Sunday, March 29, 2026 ~ Doug Peterson

Theme: "DON'T STOP NOW"

Go Go Gadget Helicopter

Hi All!

I always enjoy solving a Doug Peterson puzzle and I was not disappointed with this effort. However, as I was solving, Inspector Gadget kept playing in my head so, I wasn't quite expecting the reveal:

117. Make it big, or a hint to the pairs found in the answers to the starred clues: GO PLACES.

22. *American Samoa's capital: PAGO PAGO. Capital of American Samoa.

29. *Dramatic ending for a tied hockey game: GOLDEN GOAL.

35. *Mohair source: ANGORA GOAT.

55. *"Stranger Things" monster: DEMOGORGON. Click at your own risk.

79. *Symbol often adorned with a "Doodle": GOOGLE LOGO.

Apropos for next Sunday

100. *Smugly sanctimonious sort: GOODY GOODY.

107. *Wasting time: GOOFING OFF.

15. *Martial arts-themed toy line: LEGO NINJAGO.

66. *Band with the 1998 hit "Iris": GOO GOO DOLLS. I have this CD but, post-solve, I had to Google to know the title of the song I've heard >100 times.

Iris

A fun theme, I think. Now let's get on to the rest of the fill before we get on with our day.

Across:

1. Invitation letters: RSVP. Répondez s'il vous plait or, in English, "respond if you please."

5. Three-striper: Abbr.: SGT. The rank of sergeant.

8. WNBA star Reese: ANGEL. She played for LSU (Geaux Tigers!) and Chicago Sky (which I think was in Thursday's puzzle(?))

Her WikiP

13. Archipelago parts: ISLES.

18. Prefix with space: AERO.

19. "Ni __": Chinese greeting: HAO. Hello in English. Mr. Di, who was the night supervisor at the lab where I worked in college, taught me that. //How am I doin' C.C.? :-)

20. __ Doone cookies: LORNA. This cookie is slowly replacing OREO :-)

21. Will of "BoJack Horseman": ARNETT. This was a Netflix animated series for adults that "aired" from 2014 to 2018.

BoJack Horseman

22. [See: Theme]

24. Pipsqueak: TWERP.

25. Half-baked?: DOUGHY.

If you've seen this movie, you weren't thinking DOUGHY

26. Shoulder wraps: STOLES.

27. __ Tomé and Príncipe: SAO. A tiny country off the coast of Africa.

Those two islands

29. [See: Theme]

31. Really annoy: GRATE ON.

33. Farm buildings: BARNS.

34. 180º from SSW: NNE. Compass points.

35. [See: Theme]

38. Instagram's parent: META.

39. Rhubarb treats: PIES.

A Prairie Home Companion

40. Preppy brand: POLO. POLO & IZOD make me think of the '80's.

41. Doomscrolling, perhaps: ONLINE. This stackexchange has arguments for and against online being one word or hyphenated. Oh, and as for Doomscrolling, that's the act of watching headline after headline (of usually bad news) in short-form media such as TikTok, Meta's Reels, or YouTube Shorts.

43. "Oh, rats!": AW DARN.

46. Program for aspiring docs: PREMED. Does this get a hyphen? ;-)

49. Readily apparent: OVERT.

51. Basic garage service: LUBE JOB. This is not hyphenated.

54. Texting tech: SMS. Short Message Service.

55. [See: Theme]

59. Sub meat: SALAMI. Add some pepperoni, mortadella, provolone - I'm getting peckish.

60. Inconsequential: MINOR.

61. Hate with a passion: DETEST. Or what Tattoo exclaims to Roarke at exam time? //Sorry for stealing your job, RayO :-).

63. Dry-__ beef: AGED.

64. Striped 96-Down, in Spanish: TIGRE. These kinda cross-reference clues can be fun. However, this one made me fast-forward to a corner I wasn't playing in and I got distracted from what I was there for.

67. Doorway piece: JAMB.

70. Plastic Clue weapon: ROPE. I thought all of the weapons in Clue were made with plastic.

Then

Now

71. Preppy jackets: ETONS. Back to the preppies again.

72. __ appeal: SNOB. Now we're really getting preppy :-)

73. Arizona neighbor: SONORA. To the south of AZ.

75. Tequila plant: AGAVE. Drink in 73a (and pretty much everywhere else).

77. In the area: AROUND. Tequila all around!

79. [See: Theme]

82. Electric jolt: ZAP.

85. Backslide: REGRESS.

87. Slight adjustment: TWEAK.

88. Gazpacho need: TOMATO. Yummers! More Italian food. Ok, we kinda appropriated [Read: stole] it from Spain but... Gazpacho is a wonderful cold "soup" for summer.

90. Does better than: ONE UPS.

92. Haudenosaunee Confederacy people: SENECA. One of the Six Nations' tribes.

95. Birthstone for some Scorpios: OPAL.

96. __ and hisses: BOOS.

