Did GIGI win best picture in 1958? "The Bridge on the River Kwai" doesn't fit...
Never again will I forget the meaning of PORTMANTEAU.
I thought the quip was cute. Easy day today.
I wish Sandra Bullock dated Sean Penn, so I could call them Bullpenn. Nah...doesn't scan.
I wish Sandra Bullock dated Sean Penn, so I could call them Bullpenn. Nah...doesn't scan.
2
A tough Wed. puzzle! Lots of names and a long quip. Quite a challenge!
1
Well, well, well -- a metapun!
1
But he's dead.
Just a wish upon a star. . .
2
One night during a Yiddish theater performance, one of the actors collapsed on stage and died. The stage manager stood before the audience, announced that fact, and said, "I'm sorry, but we have to stop the show."
A little old lady in the balcony shouted, "Give him an enema!"
"Madam, maybe you didn't hear me! The man is dead!"
"Give him an enema!" she yelled again.
"Are you crazy or something? He's dead. An enema can't help him!"
"It couldn't hoit!"
A little old lady in the balcony shouted, "Give him an enema!"
"Madam, maybe you didn't hear me! The man is dead!"
"Give him an enema!" she yelled again.
"Are you crazy or something? He's dead. An enema can't help him!"
"It couldn't hoit!"
3
Loved it. Well done, David.
funny how the eyes play games. I "SEE" DUOMO, and for the first time instead of just going straight to DOME, I also see "Of Man" (D'uomo). I "SEE" nuevo (lower case) and realize beside being new, with just "n" having a little growth spurt, it becomes "egg," a new thing (huevo).
All day I am a real 13D into 31D, collecting a 24-hour sample to help with the MGUS/Myeloma differentiation. Bone marrow biopsy yesterday left me feeling a wee bit 53D as they took a 40D of cells and made them 1D, and 6D them for analysis. I won't 42A to you, 9D to know it was a pain in one'65A so I put 35D on the wound afterwards.
If kidney has recovered from its issue, I'll have the heart catheterization on Friday. It's possible when I return it will be to give true stentorian report.
All day I am a real 13D into 31D, collecting a 24-hour sample to help with the MGUS/Myeloma differentiation. Bone marrow biopsy yesterday left me feeling a wee bit 53D as they took a 40D of cells and made them 1D, and 6D them for analysis. I won't 42A to you, 9D to know it was a pain in one'65A so I put 35D on the wound afterwards.
If kidney has recovered from its issue, I'll have the heart catheterization on Friday. It's possible when I return it will be to give true stentorian report.
5
Good grief, Robert. Best of luck with that!
6
Here's hoping for MGUS. Mine was diagnosed by an oncologist with an interesting bedside manner. He was visibly annoyed and told me to come back if and when I had something malignant. He said MGUS "wasn't interesting."
1
What Suejean said. Hope all goes well, RMP!
4
Due to trouble when hitting the NW my quote was: WISHNATALIEPORTMANDATEDJACQUESCOUSTEAUSOICOULDCALLTHEMPORTMANTEAU. Turns out I didn't HOWI to get it.
Anybody else skeptical about the singular SCAD?
I'm not a huge quote fan but this one was a lot fun with the emphasis on wordplay.
Thank you, David Kwong, you cleverly always have something up your sleeve!
Anybody else skeptical about the singular SCAD?
I'm not a huge quote fan but this one was a lot fun with the emphasis on wordplay.
Thank you, David Kwong, you cleverly always have something up your sleeve!
1
Quip puzzles aren't my favorite either--I tend to get bogged down waiting for the quip to reveal itself. But I'll give David Kwong extra credit for turning the word PORTMANTEAU into an actual portmanteau. If that's not wordplay, I don't know what is. Overall easy, although I needed an partial alphabet run for the ALAIN/LARA crossing.
Sir Paul McCartney directed 3 versions of the video for his 2012 single "My Valentine"--one featuring NATALIE PORTMAN signing the lyrics; one featuring Johnny Depp doing the same; and one that melded the two. Here is PORTMAN's solo performance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAApccf11hs
Sir Paul McCartney directed 3 versions of the video for his 2012 single "My Valentine"--one featuring NATALIE PORTMAN signing the lyrics; one featuring Johnny Depp doing the same; and one that melded the two. Here is PORTMAN's solo performance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FAApccf11hs
3
31A and 32D - a last name and a first name, of two little-known people. Last unfilled letter - tried CARA MARA TARA SARA before LARA and completion....
Haha. I finished with the exact same letter sequence! It always feels like I'm cheating when I do that...but not as bad as a bing search.
