod D 100% agreed. Constructive criticism on construction 👍
@Chad @Peter 🤣 well done, both of you
@Paul I presume it was the "ARI" Aster A and not the "ALAS" A. (I never heard of Sambar before today, so I needed all of the down clues.) Me, I liked that inclusion. I've seen Aster's films and I dug them. Why should Ari Gold and Ari Shapiro get all the love?
@Katie @Phil 🤣 Same. Oh, THAT burrowing rodent!
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