Ryan and Brian Do Crosswords

This week’s motto: “We will never again be what we have already been.” (We don’t understand this one.)

Somehow, it feels like it’s been months since our last episode. Is that true? We’re not sure. If you have an opinion on this, you should write a review about us on iTunes, and also email us with your thoughts. We can be reached at rbxblog at gmail dot com.

This week’s episode does not include:

• a proper introduction
• Ryan saying the name of our theme song
• anyone playing that damn green pickle turd
• a satisfactory abbreviation for players in the American League
• a running time of less than 38 minutes

Without these features, how could you possibly enjoy this episode? That, dear viewers, is our challenge to you.

 

 Fill Me In #080: This one night, Charlize Theron tickled my stomach. [38:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Zambezi and oat.

We have risen from the e-ashes! We may have been hacked a week ago, but that won’t stop us. Of course, none of you noticed, but we were destroyed! and emotionally scarred! and now we’re back!

This is the seventy-ninth of an ongoing weekly series where your hosts, Brian Cimmet and Ryan Hecht, talk about crosswords, crossword solvers, crossword constructors, and a whole bunch of whatever else they just happen to think of.

Today’s episode includes:

• Answers we got right and wrong (including Peter Maas, Isaac Asimov and Amy Tan)
• People who both write to us and don’t (including Daniel Rosen and Jonah Kagan)
• Contests that may or may not earn you prizes (such as cookies or puzzle books in Italian — they are on the way!)
• Also a ton of bumping the microphones. We’re not sure why. We think it’s Brian’s fault.

We feel fairly confident that if you liked at least 30% of the past seventy-eight episodes, you have a 30% chance of liking this one. Besides, it includes a reference to this video:

But now, the podcast:

 

 Fill Me In #079: Go to Connecticut, take a right, and just keep going. [35:44m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

If you have a chance, rate us on iTunes. We’re trying to reach double figures in the category of “number of reviews.”

Zambezi and oat.

NOTE: This is an attempt to restore the blog version of Episode 78 after The Great RBX Hack of 2009. If you encounter any weirdness with this post or this episode (or anything, really), please let us know.

This week’s motto: “Next week’s title will be funnier.”

Below, please find the web-based version of “Fill Me In, a crossword podcast.” You can also get this show on iTunes by clicking the appropriate iTunes button to the right.

In a sadly unsurprising move, this episode contains frighteningly little about crossword puzzles. However, we have learned that our viewers are not dead set on puzzle talk — in fact, several enjoy the banter more than the analysis, the guest stars more than the hosts and in particular, the voices of those other than the people who actually show up at the studio. As a result, here’s what you get this week:

• Pickle tips with Amanda’s voice
• Email from a vacuum cleaner
• A not-really-legitimate use of ARRR
• Brian’s sister

Also — check out these pictures.

The guys on the left is the actor Jack Shea from “Nightmare on Elm Street.” On the right is our dear friend Mike Nothnagel, Pen Pal Extraordinaire and Constructor of the Friday Puzzle and the Oracle. (The photo of Mike was taken during his Serious Era, specifically, while serving as a judge at Lollapuzzoola 2.) Separated at birth? You decide!

That’s what we’ve got to show for it. What have you done lately?

 

 Fill Me In #078: A random sort of thing. [37:07m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Zambezi and oat.

NOTE: This is an attempt to restore the blog version of Episode 77 after The Great RBX Hack of 2009. If you encounter any weirdness with this post or this episode (or anything, really), please let us know.

Today’s podcast title comes from the results of a poll conducted right here on this very blog.nbsp; You cannot argue with the data.

Here’s what’s coming up on today’s show:

• Woodwinds
• A visitation
• The C chord makes a triumphant return
• Ryan sees something on the horizon
• The father of a boy named Sue
• Two Pasadenas for the price of one

We are still looking for audio of fictional lyric soprano Rosanna Nler. If anybody knows where we can find some clips please let us know.

 

 Fill Me In #077: The Phillies super cream cheese monkey a*s suck. [37:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Zambezi and oat.

Imagine for a moment that you’ve never heard of this podcast, but you’re here listening for the first time. You should probably read our informational page. New listeners — we welcome you, and because we don’t want to lose you, we think you might want to learn more about the show before you feel completely disoriented.

(Loyal viewers, we hope that you have gotten accustomed to your general sense of disorientation while listening to this show.)

