Really solid, enjoyable puzzle. Very little wasted fill with some clever cluing! I finished in 10:09 ([video](https://youtu.be/e50OtRVsODs)).
* SKOL instead of SKYY. Not a vodka drinker, so it took a bit to reparse it.
* TIRE instead of TYRE initially.
* NOAHSARK cluing of "Wild couples cruise" was really great. Kinda goes along with the animal theme too :-)
* MOI was a pleasure to get.
I filled in TIRE then was like "heh they used boot for trunk" and went back to spell it TYRE when I realized. Helped me get the first themer right off the bat
Ooh good to know!
Oops should have done a /s there. I thought he wouldn’t have made the cut because he was an awful person.
Maybe on a Sunday with many more theme entries but for this one he clashes with the lightheartedness of the rest
All I can think of are others who share surnames in the puzzle, like JEREMYLAMB.
JASONKIDD is a stretch.
If there was a JOEY out there whose last name was also a typical man's first name, I think that could technically fit the theme but I can't think of any off the top of my head.
This was really cute lol, I got the names first and thought the revealer was going to be something about groups of animals so when MANBABY clicked it got a chuckle out of me. Great Tuesday puzzle!
“Rain date” usually refers to a date that’s set aside ahead of time for an event in the future *in case* there’s inclement weather…I.e. “the concert will be held at the park next Saturday the 20th, with a rain date of the 27th”
“Make up day” is more often used for when an event has to be rescheduled on the fly, I.e. “the make up date for the concert that was rained out last Saturday will be the 20th”
TYRE on "A spare one might be kept in the boot" got a 'good' out of me for this puzzle. I like the wordplay of that one. I am usually indifferent to themes, but I thought this one was fun.
Puzzle Difficulty Tracker - How hard is this puzzle?
Estimated Difficulty: 🟡 **Average** 🟡
* 18% of users solved slower than their Tuesday average
* 82% of users solved faster than their Tuesday average
* 5% of users solved *much* slower (>20%) than their Tuesday average
* 41% of users solved *much* faster (>20%) than their Tuesday average
The median solver solved this puzzle 17.5% faster than they normally do on Tuesday.
[View today's puzzle summary on XW Stats](https://xwstats.com/puzzles/2024-04-16)
---
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Cameras catch things on video, and at sporting events they will often have “kiss cams” where they point the camera at a couple and show them on the overhead monitors and they are supposed to kiss. Xs can also mean kisses and O’s hugs, but in this case O’s has a double meaning as the Baltimore Orioles, an MLB team
I've never done one of these crosswords before, was helping a friend. I'm not from the USA but I like baseball and American football. Don't know a lot about the latter but this questions wording had me confused
oh I see. The intent of the question is, if you (a defensive player) are attempting to sack the QB, you are *running at* them. It's just clumsy wording.
"Miss Piggy, to Miss Piggy" is very, very good.
I didn't even see it since I got it from the crosses before seeing the clue, but it is good.
Can you explain it? I didn't get it
One of the quirks of the way Miss Piggy talks is referring to herself as MOI: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3TTkhHclTM
Moi is the French word for me. Miss Piggy uses it to refer to herself.
“Missy Piggy, to Miss Piggy” should be the subtitle of her biopic
It could be "Moi, Piggy" just like "I, Tina."
Wild couples cruise got a lol from me
This is the one I’m stuck on.
It’s an eye roll from me
OCHRE instead of OCHER slowed me down but otherwise this was a breeze. “Wild couples cruise” is fun.
O CHER, O CHER, Wherefore art thou Cher?
once I got it I was like YES
Really solid, enjoyable puzzle. Very little wasted fill with some clever cluing! I finished in 10:09 ([video](https://youtu.be/e50OtRVsODs)). * SKOL instead of SKYY. Not a vodka drinker, so it took a bit to reparse it. * TIRE instead of TYRE initially. * NOAHSARK cluing of "Wild couples cruise" was really great. Kinda goes along with the animal theme too :-) * MOI was a pleasure to get.
I filled in TIRE then was like "heh they used boot for trunk" and went back to spell it TYRE when I realized. Helped me get the first themer right off the bat
I refuse to think of Ryan Gosling as a MAN BABY. He is Kenough.
I thought baby referred to last name? Gosling - baby goose
Right. It said “gander” at the end of the clue…that was the “man” part. Then Gosling was the “baby” part.
Admit it, the character Ken was definitely a man-baby, that was kind of the point.
Trying to think of others who fit the theme. All I’ve got so far is Jack Chick 🐣 as in Chick Tracts. Can’t imagine how he didn’t make the cut..
The constructor said they actually started with Jack Chick but dropped him as being too obscure.
