Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword
A short, fun and occasionally not unintentionally educational podcast in which two fans of the New York Times crossword describe their puzzle-solving travails.
Sunday, April 5, 2026 - Let's hear it for Baaaaaahd Advertising 😀 🐑
This was Samuel A. Donaldson's 42nd NYTimes crossword, and it is joyous, with effervescent clues and answers that richly reward the diligent solver. The themed answers were particularly fabulous, but we were also fans of 86D, Manage moguls, say, SKI; 74A, Place to store magazines, ARMORY; and 104A, Monopolist's portion, ALL (brilliant!). There were more (of course), check out today's episode for all the deets.
Show note imagery: The gorgeous Manila skyline
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Saturday, April 4, 2026 - Was this a fine Saturday crossword? YESINDEEDY!
This was Royce Ferguson's third Saturday NYTimes crossword, and it was highly enjoyable. It was not a walk in the park, but neither was it the "scale El Capitan by one's teeth" type of puzzle that it could have been — and for which we are grateful.
There were terrific clues in the grid, such as 26D, Crystal and Rock, notably, OSCARHOSTS (😀); 42A, What isn't anyone's fault?, LET (😀 😀); and a gimme for the musically inclined, 53D, F or G, but not H, NOTE (😀 😀 😀)
Show note imagery: Artemis II, a most excellent example of a SPACESHOT
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Thursday, April 2, 2026 - A crossword guaranteed to provide at least 50% of an AHA! moment 🤣
We are always partial to crosswords with KAZOO in the grid, but that is not the only reason why we are so enamored with today's puzzle. No, they had us at the theme — perfect for a Thursday — and kept us engaged with such great clues as 63A, School with a larger-than-life bronze statue of Henry VI, ETON (um, ok); 46A, One side in a "Holy War" rivalry in college football, UTES (vs??? Sure, leave us hanging 😉); and the itch inducing 65A, Irritating "cloud", GNATS (natch!).
Show note imagery: Come to think of it, that does look like a backw...
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 - Today's crossword was one fool the ages 🙄
If you forgot that today was April 1st, fear not — the NYTimes Crossword is here just in the nick of time to remind you. They do it, unsurprisingly, in a surprising and highly amusing way. We'll say no more on the subject, but rather exhort you to download today's episode, where we haul out the ol' magnifying glass to give the puzzle a careful once-over.
Show note imagery: A lovely SNÖDROTTNING pillowcase, from IKEA
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Tuesday, March 31, 2026 - All hail the SITSKI!
This was a well-crafted Tuesday crossword (and not just because of 52A, Cloudy craft beer, HAZYIPA). No, there were many other clever clues that contributed to this assessment, including 10D, "Aaron Burr, ___" ("Hamilton" number), SIR (one of our faves!); 8D, Establishment where a D&D party might refuel and pick up new leads, TAVERN (cute!); and 28D, Potatoes, in Indian cuisine, ALOO (yum!!).
Show note imagery: Taiki Morii, one of the best para alpine skiers in the world, caught mid-flight aboard his SITSKI.
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Monday, March 30, 2026 - We don't want to be too MODESTO, but we figured out MODESTO 🙄
Gary Cee's crosswords have appeared 41 times in the NYTimes since 2009, mainly on Mondays and Tuesdays — he knows the territory well. This crossword had a "predictable" Monday theme — but predictable only in the sense that we knew it would be great. We found a few other nuggets in the grid, so join us for another glorious Cruciverbal Panning Session (CPS)™️.
In addition to the crossword, we've picked out our JAMCOTWA™️ (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), and we're sure you'll agree that ... we either got it right or we got it wrong. 😀
Show note imagery: The MO...
Sunday, March 29, 2026 - When should we stop making puns about roundabouts? Oh, roundabout now 🙄
This was a crunchy Sunday crossword, with much of the crunch coming from Michael and Oliver Schlossbergs' dizzyingly brilliant theme. As fans of both crosswords and roundabouts, we were absolutely delighted by today's fare. Check out today's episode for all the deets.
