Well how cool is that!
"Funny Man"
- Al Sisti
- Posts: 2068
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 1:28 pm
- Location: Whitesboro NY
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- Posts: 58
- Joined: Sat Dec 14, 2019 5:47 am
I have thisChrisKochmanski wrote: ↑Mon Jun 08, 2020 4:05 pm Another solver just pointed out an extra little piece to the puzzle, that I hadn't noticed before. Not really needed for the solve, but definitely adding to the delight. Seriously, this is one excellent meta puzzle. Brian should be proud.
And this
- BarbaraK
- Posts: 2617
- Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 2:37 pm
- Location: Virginia
I’m off the couch! (That does mean I solved it, right?)
Don’t know all that many comedians, so I was glad this was someone familiar.
Don’t know all that many comedians, so I was glad this was someone familiar.
- Abide
- Moderator
- Posts: 1310
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Another 30 minutes of analysis, and firmly ensconced on the couch.... ![Crying or Very Sad :cry:](./images/smilies/icon_cry.gif)
![Crying or Very Sad :cry:](./images/smilies/icon_cry.gif)
The site is just a web page, a meeting place, a clubhouse - it's the group that's special.
—Brian MacDonald
—Brian MacDonald
- Richard B.
- Posts: 547
- Joined: Sat May 16, 2020 1:58 pm
- Location: upper west side, NYC
I knew I was on the right track early on but the entire solve required a night’s sleep and one Google. Nicely done, Brian. Our Muggle Meta Mondays constructors are stepping up big time!
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- Joined: Sat Dec 28, 2019 10:09 am
I got it after a couple hints. I must say the construction is impressive. Thanks Brian for the meta and hint (& confirmation).
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- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 11:49 am
- Abide
- Moderator
- Posts: 1310
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 11:16 pm
- Location: Biloxi
- Contact:
Cool puzzle Brian (and thank you for the fork-lift sized nudges)!
The site is just a web page, a meeting place, a clubhouse - it's the group that's special.
—Brian MacDonald
—Brian MacDonald
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- Posts: 1692
- Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2020 2:38 pm
I solved the grid but I'm still on the couch.
I'll pick it up later and look at it again.
I'll pick it up later and look at it again.
- TMart
- Posts: 820
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 7:13 am
- Location: Malvern, PA
I’m still on the couch. I solved the grid, then moved over to the pgwcc, then got sidetracked by a new meta idea that might actually work. I really need to learn how to focus....and it’s only Wednesday. ![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
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- Posts: 1692
- Joined: Sun Mar 29, 2020 2:38 pm
- TMart
- Posts: 820
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 7:13 am
- Location: Malvern, PA
I’m off the couch and headed for the pool! (Is that where we go, because I really am). Great meta, Brian!
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- Posts: 127
- Joined: Fri Nov 08, 2019 5:10 pm
- Location: San Diego
My first Muggle Meta Mondays Solve! Off the couch and headed for the tennis court.
Amazing puzzle. I even had solid knowledge in this area and it still took work, but fun each step of the way.
Amazing puzzle. I even had solid knowledge in this area and it still took work, but fun each step of the way.
- C=64
- Posts: 690
- Joined: Mon Jun 08, 2020 8:29 pm
- Location: PDX
I sent Brian an answer that seemed circumstantial at best, he gave me some gentle encouragement and a nudge, I fixated on another answer that wasn't quite working, then I finally focused on something that had been nagging at me and AHA!
I'm new to metas but am learning that my brain is great at creating red herrings from random letter placements in the grid. I need to stop playing Boggle with my crosswords.
I'm new to metas but am learning that my brain is great at creating red herrings from random letter placements in the grid. I need to stop playing Boggle with my crosswords.
- BarbaraK
- Posts: 2617
- Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 2:37 pm
- Location: Virginia
Humans are amazingly good at finding patterns, even when they aren’t really there. Matt Gaffney has commented that he rarely bothers to put red herrings in his puzzles because so many just turn up by chance.C=64 wrote: ↑Sat Jun 13, 2020 8:28 pm I sent Brian an answer that seemed circumstantial at best, he gave me some gentle encouragement and a nudge, I fixated on another answer that wasn't quite working, then I finally focused on something that had been nagging at me and AHA!
