FWTE
On a Monday?
Yes.
I did.
Why, you ask?
Because I put in WOWie and didn't cross check.
I like WOWZA better, and the crosses were straightforward, so that's 100% on me. On the other hand, I did find this puzzle played harder than expected for a Monday. Not entirely sure why, although there are a number of three letter abbreviations, such as ORG, DJS, MGS, FBI, FCC, PST, GIS, STS. SOS! Add on top things like APBIO, ICANT (didn't love the clue here - maybe "Words from one who's at a loss" would be better), and LSDTAB (a very good answer, but more challenging than most Monday answers), and I can see why I took longer than typical.
I'd like to give the theme TWOTHUMBSUP, but I'm not sure I can. Five catchphrases, but NOSOUPFORYOU is just a memorable line from the show, not a catchphrase. A very memorable line, mind you! I love it, and the memories it recalls. But it doesn't fit in with the other four.
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| New York State's MOTTO |
I don't mean to be SEVERE. I know that I couldn't put together such a puzzle. And I don't want to be accused of sour grapes either. All us solvers are allowed performances that might charitably be termed BOMBS.
So without getting too META, IMOUT.
- Colum
I too had WOWie at first, but since I did the puzzle in around ten minutes, I probably had seven more minutes than you to make corrections:) You are certainly right that NOSOUPFORYOU is an outlier among the theme answers. I think, though, that you could find a couple definitions of "catch phrase" (or "catchphrase") under which it would qualify. My twenty-six-year-old son, understandably, had a much tougher time with this one than I did. When Ebert and Siskel are relatively recent among themers, you know the puzzle skews old. Speaking of old, I started typing in andawaywego for 49-across until I realized it came up one letter short. I like the nostalgia, and I think it's better than the average Monday, so I'll give it TWOTHUMBSUP. But not TWOTHUMBSwayUP.
ReplyDeleteWow - where is Frances when I need someone to sugarcoat their commentary? Thanks for keeping it real Colum!
ReplyDeleteI was trying to be harsher on my own performance than on yours, Bruce! Probably I could have done a better job of making that clear in my review.
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