Show note imagery: Gertrude EDERLE, the first woman to swim the English Channel. She did so in 14h34m, demolishing the old record of 16h33m.
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Saturday, March 28, 2026 - The Queen of Saturdays is Back!
Katie Hoody, the Queen of Saturdays, is back again with an excellent example of the genre. In today's puzzle, the clues were deliciously deceiving, but the amount of pop culture sufficiently tamped down to give pop-culture-challenged solvers like Mike a fighting chance.
Just to give you a taste of Katie's talents, take a gander at 3D, Add to a columbarium, say, INURN (ye gads!); 48D, Former M.L.B. team with the mascot Youppi!, EXPOS (yippee!); and 41A, Start of a Christmas carol in Latin, ADESTE (a reminder, in case you needed it, that this is a S...
Friday, March 27, 2026 - Siri's great, great, great, grandfather, R.U.D.I. 😀
Today's crossword, a fine effort by Zachary David Levy, will not induce neuralgia, aka BRAINFREEZE, rather just the opposite: it will cause those billions of neurons to put in time-and-a-half in order to get through this challenging but ultimately highly rewarding Friday crossword. Deets inside.
Besides the crossword, we have one of the shortest Fun Fact Friday segments on record, and an absolutely awesome piece of listener mail / feedback about yesterday's puzzle, by itself worth the listen.
Show note imagery: R.U.D.I., thinking it over ...
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Thursday, March 26, 2026 - A crossword that will make you soar, not sore 😀
Yesterday's crossword was all about sequels, and today's crossword is itself a sequel — the second for constructor Alex Murphy. That could be coincidence, or it could be another example of Will Shortz's untamable genius: we're betting on the latter.
While the foundation of today's crossword was a splendid theme, it was supported by some other great clues. We loved 3D, See 4-Down, HALF, and 4D, Double 3-Down, ONE. The debut at 47D, Some online discounts, EBATES, also tickled our fancy. Finally, we certainly chuckled at 24D, Hold it!, REIN (cute!).
Show note imagery: Billy IDOL, who...
Wednesday, March 25, 2026 - 🎵 Jeepers creepers, where'd you get those peepers, jeepers, creepers, where'd you get those I's 🎶 🙄
While Mike often has no idea what's going on with the theme, it is a blue moon day indeed when Jean also fails to get the gist of the thing. While the moon is currently set, we feel fairly confident that when it rises — at 3:35 AM, so we will not be personal witnesses to the event — it will appear blue.
But blue does not capture our mood when working on today's crossword, because even though we did not immediately suss out the theme, our failure to do so did not significantly impede our progress. Three cheers for the...
Tuesday, March 24, 2026 - A fabulous crossword, a Triplet Tuesday miracle, and much, much more!
Today's crossword, by Killian Olson, was funny, punny, and a subtle reward for those of you who paid attention in Art Appreciation 101. We loved it, and today's episode spells out why.
In honor of Tuesday, we have another Triplet Tuesday segment, and it is historic — as well as hysteric(al) — so be sure and check it out!
Show note imagery: The Buffet, by PAULCEZANNE
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Monday, March 23, 2026 - Alright, varmint, reach for the SKYE 😀 🐕
There's a lot of pressure resting on a Monday crossword's black-and-white shoulders: welcome and educate new solvers, retain and entertain experienced ones, and above all, don't be boring. Today's crossword, a debut by Matthew Luter, bears that burden well, as today's podcast makes (we hope!) abundantly clear.
Beyond the crossword, we've picked our JAMCOTWA™️ (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award) for last week. Did we pick your favorite? Let us know in the usual way.
Show note imagery: Look, up there in the sky, it's ... um, a SKYE 😀 😉
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Sunday, March 22, 2026 - A Spectacular Sunday Saga!
