Saturday November 17th 2018, NY Times Crossword

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Time: 32:53
Saturday Average: 38:46
Best Saturday: 10:34

Even though it was one of the last answers for me to figure out, I loved the abstract cluing of "'It has one syllable' and 'its fourth letter is T'" for HINTS. I'm sure more experienced crossword folk have seen their share of clues like that, but it was fresh to me. I actually took a quick TEST RUN at this crossword from the bar last night where the drinks were not on the WEAKER side. As a result, I psyched myself out, because my drunken brain could make nothing of this Saturday puzzle and I wasted a few minutes against my final time. HOW ODD that alcohol would adversely affect crossword solving ability. 

Saturday morning brain is always stronger crossword brain, but I still struggled quite a bit this morning, not filling in a single answer until 34-across ABDUL, "Singer of the 1989 #1 hit 'Opposites Attract.'" I threw in BAA BAA above it and slowly built from there, going ON A TEAR through the north once I managed TELEVISION PILOT for "Pitch for a whole season?" 

 I've heard TRACEE ELLIS ROSS's name before, so it came into focus after I had about three quarters of the letters, but I haven't seen "Black-ish"yet, so that was always going to be hard. This puzzle also exposed more of my crossword weaknesses with jewels and boats. I now will hopefully remember that a CABOCHON is a gem polished but not faceted. Also, DORIES are lightweight boats with high sides, flat bottoms, and sharp bows. I'll have to remember those by the pictures. I was a little stronger in the musical category, but it still took me a while to remember THE BOOK OF MORMON and basically every cross for LES MIZ.

I like to think of our current Podcast Era as a return to the best parts of the RADIO ERA. Now that I've finished my crossword commitments, I can get to my Saturday podcast commitments. 

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