Ryan solves the NYT, 10-21-9
On Monday night I (Ryan, not Brian) experienced the most crushing defeat of my long career as a Dodger fan. It was miserable. An electronic component was destroyed, a wife was woken up, a fetal position was curled into. Why on earth did that have to happen? I do hope they recover. I hope they’re doing a better job of recovering than I am. I hope they win tonight. I hope the season doesn’t end like last year: me, at work, watching game 5 against the Phillies and wondering what the hell happened. I really hope I’m at home on Friday night watching game 6.
Ok, on to today’s puzzle by Peter A. Collins, a very nice puzzle with a very nice theme.
65A. Genre for 1- & 22-Across, 22- & 26 Across, 26- & 46-Across and 46- & 49-Across (POP). And when you put those pairs of entries together you get:
BOY GEORGE
GEORGE MICHAEL
MICHAEL JACKSON
JACKSON BROWNE
I guess it’s a popstar name ladder. Is this the first popstar name ladder to appear in the New York Times? Is this the first popstar name ladder to appear anywhere? Jim Horne, answers please.
Long time readers of the blog will remember I know next to nothing about music but, in this instance, I can name at least one song from the first three popstars. On the other hand, I wouldn’t know a Jackson Browne song if it bit me on the ass. I’m looking on wikipedia and none of the songs they list ring a bell or any other musical instrument.
I just went to youtube with the intention of posting a Jackson Browne song but then I figured that’s what you all would be expecting me to do. So, instead, here’s a guy with the last name of Brown solving a Rubik’s cube while on a pogo stick.
Can we keep this popstar name ladder going? Are there any popstars with Browne as their first name?
Other highlights:
I had trouble with the crossing of OVO (35A. Ab ___ (from the start) and OVOLO (31D. Convex molding). Is that a fair crossing? If POP was crossed with POPCORN would people take that sitting down? I guess the example isn’t really the same since I’ve actually heard of both POP and POPCORN while I remain in serious doubt about the actual existence of an OVO and an OVOLO. Also, I wouldn’t know a convex molding if it bit Jackson Browne on the ass.
20A. Flying A competitor (ESSO). I’ve been called a Flying A more than a number of times. I had no idea I was being compared to a gas company. I guess that makes me feel a little better.
38A. Barrio quaffs (VINOS). I don’t understand this one.
18D. “Oh, ___!” (Pooh expression) (BOTHER). Hey, why does my food taste funny?
22D. Dharma’s sitcom spouse (GREG). I somehow missed this entire show. Is it still on?
55D. Where the traitorous Vidkun Quisling lived (OSLO). What is this? Is this from Harry Potter?
Fun puzzle, today.
Next stop, Thursday.
