Dan

To quote my teenage nephew: “Bruh.” Lots of proper names and general miscellany but light on clever clues that made me say “Ahhhh, I get it now.” Small thing, but I got stuck on smart TVs having a DVR. Do they? Did they ever? I’ve had cable boxes with DVRs, and now it’s part of my streaming service. Smart TVs typically indicate internet access and apps, not recording technology. Maybe I’m wrong.

After going well past my average time with only a handful of squares entered, I resorted to looking at the key to help me crack this nut. It’s never a good sign when you look at the answers and go, “What? Huh? Ok, I guess.” Great job on the Saturday-est puzzle I’ve seen in quite a while. Punishing. Obscure. Demoralizing. I’m going to bed now.

TIL that some people eat corn on the cob at Thanksgiving? Or am I missing another food that leaves a cob? Still…nice solve all around. Challenging but not ridiculous. Perfect Friday puzzle.

I usually can understand the logic behind clues, but I think “Local legislation passers” resolving to STATEREPS is misleading. “Local” typically means municipal or county governments, not state governments. Ask a citizen in El Paso if they think their state legislators are “local.”

10 minutes in and nothing makes sense. So, I check the Wordplay column.

Finished this one well under average time, then had to read the column to figure out the conceit. It seems I know trivia and minutiae but need to work on my logic and problem-solving skills.

I had a couple of cocktails with friends and thought I’d try this one at 10 pm when it dropped. I chose…poorly. OASTS? SATCH (Satchmo was too long back in the day?) Lil’ belly is TUM? Had to cheat to finish this one and still earned cocktail #3. No ifs ands or I don’t cares.

Glad others enjoyed it. This was one of those puzzles where the constructor and I were miles apart. That happens. I kept plugging away well past my average Friday time, with my enjoyment level waning by the minute. When I realized 55A was UNDIERUNS, I sighed, closed the app and just went on with my day.

Step 1: Solve puzzle in a minute above average time, even though I didn’t understand the whole circle thing (solving from my iPhone). Step 2: Read the first part of the column to figure out the conceit. Step 3: Look back at the puzzle, still not figuring out the gimmick. Step 4: Go back to the column, finding the graphic that shows how it works. Step 5: Go back to the puzzle. I think I finally see it. Shrug. Step 6: Read comments to learn that there should’ve been a circle on the grid. Step 7: Resigned sigh. Even bigger shrug.

Lived in North Carolina for 50 years and didn’t know red SLAW until I got a couple of letters. And I’ve eaten in BBQ joints from Elizabeth City to Murphy… and from Travelers Rest to Mount Pleasant. It’s usually just “slaw” or “cole slaw.” Not a great sign for me and this puzzle.

It was my understanding that there would be no math…