Fill Me In

This week, Ryan and Brian dig into some fusion cuisine (we sincerely hope the chewing sounds aren't disgusting), learn a little more about the English horn (though not enough), and imbue two scoops of Kealoa into something of a cola war. Also, a non-NYT Thunder Round (featuring Wyna Liu's 5/14 New Yorker , Ryan McCarty's "Chasm No. 14 (Themeless)" , Sid Sivakumar's 5/20 Slate Midi , Will Nediger's...

This week, Ryan and Brian hang out in the Viewer Mail bag for an extended length of time, but all in the name of education! Lessons include: Crosswords via Kickstarter: A-to-Z Crosswords Noodles:  Nongshim and Buldak M*A*S*H: the ca st and the music Creole: the language , the peoples , and the cuisine Potatoes: Why We Double Fry The Fries Hap(p)less Baseball: J.A. and Ian Lyrics: the painful text...

This week, Ryan and Brian learn the history of language, the dangers of potassium, and (maybe?) the gender identity of Chat GPT. This week's Baker-Grapevine scores: baseball 2, sandwiches 7, kealoa 0. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our show? Actually, it doesn't matter! Please...

This week, Ryan and Brian review the days of the months , attempt to choreograph a song that doesn't exist, and learn a few letters of Morse code . Yikes, was that a woodpecker? If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our show? Actually, it doesn't matter! Please consider leaving us a 5...

This week, Ryan and Brian are each a little pestier than usual, and ... okay, being real, Brian was super grumpy and Ryan wasn't making things any better. No Kealoa this week, but there is a useless fact, plus a Thunder Round of non-NYT puzzles: "Permanent Record" by Daniel Bodily (Universal, April 24) "Academic Terms" by Erica Hsiung Wojcik ( The Modern Crossword , March 30) Crossword Club by Ada...

This week, Ryan and Brian don't have iPads, don't have endorsement deals, don't enjoy meaningless facts or guessing games, and don't really like most of the puzzles they solved. Honestly, if you're looking to take a week off from FMI, this might be the week to take. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Pat...

This week, Ryan and Brian speak over music , customize their burgers , share more McCartneys than Jesuses, and offer one of the most nail-biting thrillers Kealoa has ever known -- but we won't harp on it, give a listen yourself. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our show? Actually...

This week, reigning ACPT champion Paolo Pasco stops by for a chat, but not before Ryan and Brian learn a few new facts about defiant bagel slingers, George Lopez, and the curious lives of Captain and Tennille. Here are links to Paolo's work at the Atlantic , The New Yorker , his XWordInfo profile , his blog (which has good content, though hasn't been updated in a while), his crossword book for kid...

This week, Brian returns from the ACPT with all the news (but none of the puzzles), and Ryan hacks and coughs his way through another Thunder Round with all the puzzles (but none of the news?). Look, just because we don't think Alex Eaton-Salners is actually Will Shortz doesn't mean that he couldn't be. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're fee...

This week, Ryan and Brian make their ACPT predictions, consider their options for another eclipse in 2241, and attempt to learn pronunciation. We edited out most of Ryan's ills and woes, but there may be a few stray sneezes. On behalf of the wonderful constructors of our most recent Contest of Then, we would like to promote both the Midwest Crossword Tournament and These Puzzles Fund Abortion , bo...

This week, Ryan and Brian are joined by correspondent and superlinguist Ben Zimmer, who chats it up on topics like fluffles , ghost words , mountweazels , Hamburglars , Horshacks , and hurkle-durkles . Also, the Content of Still Going On still goes on — solve it here ! If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our ...

This week's long show is attributed in no small part to analyses of poetry , of cultural songs , and of hot dogs . Ryan and Brian are also thrilled to present a brand new contest puzzle, thanks to Shannon and Will — solve it here ! If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our show? Actua...