I'm new to metas but am learning that my brain is great at creating red herrings from random letter placements in the grid. I need to stop playing Boggle with my crosswords.
- Joe Ross
- Moderator
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- Joined: Fri Apr 12, 2019 4:46 am
- Location: Cincinnati
::: Paging DrTom. DrTom, see the man in Intensive Therapy :::
Whole blood, platelets, or plasma: Donate 4 in 2024
PLATELET 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘀 ENORMOUS 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲:
𝟰𝟬% 𝗽𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰,
𝟯𝟬% 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰,
𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 & 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮. 𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗘!
PLATELET 𝗱𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝘀 ENORMOUS 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲:
𝟰𝟬% 𝗽𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰,
𝟯𝟬% 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰,
𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿 & 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘂𝗺𝗮. 𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 𝗦𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗘!
- BrianMac
- Site Admin
- Posts: 787
- Joined: Mon Apr 08, 2019 11:45 pm
- Location: Connecticut
Thanks to everyone who took the time to solve “Funny Man.” Between posters here and PMs received, there were 28 correct answers, including three new members who joined after seeing the puzzle advertised on Matt Gritzmacher’s daily crossword email - thanks again, Matt!
The answer to the meta is DAN AYKROYD, which is derived as follows:
The grid hides the names of seven well-known Saturday Night Live cast members, each off by one letter:
A pretty standard meta mechanism, but this one had its share of problems. Originally, I though that having FLANKEN in the middle of the grid would be helpful in tipping solvers off as to what the mechanism was, especially since most of the other changed names were words that did not really jump out as theme entries (CHOSE, SPARE, etc.). This may have backfired, however, as many solvers wanted to stop at AL FRANKEN, which I probably should have foreseen. For some, this was due to an unusual number of ALs in the grid, which was not intentional. I tried to include a hint with the answers to 6-, 18- and 53-Across – LIVE FROM NEW YORK, along with the first words of their clues – SNL, but this was a little too well hidden. In retrospect, I would have done something to draw more attention to this. Peter Abide offered an even better suggestion, which was to change the central down entry from END to SNL – wish I had though of that.
Even that does not necessarily tell solvers to keep looking beyond FRANKEN, however. What I probably should have done was taken the theme entries and combined them into proper theme-length answers, which would have been easy enough. Something like CARVED FLANKEN, FALLEN ROCS, SPARE METERS, all of which would have been fun to clue. That would have solved a lot of problems - lesson learned!
Finally, a number of you pointed out that there is a current SNL cast member named Mikey Day, which works with 57-Down JAY. I had never heard of him, so that one completely sneaked past me. Luckily, his name results in a D, which is good if you didn’t notice SPADE or if you were looking for differentiation between Dan and Peter Aykroyd, but it’s out of order, which is bad. Moreover, it’s obviously a failure to have more than one answer work with the meta mechanism. Sorry to those of you who got tripped up by that.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to solve. Tomorrow, Al Sisti will post a new puzzle, which I'm sure you will enjoy. Over the next month, we be adding some different constructors into the mix, including a new puzzle from a well-known forum member and one from a constructor who was once featured in MGWCC Guest Constructor month.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_e_smile.gif)
The answer to the meta is DAN AYKROYD, which is derived as follows:
The grid hides the names of seven well-known Saturday Night Live cast members, each off by one letter:
- 1-Across: CHOSE --> CHASE (Chevy, 75-76 – I would have thought he was on for longer than just two seasons)
- 13-Down: METERS --> MEYERS (Seth, 01-14 – probably the toughest of the bunch because (1) he hasn’t done too much outside of SNL, and (2) That first Y is kind of sneaky in the name AYKROYD – a few people submitted AKROYD)
- 20-Across: ROCS --> ROCK (Chris, 90-93 – I’ve always found this guy hilarious)
- 35-Across: FLANKEN --> FRANKEN (Al, 77-80, 86, 88-95 – Had the pleasure of meeting him once at the airport in Nantucket)
- 51-Across: FALLEN --> FALLON (Jimmy, 98-04 – Never cared much for this guy, on SNL then or on the Tonight Show now)
- 43-Down: CARVED --> CARVEY (Dana, 86-93 – Well isn’t that special?)
