What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle
ESSAY (28A: “Poetry is Not a Luxury,” for one) “Poetry is Not a Luxury” is an ESSAY by Audre Lorde (1934-1992), who was a self-described “Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet.” The ESSAY was first published in 1977, in Chrysalis: A Magazine of Female Culture. The ESSAY discusses how poetry is a vital tool for social and personal transformation and how it acts as a bridge for turning feelings into words and action. Although I know of Audre Lorde, this ESSAY of hers is new to me.
SON (40A: inFAMOUS: Second ___ (video game)) Released in 2014, inFAMOUS: Second SON is the third installment in the Infamous video game series. The game is set in a fictionalized version of Seattle.
TAHOE (6D: Sierra Nevada lake featured in PlayStation’s 1xtreme game) The PlayStation game 1xtreme, also known as ESPN Extreme Games, was released in 1995. It features the sports of the Summer X-Games of 1995. (The X Games are a series of action sports founded by ESPN.) In the video game, the events take place at various venues, including Lake TAHOE. Although I am not familiar with this video game, the answer was inferable as I am familiar with Lake TAHOE, which is located in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and straddles the state lines of California and Nevada.
AVA (38D: Hannah’s “Hacks” role) Hacks is a TV series that premiered in 2021 on HBO Max. Jean Smart portrays Deborah Vance, a comedy diva needing to reinvent her aging act to remain relevant in Las Vegas. Hannah Einbinder portrays AVA Daniels, a young comedy writer down on her luck, who is sent to work as Deborah’s head writer. The use of the first name in the clue alerts solvers that the answer is the character’s first name.
Random Thoughts & Interesting Things
I am not at all surprised that Amie and Amanda managed to work a couple of Taylor Swift references into this puzzle.
SNAKE (13A: “reputation” reptile) Released in 2017, reputation is Taylor Swift’s sixth studio album (her sixth era, you might say). The promotions and artwork for the album and the subsequent reputation tour prominently featured SNAKEs, a response to Taylor Swift having been referred to as a SNAKE on social media.
SINCE (13D: “All I know ___ yesterday is everything has changed”) “All I know SINCE yesterday is everything has changed” is a lyric from the Taylor Swift song, “Everything Has Changed.” The song is from the album Red (2012), and features Ed Sheeran.
We have a couple of football-related clues as bonuses in this football-themed puzzle:
TAMPA (14A: ___ Bay Buccaneers) The TAMPA Bay Buccaneers are an NFL team based in Florida.
LAMBEAU (30A: ___ Field (Packers stadium)) The Green Bay Packers are an NFL team that plays at LAMBEAU Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
IT’S A DRY HEAT (16A: “At least we don’t have humidity here!”) This clue and answer made me laugh! “IT’S A DRY HEAT” is the counterpart to the Midwestern summer mantra “IT’S not the HEAT; IT’S the humidity.”
GAD (33A: “Frozen” star Josh) Josh GAD voices Olaf the snowman in the animated movies Frozen (2013) and Frozen II (2019).
FANTASY DRAFTS (35A: Opportunities to build dream teams) This answer reminds me of a theme answer we saw just three days ago, FANTASY FOOTBALL. Of course, FANTASY DRAFTS are not only a part of FANTASY FOOTBALL leagues, but other FANTASY sports leagues as well. In FANTASY sports leagues, participants select their rosters by participating in FANTASY DRAFTS. Points are then awarded based on the performance of the actual players in real-world games.
EVE (41A: “Killing ___” (Sandra Oh show)) Killing EVE (2018-2022) is a BBC series about an investigator, EVE Polastri, who is tracking the psychopathic assassin, Villanelle. Sandra Oh portrays EVE, and Jodie Comer plays the role of Villanelle. The show is based on the Villanelle series of books by Luke Jennings.
