Thanks, PG! I did the same at the end -- go back and stare at each, though it was clear that the initial O in ORATED MOVIE was meant for an X, and that OENOPHOBIC and OMEN COMICS followed the same pattern. But the substitution in FEDERAL TAO was at the end, while BOOING MATCH and TRIO CEREAL were variously internal... more than a bit mixt up.

This led to a further query, as maybe another '63 role for Liz was playing a CLEX? (Sib of a scrabbly klutz.) Does CT have an arboreal XAK on quarters? (Maybe where Yaks sack out.)

I should really get back to a more normal sleep schedule! Meanwhile, best wishes to Amy for a quick recovery...
ArtLvr | 11.04.09 - 12:55 am | #

Thanks from me too PG! And get well Amy! Find yourself one of those PANACEAS.

I got the puzzle's theme just before the end, helped put in the last few letters around the FEDERALTAO area.

Would I be correct in saying it's Ricky Ini Liu's debut puzzle... a NYT debut almost certainly! He/She also has useful middle and last names for crosswords! Some of the theme entries felt a little off (OMENCOMICS and TRIOCEREAL just don't seem to read right) but there are 6 of them, and 4! Z's in the grid and precious little junk. A lot less phrases than usual, to be sure, but very colorful language none the less - choler, rapier, panaceas...

Weird that it proved on the tough side for a Wed for me, cos I can't see anything untoward in hindsight
Gareth | 11.04.09 - 1:42 am | #

Not untoward, maybe, but while I mostly admire this puzzle, "oenophobic" seems off to me: unlike the other "fractured" or punning phrases, this is a genuine word. It only requires a question mark *if* you understand that it's "supposed" to be xenophobic.
Liffey Thorpe | 11.04.09 - 5:40 am | #

PG - I had almost the exact same experience, though I stopped short of writing the words out on a separate sheet. "Oenophobic" made the most sense to me - seemed like a likely word that I just hadn't heard of. Best wishes to Amy for a speedy recovery.
David | 11.04.09 - 7:08 am | #

Upon further research, I don't think that a "Clex" would have been a role for Liz in '63, ArtLvr ...
http://www.urbandictionary.com/d...e.php? term=clex
David | 11.04.09 - 7:12 am | #

Congrats to today's constructor, as it does appear to at least be an NYT debut. I glommed onto the theme pretty quickly (X->O); however I was looking for some tic-tac-toe or kisses/hugs reference to tie the entries together.

Thanks for stepping in, PG2, and speedy recovery wishes to our regular blog hostess. (The Perle Mesta of xword blogs!)
Evad | 11.04.09 - 7:21 am | #

Heywaitaminute! Who's PG1??
PuzzleGirl | 11.04.09 - 7:33 am | #

Did you miss these comments? ;)
Evad | 11.04.09 - 8:07 am | #

So where does Peter Gordon fit in?
PuzzleGirl | 11.04.09 - 8:14 am | #

I dunno, PG0 ?

I think we have the beginnings of puzzle theme here--

"Rated PG"

PAULA GAMACHE (12)
PUZZLE GIRL (10)
PETER GORDON (11)
Evad | 11.04.09 - 8:18 am | #

Thanks, PuzzleGirl! I'm grateful to you for allowing me an 8:00 bedtime. (Tell your kids that other people thank you for an 8:00 bedtime.) Apparently there are too many PGs for the initials thing to work. PuGi, PaGa, and PeGo?
Orange | Homepage | 11.04.09 - 8:48 am | #

@ David -- re Clex. Who knew??? Thanks, I think...
ArtLvr | 11.04.09 - 9:13 am | #

HSBC/EFX crossing INHOFE = no happy pencil for joon. even though i did it on paper. i guess my literal pencil wasn't happy, either. other than that, nice puzzle... six theme answers in a theme that tight is pretty amazing.
joon | 11.04.09 - 12:37 pm | #

I thought James INHOFE was infamous enough to be Natick-free. I hear he also says the birthers "have a point."
Orange | Homepage | 11.04.09 - 12:55 pm | #

I noticed that the Sun crossword has returned for 20 weeks beginning this week...is coverage on here going to continue too?

*excited*
colincorgi | 11.04.09 - 3:30 pm | #

colincorgi: Say what?
Orange | Homepage | 11.04.09 - 4:05 pm | #

Orange: I just went to the Sun website and it seems that they have new puzzles running for a limited time starting this week.
colincorgi | 11.04.09 - 4:29 pm | #

Colin's right. Dan Feyer broke the story on his blog and here's linky proof. Apparently Peter will be doing all the constructing for now ...

Yay!
Alex | Homepage | 11.04.09 - 5:08 pm | #

That said, I wouldn't run out and give them your credit card info right away. There has to be some reason Peter hasn't made an announcement in any big forum.
Alex | Homepage | 11.04.09 - 5:29 pm | #

by the way, my take on the PG business is that PG = puzzle girl. paula is paula, and peter is peter. this isn't like the PB situation, where everybody is named patrick.
joon | 11.04.09 - 5:44 pm | #

20 week, 20 dollars, 1 constructor? Hmmmm.
Tuning Spork | Homepage | 11.04.09 - 6:04 pm | #

Right, don't sign up for those NY Sun puzzles just yet. My guess is that Peter sold/licensed his post-NYS, online-only puzzles to the Sun, which they're selling to defray some of the 11 gazillion dollars the paper lost. Hopefully we'll get some clarification...

What Peter announced to the NPL mini-con in NYC last Sunday is a new venture, which will begin with one puzzle a week (constructed by Peter, distributed via Google Group) for $10 a year. If that attracts a couple thousand subscribers, it can expand ito the NYS format. The only thing I don't like about that is the name, which I won't spoil. :)

PG, sorry we jokingly reduced you to a number! Amy, you must be feeling better because you kicked my ass on the BEQ...
Dan F | 11.04.09 - 6:43 pm | #

DON'T USE THAT SUN CROSSWORDS LINK! That's old Sun puzzles. You've probably already done them.

But Peter may have news soon.
Orange | Homepage | 11.04.09 - 7:05 pm | #

Dan --

Looks like you're absolutely right. The puzzles the Sun is selling are actually available for free on their site if you sniff around a bit (how's that for organization?) and they are definitely puzzles we've already done. For instance, today's puzzle is by Tony Orbach and titled "Being There". Sound familiar?

We've all done these puzzles, nothing to see here.
Alex | Homepage | 11.04.09 - 7:08 pm | #

Dan, do tell. What's the name that you dislike?

I'd suggest "Phoenix Crosswords", but that'd be lame and Henry Hook would just call me an idiot again.

Suggestions...?
Tuning Spork | Homepage | 11.04.09 - 8:20 pm | #

I should have said the name was my least favorite part, rather than "dislike"! Because anything from Peter Gordon is automatically awesome. "Phoenix" is a good guess, but I've already let most of the cat out of the bag (without explicit permission) so I'll shut up for now...
Dan F | 11.04.09 - 9:50 pm | #

Yes, shhhh. In good time, all will be known.
Orange | Homepage | 11.04.09 - 10:13 pm | #

I love this blog! I read it daily with my coffee and my small collection of newspaper crosswords, Crossynergy being my local go-to. I believe, however (and I could be wrong), that trim as in trim the tree does not mean to decorate. It actually means to cut the errant branches to smooth out the tree's shape. People frequently skip this step nowadays, as they're pressed for time or eager to decorate the tree. I think the common misperception has to do with 'all the trimmings' that come along with holiday fare.
Nicole | 11.06.09 - 2:18 am | #