- 65-Across: SPARE --> SPADE (David, 90-96 – Another guy I never cared much for)
A pretty standard meta mechanism, but this one had its share of problems. Originally, I though that having FLANKEN in the middle of the grid would be helpful in tipping solvers off as to what the mechanism was, especially since most of the other changed names were words that did not really jump out as theme entries (CHOSE, SPARE, etc.). This may have backfired, however, as many solvers wanted to stop at AL FRANKEN, which I probably should have foreseen. For some, this was due to an unusual number of ALs in the grid, which was not intentional. I tried to include a hint with the answers to 6-, 18- and 53-Across – LIVE FROM NEW YORK, along with the first words of their clues – SNL, but this was a little too well hidden. In retrospect, I would have done something to draw more attention to this. Peter Abide offered an even better suggestion, which was to change the central down entry from END to SNL – wish I had though of that.
Even that does not necessarily tell solvers to keep looking beyond FRANKEN, however. What I probably should have done was taken the theme entries and combined them into proper theme-length answers, which would have been easy enough. Something like CARVED FLANKEN, FALLEN ROCS, SPARE METERS, all of which would have been fun to clue. That would have solved a lot of problems - lesson learned!
Finally, a number of you pointed out that there is a current SNL cast member named Mikey Day, which works with 57-Down JAY. I had never heard of him, so that one completely sneaked past me. Luckily, his name results in a D, which is good if you didn’t notice SPADE or if you were looking for differentiation between Dan and Peter Aykroyd, but it’s out of order, which is bad. Moreover, it’s obviously a failure to have more than one answer work with the meta mechanism. Sorry to those of you who got tripped up by that.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to solve. Tomorrow, Al Sisti will post a new puzzle, which I'm sure you will enjoy. Over the next month, we be adding some different constructors into the mix, including a new puzzle from a well-known forum member and one from a constructor who was once featured in MGWCC Guest Constructor month.
- FrankieHeck
- Posts: 839
- Joined: Tue Apr 09, 2019 8:57 pm
- Location: West Virginia
I enjoyed this puzzle, though I spent the first day trying to make sense of the letters that "flanked" N or EN.
Then I saw the entries that were one letter-change from comedians, but I didn't notice the "live from NY." And unfortunately, the first three I saw gave me K-O-Y, and in my excitement I googled and found a comedian named Jo KOY who seemed to be relatively well known, though not to me. I submitted that, and when Brian told me I was wrong, it took me a while to realize I just needed to stay on that track. Then I found the SNL shout out but still missed a comedian and spelled AYKROYD without the first Y, haha. So I kind of sputtered my way there, but it was a great puzzle!
Then I saw the entries that were one letter-change from comedians, but I didn't notice the "live from NY." And unfortunately, the first three I saw gave me K-O-Y, and in my excitement I googled and found a comedian named Jo KOY who seemed to be relatively well known, though not to me. I submitted that, and when Brian told me I was wrong, it took me a while to realize I just needed to stay on that track. Then I found the SNL shout out but still missed a comedian and spelled AYKROYD without the first Y, haha. So I kind of sputtered my way there, but it was a great puzzle!
- Hector
- Posts: 1297
- Joined: Thu Apr 11, 2019 8:15 pm
- Location: San Francisco
- Contact:
Excellent meta. Apart from FLANKEN, the themers are very inconspicuous, but not unfairly so. I caught neither the S N L clue initials nor the Man -> Dan idea (I suppose if you gave up the latter you could hint at the mechanism a bit by titling it "Funny Men"?).
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- Posts: 156
- Joined: Fri Jun 21, 2019 6:40 pm
- Location: Somewhere Nawth of Bangaw, or on The Other Cape
I didn't get any farther than FLANKEN = Franken, largely because I had no time (and spent all of maybe 5 minutes on the meta) but I think the meta was completely fair, if a bit on the tough side.