The very talented Alex Eaton-Salners is back with a cheery Sunday crossword engineered to lift your spirits (if they are sagging) or elevate you to almost Elysian heights (if you are already in a good mood) — and the good news, he succeeds magnificently. The proof is in the pudding ... er, podcast 😀
Shownote imagery: Nauru, purportedly the world's least visited country
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Saturday, March 21, 2026 - An Elegant Saturday Solve
Today's crossword was replete with awesome clues — pretty much all of them were fresh, imaginative, and entertaining. We covered a slew of them in today's episode, but even though we used our "end-of-class-but-we-want-to-slip-in-one-more-slide" delivery style, we didn't have time to cover them all. We regret, in particular, not being able to squeeze in 36D, Stuck under a blanket, perhaps, SNOWEDIN (bravo!); 33D, They've been played!, ROLES (brava!); and as we can definitely attest based on this week's weather in NE Wisconsin, 27A, It's not nice to walk in this, SLEET.
Besides our analysis of today's crossword, the ic...
Friday, March 20, 2026 - Rafael Musa and Rebecca Goldstein, Together Again!
This marks Rafael Musa and Rebecca Goldstein's 4th NYTimes crossword collaboration, and it is a fine piece of work. Being a Friday, it was themeless, but there were oodles of admirable clues in today's grid. We particularly enjoyed 36D, Be a hero, say, COSPLAY (bravo!); 17A, Going against the grain?, GLUTENFREE (magnifique!); and the groan-worthy 26A, Fare way to go?, BUSRIDES (oy!) — but the rest of the grid was equally eloquent. We eagerly anticipate RM and RG's next collaboration.
Show note imagery: The world's longest river, the Nile, meandering through CAIRO
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Thursday, March 19, 2026 - Welcome to EUROPA, a *very* popular tourist destination (um, in the 2080s) 🚀
Today's crossword was full of surprises. The theme? A surprise. The correct spelling of DADAIST? A surprise (at least to Mike). The fabulous 51D, Nation whose name sounds like a plea for seconds, SAMOA? Unsurprisingly, based on the lead-up to this sentence, a surprise.
The only thing that we were not surprised by, at all, is that John Kugelman has crafted another fine Thursday crossword. That was completely expected.
Show note imagery: EUROPA, the smallest of Jupiter's Galilean moons, a possible source of alien life in its vast oceans, and a very popular tourist destination, w...
Wednesday, March 18, 2026 - A cracking good Wednesday crossword
Adam Vincent has turned in an ab fab Wednesday crossword. The theme was highly amusing, and the rest of the clues equally awesome. We cover a lot of them in today's podcast, because they definitely deserve their 15 minutes.
Show note imagery: Oreos that change color when dipped in milk? Truly we live in an age of wonders 😀
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Tuesday, March 17, 2026 - Finally, MADISON gets its 15 minutes of fame!
MADISON, Wisconsin is a wonderful city that has received many accolades over the years, but one has always eluded it: recognition in the NYTimes crossword. We are pleased to report that those sorrowful years are now in the past, for in today's crossword Kiran Pandey has chosen to clue it as "Midwest capital named for a president", and in consequence Wisconsinites are dancing in the streets (but slowly: it's 17° out and dropping fast).
In other news, we have another Triplet Tuesday segment for your listening pleasure. This time Jean's the interrogator, so to see how the interrogatee f...
Monday, March 16, 2026 - ☃️ 🎵 Snowbody knows, the trouble we've seen, snownobody knows at all 🎶
This was a superb and somewhat crunchier than usual Monday crossword, a side-effect perhaps of an excellent, and about as NYTimes-ish as you can hope for, theme. For all those reasons we are delighted to give this a full five squares on the JAMCR scale.
In addition to today's crossword, we've picked out our JAMCOTWA™️ (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), so to find out who, and why, download today's episode and have a listen.