98. Home of tennis's Italian Open: ROME. Four letter Italian city? The pen works itself.

100. [See: Theme]

103. "__ be nice if ... ": IT'D.

104. Canonized one: SAINT.

Father Guido Sarducci on March Saints

106. Not intended: UNMEANT. This feels like it needs a hyphen.

107. [See: Theme]

110. NYC subway org.: MTA. New York City's Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

111. Poet Amy who won a Pulitzer Prize posthumously: LOWELL.

114. Piña __: COLADA. If you like 'em (and getting caught in the rain), Escape.

Who knows any other songs by Rupert Holmes?

115. Engine booster, for short: TURBO. Wife's Alfa is a turbo, mine is five on the floor.

117. [See: Theme]

119. Geopolitical partners: ALLIES.

120. Pioneers in Philly soul, with "The": O'JAYS. For the younger solvers who've joined The Corner and weren't around in the '70's...

The O'Jays

121. Feel bad about: RUE.

122. Mauna Loa flow: LAVA.

123. Electricity pioneer Nikola: TESLA.

124. High-flying toys: KITES.

125. Assist: AID.

126. Make a shawl, maybe: KNIT. Young'uns seem to be getting into this "grandma" skill. Eldest started the craft at 12 yrs old and still does it when procrastinating her dissertation :-)

Down:

1. Performs like Kendrick Lamar: RAPS.

2. Flight assignment: SEAT. Are you aisle or window?

3. Immersive gaming gear, briefly: VR GOGGLES. There's only one (1) GO in this fill.

4. Spot for table games: POOL ROOM. Feels a bit forced(?) I call 'em a POOL hall (or just a dive bar). You?

5. California peak: SHASTA. Also the brand name of a diet soda my maternal grandfather drank.

6. Silly prank: GAG.

7. "I didn't wait long enough?": TOO SOON. Can we make Millard Filmore jokes yet?

8. Voice above tenor: ALTO. Eldest is a soprano but can do a great alto falsetto. One time, when she was 12 (or 13?), she blew away our local TexMex joint singing karaoke to Bohemian Rhapsody. On the "from me" high bit, the whole place went quiet and looked where it was coming from. Just my little shy kid belting out her voice. #ProudDad

9. This very second: NOW. STAT didn't fit.

10. Hall of Fame pitcher Maddux: GREG. I know he was with the Braves longer (where he secured a WS ring), but he'll always be a Cub to me.

11. Dress for a graduation ceremony: ENROBE. Not the dress you wear but the verb dress. Cute, Doug, cute.

12. City near Buenos Aires: LA PLATA. ?!? Is Buenos Aires also in the Texas panhandle? I'm kidding, it's the capital city of Buenos Aires province of Argentina.

13. Clubs with metal heads: IRONS. Oh, again not dive bars (with crank'd up music).

14. Tight-fitting: SNUG.

15. [See: Theme]

16. Compound in natural gas: ETHANE. A hydrocarbon which just got more expensive.

17. Does salon work: STYLES.

21. Yemeni port: ADEN. For the life of me, I can never remember this crossword staple.

23. Fruit in fruit cocktail: PEAR.

28. Like some watches: ANALOG. I made sure my kids could read a proper clock (with Roman Numerals too! :-))

30. Southern sound: DRAWL. Over 40 years in the south, I've developed a bit of one.

32. Freudian concept: EGO.

35. Slack and Signal: APPS. APPlications for you pocket communicator. Signal is actually pretty nifty if you're into privacy & security.

36. "Cheers" regular: NORM.

Best of Norm Peterson

37. Early DVR brand: TIVO. Two college buddies of mine worked for TiVo.

38. Corporate combination: MERGER.

39. Senior clergyman: PRELATE.

42. Square one?: NERD.

44. Coating on knickknacks: DUST. That's why DW & I have few.

45. Litigators' org.: ABA. American Bar Association.

47. Falco of "Avatar: Fire and Ash": EDIE.

48. Lair: DEN.

50. "Rosanna" band: TOTO.

