Theme: "Repeat after me ..."
Puzzling thoughts:
Emet's crossword debut occurred @ Universal in June 2021 as part of their Pride Month celebration. IIRC, Universal featured puzzles that month that were created by LGBTQ+ constructors. The puzzle was titled: "I want the world to know". In a Google search I found this @ autostraddle dot com: "Emet (Ozar) is a queer and genderqueer program manager, crossword constructor, and married parent to four children."
Emet has been published a dozen or more times during this decade, including a NYT Sunday (debut) in 2022, and was last seen @ LAT in June, 2025
Today's offering seemed odd until I parsed each of the entries based on the clues. My conclusion is explained in each of them below, and to make it easier to understand I separated the repeated words/phrases in each entry:
19-across. Beer endorsed by a British pop star?: DUA LIPA DUAL IPA.
Dua Lipa is a 30-year-old British Singer-Songwriter. Click the link for a more complete biography
A Dual IPA (or Double IPA) is a category of India Pale Ale that features an increased level of malt and hops which both elevate the flavors and alcohol content by volume (the image below is one of my favorites in this category)
24-across. Relaxed prankster?: A TEASE AT EASE. A "tease" might refer to a prankster. When I started dating in HS, the term "a tease" had a much different meaning, but I digress ...
"At ease" is a term used mainly in the armed forces to "command" the troops to relax after standing at attention. At the end of the clip below, Sgt. Hulka's men had a different interpretation of the term.
"It's time to party, Italian style!"
44-across. Post-punk sudden death period became extremely exciting?: GOTH OT GOT HOT.
Goth is a late 1970's early 1980's rock music sub-culture that appeared post punk rock. OT (short for OverTime) refers to extra periods in various sports events that are needed to break a tie score at the end of the allotted time for the game (regulation). "Sudden death" was a referral as to how the overtime period ended, as it once involved the first team to score to be declared the winner. Now (for football, anyway) that has all changed
"GOT HOT" might refer to how The Big Bang Theory's Howard Wolowitz was feeling, right up until the following scene from "The_Gothowicz_Deviation"
51-across. Jerk risked growing hangry?: TOOL ATE TOO LATE. The term "tool" is an unflattering name for a person who acts like a jerk, is foolish, or is unlikable. The word "hangry" is an adjective/portmanteau that defines someone who is irritable due to being hungry or who hasn't eaten anything in quite a while
I seem to recall an erstwhile commercial for a canned food product that had a similar reference. In this case it was a tool WITH a tool ... just watch:
Was this puzzle too clever, perhaps? I dunno. I really wanted to be awed by this theme and set of entries, but I wasn't. I realize how difficult it was to create, let alone find, a quartet of repeating phrases/words that have different meanings when parsed but it somehow fell flat for me
FWIW, I thought the first two entries were more than OK and quite clever; the third was a real stretch though; and the fourth was a bit sophomoric. Yeah Moe, sophomoric, eh? That's kind of like you (the pot) calling the kettle black! 😂
There are a few forced entries here and there which I will address as I get to them. If I had to rate this puzzle with stars (1 ⭐ being a real clunker and 5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ being the most fun I've ever had, solving a puzzle) this one gets ⭐⭐ and 3/4 ⭐
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| The Grid |
1. Fiddle with: ALTER.
6. Forensic facility: LAB.
9. Largest isle of the Inner Hebrides: SKYE. And home to the dog breed Skye Terrier
[akc dot org says] "The heavenly breed with the heart of a lion,' the long, low, and level Skye Terrier is among the AKC's most distinctive-looking breeds. This elegant but sturdy aristocrat was bred as an exterminator on Scotland's remote Isle of Skye. Long, low, and level, this unique earthdog is among the AKC's most distinctive-looking breeds. Skyes stand 9 or 10 inches high and feature a long, flat-lying coat and peekaboo hairdo. They're known for big, feathery ears that stand up like bat wings, but Skyes can also have 'drop ears,' which lie flat against the large, long head. Beneath the profuse coat are short, muscular legs and a deep chest. When seen in profile, these elegant but substantial terriers are twice as long as they are high