Show note imagery: Downtown ORONO, Maine
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Sunday, March 15, 2026 - Beware, ARSENE Lupin is lurking in the grid 😱🇫🇷
Today's crossword was a real deal — two themes for he price of one. But, here's the kicker (and the reason why this puzzle was worthy of the NYTimes): the two themes were slyly related in a way that we will not spoil here, but let you discover on your own, in today's episode.
Show note imagery: ARSENE Lupin, gentlemen thief and nemesis of Herlock Sholmes (really!)
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Saturday, March 14, 2026 - GOTTA like a crossword with GOTTA and ATTA 😉
Kameron Austin Collins (aka KAC) has a reputation for writing streak-killing crosswords. Today, however, KAC is playing against type — and the result is a tough, doable puzzle that doubles as a master class in how to write great clues.
We've covered our favorites on today's podcast, but here are a few more for your consideration. First, we have 33A, Hip places, BELTLINES (nice!); 32D, Tanning target, PELT (oh, that kind of tan); and the short, sweet, and somewhat cryptic 26A, Flutter, BATS. A fine crossword, most definitely deserving a 5 out of 5 on the JAMCR scale.
Sho...
Thursday, March 12, 2026 - One HARDCORE Thursday crossword!
Today marks Joe Marquez's sixth NYTimes crossword. Having started in 2023, that amounts to about 2 crosswords per year — not too shabby! This particular puzzle was particularly non-shabby, with a wry theme and a slew of entertaining clues. We were impressed by 54D, Be important, COUNT (we know you do, listeners!); bedazzled by 51D, Hurricane or mudslide, DRINK (ha!); and suitably perplexed by 12D, Carry the ball in volleyball, e.g., ERR (got it!).
Show note imagery: Black opal, a rare gem that is suspiciously colorful
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Wednesday, March 11, 2026 - Eureka!
Today's crossword was an homage to proponents of the "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade" philosophy, and it made for an awesome theme — tales of happy accidents that led to some critically acclaimed discoveries/inventions.
We don't want to spoil the suspense by mentioning those particular accidents here, but fortunately, history is replete with examples of the genre. So while the author, John Guzzetta, couldn't work Superglue, pacemakers, x-rays, and plastic-eating enzymes into the grid, these, too, were discovered/invented by accident.
Show note imagery: Henry Coover Jr (right), the (accidental) inventor of Superglue™️
We...
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 - Mmm, give me a bowl of that ol' BABAGHANOUJ 😋
Just like the dish in the title, today's crossword was yummy. We found the theme delicious, the clues tangy, and like all good crosswords it left us wanting more. Just to give you a taste, we had 34A, Hardwood tree ... or what's left after it burns, ASH (nice one!); 30D, Something a Möbius strip lacks, END (true, dat); and 48A, Word with shift or skeleton, KEY 😀.
In addition to the crossword, we have a Triplet Tuesday segment for your edification and entertainment — with Jean in the hot seat tonight.
Show note imagery: BABAGHANOUJ, hummus's first...
Monday, March 9, 2026 - May we have the envelope, please?
This was a fine Monday crossword, straightforward but with a wry theme and clues that spanned a wide gamut of years. For instance, 3D, Bobby, Peter or Greg, to Carol Brady, STEPSON (circa 1969); 46D, Beats by ___ (headphone brand), DRE (est. 2006); and 67A, "___ gratia artis" (classic MGM motto), ARS (roared into life in 1924). So, regardless of what your generation is, there are at least some clues in today's puzzle that you'll read and say, GEE, I know that one.
In honor of Monday we have another JAMCOTWA™️ (Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award) to bestow, and best...
Sunday, March 8, 2026 - Happy International Women's Day!!
Kelly Richardson has crafted a delightful and timely puzzle in honor of INTERNATIONALWOMENSDAY, in which all of the crosses are the names of famous women — all the way from ISSA Ray to HEDY Lamar. It is an impressive and historically interesting compilation. Have a look at it, see how many of those women you recognize, and let us know: whoever recognizes the most will win a rare and therefore highly coveted Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword t-shirt!