I ended up the same except that I was pretty sure it's gotta be ALAIN - don't think it's that uncommon. I worked with an Alain in Montreal. Pronounced kinda like Alan or Allen and might be nearly as common in French speaking areas. But I am no expert.
I liked the meta-punchline about this lexical-celebrity word packaging. Mean Old Lady below is being too literal minded to get the wit
1
I got it just fine, whippersnapper. I just didn't think it was all that great.
Well, I don't much like "quip" puzzles anyway, so the clue at 17A tipped me off that this wasn't going to be my cup of tea. And it wasn't.
I'm heard of NATALIE PORTMAN, but I'm not sure I've ever seen her, and I have no idea who she actually is. JACQUES COUSTEAU, OTOH, has given me many happy moments in his Undersea World.
Didn't know ALAIN De Botton or his book (was it a book?).
All things considered, I'd have to agree that this was awfully easy, even for a Wednesday. Sorry to be a downer, and I'm glad to see that so many people enjoyed it.
I'm looking forward to a meaty Thursday.
I'm heard of NATALIE PORTMAN, but I'm not sure I've ever seen her, and I have no idea who she actually is. JACQUES COUSTEAU, OTOH, has given me many happy moments in his Undersea World.
Didn't know ALAIN De Botton or his book (was it a book?).
All things considered, I'd have to agree that this was awfully easy, even for a Wednesday. Sorry to be a downer, and I'm glad to see that so many people enjoyed it.
I'm looking forward to a meaty Thursday.
2
So I finish the puzzle. Stare at the quip. Come here. Get sidetracked by Branjolie's BEAMS. Someone comments on the phrase man date and all becomes clear.
Agree with Mean Old Lady in that this puzzle needed a little pixie dust. Or more function and less form.
Thanks David, cleaver construction.
Agree with Mean Old Lady in that this puzzle needed a little pixie dust. Or more function and less form.
Thanks David, cleaver construction.
Only if NATALIE PORTMAN is capable of Time Travel. I read _The Undersea World of JACQUES COUSTEAU_ in the 1950's. He did have a son, but I don't believe with the same first name....
Nice enough puzzle, but plodding along waiting for the crosses to tip me off was a little tiresome--not enough clever clues to bring the magic. What the hey--it's only Wednesday.
Back to quilting.
Nice enough puzzle, but plodding along waiting for the crosses to tip me off was a little tiresome--not enough clever clues to bring the magic. What the hey--it's only Wednesday.
Back to quilting.
I'm not usually a quip fan, but I found this one UDDER-LYE delightful. Talking about feats of construction, I just saw the DUOMO for the first time last month.
Deb, I hope you are on the mend and will be feeling more like yourself soon. The jewish mother in me is starting to worry.
Deb, I hope you are on the mend and will be feeling more like yourself soon. The jewish mother in me is starting to worry.
3
I missed a few days of puzzles over the past week or so, and was not aware that you were unwell, Deb.
Feel better soon, and come back to the bosom of your WP family.
Feel better soon, and come back to the bosom of your WP family.
3
Fun Wednesday Frolic!
Hope you are feeling better, Deb!
Here's my favorite clip from Alice's Restaurant to cheer you up a bit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0a6iWHSWbA
Hope you are feeling better, Deb!
Here's my favorite clip from Alice's Restaurant to cheer you up a bit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b0a6iWHSWbA
1
Not related to today's puzzle, but in the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" department:
Two things. I see that they've moved the links to recent puzzles from the sidebar to a position below the column. Took me a while to find that; I generally don't go to the Wordplay homepage; it's more convenient for me to start with the previous day's puzzle page from my 'history' and just go from there. Not a huge deal now that I found it but I still don't understand why. On the other hand...
I don't use the Times' app for the main puzzle, but I do like to do the Mini. I know there were complaints about the addition of the 'ready to get started?' button, but I was grateful for it with the Mini. That's the only place I care about my time. I managed to get one in 19 seconds once and I'm always hoping to get under 30 (it's been a while). I was always slowed down for a few seconds positioning the page once it opened and the button allowed me to do that before I started.
So, today I finally would have been well under 30 again except... after I clicked on the 'ok' button an expanding pop-up add appeared at the bottom and pushed everything back out of place. Can't imagine that anyone would ever bother to read an ad on that page as there's nothing else there of interest and no reason to scroll down, so it serves only as an irritation. Probably not what a company thought they were paying for.
Two things. I see that they've moved the links to recent puzzles from the sidebar to a position below the column. Took me a while to find that; I generally don't go to the Wordplay homepage; it's more convenient for me to start with the previous day's puzzle page from my 'history' and just go from there. Not a huge deal now that I found it but I still don't understand why. On the other hand...
