Ryan and Brian Do Crosswords

Continuing a recent trend of improbableness here on Ryan and Brian Do Crosswords, I just solved this Saturday Mark Diehl puzzle in about a half hour.  How the hell does something like that happen?

This brings up the interesting question of how Will Shortz determines what day of the week a certain puzzle will appear.  For me, today’s puzzle was no harder, and perhaps even a little easier, than yesterday’s Friday puzzle.  But there was clearly something about this puzzle that made Mr. Shortz feel it was too hard for a Friday.  I wonder what that was.

I was able to get a good start because of a number of relatively easy clues.

5A. Peruvian Sumac (YMA).  I’m not sure what else this could be.  A type of tree, perhaps?

24D. Sports star with an accent in his name (PELE).  Sports star + 4 letters + accent = PELE.

59D. Colony member (ANT).  I’m surprised this Monday-style clue showed up in today’s puzzle.  I feel there must be a more difficult way to clue ANT.  Not that I’m complaining.

57A. Pitcher Saberhagen (BRET).  I guess if you don’t know anything about baseball this might be a toughie.

Those and a few others got me started and, somehow, I was able to keep going until all the boxes were filled in with correct letters.  I think this was the first time this week I only had to submit my answer once.

Getting away from the difficulty factor, I thought the puzzle was lots of fun.  A good mix of pop culture, history and in-the-language phrases.

28A. ___ Volcanic National Park (LASSEN).  Pickles and I have actually been here.  We drove through here quickly on trip through Northern California.  The whole place smells of sulfur.  Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to go to Bumpus Hell.

1A. Brand for preparation on a stovetop (JIFFY POP).  If you’re ever in dire need of some salt make yourself some Jiffy Pop.  Suck on a few kernels and you should be good for at least a couple of weeks.

23A. Where pins are made (MAT).  I enjoyed this one.

29A. Fifth-year exams at Hogwarts (OWLS).  My god, people really like these books.  They should make them into movies or something.

I also enjoyed OPEN YOUR EYES as another way to say, “Look, Bonehead!” and ALL GUSSIED UP for Dressed to the nines.

Did JAVA MAN live during the IRON AGE?

If you while growing up you were a girl, did you or did you not spend your free time drawing ODIE?  Be honest.

There were a few inhabitants of the puzzle who were unknown to me.  ADELA Rogers St. John.  TIERNEY of Laura.  ANN BLYTH of Mildred Pierce.  I’m just now realizing the Crimes of Love author is Marquis DE SADE.

So, what did you guys think?  On what day of the week would you have published it?

Next stop, Sunday.