Here’s what’s in store within Episode The Seventy-Sixth:

• Gina Gershon’s lips
• A musical tripod
• Reverend Spooner, and whether he existed
• Summer camp, and whether Ryan went
• All the other typical stuff: Viewer Mail, Fiction with Thomas Heilman, The Thunder Round, and all the nonsense we can fit into 37 minutes.

Share and enjoy!

 

 Fill Me In #076: The dictionary is the enemy of the podcast. [36:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Zambezi and oat.

NOTE: Comments are on the rebound. We’ve re-instated the IntenseDebate software, because it was the only way we could get this blog to rebuild the comment logs. If you have problems posting, please email us at [rbxblog at gmail dot com]. Thanks!

Why does it feel like it’s been years since the last episode? Our new motto: “Our fun makes time fly so fast, you don’t even realize you’re dying while you listen.”

Today on the show, we are providing the following forms of audio entertainment:

• One new podcast, fresh out of the hard drive
• Parts Two and Three of the latest Fiction With Thomas Heilman
• Four winners to last week’s contest
• Five puzzles by Patrick Berry
• Six answers from the Oracle
• And (seven plus eight plus nine) additional minutes of nonsense.

We’ve got Greeks, Romans, and the song stylings of a lyric tenor we’d never heard of before. Tune in — you don’t want to miss this one.

 

 Fill Me In #075: [They may go up in a plane.] [35:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Zambezi and oat.

Once again, it’s not the most exciting episode, but whatever — it’s the only crossword podcast out there, so until someone gives us reason to improve, we’ll continue to present you with a little more than a half hour of mediocrity every Tuesday morning.

This time, it’s Episode 74. Here’s a little taste of what’s inside:

• Brief references to a few of Justin Long’s movies
• Another lunch option besides a cheeseburger and fries
• Another 34.8 minutes worth of show, but as I write this blurb, I can’t remember a single thing we didn’t edit out

Seriously — we’re going to try and make Episode 75 worth listening to. Just be patient.

 

 Fill Me In #074: And if you also went to Vassar, we'll say your name next week. [36:12m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Zambezi and oat

We’re kinda hoping that not much happens in the world of puzzles over this upcoming week, because we had such a huge show today that we had to save two segments for next time. What did we decide to actually leave in Episode 73? Check it out:

• a Viewer Mail bag with people who have either never written in or have only rarely written in
• suggestions for how to make Bingo worse next time
• a surprise musical performance from Ryan and Brian
• an even more surprise musical performance from Sammy the Dentist
• and the piece de resistance: our roving reporter Amanda talks to us about the Pleasantville tournament

Last week, as you all know, we played Bingo during the show. Andrea Carla Michaels won, and as requested, sent us a picture of herself demonstrating her glee:

Also, we received a few images from non-winners (that’s the nicer term). First, from David Stein and his son; then, from Xan Vongsathorn’s name.

All in all, a successful voyage. And now — on with Episode 73!

 

 Fill Me In #073: A small break from daily indoctrination. [35:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Zambezi and oat

Our new motto: “Maybe next time, we’ll get it right.”

It’s Episode 72 of Fill Me In, and we still continue insisting through practice that we are qualified to do a podcast. If you’re new to the show, you should check out our info page. If you’re not new to the show, good luck keeping up.

In today’s episode, we have a number of new and exciting features:

• Live semi-interactive bingo!
• A field reporter from the past!
• A thunder round bonus sound effect not provided by us! (And no, we don’t understand it either!)

Hey, and you thought it would just be the same garbagey nonsense we usually do.

 

 Fill Me In #072: ...and Bingo was his name-o. [38:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Zambezi and oat.

The big news: Ryan is back from Italy!

The lesser news: Despite 47 votes on last week’s poll, not a single one of you voted in favor of us abandoning our podcast. So, here we are with Episode 71. Tra la. Check this out:

• Ryan runs into an old friend in Italy
• Various names anagram into funny phrases
• Brian and Ryan fight over what is or is not accomplished
• Viewer mail, contests, thunder, etc.

Furthermore, we have two bits of media to share. One is a video of the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain performing “Wuthering Heights.” The other is a photo of me eating ham salad. That’s right, it’s been over a year, but I finally did it. And if that wasn’t enough — Ryan and I made the ham salad from scratch. Take that, Dan Feyer!

 

 Fill Me In #071: I'm in a ukulele band. [35:33m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Zambezi and oat.