Show note imagery: CAIRO, "City of a Thousand Minarets". OK, here we...
Saturday, March 7, 2026 - Red Alert! There's a Saturday Streak Smasher™️ at 12 o'clock, closing fast!
If crosswords were animals, then today's, by Fritz Juhnke, would be Godzilla, smashing its way through streaks like nobody's business. Fritz was relentless, piling tough clue atop tough clue. From 28D, Dry streamed, WASH, to 66A, Ninnyhammer, MORON, to 48A, When strikes go on the longest?, NOON, he never took his foot off the petal.
We take a deep dive through the grid, and we have some great listener mail, so have a listen, and, as always, we welcome your feedback.
Show note imagery: A cheese rolling race at Cooper's Hill, where merriment and broken a...
Friday, March 6, 2026 - Adrian Johnson dials it up to 11!
Ah, this was a rigorous Friday crossword — the kind that, after you've solved it (er, if you've solved it), makes you feel a little taller, and compelled to regale your friends with cruciverbial tales of daring-do. Every clue in this crossword makes you think, and many may cause you to shake your head in awe when you finally solve them. We've got the whole blow-by-blow in today's episode, as well as a brilliant Fun Fact Friday segment, so check 'em out now!
Show note imagery: FARRO, the antidote when life seems too unfair-oh! 🙄
We love feedba...
Thursday, March 5, 2026 - Pee Wee REESE, champion of the oppressed and a *colossus* on the playing field
Making any crossword is challenging; but making a crossword like this one seems almost impossible. Fortunately, constructor Hanh Huynh doesn't know the meaning of the word impossible ... no wait, he probably does: but unless he's some sort of polyglot he almost surely doesn't know the meaning of the word кинути, which explains at least in part the existence of today's magnificent puzzle.
Deets inside.
Show note imagery: Heroism comes in many forms, just ask Jackie Robinson (left), and Pee Wee REESE (right)
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Wednesday, March 4, 2026 - Wowzers, this crossword was aaaaaaawesome!!
Wayne Bergman has crafted a brilliant Wednesday crossword, with several genuinely LOL clues. We discuss several in today's episode, but we'd also like to give a shoutout to 14A, April Fools' Day sign, ARIES (nice!); 34A, Part of a rock band?, ORE (that just rocks! 😉); and 64A, Pay for play, perhaps, TYPO (LOL or groan, you be the judge — but our vote's for LOL 😀).
Show note imagery: Behold, the one, the only — well, almost: they certainly didn't sell as many as they'd hoped — EDSEL!
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Tuesday, March 3, 2026 - By gum, this crossword really SLAPS! 😀
This was a terrific Tuesday crossword by Drew Schmenner, his seventh for the NYTimes since 2021. As expected, it ticked all the right boxes:
a kind, gentle yet clever theme ✅a slew of intriguing yet accessible clues ✅absolutely no spelling mistakes ✅the presence of at least one reference to OREOs ✅Since all the right boxes were ticked, we were not: rather, we were tickled — pink, to be precise. Check out today's episode for all the deets (as well as, of course, our first Triplet Tuesday segment of the month!).
Show note imagery: Our SWOTD (Slang Word Of The Day...
Monday, March 2, 2026 - Mmm, pass me another slice of that ol' tres LECHES cake 😋
This was a very pleasing debut crossword by Leslie Benson, who provides, on xwordinfo.com, an amusing description of this puzzle's construction — some of which apparently took place while she was in a "fuzzy hypnagogic state".
Fuzzy or not, the crossword itself was a smooth solve, and an enjoyable one. Check out the podcast for all the deets.
In addition to the podcast, in honor of Monday we have selected our JAMCOTWA™️ (Jean & Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), and we are going to go out on a limb here and state, with 100% certainty, that you wil...