13. Manufacturer "where every mattress is sheep approved": SERTA. Cute commericial!
14. Zaire's Mobutu __ Seko: SESE. I needed a google search to get this answer
15. Cosmic span: AEON. I checked and this is the debut for the clue "cosmic span" to define aeon
16. Opening day squad: A-TEAM. "TWENTY-SIX MAN ROSTER" was too long to fit; "opening day" to me connotes the reference to Major League Baseball - not sure I recall hearing the term a-team used for that sport
17. Hidden surprise for an observant gamer: EASTER EGG. Emet's NYT Sunday puzzle on April 17, 2022 contained a plethora of EGGs. Click on the link to see it
[theme entry]
21. Germane: APT. Moe-ku: (and also a Fun Fact!)
Google Translate says:
"Zur Sache gehörig" is
Germane, in German
22. Currently: NOW.
23. Hosp. scan: MRI.
[theme entry]
30. Smoked jalapeño: CHIPOTLE.
 |
| Also, the name of an eponymous restaurant |
33. Longed for: YENNED. What's the difference between yenned and YEARNED?
34. Malek of "Oppenheimer": RAMI. Rami Malek and Issa Rae are two 21st Century actors who've become popularized (to some extent) with their inclusion in so many crossword puzzle answers/clues
35. Cozy spot for a cat: LAP. Fun fact: Moe is/was never a big fan of cats. When he and Ms. Margaret moved in together, she had a cat (Sadie) that was going to be a part of our household. I tolerated Sadie; she obviously wanted me to like her as is evidenced in the photo below:
37. Against: ANTI.
38. State on the Chukchi Sea: ALASKA. Another "debut clue". Honestly: How many of you here today can admit that you knew of or had heard of the Chukchi Sea before? Not I
 |
| By golly, there it is! |
41. Precedent setter, legally: TEST CASE. Those in IT probably got this one without having to google it
[theme entry]
46. __ carte menu: A LA.
47. Charged particle: ION.
48. Baked beans holder: CAN. My favorite canned baked beans brand (Bush's):
[theme entry]
56. Emmy-winning role for Catherine O'Hara: MOIRA ROSE. Ms. Margaret and I binge-watched the entire series of "Schitt's Creek" episodes back in the early COVID days. Ms. O'Hara also played the mother role in the "Home Alone" movies. But her Moira Rose character was my favorite (watch video)
57. Some "Bridgerton" characters: EARLS.
58. Odometer unit: MILE. KILOMETER was too big to fit
59. Mardi __: GRAS. I'm sure this goes without saying, but the translation of Mardi Gras is "Fat Tuesday" (Mardi = Tuesday; GRAS = Fat)
60. Bite lightly: NIP AT.
61. To boot: ALSO.
62. Curvy shape: ESS.
63. Frock: DRESS. I seem to remember the term "simple frock" being used to describe a dress, back in the day ... the one below looks anything but "simple", though
Down:
1. Carne __: ASADA. Several foreign words in today's puzzle; this one, ASADA, means "roasted" in Spanish - Carne = Meat
2. Subside: LET UP.
3. "__ yourself!": TREAT. "Suit" was too short to fit. "Treat yourself" sounds like an invitation for a spa day
4. Bibliography abbr.: ET AL. Moe-ku (this one is a bit tricky, but you'll get it!):
Flying saucer crew
Was under the command of
Pilot ET AL
5. Collide with: RAM INTO. A literal take is in the video below:
5. Collide with: RAM INTO. A literal take is in the video below:
6. Kryptonite blocker: LEAD. I guess I had forgotten this from when I read Superman comics. You'd think that given his other-worldly abilities, he could have fashioned his costume out of lead threads to ward off any krypton-induced assaults
7. Accept without evidence: ASSUME. And as the saying goes, when you do (assume), you make an ASS out of U and ME
8. Part of a radioactive decay stream: BETA RAY. Or when parsed differently, a Moe-ku:
Romano's debut
Was delayed. Network had to
Test a BETA RAY
9. Wrapped garment: SARI. Moe-ku with the second and third lines inverted:
9. Wrapped garment: SARI. Moe-ku with the second and third lines inverted:
Apple assistant
Wore ugly frock. "That's
A sorry SARI, Siri"
10. Care for: KEEP.
11. Practice with poses: YOGA. How is it that when I try to do this it looks more like a downward facing log??
10. Care for: KEEP.
11. Practice with poses: YOGA. How is it that when I try to do this it looks more like a downward facing log??
12. Lang. course: ENG. I think I tried ESL at first, not realizing that the "L" for language would not be accepted as it's already in the clue
14. Element of coastal defense: SEAWALL. Moe-ku:
Rebel General's twin
Brother was an Admiral,
Named "Seawall" Jackson
18. Upper echelon: ELITE.
20. Sonia Sanchez, for one: POET. Her biography
24. Very silly: APISH. The word's second definition; its first definition means "resembling an ape"
25. Cold War defense gp.: SEATO. Short for SouthEast Asia Treaty Organization. It was founded in the fall of 1954; came into a treaty position in 1955 and was disbanded in 1977. The member countries included the US, UK, and France in addition to New Zealand, Australia, Pakistan, Philippines, and Thailand. One of its tenets was to prevent the spread of Communism to the region
26. Make official, in a way: ENACT.
27. "Shogun" star Sawai: ANNA.
