Fill Me In

This week, Ryan and Brian argue about pluralization, (re)learn about clams, and struggle with moral quandaries. Our biweekly contest is still running (you can download it at https://bit.ly/fmi269con ), 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. Bonus Material! Do you want to hunt for Sid Sivakumar...

This week, Ryan and Brian wax nostalgic about ACTPs gone by, play a round of the 12-guess movie game, and wonder where Sid is. There's a new contest crossword (you can download it at https://bit.ly/fmi269con ), you're invited to join our Puzzle Boat ( https://bit.ly/fmiSLACK ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturd...

VOTE. This week, Ryan and Brian are confronted by a potential undercover operative and also launch a boat. There's another week left on our current contest (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi266con ), 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. Things to click: Scott Weiss's newest Anti-Match...

This week, Ryan and Brian discuss Boswords, debate cupcakes, and delight in the return of the The Oracle. There's another week left on our current contest (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi266con ), 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 for the Fill Me...

This week, Ryan and Brian inevitably talk a little baseball since Ryan's beloved Dodgers have made it to the World Series … but there's plenty of puzzle talk, too. Also: a beautiful letter, some Finnish vocab, a new contest (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi266con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics  on Wednesdays and Saturdays...

This week, Ryan and Brian welcome two new reviews to the Quintuple Decker Turkey Club, share a Barnacle palindrome, and talk about more than a handful of non-NYT crosswords! Our current contest is from Foggy Brume ( http://bit.ly/fmi264con ), 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 clic...

This week, Ryan and Brian wish happy birthday to one non-listener and belated happy birthday to one favorite listener. We've got a new Contest of Now from Foggy Brume ( http://bit.ly/fmi264con ), 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: Matthew Stock's indie puzzle blog Peter Gord...

This week, Ryan and Brian discuss Annie Get Your Gun, Learned League statistics, ampersands, and still don't know how to pronounce "lagniappe." Our biweekly contest was written by Scott Weiss (and you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi262con ), and you should check out our semiweekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to cl...

This week, Ryan and Brian talk asterisks and defenestration, and your guess is as good as ours whether it has anything to do with crosswords. There's a new contest, courtesy of Scott Weiss (which you can download at http://bit.ly/fmi262con ), 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 clic...

This week, there's crossword talk in the first ten minutes of the show, which (as you may know) is somewhat shocking. The Contest of Still Going On is, in fact, still going on – this one, guest constructed by Foggy Brume (you can download it at http://bit.ly/fmi260con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4...

This week, Ryan and Brian spend nearly half the show talking about crosswords, which is kind of insane. (Also, FYI, we don't actually spoil the Outside the Box puzzle even though we say that we will.) We have a new Contest of Now, guest constructed by Foggy Brume (which you can download at http://bit.ly/fmi260con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/n...

This week, Ryan and Brian present a montage of nostalgia "music," amazing speed-solve times from an avid baseball fan, and a book report like none other. We have a Contest, guest constructed by Sid Sivakumar (which you can download at http://bit.ly/fmi258con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7p...

This week, Ryan and Brian fail to premiere Season Six with any kind of excitement as they show up to the studio to discover an empty Viewer Mail Bag. Ah well. We have a new Contest of Now, guest constructed by Sid Sivakumar (which you can download at http://bit.ly/fmi258con ), and you should check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturday...

This week, Ryan and Brian present a hefty Lollapuzzoola wrap-up (with no puzzle spoilers), and remind you to visit bemoresmarter.com to get the puzzles, if you haven't yet had a chance. Also, we've decided this was the end of Season 5. No new contest this week – Lollapuzzoola has sapped our energy. Check out our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and S...

This week, there's a little more promotion of Lollapuzzoola , which happens on Saturday, August 15. Sign up now! Also, strange discussions of copyright, "groovy," and skulks of foxes. No new contest this week – Lollapuzzoola has sapped our energy. 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: Grids F...

This week, there's the inevitable nonsense about bacon and baseball, but we also announce Lollapuzzoola details! Constructors, schedule, how to sign up (as if you don't know already). Our Contest of Still Going On is still going on (which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi254con ), and we invite you to our twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Sat...

This week, Ryan and Brian talk Sondheim (but not really in the way you'd think), learn about mass nouns, and attempt to tame a small bit of literary criticism fire. There's a new contest (which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi254con ), and a twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: Grids For Good – BUY...

This week, Ryan and Brian learn some stuff about boats, consider the essence of Finnegan's Wake, and receive some suggestions from AY, UPVE, ALTUA (WOPS). There's a contest (which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi252con ), and a twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: Grids For Good – BUY THIS! Daily Cr...

This week, Ryan and Brian learn how to pronounce cities in Massachusetts, where to find "Weltanschauung" on the internet, and glorify the typesetting of The Westing Game (briefly). There's a contest (which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi252con ), and a twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: Grids For...

This week, Ryan and Brian solve previously unsolved cryptic clues live on the air (well, Ryan does most of it), discuss the merits of a book they haven't read, and discover the concept of the disposable puzzle. There's a weekly contest (which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi250con ), and a twice-weekly Twitch stream at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm P...

This week, Ryan and Brian save a date, plan for long distance puzzling, and learn the term "randomgram." There's a brand new Contest of Now (which you can download at https://bit.ly/fmi250con ), and most weeks, we stream puzzle solving at https://www.twitch.tv/nextdoorcomics on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 4pm PT / 7pm ET. Stuff to click: Ricky Cruz's blog, Cruzzles Independence Day Fireworks Conte...

This week, Ryan and Brian are delighted to bring you another interview segment – puzzlemaker and musical theater pianist Amanda Rafkin ! Amanda writes daily puzzles for her own blog, has been published in numerous other venues, and has some very strong opinions about musicals. We also have our standards – a Contest of Still Going On and a plug for our Twitch stream (Wednesday and Saturday at 7pm E...

This week, Ryan and Brian do their best to stick to the script – it's a Thunder Round of fun puzzles, a new Contest of Now ( download it here ), and don't forget our Twitch stream for cryptic crosswords and P&A Magazine ( Wed. and Sat. @ 7:00pm ET ). Today's hot links: MSSNG VWLS puzzles Self-referential story Will Nediger's Escape the Grid Boswords Puzzles for donations to #blacklivesmatter cause...

This week, Ryan and Brian's interview studio is graced by the great Ben Zimmer ! Known to much of world as a renowned linguist, lexicographer, and language columnist for the Wall Street Journal (among other places), he is known on this program as "The Barnacle," and regularly delivers expertise on word origin and history. Our Contest of Still Going On is still going on (download it here ), and we...

This week, Ryan and Brian discuss Avengers, Dole Whip, and learn a ton about cryptic crosswords courtesy of a great conversation with Neville Fogarty ! There's a new Contest of Now (PDF only this time), and we invite you to our Twitch stream for cryptic crosswords ( Wed @ 7:00pm Eastern ). Connect with Neville on Twitter or at his blog , or watch him play Pam on Merv Griffin's Crosswords. And if y...