This week, Ryan and Brian touch UPON topics such as Cheez-Its , Carrie Underwood , and Candleshoe  (yes, we've bantered on this topic before), but it's clear Ryan won't wind up ATOP any tournament leaderboards if he can't get to Stamford. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our show...

This week, Ryan and Brian realize they know less than they thought about the "Welcome Back, Kotter" universe, mixology, and French pastries ... though Ryan knows more than anyone expected about geography -- but does anyone know who he is? If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our show...

This week, Ryan and Brian dig into a spate of television and movies, make but one small reference to a musical, and otherwise feel old about everything. (Someone, dear lord, send us email -- we need to hear from you to feel validated!) If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our show? A...

This week, Ryan and Brian make more plans to see the solar eclipse in April, take a brief trip down a BEQ-specific memory lane, and invent a new contest that may require people to have never listened to this show. Ah, so very poetic. Stuff to click: nationaleclipse.com an article and video about Brendan Emmett Quigley Jane Asher's Wikipedia page (because why not) If you get bored (how could you?!)...

This week, Ryan is away, so Brian is joined by fellow Syracusian and all-around crossword superstar Rachel Fabi! Topics include rice, the eclipse, Taylor Swift, Super Bowl updates -- but also breaking news about These Puzzles Fund Abortion 4 , coming out in March! If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patre...

This week, Ryan and Brian are in a hurry, but that doesn't stop them from learning more about soup, stew, barnacles, and Jack Nicholson. Did you know there's going to be a total eclipse in April in Syracuse? Consider thee informed. Stuff to click: The 46th Annual American Crossword Puzzle Tournament facts about barnacles that article that spells the demise of the NYT Games app what olla podrida ac...

This week, Ryan pronounces names and shapes, and emails famous people whilst Brian plots mischief, tries again to know anything about soup, and stews over what is and isn't fair. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our show? Actually, it doesn't matter! Please consider leaving us a...

This week, Ryan challenges the equity of Kealoa AND knows something about soup, all of which puts Brian into a rather grumpy mood. It's either a week of frustration and mediocrity, or of eggs and chickens. ¿Por qué no los dos? If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our show? Actually,...

Friends, viewers, countrymen, loan us your ears? Ryan and Brian take turns in two different quizzing hot seats and a surprise audio segment includes MLB predictions and new developments in breakfast namesakes. Stuff to click: Where's Waldo got banned? Boswords' 2024 Winter Wondersolve The menu at First Watch Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus (just to prove that Brian's sister was part of it) If y...

January! Again! Ryan's back for a Kealoa he wishes he could avoid, and Ben Zimmer returns with a Word of the Year recap. There's some saucy language (courtesy of the WOTY content), so let this be your warning. Stuff to click: Westport Library crossword tournament Great British Bake Off hosts discuss American snack foods American Dialect Society (and their recent post on the 2023 WOTY) If you get b...

Happy New Year! To celebrate, Ryan has gone AWOL, so we're delighted to bring Ben Zimmer back into the studio. We've got announcements and teasers and puzzles and Lingo and ... does anyone have a Hebrew word list? Stuff to click: Natan Last's essay in The New Yorker, "Can Crosswords Be More Inclusive?" David Steinberg's swan song? Daily Crossword Links News & Notes T Campbell's "The Year In Crossw...

This week, Ryan and Brian learn more about a very specific librarian (boy oh boy is this amazing!), investigate Oz-adjacent cinema, and take a lesson in musical modality with a new spin on Kealoa. If you get bored (how could you?!), write something for the Fill Me In wiki . And if you're feeling philanthropic, donate to our  Patreon . Do you enjoy our show? Actually, it doesn't matter! Please cons...

This week, Ryan and Brian rank desserts, learn about The Waldos, and (at the time of recording) know more about Pablo Picasso than Shohei Ohtani . There's also a fascinating Shcrödinger puzzle from Israel , merch from Long Island , a lot less music (but a better arrangement of it) to welcome Paul McCartney, and as everyone knows, it takes six to samba. If you get bored (how could you?!), write som...