28. Related groups: SETS.
29. Nicollette's "Desperate Housewives" role: EDIE.
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| Edie is the one in the middle |
30. Mountain goat's spot: CRAG. A word normally found only in crossword puzzle answers
31. Beyoncé song with the lyric "I got my angel now": HALO.
31. Beyoncé song with the lyric "I got my angel now": HALO.
32. "__ my wit's end": I'M AT. Did any of you solvers say this phrase as you staggered to finish this puzzle?
36. Department store section: PETITES. Two facts:
1) I am a man/was a boy so the dept. store section PETITES is/was unknown to me
2) I was a bit too heavy for my height as a boy and the dept. stores back then had a special section for me known as HUSKIES
39. Lethargic marsupial: KOALA. I think I tried SLOTH at first. Are they marsupials?
40. On the lam: AT LARGE. Moe-ku:
39. Lethargic marsupial: KOALA. I think I tried SLOTH at first. Are they marsupials?
40. On the lam: AT LARGE. Moe-ku:
A male sheep's AT LARGE;
Hid at his kid's place, so yes,
He's out on the lam(b)
42. "Scram!": SHOO.
43. Incessantly: TO NO END.
45. Gainesville collegians: GATORS. The University of Florida is located in Gainesville, FL; their athletic teams' nickname are the Gators. Their list of NCAA Championships across all sports
48. __ diem: CARPE. "Seize the day!"
49. Book that's been mapped out?: ATLAS. Clever clue
50. Makes preparations during pregnancy: NESTS. This preparation (in the comic below) looks like something that Moe would do!
42. "Scram!": SHOO.
43. Incessantly: TO NO END.
45. Gainesville collegians: GATORS. The University of Florida is located in Gainesville, FL; their athletic teams' nickname are the Gators. Their list of NCAA Championships across all sports
48. __ diem: CARPE. "Seize the day!"
49. Book that's been mapped out?: ATLAS. Clever clue
50. Makes preparations during pregnancy: NESTS. This preparation (in the comic below) looks like something that Moe would do!
51. Work very hard: TOIL.
52. Essential __: OILS. Here's a picture of a few of them
53. Cookie since 1912: OREO. And in 1913, the word OREO made its first crossword puzzle debut
54. Those, in Spanish: ESAS.
55. Hideaway: LAIR.
56. UFC sport: MMA. Short for Mixed Martial Arts
Comment below if you like ... BTW, SO to my daughter who celebrates a birthday today. I know how old she is and I still can't believe it! Happy Birthday, sweetie!
That Emmy-winning
ReplyDeleterole? No idea. However, the perps were kind for it and in other places.
Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.
FIR. I agree with SubG, the perps were very kind. There were a lot of answers that I had absolutely no idea about.
ReplyDeleteI saw the repetition in the theme answers, but not beyond letters repeating. The gist of the theme escaped me. Honestly I found it somewhat lame once it was explained to me.
So overall not an enjoyable puzzle.
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteThought I'd already posted, but I don't see it here. Couldn't parse GOTHOTGOTHOT without C-Moe's help. The other themers made sense. Cute, Emet. There's a famous SEAWALL in Galveston, erected following that "mighty day" in 1900. Enjoyed your expo, C-Moe. (Interesting photo of that one-legged lady in the FROCK.)
I highly recommend Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson. Don't be put off by it being in the nonfiction aisle - it reads like a novel. I DNK that before the hurricane, Galveston was edging out Houston as the "it" city on the Gulf.
DeleteFIW, missing with ReMI x HeLO. Too many erasures to list. Once i figured out the repeating theme answers the puzzle became a lot easier.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I really enjoy parsing phrases to create different meanings, this puzzle wasn't enjoyable for me because of all the A&E male bovine excrement, but our Chairman's write-up made the effort worthwhile. My favorite was his "sorry sari Siri" routine. Kind of reminds me of the old joke about the landing of a diminutive ET on Earth, and the first person he encountered was a tall, leggy blonde. She asked "should I take you to my leader?" The ET responded "take me to your ladder lady, I'll see your leader later."