According to popular myth, at the first recording sessions, in order to distinguish their own demo tapes from other bands' in the studio, Jeff Porcaro wrote the word "Toto" on them. In the early 1980s, band members told the press that the band was named after Toto the dog from The Wizard of Oz. After the completion of the first album, the band and record were still unnamed. David Hungate, after viewing the name on the demo tapes, explained to the group that the Latin words "in toto" translated to "all-encompassing". Another explanation was that singer Bobby Kimball's "real" name was Robert Toteaux, pronounced "toto". Because the band members played on so many records and so many musical genres, they adopted the name "Toto" as their own. - WikiP

Toto's Africa

52. Warning sign: OMEN.

53. Says "two no trump," e.g.: BIDS. I'm guessing the card game of Bridge ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

56. Magic charm: MOJO.

57. Sumatran primate, informally: ORANG.

58. Himalayan nation: NEPAL.

60. Owner of the Springfield Nuclear Power Plant: MR. BURNS. The Simpsons.

62. Lily variety: SEGO. It's the State Flower of Utah.

64. Bygone Russian title: TSAR.

65. Memo heading: INRE. IN REgards to:

66. [See: Theme]

68. Not worth debating: MOOT.

69. Look through casually: BROWSE. Leaf, skim, etc.

71. Acronym for a dressing base: EVOO. Extra Virgin Olive Oil. It's all I use.

73. Aztecs' sch.: SDSU. San Diego State University - Home of the Fightin' Aztecs.

74. "Peacemaker" actor Steve: AGEE.

76. Reality show hosted by Terry Crews, for short: AGT. I'm guessing America's Got Talent ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

78. Once known as: NEE.

80. "Auld __ Syne": LANG.

81. Barely manage: EKE OUT.

82. Mesoamerican language family common in Oaxaca: ZAPOTECAN. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Read all about it here.

83. Just barely: A TAD.

84. Roly-__: POLY. AKA pillbugs or armadillidiidae.

86. Bit of rosemary: SPRIG.

89. Dance move also known as a backslide: MOONWALK. You can't not think of Michael Jackson here.

This looks AI he's that good

91. Majorly unacceptable: SO NOT OK. An HR violation, I'm thinkin'.

93. Packaged foods giant: CONAGRA. You may not know the company (I'm sure HG does), but you probably eat their food. I know I do.

Their Brands

94. USN VIP: ADM. Naval Admirals are Very Important People.

96. Jaguar or leopard: BIG CAT. Just like a TIGRE.

97. Peter of "The Lion in Winter": O'TOOLE.

99. "The Great Wave off Kanagawa" peak: Abbr.: MT FUJI.

101. Gave a sudden squeal: YELPED.

102. Hastings hoosegow: GAOL. Hastings is an English town (Battle Of in 1066) and GAOL is Old Norman French. The G in GAOL is soft like in gentle; so, aloud GAOL sounds like jail -- which is what the word means.

104. Better half?: SIDE A. Cute. But is Hey Jude really better than Revolution?

The Fab Four

105. Santa __: dry California winds: ANAs.

108. Blunder that might be epic: FAIL. #EpicFail

109. Greek house: FRAT.

Obligatory

110. Green trunk growth: MOSS.

112. Strauss of jeans: LEVI.

113. Future atty.'s exam: LSAT. Youngest passed and is nearly done with her OneL.

116. "So long!": BYE.

118. Arles agreement: OUI. We started with French and we end with French, YES?

Well, that was fun. Now, here's the Grid:

The Grid

WO: laura -> LORNA
ESPs: ANGEL, LAPLATA (making that whole area a mess o' ink), ADEN, SAO, SENECA, LOWELL, ZAPOTECAN
Fav: MOJO

Dr. Evil steals Austin Powers' Mojo

I've missed playing with y'all the last few weeks. I've been busy catching up from my short vacation in DC to visit my daughters at school. These next few weeks, my attendance will also be sporadic as I'm attending a couple of cybersecurity conferences.

Play later!
Cheers, -T

Fin

Sunday Feburary 22, 2026 Doug Peterson

Theme: "SUPPLIES ARE LIMITED" -  Familiar phrases are re-imagined as literal office supply items in the specific setting described in each clue.

23. Writing tablet at a cleaning service?: SCOURING PAD.

29. Copier sheets at a French restaurant?: CREPE PAPER.

45. Writing implements at a biotech lab?: GENETIC MARKERS.

66. File holder at a music store?: ACCORDION FOLDER.

93. Metal fasteners at a culinary school?: KITCHEN STAPLES.

107. Adhesive roll at a watch factory?: TICKER TAPE.

117. Measuring device at a toy store?: PUPPET RULER.

Six entries follow a consistent pattern in which the final word is a common office supply item (PAD, PAPER, MARKERS, STAPLES, TAPE, RULER). ACCORDION FOLDER differs slightly in structure: instead of ending with the supply, the entire phrase is itself the office item. Does it also have a non-office meaning I'm not aware of?

   
Across:

1. Commotion: FUSS. And 25. Commotions: ADOS.

5. Hat for Carmen Sandiego: FEDORA.

11. "A Boy Named Sue" singer: CASH (Johnny)

15. Peppa and Petunia: PIGS.

19. Break __ song: INTO.

20. Resume business: RE-OPEN.

21. City northeast of Mauna Loa: HILO. 26. Coffee district west of 21-Across: KONA.

22. "I think I goofed": UH OH.