TOAST (54A: Browned bread thrown during some “Rocky Horror” screenings) The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a 1975 movie based on the 1973 musical stage production, The Rocky Horror Show. The movie was received negatively when it was first released, but has become a cult classic and is now the longest-running theatrical release in film history. The movie is often shown at midnight, and features extensive audience participation. Audience members dress up as characters, talk back to the screen, and throw props. At one point when one of the characters proposes a TOAST, audience members throw (unbuttered) TOAST.
STAR WARS DAY (58A: Occasion to say “May the Fourth be with you) STAR WARS DAY is observed by some sci-fi fans annually on May 4. This answer reminds me of the May 4, 2021 puzzle.
STYLE (5D: Chicago-___ pizza) Chicago-STYLE pizza is deep dish pizza. Some people like it, and others don’t. As for me, pizza is one of my favorite foods, and although I have my favorites, I’ve really never had a pizza I didn’t like.
IPA (8D: Its “A: stands for “ale”) IPA stands for India pale ale.
CAT MOM (9D: Woman who might be ignored when she says “pspspsps”) This clue reminds me of the “Pspspsps” puzzle we saw in February of this year (constructed by Amie Walker). Pspspsps is an onomatopoeia used to describe the sound some people make when trying to get a cat’s attention. Oh, and did you know I’m a CAT MOM? I mean, it’s possible there are some readers who are new to “Off the Grid” and don’t know I mention my cat at every opportunity… (If so, welcome!) Here’s a picture of my cat, Willow, ignoring me.
BOBA FETT (22D: “The Mandalorian” character with a spinoff series) The spin-off series mentioned in the clue is The Book of BOBA FETT, a 7-episode miniseries that aired in 2021-2022. I wrote about the bounty hunter BOBA FETT in August.
FLETCHER (35D: “Eras of Us” singer) FLETCHER is a pop artist whose debut studio album, Girl of My Dreams, was released in 2022. “Eras of Us” is a song from FLETCHER’s second studio album, In Search of the Antidote, which was released in March of this year.
ALTER EGO (36D: Hannah Montana, to Miley Stewart) The teen sitcom, Hannah Montana, originally aired from 2006 to 2011. Miley Cyrus portrays Miley Stewart, a teenager living a double life. Miley Stewart’s ALTER EGO is a famous pop singer and the show’s title character, Hannah Montana.
NORAH (49D: Singer and pianist Jones) Singer, songwriter, and pianist NORAH Jones, has won nine Grammy Awards. In addition to her recording career, she hosts a podcast titled, NORAH Jones is Playing Along. The podcast features “impromptu musical collaborations and candid conversation.”
BAWLS (50D: Reacts to the opening scene of “Up,” maybe) Oh my goodness, yes! In the opening scenes of Pixar’s 2009 movie, Up, Carl (the elderly protagonist voiced by Ed Asner) reminisces about his wife Ellie, who is no longer living, and the life they had together. It is extremely sweet and also sad! The last time my husband and I watched Up, I said to him (as I was BAWLing…), “I always forget how sad the first part of this movie is.”
Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis
IT’S A DRY HEAT (16A: “At least we don’t have humidity here!”)
FANTASY DRAFTS (35A: Opportunities to build dream teams)
STAR WARS DAY (58A: Occasion to say “May the Fourth be with you)
SCRAMBLE YARDS: The word YARDS is anagrammed (i.e. SCRAMBLEd) and hidden in each theme answer: IT’S A DRY HEAT, FANTASY DRAFTS, and STAR WARS DAY.
SCRAMBLE YARDS is a football term that refers to the ground covered by a quarterback when a passing play is called but the ball is not passed, and instead the quarterback SCRAMBLEs to avoid being tackled. Add this term to the list of sports things I’ve learned from crossword puzzles. Perhaps more importantly for us today, SCRAMBLE YARDS makes a great title and revealer, with the word SCRAMBLE perfectly hinting at an anagram theme. Thank you, Amie and Amanda, for this enjoyable puzzle.
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