I don't use the Times' app for the main puzzle, but I do like to do the Mini. I know there were complaints about the addition of the 'ready to get started?' button, but I was grateful for it with the Mini. That's the only place I care about my time. I managed to get one in 19 seconds once and I'm always hoping to get under 30 (it's been a while). I was always slowed down for a few seconds positioning the page once it opened and the button allowed me to do that before I started.
So, today I finally would have been well under 30 again except... after I clicked on the 'ok' button an expanding pop-up add appeared at the bottom and pushed everything back out of place. Can't imagine that anyone would ever bother to read an ad on that page as there's nothing else there of interest and no reason to scroll down, so it serves only as an irritation. Probably not what a company thought they were paying for.
2
Rich, I don't normally do the Mini, but you made me look. Today it opened straight into the puzzle. No Are you ready? but no pop-up ad either. I did one last week and got the Are you ready? screen before it opened.
1
Wait! Wait, don't tell me! That question mark in clue #19d EVICTs the deer and the antelope from the range? Wow did I swallow sinker, line and hook on that misdirection. It TEES me off and drives me crazy when I fall that hard but the eventual a-ha moment was worth it...Quips in puzzles are a welcomed sight as they usually blend into the grid and help out with the fill...This is Dylan's 1966 ballad "I WANT YOU" covered by Bruce Springsteen c. mid-seventies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKm2Dk012Rk
Fore,
Bru
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKm2Dk012Rk
Fore,
Bru
1
Who's NATALIE PORT? And how could she and JACQUES have a MAN DATE?
Moving on. I'm with Liz and suejean in getting JACQUESCOUSTEAU first and working from there. Thought the quip was quite clever. The puzzle provided a worthy challenge for me; at my talent level I generally need those long crosses to work out everything else and it took me a while to get there. I always look forward to Wednesdays and I wasn't disappointed.
Ran through a couple of slogans at 9d (use it up, wear it out... / loose lips...) and finally needed crosses to get that.
According to Wikipedia, ARLO Guthrie is now a registered republican. Mouth agape. On that note, I see opportunities for a couple of very long musical links today - I'll go with something shorter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35x_rwyBh-8
..
Moving on. I'm with Liz and suejean in getting JACQUESCOUSTEAU first and working from there. Thought the quip was quite clever. The puzzle provided a worthy challenge for me; at my talent level I generally need those long crosses to work out everything else and it took me a while to get there. I always look forward to Wednesdays and I wasn't disappointed.
Ran through a couple of slogans at 9d (use it up, wear it out... / loose lips...) and finally needed crosses to get that.
According to Wikipedia, ARLO Guthrie is now a registered republican. Mouth agape. On that note, I see opportunities for a couple of very long musical links today - I'll go with something shorter:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=35x_rwyBh-8
..
3
My second-favorite John Denver song, Rich.
P.S. Do they serve American Pie at Alice's Restaurant?
P.S. Do they serve American Pie at Alice's Restaurant?
2
Jimbo, you can get anything you want. But you knew that.
Now of course I'm curious to know what your favorite Denver song is. Lively or lovely? I would probably narrow it down to two in the latter category. My favorite is more lively; I wouldn't expect it to be terribly popular in the New York metro area, but I doubt that affects your preferences all that much.
Now of course I'm curious to know what your favorite Denver song is. Lively or lovely? I would probably narrow it down to two in the latter category. My favorite is more lively; I wouldn't expect it to be terribly popular in the New York metro area, but I doubt that affects your preferences all that much.
1
My #1 is "Take Me Home, Country Roads." That melody is a knockout.
Is that yours too, or do you lean more to the country boy, thank the deity?
Is that yours too, or do you lean more to the country boy, thank the deity?
1
I was definitely thrown by 19 Down. Silly me to assume that "range" had nothing to do with the outdoors. So my first guesses were pots or pans, as in items that might appear on top of a stove or gas range!
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle and I absolutely loved the quip. And who doesn't love a word like portmanteau?
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle and I absolutely loved the quip. And who doesn't love a word like portmanteau?
3
What is whimsical?
That means "cute", don't it?
That means "cute", don't it?
"LMGTFY"
Hi Deb,
LGBTQIA+ isn't inclusive enough?
(NEUTER)
GWS
Hi Deb,
LGBTQIA+ isn't inclusive enough?
(NEUTER)
GWS
1
Exhibits whimsy, not necessarily cute. I answered this one on a whim.
I'm not a giant fan of quips - they take up so much space and if you don't get some kind of momentum going it can be slow and sloggy going. Somehow I pieced together enough to take a chance on Natalie Portman and kept thinking Portmanteau might be out there somewhere, like lost baggage waiting to find its way into the quip somewhere. :) Indeed it did. Kind of cute and easier than I thought the 4-part quip would be.