27. Castle tower: TURRET.

28. Highest part: TOP.

31. Foul territory?: STY. OK, disgusting "foul". 

32. Unspecified amount: SOME.

34. Self-satisfied: SMUG.

36. Spots for daith piercings: EARS. I didn't know the meaning of "daith": an ear piercing in the inner cartilage just above the earhole.

37. Antique photos: SEPIAS.

39. Research specialties: AREAS.

41. Catherine of "The Studio": O'HARA. A wonderful actress who passed away last month. 

49. Fight show for more than 30 years: WWE RAW.

50. Keep an eye on: OVERSEE.

51. New Mexico art hub: TAOS.

52. However, briefly: THO.

54. Succotash bean: LIMA. I grew some on our deck years ago. I had a small harvest.

55. Fishhook projection: BARB.

56. Buster: BUB.

57. Does in a forest: DEER.

58. Dragon's retreat: LAIR.

59. __ pale ale: INDIA.

61. "Grand Hotel" star Greta: GARBO.

63. Eurasian range: URALS.

65. Counterculture drug: LSD.

70. Bit of hair gel: DAB.

73. American Red Cross founder Barton: CLARA.

74. Old record players: HIFIS.

75. Blubbers: WEEPS.

79. "The Young and the Restless" actor Braeden: ERIC.

81. Beauty brand: OLAY.

82. "Don't lose any sleep over it," in a text: NBD. No Big Deal.

83. Colombian metropolis: CALI.

84. Overdo the praise: GUSH.

85. Sch. that retired Caleb Williams' No. 13: USC. He won the Heisman Trophy in 2022.

86. Fill completely: SATE.

88. Advil alternative: ASPIRIN.

91. "All __!": ABOARD.

96. Decaf brand: SANKA.

97. Part of an EGOT: OSCAR. 44. 97-Across, e.g.: AWARD.

98. Call it a day: RETIRE.

99. "Thunderstruck" band: AC/DC.

101. Nights of anticipation: EVES.

103. Have a chat: TALK.

104. "Groovy!": FAB.

111. French affirmation: OUI.

113. Gloomy Milne character: EEYORE.

115. Home of the NHL's Mammoth: UTAH. The Utah Mammoth and the Utah Jazz have the same owner.

116. Jedi who becomes a Force ghost in "Return of the Jedi": YODA.

119. Software test version: BETA.

120. __ fail: EPIC.

121. Chaperone: ESCORT.

122. "Mulan" voice actress __-Na Wen: MING. Mulan means "magnolia". 

123. "Praise be!": AMEN.

124. Place for curlers: RINK.

125. Texas congressman Joaquin: CASTRO.

126. Circus routines: ACTS.

Down:

1. Clenched hands: FISTS.

2. Not censored at all: UNCUT.

3. "Likely __!": STORY.

4. Whiskey cocktail: SOUR.

5. Chili-and-chips dish: FRITO PIE. 

6. Nightfall, poetically: EEN.

7. Iditarod crew: DOG TEAM.

8. Dirt on a campaign rival, briefly: OPPO. Opposition research.

9. Brings in: REAPS.

10. "... __ a bottle of rum": AND.

11. Juice box?: CHARGER. Power "juice".

12. Assistant: AIDE.

13. Spots for sledding: SLOPES.

14. Book before Joel: HOSEA.

15. Beadlike piece on a Hawaiian necklace: PUKA SHELL. Puka is "hole" in Hawaiian. 

16. Denny's rival: IHOP.

17. Vanished: GONE.

18. __-pei: wrinkly dog from China: SHAR.

24. Moves back to zero: RESETS.

29. Preserves in salt: CURES.

30. Clipper's front: PROW. Opposite STERN. 

33. Attic pests: MICE.

35. Powerful shark: MAKO.

37. Novak Djokovic's nation: SERBIA.

38. Middle of some long weekends: SATURDAY.

40. Orbiter smaller than a planet: ASTEROID. Also 49. Planet: WORLD.

42. Common typeface: ARIAL.

43. Director Harold: RAMIS. He directed "Caddyshack".

45. Mongolian desert: GOBI. Across northern China also. Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region in China. 

46. "Dear __ Hansen": EVAN.

47. Socially awkward type: NERD.

48. Talmudic scholar: RABBI.

53. Gets all better: HEALS.

56. Quarters on a base: BARRACKS.

57. Brew served at Moe's Tavern: DUFF BEER.

60. Clemson's athletic gp.: ACC.

61. Hockey scores: GOALS.

62. "That's really impressive!": OOH.

64. Work on "Project Runway," say: SEW.

67. Bringer of rain: CLOUD.

68. Third of a third: NINTH.

69. Chef's road map: RECIPE.

70. "Dancer Adjusting Her Slipper" artist: DEGAS. 77. Ballet bend: PLIE.

