Constructor: Colin Adams
Relative difficulty: Easy (except for a single square ...)
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THEME: none
Word of the Day: NIKKI Glaser (29A: Comedian Glaser) —
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A good puzzle ruined by a textbook Natick—a single square that I had no way of knowing. A single square that I had to guess at. I guessed wrong. That is the nature of a guess—sometimes you're wrong. I thought my guess was based on solid inferences. I thought it was the more likely of the two options, based on the info in the clues and what I knew about the subjects involved. But nope. Final square—incorrect. Would've been a totally different result if that square had simply been a different letter. Change the "K" in FAKIE (!??!!?!?!?!) to FACIE (as in the term "prima FACIE"), and I got it ... because I know the term "prima FACIE," unlike the term FAKIE, which, as I say, "!??!!?!?!?!" If "K" had been "C" then NIKKI would've been NICKI, which, it turns out, is exactly how some people spell that name. Examples? Oh, I dunno, NICKI ****ing Minaj, for one. Worse, the FAKIE clue (24D: Going backward, in skateboarding slang) had nothing in it that indicated "fake," but it did refer explicitly to the direction the skater is "facing." Because that clue suggested "face" and In No Way suggested "fake," and because NICKI is, in fact, a way (a famous way) to spell that name, I guessed wrong. Did the rest of the puzzle happen? Don't know, don't care. From where I sit, the most baffling editorial choice I've seen in a while—making that a "K" instead of a "C."
Relative difficulty: Easy (except for a single square ...)
Word of the Day: NIKKI Glaser (29A: Comedian Glaser) —
Nikki Glaser (/ˈɡleɪsər/; born June 1, 1984) is an American stand-up comedian, actress, and television host. She hosted the television series Not Safe with Nikki Glaser, which premiered on Comedy Central in 2016. She starred in the 2022 reality show Welcome Home Nikki Glaser? on E! She hosted the reality TV dating shows Blind Date (2019) on Bravo and FBoy Island (2021–2023) on HBO Max and The CW and its spinoff Lovers and Liars on The CW. She also hosted the 2025 Golden Globe Awards, which made her the first solo female host in Golden Globes history.She has acted in the Amy Schumer comedy films Trainwreck (2015) and I Feel Pretty (2018) and has appeared on shows such as Inside Amy Schumer and A.P. Bio. She has competed in competition shows such as Dancing with the Stars (2018) and The Masked Singer (2022). She has also participated in the roasts of Rob Lowe (2016), Bruce Willis (2018), Alec Baldwin (2019), and Tom Brady (2024). She has received nominations at the Critics' Choice Television Awards, Golden Globe Awards, Grammy Awards, and Primetime Emmy Awards. (wikipedia)
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To be clear, I have no problem with either FAKIE or NIKKI being in the grid. The comedian is definitely crossworthy—I knew her! Just not how to spell her first name, apparently—and FAKIE ... is stupid (as is the idea that I'm supposed to know any skateboarding term beyond "OLLIE"—but as long as the crosses are fair, I got no problem with stupid things outside my wheelhouse. Happens every day. It's *specifically* the cross at the "K" that is the problem. For reasons stated. As I said, the rest of the grid was good—at least, that's what I vaguely remember. This is a total self-own (self-pwn?). But hey, if I'm the only one who had an issue there, then ... honestly, I'll be surprised, but strange things happen, who knows? If I'm a total outlier, apologies for not feeling like taking the time to talk about how much I liked the rest of the grid. Naticks are fatal errors. They suck all the joy out of the solve. Hard to write about the joyful parts of a puzzle when the feeling of joy has been completely drained away.
["And every stop is neatly planned / For a poet and a ONE-MAN BAND..."]
But before the last horrible square, I remember enjoying the BARHOPPING—the WET MARTINIs and the PIÑA COLADAs (side by side!), and ... I mean, OREO COOKIEs are an unusual bar snack, but OK, why not? (not in love with the redundancy of OREO COOKIE, but ... the phrase was probably used in advertising at some point, and it was easy to get, so I'm not really mad). Clean fill and strong longer answers everywhere I look, honestly. TIME TO KILL. ONE-MAN BAND. ZERO TO HERO. This would've been a well above-average Friday themeless. But the "K" square is the "K" square, and it's all I'm going to remember (unless I can forget this experience entirely, which I'm hoping tomorrow's puzzle helps me to do).
Assorted observations:![]()
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Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
[Follow Rex Parker on BlueSky and Facebook]
Assorted observations:
- 18A: Sue at Chicago's Field Museum, e.g. (T-REX)— I remember seeing this clue for the first time years ago and thinking "how the hell should I know? I've never spent any time in Chicago" (seriously, still true—I should fix that). But now, this clue is a gimme. This either speaks to my ability to learn or the puzzle's inability to be more creative. Either way, gimme.
- 21A: Jewelry designer Picasso (PALOMA) — missed opportunity to make this puzzle even cocktailier than it already is. I had my first PALOMA this past summer—apparently they're very popular, but they're not really for me, as I have become less and less of a fan of juice or soda in my cocktails over the years. Just the hard stuff, please, no fizz or fruit, thanks. Anyway, a PALOMA is tequila, lime juice, and grapefruit soda, although there are all kinds of variations
- 34A: "Fortunate Son" subject, informally ('NAM) — this seems like a term Americans who served there might say, but in everyone else's mouth, this abbrev. has always felt ... off. Inappropriate, somehow. Unless you're referring to the long-running D.C. comic book The 'NAM (1986-93)—if it's in an actual title (or if, say, it were in the actual lyrics of the CCR song in question today), then it's fine.
- 40A: Ancient Greek city known for its ornate columns (CORINTH) — I was looking for something related to DORIC or IONIC, the only two "column" types I know. I know CORINTH mainly for its allegedly rich leather ...
- 7D: Pot grower's activity? (POKER) — two POKER clues (see also ANTE) and I didn't even flinch! This is what happens when you ply me with cocktails... annoyability: diminished.
- 51A: ___ Lewis, first recipient of the James Beard Living Legend Award (EDNA) — probably should've been Word of the Day today. Never heard of her. I took one look at -DN-, and wrote in EDNA w/o even glancing at the clue.
Edna Regina Lewis (April 13, 1916 – February 13, 2006) was a renowned American chef, teacher, and author who helped refine the American view of Southern cooking. She championed the use of fresh, in season ingredients and characterized Southern food as fried chicken (pan-, not deep-fried), pork, and fresh vegetables – most especially greens. She wrote and co-wrote four books which covered Southern cooking and life in a small community of freed slaves and their descendants. (wikipedia)
- 44D: Its name in Botswana is the same as the word for "money" (RAIN) — interesting, I guess, but absolutely no help in getting the answer. Is the idea that RAIN means crops means ... money? (yes, rain is scarce in the Kalahari, so it's a blessing in more ways than one)
- 39D: What pogonophobia is the fear of (BEARDS) — I would've thought fear of pogo sticks ... or the comic strip "Pogo" ("Pogo!? No!!!!").
- 44A: 50 Cent piece? (RAP) — 50 Cent is a rapper (and actor) of some renown. But you probably knew that.
- 36D: Subtly flirts with (WINKS AT) — LOL. I thought you said "subtly." Winking at someone is not "subtle"; it's overt and either corny, creepy, or hilarious, depending on context.
See you next time.
[Follow Rex Parker on BlueSky and Facebook]