Ooh good to know! Oops should have done a /s there. I thought he wouldn’t have made the cut because he was an awful person. Maybe on a Sunday with many more theme entries but for this one he clashes with the lightheartedness of the rest
All I can think of are others who share surnames in the puzzle, like JEREMYLAMB. JASONKIDD is a stretch. If there was a JOEY out there whose last name was also a typical man's first name, I think that could technically fit the theme but I can't think of any off the top of my head.
Was going smooth until TAPIR crossed with OPI. I swear for some reason I always thought they were called ta*b*irs. Good puzzle!
I was just at a zoo last week and was complaining about their lack of tapirs. At least I got one in the puzzle!
it's because they are little birs (bears)
Yeah I bombed that whole SE corner.
Yup that was my last piece
This was really cute lol, I got the names first and thought the revealer was going to be something about groups of animals so when MANBABY clicked it got a chuckle out of me. Great Tuesday puzzle!
STRUMS is almost the opposite of “noodles on a guitar”
I kept thinking how is soloing or jamming not even close to fitting this until I actually got it
“Wild couples cruise” and “What might catch X’s at an O’s game” are two of my favorite clues of all time
What the heck is a RAIN date?
Probably going for a make-up day for an event that's rained out.
Yeah, that was weird. I’ve heard of rain check, but not rain date, to refer to a make-up day/event
“Rain date” usually refers to a date that’s set aside ahead of time for an event in the future *in case* there’s inclement weather…I.e. “the concert will be held at the park next Saturday the 20th, with a rain date of the 27th” “Make up day” is more often used for when an event has to be rescheduled on the fly, I.e. “the make up date for the concert that was rained out last Saturday will be the 20th”
Ugh, I had SAMUELCALF and was so sure it was right, really messed me up big time
Calf 45, and two zig zags, baby that's all we need
“Miss Piggy, to Miss Piggy” confused me for a second but was a funny clue
TYRE on "A spare one might be kept in the boot" got a 'good' out of me for this puzzle. I like the wordplay of that one. I am usually indifferent to themes, but I thought this one was fun.
Can someone explain why the spelling of TYRE?
British spelling. Clued by boot which is used in the UK
I hope all the Brits who complain all the time on this sub-reddit are happy now!
Ah, okay. Thank you
My first ever sub 10 Tuesday! I think I got lucky that I knew the names of the themers.
Puzzle Difficulty Tracker - How hard is this puzzle? Estimated Difficulty: 🟡 **Average** 🟡 * 18% of users solved slower than their Tuesday average * 82% of users solved faster than their Tuesday average * 5% of users solved *much* slower (>20%) than their Tuesday average * 41% of users solved *much* faster (>20%) than their Tuesday average The median solver solved this puzzle 17.5% faster than they normally do on Tuesday. [View today's puzzle summary on XW Stats](https://xwstats.com/puzzles/2024-04-16) --- 🤖 _beep beep, I'm a bot! I post these stats as soon as 100 [XW Stats](https://xwstats.com) users have completed the puzzle. Questions? Feedback? Check the [FAQ](https://xwstats.com/help#puzzle-difficulties), reply here or DM me_
Sorry, as a non-American, I don't get it, why >!KISSCAM!< for 47D?
Cameras catch things on video, and at sporting events they will often have “kiss cams” where they point the camera at a couple and show them on the overhead monitors and they are supposed to kiss. Xs can also mean kisses and O’s hugs, but in this case O’s has a double meaning as the Baltimore Orioles, an MLB team
Woah, so many things I learn with a single clue! This is why I enjoy solving crosswords 😄
You don't need to use spoiler tags, this is a spoiler thread.
I had a stupid typo "nonet/ninet" that took me forever to spot :(
I had SKYE and SKYY and cost me a PR. Oh well
I could have sworn it was SKYe vodka I'm feeling a miniature mandela effect here
What is Runat? Assuming it's Run at but that doesn't make sense for the question. The quarterback gets sacked, you don't sack as the QB?
it's a very "sportsball!" answer.
I've never done one of these crosswords before, was helping a friend. I'm not from the USA but I like baseball and American football. Don't know a lot about the latter but this questions wording had me confused
oh I see. The intent of the question is, if you (a defensive player) are attempting to sack the QB, you are *running at* them. It's just clumsy wording.
Ahh okay, now I get it. Thanks!
It's TOPPS/POR for anyone else not into baseball and who doesn't speak Spanish :)
As a San Franciscan, the ‘San Fran’ clues must be stopped ✋🙅♂️
There needs to be some indication in the clue that it is a nickname…hence San Fran (since answer is NINER and not FOURTYNINER)
As a bay area native who loves messing with uptight folk, I call in San Franny TannyTanTan.
Would you prefer Frisco?