71. Oranjestad's country: ARUBA.

72. Animal on old nickels: BISON. This eBay seller wants $65K for this coin. 

76. Rapper __ Sweatshirt: EARL.

78. Transgressions: SINS.

80. Singer with the 1984 hit "I Feel for You": CHAKA KHAN.

86. Barrel component: STAVE.

87. Unit of forestland: ACRE.

88. "The Thin Man" dog: ASTA.

89. Spiky heel: STILETTO.

90. "Spider-Man" surname: PARKER.

92. Talladega event: RACE. Talladega Superspeedway. 

94. Sprain soother: ICE PACK.

95. Nasal cavity cleansing vessel: NETI POT.

97. Tentacled mollusks: OCTOPI. With garlic sprouts.

100. Salon appliance: DRYER.

102. "The March King": SOUSA.

104. __ acid: FOLIC. I take this every day to reduce the side effects of methotrexate. 

105. Isn't for you?: AREN'T.

106. Icy obstacles: BERGS.

107. Polka band horn: TUBA.

108. Individual thing: ITEM.

109. Actress Blanchett: CATE.

110. Score after deuce, at times: AD IN.

112. Market IDs: UPCS.

114. Sonoran Desert city: YUMA.

117. Torso muscle, for short: PEC.

118. Go wrong: ERR.

C.C.

Monday, January 26, 2026, Doug Peterson

Theme:  Zero to hero

Constructor Doug Peterson has constructed a lovely grid with five symmetrically placed theme entries, two of which span the grid from side to side.  It is all based on a familiar rags-to-riches story, as revealed at 62-Across.

62-Across. Underdog's feel-good narrative, and where to find the first words of the answers to the starred clues: CINDERELLA STORY.  Let's review the starred clues and answers to see the Cinderella elements.

17-Across. *Lead Belly song about a wee-hours train: MIDNIGHT SPECIAL.  Cinderella has to leave the royal ball before MIDNIGHT, when her dress will turn back into rags, her coach will turn back into a pumpkin, and her coachmen will turn back into mice.  As for the song, MIDNIGHT SPECIAL is a folk song that originated among African-American prisoners in southern states, and was recorded by Huddie William "Lead Belly" Ledbetter in 1934.

Lead Belly

28-Across. *Armless furniture that sits low to the ground: SLIPPER CHAIR.  When Cinderella runs away from the ball, one of her glass SLIPPERs falls off, leaving behind a crucial clue for the prince to find her.  A SLIPPER CHAIR is an upholstered, armless chair with a low seat, typically placed in a corner of a bedroom so that ladies can sit to put on their SLIPPERs.

A 19th century slipper chair.

39-Across. *Play area with plastic spheres: BALL PIT.  Cinderella's stepmother provides her own daughters with elegant gowns and a coach so that they may attend the royal BALL, but Cinderella is left at home in rags to continue her usual chores -- until her fairy godmother provides her with magical garb and transportation.  You may never have attended a royal ball, but you've probably seen a BALL PIT, where children crawl around among small plastic balls.

Cinderella's ball pit?

47. *Flavor of many fall lattes: PUMPKIN SPICE.  How will Cinderella get to the ball, since her sisters have left without her?  Her fairy godmother turns a PUMPKIN into a coach.  Think about that next fall when you order a PUMPKIN SPICE latte at Starbucks!

Appearing every fall since 2004.

Who doesn't love a CINDERELLA STORY, in which the good and kind triumph over the wicked and mean?  And who can fail to appreciate the beauty of this grid?

Quickly now, before any of us turn into mice, let's address the rest of the clues and answers.

Across:

1. Put on: DON.  Cinderella had the bright idea to DON her dead mother's dress, but her nasty stepsisters tore it to pieces.

Poor Cinderella!

4. More crafty: SLIER.  This answer works in the USA, but Brits are slyer.

9. Red emblem on the English flag: CROSS.

Flag of England

14. Org. concerned with forever chemicals: EPA.  Environmental Protection Agency.  An abbreviation in the clue calls for an abbreviation in the answer.

15. Trattoria course: PASTA.  A trattoria is an Italian eatery, less formal than a ristorante, but more formal than an osteria.  Pasta is usually among the dishes labeled Primi, or first, which constitute the first hot course of a meal, often vegetarian.  Secondi is the next course, where meat and seafood appear.

16. Flood barrier: LEVEE.

17. [Theme clue]

20. Blooming __: deep-fried appetizer: ONION.  DH used to invite clients and prospective clients to dinner at nice restaurants.  His then-assistant set up one of these meals at a steakhouse, and the vegetarian entree she arranged for DH was a blooming onion.  He was not thrilled with her choice.

blooming onion

21. Large atlas section: ASIA.

22. Broadband letters: DSL.  Digital Subscriber Line is high-speed Internet access that uses existing copper telephone lines from homes and businesses to transmit data.