Sunday, March 1, 2026 - In like a 🦁, out like a 🐑
Some of the NYTimes' finest crosswords were created by university students. For example, consider, oh, say, today's, by Western University students Matt Proulx and Jeffrey Martinovic. The theme is slick (which should resonate as hilarious as soon as you've sussed out that theme), the grid very colorful, and the clues perfect for a Sunday, with just a bit of bite. For instance, we had 28D, Nurse, SIP; 38D, They might be head-scratching, FINGERNAILS (and indeed, we were!); and 29A, Is in Montreal?, EST (bien sûr, c'est manifique!)
Show note imagery: JW the Mustang, the official mascot of...
Saturday, February 28, 2026 - A FEDORA in the grid? Now *that's* class! 😀
This marks Adam Levav's fourth NYTimes crossword in just over a year, and you can see from today's awesome puzzle why he keeps getting published. This themeless beast had scads of challenging clues, although nothing too outré — just how we like 'em. For that reason (and many others enumerated in today's episode) we give this a full five squares on the JAMCR scale.
Show note imagery: The Blues Brothers, sporting some fine FEDORAs
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Friday, February 27, 2026 - Happy AEOF (Almost-End-of-February) Day!
Today's crossword was a debut by Caroline Hand. Getting any crossword published in the NYTimes is an incredible achievement — and to debut on a Friday doubly so.
And now for the numbers: there were 6, count'em, 6 grid-spanning answers, 2 stacks of 3 grid-spanners apiece. The grid contained 4 debut answers, including one of our favorites, 11D, Antediluvian, OLDASDIRT, and the wry 3D, Delivery methods?, CESAREANS.
In honor of it being Friday, we also have a Fun Fact Friday™️ segment about Atlanta, in its role as the Hollywood of the South. Finally, we wrap it up with another edition of "Oh that...
Thursday, February 26, 2026 - BYGUM this was a brilliant crossword!
Yitzi Snow has created a masterpiece of a crossword: perhaps it's not hanging at the Louvre yet, but we know it'll get there someday. Why, you ask? For three main reasons:
ThemeThemeThemeOh, and one more thing:
Theme.😀
Show note imagery: A chiliagon, a 1000-sided polygon that looks suspiciously like a circle (but isn't, quite).
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Wednesday, February 25, 2026 - EMO hair, it's gonna be big!! 🙄
This was Brad Lively's second New York Times crossword, and it was stunning, especially, as one might imagine, the ingenious theme. None of the clues were too over the top — with the possible exception of 11A, ___ hair (edgy 2000s trend, EMO. 😀 We particularly enjoyed learning about and perusing A.F.I.'s "100 Years ... 100 Heroes & Villains" list, although we were surprised to learn that Darth Vader only made it to # 3.
We have a spot of listener mail to round off the episode, so check it out, and, as always, let us know what you think!
Show note...
Tuesday, February 24, 2026 - The State of the Crossword ... is *Excellent!* 😀
This was a fine Tuesday crossword by Adam Aaronson, with a subtle theme and a subtler revealer. We were surprised to see, among the 6 debut answers in today's puzzle, 24A, Fender Stratocaster, e.g., ELECTRICGUITAR, and 12D, Festivals often featuring jousting knights, for short, RENFAIRES. We just assumed that, for a crossword that came into existence in 1942, by now someone would have worked these two into the grid — but no, it took Adam to make it happen.
In addition to the crossword, also have our Triplet Tuesday™️ segment. Jean's in the hot seat, so tune in to see ho...
Monday, February 23, 2026 - Alright, there's a DELOREAN in the grid!!
It's hard not to like a crossword with a DELOREAN in the grid, as we can attest: we adored today's puzzle, the fourth in the NYTimes by Hannah Binney. There was a certain novelty and freshness to the clues that made this a particularly pleasing solve, culminating in the most exciting way ever to clue an otherwise mundane answer, 11D, 4.75 seconds to assemble a Mr. Potato Head, per Guinness, RECORD. Brava!*
Show note imagery: A time machine that needs no introduction ... if you were born in this century or the last one you already know it 😀
*c...
