Fill Me In

This week, Ryan and Brian christen a new boat, and dedicate at least 53% of the show to a chat with its captain. Included: Shakespeare, sandwich tacos, long German words, a wee bit of baseball, a full week of New York Times crosswords, and our latest contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi319con . Stuff to click: The Book of St. Albans What's Up with Those Long German Words? Mohonk's Wonderful Wor...

This week, Ryan and Brian learn a new song about cherpumple, get challenged by language that isn't real, and nearly forget to summon Thor. But the piece de resistance is a master class in both constructing and solving crosswords from reigning Lollapuzzoola champion Will Nediger! Check out Will's stuff at BewilderinglyPuzzles.com . There's a new contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi319con and you...

This week, Ryan and Brian compare the piecaken to the cherpumple, ask questions about birds, and revisit the latest episode of #GBBO. There's a contest crossword (courtesy of Norah Sharpe!) at https://www.dropbox.com/s/w6ak3autbknv3a7/fmi317con.puz?dl=1  and you should visit us on Twitch on Saturdays (4 PT/7 ET) at https://twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics . If you get bored, write something for the Fill M...

This week, Ryan and Brian don't talk much about baseball (okay, a little), don't spoil the Great British Baking Show (okay, a little), and don't talk about a few crosswords from the New York Times (okay, a little). Please join us for Puzzle Boat 8 , and use our Discord to talk with the rest of the team. There's a new contest crossword (courtesy of Norah Sharpe!) at https://bit.ly/fmi317con , and y...

This week, Ryan and Brian examine the cherpumple, learn about l'esprit d'escalier, and listen to a smidgen of classical music. Please join us for Puzzle Boat 8 , and use our Discord to talk with the rest of the team. There's a contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi315con , and we hang out on Twitch on Saturdays (4 PT/7 ET) at https://twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics . If you get bored, write something fo...

This week, Ryan and Brian talk about pie, cake, Old Opoldeldoc (nope, we don't know either), take a deep dive into ERIE clues, and time-travel to a week ago for a New York Times thunder round. There's a contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi315con , and we hang out on Twitch on Saturdays (4 PT/7 ET) at https://twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics . Stuff to click: We're running a team for Puzzle Boat 8 ! Joi...

This week, Ryan and Brian talk about aliens, veronicas, and pecan pie, and the Thunder Round is all about New Yorker puzzles! There's a contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi313con , and we hang out on Twitch on Saturdays (4 PT/7 ET) at https://twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics . If you get bored, write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our Patreon . We sho...

This week, Ryan and Brian dip into flying, the Japanese feudal class system, Ed Asner, and they promote Rachel Fabi as the next host of Jeopardy! There's a new contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi313con , and we hang out on Twitch on Saturdays (4 PT/7 ET) at https://twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics . If you get bored, write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate...

This week, Ryan and Brian take a deep dive into ETA clues, revisit their love for "Crossword Mysteries," and the Thunder Round is a week of USA Today puzzles! There's a contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi311con , and we hang out on Twitch on Saturdays (4 PT/7 ET) at https://twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics . If you get bored, write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropi...

This week, Ryan and Brian arbitrarily launch Season 7 of "Fill Me In" with a visit from Ben "The Barnacle" Zimmer. Topics include vowel omissions, puzzle pain, and a potential new arc for the show. There's a new contest crossword at https://bit.ly/fmi311con , and we expect to be streaming again on Saturday (4 PT/7 ET) at https://twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics . Stuff to click: "Want to Join My Crossword...

This week, Ryan and Brian tie off Season 6 of Fill Me In with a double episode devoted to extensive Viewer Mail and a thorough recap of Lollapuzzoola. Question of the week: What should be the story arc for Season 7? Write us at fmi@bemoresmarter.com with your suggestion! If you get bored, write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our Patreon . We shou...

This week, Ryan and Brian talk about the history and evolution of ATE clues, wonder if there are plants native to Detroit, and marvel at the excessive cost of old baseball cards. There's a contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi308con , and ... well, there's usually a Twitch promotion here, but the stream is on hiatus until early September. Shameless promo you probably know...

This week, Ryan and Brian take deep dives into sandwiches (sorry), ALE (as a crossword entry), and a handful of puzzles they both enjoyed! There's a new contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi308con , and ... well, there's usually a Twitch promotion here, but the stream is on hiatus until early September. Shameless promo you probably know about: Lollapuzzoola is on August 2...

This week, Ryan and Brian check in with Crucinova.com , and sit down for a chat with editor Lisa Bunker . Also included: an unrelated story about how Emperor Palpatine made Ryan sick, a deep dive into ORE clues, and the briefest of Viewer Mail. There's a contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi306con , and you should check out our weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.t...

This week, Ryan and Brian reflect on hot sauce, explore the various ELIs in crosswords, and learn that knickers are not socks. There's a new contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi306con , and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Shameless promo you probably know about: Lo...

This week, we get a visit from the Barnacle where we learn some new words and word origins, all courtesy of Ben Zimmer's signature linguistic brilliance. Also included: a supervocalic or two, a thunder round, and a Viewer Mail from Brian's father! There's an ongoing contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi303con , and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at ht...

This week, we delve a bit deeper into old puzzles, learn how to pronounce a name, read old poetry, and attempt to sort out seals and spiders. There's a contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi303con , and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: The Pre-Shortzi...

This week, we revisit a puzzle from 1953, introduce two new clubs, and get a surprise on-the-street interview with Tyler Hinman whilst eating pizza. There's a new contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi303con , and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: Cros...

This week, Brian is in Maine and Ryan still can't sell Wingspan. Also: other word games, the history of AREA, a personal P&A challenge, and a new club! There's a contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi301con , and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. If you get bored, wri...

This week, Ryan and Brian discuss the history of ERA clues, talk through the past week of NYT crosswords, and announce one or two details about Lollapuzzoola 14 . There's a new contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi301con , and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. If you...

This week, Ryan and Brian blast to the past and revisit some older puzzles to see how they've held up over time. In current events, there's still a contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi299con , and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. If you get bored, write something f...

This week, Ryan and Brian open with puzzles, talk about puzzles, and actually it's all quite surprising the amount of proper puzzle content. It's almost like 299 episodes in, they figured out what to do. (Narrator: They didn't.) There's a new contest crossword, which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi299con , and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/next...

"Explicit," you say? This week, Ben Zimmer (aka "The Barnacle") stops by to talk about a bunch of dirty words! Ryan expresses his love for Sinead O'Connor, Brian is scared of financial risk, and the Patreon music timed out really well! There's a contest crossword, which you can download at http://bit.ly/fmi297con , and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/ne...

This week, Ryan and Brian talk about ass (no, actually, like the ways it's been clued in puzzles), read a selection from a relatively old play (also actually, yes), and take great joy in being (not actually) featured in a recent #NYTXW! There's a new contest crossword, which you can download at http://bit.ly/fmi297con , and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch....

This week, Ryan and Brian discuss at least five musicals, one obsolete baseball player, and whether you like it or not, a sandwich. Also, Oracle II: Return of the Oracle! There's a contest crossword, which you can download at http://bit.ly/fmi295con , and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stu...