23. Pico de gallo pepper: SERRANO.  Pico de gallo is a chunky Mexican salsa made from tomatoes, onions, cilantro, jalapeños or serranos, and lime juice.

pico de gallo

26. Advance, as cash: LEND.

28. [Theme clue]

33. In this spot: HERE.

36. Prefix with classical: NEO.  Neo is a prefix meaning "new" or "revived."  Neoclassical refers to the revival of classical styles, especially in literature, music, art, or architecture.

The U.S. Capitol is an example of neoclassical architecture.

37. Extreme: ULTRA.

38. GI show gp.: USO.  The United Service Organizations Inc. is an American nonprofit-charitable corporation that provides live entertainment to members of the United States Armed Forces and their families.

39. [Theme clue]

42. "Ugh, sounds painful!": OOF.

43. New Zealand native: MAORI.

45. Forever and a day: EON.

46. Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo, for short: TMNT.  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.  The turtles, Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo, starred in comic books, animated cartoons, video games, and films.

Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo

47. [Theme clue]

51. __ Millions lottery: MEGA.  Mega Millions is a multijurisdictional lottery game.  It is offered in 45 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  For those of you in Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, or Utah, this will not be your rags-to-riches story.

52. Lose one's footing: STUMBLE.

56. One of the Manning brothers: ELI.  Eli Manning played in the National Football League for 16 seasons with the New York Giants.  He led the Giants to underdog Super Bowl victories against the New England Patriots in Super Bowls XLII (2008) and XLVI (2012).  Those were zero-to-hero seasons for the Giants!

Eli Manning

59. A handful of: SOME.

61. Bit of mint: SPRIG.

62. [Theme clue]

66. Mombasa's country: KENYA.  Mombasa is a coastal city in southeastern Kenya along the Indian Ocean.  Centered on an island, the city extends onto the mainland.  It was the first capital of British East Africa, before Nairobi.

67. JPEG, e.g.: IMAGE.  A JPEG (Joint Photographic Experts Group) file is a popular, compressed image format (.jpg, .jpeg) ideal for digital photos.

68. Dispenser at a bar: TAP.

69. Beginning stage: ONSET.

70. Took to the impound lot: TOWED.

71. Pres. before DDE: HST.  Before Dwight D. Eisenhower, there was Harry S. Truman.

Down:

1. Tech expo presentations: DEMOS.

2. Share a view: OPINE.

3. Lowest point: NADIR.

4. Backbone-related: SPINAL.

5. Delay in a livestream: LAG.

6. "Kinda": ISH.

7. Gospel great James: ETTA.  Crossword puzzles love this songstress.

Etta James

8. Grapple, slangily: RASSLE.

9. Neat and well-groomed: CLEAN CUT.

10. "Parks and __": REC.  Parks and Recreation (also known as Parks and Rec) is a political satire mockumentary television sitcom that aired on NBC from 2009 to 2015. The series stars Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks and Recreation Department of the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. I found the first few episodes unbearable, but apparently it improved.

Amy Poehler in Parks and Recreation

11. Poet of ancient Rome: OVID.

12. Bodies of water: SEAS.

13. Exchange for cash: SELL.

18. Like myths about Asgard: NORSE.

19. Walkway over water: PIER.

24. Girl, in Guatemala: NIÑA.

25. Autobahn auto: OPEL.  Opel began as a sewing machine manufacturer founded by Adam Opel in 1862 in Rüsselsheim am Main.  They began making bicycles in 1886 and produced their first automobile in 1899.  The company was responsible for the world's first rocket-powered flights in 1928 and 1929.  In 1929, General Motors took a majority stake in Opel and then full control in 1931, establishing American ownership of the German automaker for nearly 90 years.  In 2017, PSA Peugeot Citroën acquired Opel, which is still headquartered in Rüsselsheim am Main.

Opel's 2026 all electric auto will sell for 25,000 euros.

27. FedEx alternative: DHL.  DHL (named after founders Dalsey, Hillblom and Lynn) is a multinational logistics company, founded in the United States and headquartered in Bonn, Germany.  It provides courier, package delivery, and express mail services.

DHL in the USA

29. Fish sticks?: POLES.  OOF!  Fishing poles.

30. Basic particle: ATOM.

31. Mineral in leafy greens: IRON.  And protein!  DH is cooking up fresh spinach as I type.

32. River float: RAFT.

33. Camel feature: HUMP.

34. Biblical twin: ESAU.  His fraternal twin was Jacob.  Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of lentils.  He was hungry!