Not that into a lot of the clueing which struck me as a combo of obscure and dated.
Happy to see LLAMA as I was just trekking in Peru and miss those fuzzy mountain friends. Have a RAD hump day y'all.
Not that into a lot of the clueing which struck me as a combo of obscure and dated.
Happy to see LLAMA as I was just trekking in Peru and miss those fuzzy mountain friends. Have a RAD hump day y'all.
4
We haven't had a quip puzzle for a while, and I always enjoy them. Like Liz I first got Jacques Cousteau ( just the last bit first) and then went back to see what I could figure out which took a while as I don't know Natalie Portman. I do agree that it was quite easy for a Wednesday, but as I always say, not the constructor's fault, and it certainly couldn't have been easy to construct, so thanks David for an entertaining puzzle.
3
Very creepy puzzle! JACQUES COUSTEAU turned 71, two days after NATALIE PORTMAN was born! Too bad his grandson, Philippe COUSTEAU Jr. has an extra letter. He's a little over a year older than NATALIE.
6
I dunno. Seems the theme is a variation on the old "if ___ married ___" joke that was popular on "Laugh-In" years ago. If Dolly Parton married Salvador Dalí, she'd be Dolly Dalí. That sort of thing. Part of the humor is in the wordplay, of course, but part is also in the incongruity of the two people mentioned in the joke. They're not supposed to be age- (or otherwise) compatible. It's a little funnier if they're not. We know they're not literally getting married, right?
14
I don't think they need to be get married to fulfill the wish. Just be an item, so they can make a name for themselves. Like JROD.
You think the age difference is creepy?
What about the fact that COUSTEAU has been dead for 20 years?
I think John Farmer has it right (although that has never been my favorite type of "quip").
What about the fact that COUSTEAU has been dead for 20 years?
I think John Farmer has it right (although that has never been my favorite type of "quip").
7
I just noticed the EAU in Jacques's name. Is that part of the joke?
1
NEAU, I don't think sEAU. PORTMANTEAU is the joke!
10
Water you trying to say, Wags?
hee hee
hee hee
4
Those who don't get it are at sea?
I enjoyed this, although it went by very fast. Of the 'quip' lines, I saw JACQUES COUSTEAU fill in first and worked from there. The beginning of the first line of the quip was the last to fill in.
Some day I will learn to keep GIGI and LILI straight in my mind. Today I just waited for the crosses.
Some day I will learn to keep GIGI and LILI straight in my mind. Today I just waited for the crosses.
3
"Some day I will learn to keep GIGI and LILI straight in my mind."
Here's how: Lili is a sweet little story. Gigi is about the adorable practice of turning your adolescent daughter into a prostitute. Stars Nazi collaborator Maurice Chevalier as the lovable old child molester.
"Those little eyes so helpless and appealing....". What was Hollywood thinking?
Here's how: Lili is a sweet little story. Gigi is about the adorable practice of turning your adolescent daughter into a prostitute. Stars Nazi collaborator Maurice Chevalier as the lovable old child molester.
"Those little eyes so helpless and appealing....". What was Hollywood thinking?
5
Yeah, I know the plots are very different. I've seen LILI, and at least parts of GIGI. My problem lies in remembering which year each of them came out. Some day I will manage to remember. It's like Deadline learning baseball terms--I have no outside connection to hang them on, and they're not important in the grand scheme of my life, so crossword puzzles are my only reason to remember. And I'd rather fill that attic space with something else!
2
"What was Hollywood thinking?" What was I thinking when I loved it at age 6? It pre-dated the Feminist movement, that's for sure. I'm sure Mom wasn't seeing the dark side when she took me and my sisters to see it 5 times. Did not know that about Maurice Chevalier, but I do remember him well in that lovely duet with Hermione Gingold.
I recently commented that PORTMANTEAU has reentered my vocabulary, and here it is again! Good. But I can't figure out TEE, even after reading comments. Anybody care to 'splain?
I recently commented that PORTMANTEAU has reentered my vocabulary, and here it is again! Good. But I can't figure out TEE, even after reading comments. Anybody care to 'splain?
1
clever, funny. liked portmanteau as a portmanteau! quick solve. finished with the NW with nuevo and unhip.
2
The Monday puzzle was more challenging and more sizzling than a usual Monday, so I guess this is the make-up day. I don't mean to be RUDE, but HOWIWISH it had been a bit more challenging and a bit more witty. It wasn't an UDDER FLOP, but certainly no VEE sign here.
(Would I LYE?)
(Would I LYE?)
7