Constructor: Joe Krozel and Peter Collins
Relative difficulty: Easy-Medium
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THEME: YOU GO YOUR WAY / ENIM OG LL'I DNA (i.e. "and I'll go mine")— Across answers in top half of the grid go the normal way, while in the bottom half they go BACKWARD (33A: How the Across answers appear in the broom half of this puzzle); also DRAWKCAB (38A: How the Across answers appear in the top half of this puzzle vis-a-vis the bottom)
Word of the Day:"MARTHA" (25D: Onetime daytime talk show) —
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Not much of a theme—I've seen the backward answer gimmick at least a few times before (here's one), and with a more compelling hook—but being forced to think backward adds a nice wrinkle to the solve, so while it's not great work, it's a decent diversion. Not sure why the fill is as weak as it is. This is not exactly a demanding grid. It's no harder to fill a puzzle backward than forward; the conceit exerts no extra pressure on the grid. So you really have just four themers—the other stuff should be *tight* with that little restriction. But what we have here is adequate to something slightly south of that. Longer Downs are decent. But I really shouldn't be looking at RATA EDUC LITE stack, or ATTA ENDAT ESSE LBOS [ARTSET] [THETAB] [DEES] [DEJA] AGAPE DES'REE. Grid should have more zing. But after Tuesday's puzzle, everything looks dreamy, so I'm sufficiently content with what I got today.
I'm pretty sure this puzzle sets a record for the Longest Dupe ever allowed in an NYX puzzle. But I guess if you run the same word BACKWARD, it magically becomes a different word. Or maybe only when you run BACKWARD BACKWARD. And then tap your heels three times and say "Candyman Beetlejuice Redrum." Further, I don't know this "revealer" with an "AND" in it. I'm sure it's valid. But the "AND" seems optional. I'm discussing this only because I had to think about how to make "I'LL GO MINE" fit into a spot three squares too big for it. Hiccup. You've got your troubles, [and] I've got mine. You take the high road, [and] I'll take the low road. You be me for a while, [and] I'll be you.
Relative difficulty: Easy-Medium
THEME: YOU GO YOUR WAY / ENIM OG LL'I DNA (i.e. "and I'll go mine")— Across answers in top half of the grid go the normal way, while in the bottom half they go BACKWARD (33A: How the Across answers appear in the broom half of this puzzle); also DRAWKCAB (38A: How the Across answers appear in the top half of this puzzle vis-a-vis the bottom)
Word of the Day:"MARTHA" (25D: Onetime daytime talk show) —
Martha, also known as The Martha Stewart Show, is an American variety talk show that is hosted by Martha Stewart. The series premiered on September 11, 2005, in syndication until it was picked up by the Hallmark Channel in September 2010 as part of a larger deal that turned over most of the cable network's daytime schedule to shows from Stewart's production company, MSLO Productions. […] The series' production company came to a consensus with Hallmark to end Martha due to the rising costs. The last episode was shot on April 24, 2012, with it airing on May 11, 2012. […] Each episode includes several segments related to cooking, crafts, gardening, interior design, and other topics related to arts and crafts. The program also features celebrity guests. (wikipedia)
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I'm pretty sure this puzzle sets a record for the Longest Dupe ever allowed in an NYX puzzle. But I guess if you run the same word BACKWARD, it magically becomes a different word. Or maybe only when you run BACKWARD BACKWARD. And then tap your heels three times and say "Candyman Beetlejuice Redrum." Further, I don't know this "revealer" with an "AND" in it. I'm sure it's valid. But the "AND" seems optional. I'm discussing this only because I had to think about how to make "I'LL GO MINE" fit into a spot three squares too big for it. Hiccup. You've got your troubles, [and] I've got mine. You take the high road, [and] I'll take the low road. You be me for a while, [and] I'll be you.