35. Suite part: ROOM.

39. Pedaler's perch: BIKE SEAT.

40. Opens, as a trunk: POPS.

41. Still a competitor: IN IT.  Still with me?  You are IN IT to win it!

44. LP fig.: RPM.  An LP (Long Play) record typically plays at 33 1/3 RPM (revolutions per minute).

46. Tantalize: TEMPT.

48. Classical composer Stravinsky: IGOR.  Igor Stravinsky (1882-1971) was a Russian composer and conductor with French citizenship (from 1934) and American citizenship (from 1945).  He is widely considered one of the most important composers of the 20th century and a pivotal figure in modernist music.  His third ballet, The Rite of Spring, caused a near-riot at the premiere in 1913 due to its avant-garde nature.  But then, there were four near-riots in European concert halls that year!

49. "Anything you want!": NAME IT.

50. Was a potty mouth: CUSSED.

53. Soup liquid: BROTH.

54. Turkish coins: LIRAS.

55. Red Sea nation: EGYPT.  My cousin's wife is currently climbing pyramids.  DH's best bud cruised the Nile recently.  It's trending.

56. Fashion designer Marc: ECKO.  Marc Ecko followed his artistic inclination into T-shirt design and made a name for himself with hip-hop and skater fashions.  He's an emeritus member of the Board of Directors of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and is known for charitable works.

Marc Ecko

57. Bank's property claim: LIEN.

58. Cozy lodgings: INNS.

60. Red friend of Grover: ELMO.

Oscar the Grouch, Grover, Elmo, and Cookie Monster

63. Henna, for one: DYE.  Natural henna is made from a plant (Lawsonia inermis) and turns hair and skin a reddish color.  Could ELMO be using henna?

64. Statute: LAW.

65. Get on in years: AGE.  Presumably, this is what the prince and Cinderella did when they lived happily ever after.

Solvers, how did you like today's CROSSword puzzle?

Were you ULTRA successful? 😀 Or did you STUMBLE?  😬

Kindly OPINE below!

-- NaomiZ

Sunday January 4, 2026 Doug Peterson

Theme: "CONFOUNDED" - CON is added to the start of each common phrase.

27. Bistro where diners rarely get what they order?: CONFUSION RESTAURANT. Fusion restaurant.

37. One who makes a huge profit in the gaming industry?: CONSOLE BENEFICIARY. Sole beneficiary. 

50. Museum employee who specializes in topographic maps?: CONTOUR GUIDE. Tour guide.

67. Well-secured garden vines?: CONSTRAINED PEAS. Strained peas.

89. Inflatables ridden in a river race?: CONTEST TUBES. Test tubes.

97. Inchworm with a successful YouTube channel?: CONTENT CATERPILLAR. Tent caterpillar. 

109. Remodel of a badly designed airport terminal?: CONCOURSE CORRECTION. Course correction. 

I think "Confound" works as a title too, right, as CON is FOUND.

Very consistent set, all the CON are inserted in the first word. And the theme entries are all quite long, occupying a total 113 squares. Super smooth fill, Doug is one of a kind. He can make easy Monday puzzles. And he can also make hard stumpers. He's also a test solvers for Patti. 

Across:

1. Geyser output: STEAM.

6. Cause to blush: ABASH.

11. Some Caribbean exports: RUMS. Ideal climate to grow sugarcane there.

15. "Goldberg Variations" composer: BACH.

19. Blender button: PULSE.

20. Marisa who plays Peter Parker's aunt: TOMEI. 

21. Cookie with six Thanksgiving-inspired flavors: OREO.

22. Crass: RUDE.

23. Dined at home: ATE IN.

24. Massage: KNEAD.

25. Annapolis sch.: USNA. 

26. "For All Mankind" side: Abbr.: USSR. Sci-fi drama for Apple TV. Wikipedia says "The series dramatizes an alternate history depicting "what would have happened if the global space race had never ended" after the Soviet Union succeeds in the first crewed Moon landing ahead of the United States".

31. Bullpen stat: ERA.

32. Get into: DON.

33. Poke bowl choice: AHI.  Looks delicious. 

34. Vassals: SERFS.

44. Branch of Islam: SHIA.

47. Part to play: ROLE.

48. Give off: EXUDE.

49. Chaney of classic horror: LON.

55. Marvel superhero with martial arts expertise: IRON FIST. He knows Kung Fu too. 

57. Road beneath a freeway: UNDERPASS.

58. Uncomfortable spot: ZIT.

60. Layers: STRATA.

61. TV actress Susan: DEY.

62. Understood: GOT.

63. Parts of quotes: PRICES.

66. Black stone: ONYX.

72. Word in classic mystery novel titles: CASE.

75. Kumquat shade: ORANGE. It's called "golden orange" in Chinese.

76. Concert piece: AMP.

77. Long-running CBS drama: CSI.

80. Part of a vague threat: OR ELSE.

83. Nail art brand: OPI.

84. Row of stores: STRIP MALL. I also love this fill: 87. Sunday planning that makes weeknight dinners easier, say: MEAL PREP.

