"Closing Credits" - November 13, 2020

[TPS]

Maybe I’ll go join a book club with TPS.

You kid - but I actually thought about trying to start one via Zoom because there a bunch of books I want to read!

[Laura M]

You finish the grid. You look at what might be theme answers, and there is NOTHING! Absolutely NOTHING. Take a deep breathe. Relax. Trust that it will come to you. And it will. Almost always.

While I was completing the grid I looked at the theme answers - they were among the first 10 answers I solved - and yes they led to NOTHING - Absolutely NOTHING. But that’s generally what I have found with Mike’s puzzles - his hints/instructions are either obvious or piss poor - I felt the latter applied with this puzzle. I don’t think taking a Xanax and spending 10 hours would make the answer come.

I actually thought that the hints were hintier than usual.

[Joepickett]

No idea again. Looking for a new hobby

[TPS]

No idea again. Looking for a new hobby

Book club?

[TPS]

I actually thought that the hints were hintier than usual.

Mike's hints are typically so upfront I know what I am looking for before I even start solving the puzzle and they usually can only be interpreted one way - good recent examples of that are LIFE MODELS and DEDUCT - this one that's definitely not the case.

[grwinski]

Ashore! But a little surprised at the approach. Interested in seeing the comments on Monday.

Rita and George

[boharr]

You finish the grid. You look at what might be theme answers, and there is NOTHING! Absolutely NOTHING. Take a deep breathe. Relax. Trust that it will come to you. And it will. Almost always.

While I was completing the grid I looked at the theme answers - they were among the first 10 answers I solved - and yes they led to NOTHING - Absolutely NOTHING. But that’s generally what I have found with Mike’s puzzles - his hints/instructions are either obvious or piss poor - I felt the latter applied with this puzzle. I don’t think taking a Xanax and spending 10 hours would make the answer come.

I actually thought that the hints were hintier than usual.

If you know where to look.

[Abide]

The planets have realigned and all’s right with the world. ...........

Sometimes a good rant is all that’s needed. Cancel my Book-of-the-Month Club subscription.

And if you need an additional challenge, solve my Monday meta. Deadline is Saturday night. forums/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=648#p36994

[Commodore]

Finished grid. But somehow distracted. "Georgia on my Mind." Birdies? Eagles? Tigers?
Whoa! Isaac, keep pouring until Sunday evening. And send one to that gent in the green jacket. Meta can wait.

[mpmanning]

Still aboard. Plenty of rabbit holes in sight and solid navigational markers seem sparse. Is this my karma reward for skipping the Closing Credits as a matter of routine for years? I'm going to take the recommended nap as others have suggested.

[Toby]

This one is easy if you know where to look. Maybe that's true of most of these puzzles.

[BarbaraK]

On shore. Haven't seen anything like this in a while.

[BethA]

On the beach! 🏖 G’night!

[mpmanning]

Skipping the nap! I'm ashore!, Before logging out, I read a few recent posts. Toby' is right, this one is easy if you know where to look! This rookie is learning.

[Eric Porter]

I'm on shore now. A beach sounds a lot nicer than the cold rainy weather outside.

While I wouldn't say that anything in this thread is a spoiler, it helped me get the right mindset to figure it out.

I went down many rabbit holes. With one, I thought it couldn't have been an accident, but probably was. With another, I thought there was either a mistake or a step toward the solution.

[escapeartist]

Still hanging out with Isaac talking football.

Made a lengthy tour down a rabbit hole I'd rather not revisit - make it a double tonight!

[Laura M]

I actually thought that the hints were hintier than usual.

Mike's hints are typically so upfront I know what I am looking for before I even start solving the puzzle and they usually can only be interpreted one way - good recent examples of that are LIFE MODELS and DEDUCT - this one that's definitely not the case.

LIFE MODELS is also a good recent example of a meta that I never even got close to figuring out, so you know, the upfrontness of the hint is in the mind of the interpreter. Or something :-)

[Richard]

For me the easiest grid in a while however I am getting no where with the meta.

[madhatter5]

On shore!

[Joe Ross]

While I wouldn't say that anything in this thread is a spoiler, it helped me get the right mindset to figure it out.

A sensible caution on Comments. While none are spoilers, some (including this post of mine) seem to herd as they are repeated in different forms and voices. The effect is a solid nudge.