Mimi

Not one, not two, but THREE Naticks in one puzzle. So much for the Times “strict rules” about creating. Too many names of vague “celebrities” is a cheap way to fill a puzzle, and I’m tired of it, because it makes for a frustrating solve. Also… AWOL and MIA are two completely different designations for a missing person, and to clue them as synonyms is offensive to any family with a loved one who is Missing in Action. It’s too bad, because the theme (and all the related phrases) was a good one a could have been a very satisfying and fun solve, if one didn’t have to keep going through the entire alphabet on more than one or two squares.

Complete and clever fun! Kudos to Nathan Hasegawa. Can't wait for another.

Loved, loved, LOVED it! So clever, and a fun Sunday solve! Perfect timing for this one. Thank you, Brandon, for a magnificent puzzle.

I loved this puzzle. At first I was completely frustrated and stymied. Then I saw the letter in the crossing of 21D and 25A next to the solitary circle and I had my ‘aha’ moment. Then it became a fun solve. THIS is why Thursdays are my favorite solving day. Thank you, Kareem Ayas. Don’t listen to any nay-sayers. This was very clever.

Loved the puzzle. Fun solve. Just a tiny little note to @DebAmlen ... in your commentary, you mention the answer to 13D as "PLAYDOUGH", when, in fact, the real name of it (and the correct answer to the clue) is "PLAYDOH", although in real life there is a hyphen. Thanks for all your work. Sorry to be such a pedant, but I kind of had the feeling you might want to know.

Also for solving purposes, as I was solving this on my laptop keyboard, which has a dedicated numeric pad, the "alt-key" sequence for Φ is 'alt+232' and it accepted that. Actually, it was easier for me to visualize the answers that required you to double up on the I-O combinations, like 'ding dong ditch". If you're not familiar with alt-characters, you hold down the 'alt' key while typing a 3- or 4-letter sequence and then let go of the alt key... But you must have a dedicated number pad - it will not work with the numbers across the top row of your keyboard. Super fun puzzle today! Thank you Dylan Schiff!

Add me to the list of fans who loved this puzzle! Didn’t even realize there were so many proper names (which usually irks me) because of all the delicious crossings. And… the absolute BEST clue I think I’ve ever seen (and solved) was 27-D’s “vessel”! Being hockey fan, this was such sweet shade. lol

Great puzzle. Fun solve and lots of fun clues. Thursdays are my favorite, and I’m always confused, annoyed, challenged, pleased, and satisfied (in that order) when solving rebuses! Love it.

Cute puzzle and fun solve. Quite a range of trivia. I love that this is a Dad and daughter team... I miss my Dad so very much. We used to solve puzzles together too. My only (teensy) little complaints about this puzzle were the clue for the answer at 25A and the answer for the clue at 43A. Something in my core wouldn't let me put "LOST TO" for "Didn't beat" because if that is the answer, then the clue, I believe, should have been "Wasn't beat BY", as it specifies an opponent. And 43A, "Alas". I've heard "Oh, my" and "Ah, me", and "woe is me", but never "OH ME". Maybe I'm just being pedantic. Anyway, thanks to this team for an enjoyable Saturday solve. Loved the center stack.

Gah. 24+ nonsense, foreign, abbreviation, and proper name words in this puzzle. Although it was a quick solve with cute themers, it felt like just a lot of cheap filler today.