92. Shiba __: INU.

93. Maximum or minimum: LIMIT.

95. Shoddy: POOR.

96. The Hawkeye State: IOWA.

103. "Goosebumps" series writer: STINE (R. L.)

104. Retro hip beer, for short: PBR. Pabst Blue Ribbon.

105. Coconut __: OIL.

106. Hosts, for short: MCS.

117. Storyline: PLOT.

119. River of northern Spain: EBRO.

120. Made manageable: TAMED.

121. "The Studio" actress Catherine: O'HARA.

122. In short supply: RARE.

123. Corporate image: LOGO.

124. "Judge Mathis" event: TRIAL.

125. Election Day figure: VOTER. 

126. Doesn't rent: OWNS.

127. Abound (with): TEEM.

128. In a suitable way: APTLY.

129. Clear: ERASE.

Down:

1. __ bar: SPACE.

2. Teach privately: TUTOR.

3. Two-time WNBA MVP __ Delle Donne: ELENA.

4. "Ew! No!": AS IF.

5. Mexican soup made with tripe: MENUDO. Tripe and red chili.

6. Guitarist Chet who helped create the Nashville sound: ATKINS.

7. Pro __: at no charge: BONO.

8. "Right on!": AMEN.

9. Cook the surface of: SEAR.

10. Sleeper sofa: HIDE-A-BED.

11. Ordinary: ROUTINE.

12. __ Major: URSA.

13. OpenTable link: MENU.

14. Skyrocket: SOAR. As my health insurance did. Scary. 

15. Country surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak: BRUNEI. Fun trivia clue.

 

16. Like koalas: AUSTRALIAN.

17. IRA options: CDS.

18. See 29-Down: HER. 29. With 18-Down, pronoun pair: SHE.

28. Daughter's brother: SON.

30. Way up: ASCENT.

35. Extremely unfriendly: FROSTY.

36. Sentence structure: SYNTAX.

37. Blanchett with two Oscars: CATE.

38. Agcys.: ORGS.

39. Singers Reed and Rawls: LOUS.

40. Yale student: ELI.

41. Left: EXITED.

42. Dog coat: FUR.

43. Rite words: I DOS.

44. Skim along, as clouds: SCUD. Learned from doing crosswords.

45. Sharpen: HONE.

46. Memorial Day weekend race, casually: INDY.

51. Chem class for premeds: ORGO. Organic Chemistry.

52. "__ further reflection ... ": UPON.

53. "Midnight Cowboy" hustler: RATSO. Ratso Rizzo. "Hey, I'm walking here"

 

54. Online mag: E ZINE.

56. Curly hairstyles, informally: FROS.

59. Zamboni surface: ICE.

63. Freak out: PANIC.

64. Semi: RIG.

65. Trades barbs: SPARS.

67. Minesweeper unit: CELL.

68. Torrid Zone boundary: TROPIC. Guangzhou is near the Tropic. The week around the Chinese Spring Festival is often the coldest time of year. Even then, temperatures typically remain above 32F.

69. Sharp knock: RAP.

70. Give off: EMIT.

71. Spot on a sked: APPT.

72. Stand-up individuals?: COMICS. Stand-up comic. 

73. "We __ alone": ARE NOT.

74. Narwhal: SEA UNICORN. Because of its spiral tusk.

77. Baja resort, familiarly: CABO.

78. Whole lot: SLEW.

79. The "kid" in "Here's looking at you, kid": ILSA.

81. Organ near the pancreas: SPLEEN.

82. CNN anchor Burnett: ERIN. And  86. ABC News anchor David: MUIR.

84. "Enough!": STOP.

85. Actress Polo: TERI.

88. First aid pro: EMT.

90. "The Mikado," for one: OPERETTA.

91. Scand. kingdom: NOR.

94. Place to make draft picks: TAP ROOM. Non-sports related.

98. IRA options: T NOTES.

99. Network that airs "TBBT" reruns: TBS. "The Big Bang Theory".

100. Imperious: LORDLY.

101. Tell tales: LIE.

102. Cozy spot: ALCOVE.

106. Mazda two-seater: MIATA.

107. Apple centers: CORES.

108. Drum kit piece: SNARE.

110. Saxon foe: CELT.

111. Wind with keys: OBOE.

112. Hankering: URGE.

113. Complain querulously: CARP.

114. Conveniently leave out, maybe: OMIT.

115. Word in some Spanish team names: REAL. Meaning "Royal". Real Madrid, e.g.

116. Hammer-wielding god: THOR.

117. __ rata: PRO.

118. Brief topic: LAW.

I made today's puzzle for Slate. Click here to give it a whirl! It was edited by the fantastic Quiara Vasquez, who added so much fun trivia and sparkle to the clues.

I'd love to hear about your solving experience. 

C.C.