BTW, the NHL tries to settle OT by a five minute sudden-death period. They skate 3 men per team instead of the usual five, making goal scoring more likely. If that doesn't work, they settle it in a shoot out, which is similar to penalty kicks in soccer.
At hockey games, the players fight and the fans watch.
DeleteAt soccer games, the fans fight and the players watch.
I guess they are drunk and bored because the score is usually a tie. 0-0
Good Morning:
ReplyDeletePerhaps I judge Friday puzzles more harshly due to my ongoing disappointment with the lack of those truly engaging and challenging offerings of the past. That said, today’s theme did nothing to alter my opinion. Props to the author for his efforts but this type of gimmick is too “stretchy” in concept and execution for my taste. Word manipulation is a far cry from the word play so sadly absent from today’s puzzles.
Thanks, Moe, for your very honest and fair review. Your delightful Moe-kus and summary saved the day, as did Bill Murray, et Al. Happy Birthday to your daughter.
Have a great day.
Too much trivia, and the theme isn’t anything to write home about. Two stars would have been generous.
ReplyDeleteTook 8:37 today to ... nope, I got nothin'.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know the Actress of the Day (Anna) or the person from Zaire (Sese). Fortunately, I also watched Schitt's Creek and loved the Moira Rose character.
The juice wasn't worth the squeeze today.
Mr. Chairman, I was vaguely familiar with Chukchi Sea, having visited Alaska a couple times. Alas, as a much younger circle-hater I was also familiar the husky section. I guess an overweight Alaskan dog would be a husky husky.
Why refer to the department store sections as "sections" and not "departments"?
Uneven but overall I enjoyed it. Enjoyed the idea behind the theme, but the Goth one in particular was a real stretch in terms of trying to make the clue feel somewhat legible. Likewise, (as a knower) I enjoyed the overall, but "yenning" was totally baffling to me. At the end of the day, got a smile from me just because I got to remember how good Shogun was, and think about Catherine O'Hara's absolutely baffling accent as Moira Rose hahaha
ReplyDeleteI forgot to watch Entertainment Tonight, AMC, & TCM last night and still managed to FIR. After reading Emet's short biography, that might explain the A&E clues. But in spite of that, the doubles fills were pretty neat. I didn't know DUA LIPA was British and I don't like IPAs but I did like the puzzle.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen YEN used as a verb and the cross of YENNED and the unknown ANNA finished the puzzle. RAMI is joining DUA, LIPA, ORA, ORR, OTT, ISSA, RAE, ICE T and other people I only know from convenient crossword fills. At least jai alai doesn't show up much.
Other unknowns today were MOIRA ROSE, EARLS, POET, ANNA, EDIE, and HALO. And then there's TOOL for a jerk. Has anybody ever seen or heard TOOL used for a jerk? I haven't.
CAN- interesting fact I learned. Baked beans are not baked and they are actually steamed IN THE CAN after they are canned. This keeps the germs from spoiling them.
Does LEAD also block a BETA RAY from a heavier, aka radioactive, element's decay? How many protons in 'kryptonite'. Sounds like a mineral ore to me. Might be worth more than a gold mine.
At least I did know the Congo's dictator, SESE, who in his infinite wisdom decided to rename the country to Zaire. His real name was JOSEPH and tried to get all the people to change their names. Speaking of names, my dermatologist just hired a new PA and her name was not Carpe, but is was DIEM. She's Vietnamese, not latin.
FIR in 9:59, but without a smile on my face. I didn't care much for the theme and though the themers filled in easily once the gimmick became obvious, I thought it was lame.
ReplyDeleteMost of the rest of the puzzle was Wednesday-ish at best. It was nice to see Anna Sawai get a bit of crossword fame. She was amazing in Shogun, one of the truly great shows of the last 10 years.
This puzzle gets a 5/10 from me.
Hola! I started this puzzle by jumping around to fill what I knew for sure, then slowly, slowly, I saw the light! In some cases, it was a leap of faith which paid off. ALASKA is one and no, I had not heard of that sea. Thank you for posting the map.
ReplyDeletePETITES is where I shop even though I am no longer really PETITE in girth.
Many, many years ago my family and I would stay at the SEA WALL MOTEL in Pismo Beach, CA. It was then small and lovely for a getaway. I've heard that it's no longer small.
GOT HOT GOT HOT could be the mantra for our summers here.
Thank you, MOE, for your elegant expose! Have a good day, everyone!