Most Excellent!

[edestlin]

Off the couch with a delightful aha! Thanks for the puzzle!

[ImOnToo]

Off the couch once I read the instructions for Crosshare.
Nice one! Or, is it “Nice Two”?

[Cap'n Rick]

Off the couch once I read the instructions for Crosshare.
Nice one! Or, is it “Nice Two”?

Thank you, @ImOnToo. Yes, just a reminder that I'm looking for two answers that you can submit simultaneously on Crosshare via one of the following formats:

1. 8-letter word followed by 2-word phrase (e.g. SHAMROCK LADY LUCK)
2. 2-word phrase followed by 8-letter word (e.g. LADY LUCK SHAMROCK)

Please feel free to PM me if you solve via another method.

Thanks!
Cap'n Rick

[Anita]

We slept super late, but solved quickly once we began it. Thanks!

[Dow Jones]

OTC. Thanks for the interesting grid and meta, Cap'n Rick. Happy St. Patrick's Day to all that celebrate.

[Dplass]

OTC, after a weird blip. Thanks for the meta!

[ChrisKochmanski]

OTC!

I might be inclined to agree, but for me, it’s only when consumed in its native land.

[ajk]

OTC!

I might be inclined to agree, but for me, it’s only when consumed in its native land.

This ^^

[MarkWoychick]

Off the couch - thanks, Cap'n Rick, and happy birthday!

[TeamDoubleTow]

What a delightful way to start the week! Wishing you a very happy birthday ! And what a great tribute to @Al Sisti ! Thanks for the puzzle.

[Cinny]

Off the couch. Thanks, Cap'n!

[minimuggle]

Excellent puzzle! Loved it. thanks

[Cap'n Rick]

Day 1 Leaderboard:

We're off to a great start with 47 solvers!

Al Sisti (TS)
Abide (TS)
boharr (TS)
Mark Woychick (TS)
markhr
Laura M
Benchen71
Schmeel
jhseeman
Bird Lives
woozy
Meg
DIS
Bbaack
Wendy Walker
Darth
oldjudge
rjy
MatthewL
dannyvee
Qmark
DrTom
lbray53
hoover
Carolyn
BarbaraK
ChrisKochmanski
whimsy
ajk
michaelm
Gutman
edestlin
Cindy Weatherman
Snood
Beth Tyrpin
Hector
ImOnToo
MikeyG
Dplass
Anita
Dow Jones
LB800
Darrell
TeamDoubleTow
CPJohnson
Cindy Heisler
minimuggle


*Remember, I'm looking for both answers, which you can check simultaneously on Crosshare via one of the following formats:

• 8-letter word followed by 2-word phrase (e.g. SHAMROCK LADY LUCK)

• 2-word phrase followed by 8-letter word (e.g. LADY LUCK SHAMROCK)

Or just send me a PM if you prefer.

Please let me know if I've missed anyone. Thanks!

[ky-mike]

OTC. Verified via crosshare.

[Ergcat]

Off the Coach!
Thanks, Cap’n! Fun start to the Meta-week!

[KayW]

Most excellent, indeed! Clever and elegant as always. Thanks Rick.

[Cap'n Rick]

Leaderboard Update

Five more Muggles have left their couches:

ky-mike
hcbirker
Ergcat
KayW
Jaclyn

Looks like we could use a few Nudges.

[Cap'n Rick]

Wednesday Nudges

Let's see if we can nudge a few more Muggle's off their couches.

That title certainly is hyperbolical, wouldn't you say? Kinda like the answer to 44-Across.

Actually, quite a few superlatives are scattered among the clues.

What do you know? Eight superlative entries are symmetrically-placed in the grid. That has to mean something, right?

I wonder if the first letters of those 8 grid entries spell anything apropos? How about those 8 clues?

Wait a minute, this puzzle was dedicated to @Al Sisti, right? And what does he say on his WSJ posts every week?


Remember, I'm looking for both answers, which you can check simultaneously on Crosshare via one of the following formats:

• 8-letter word followed by 2-word phrase (e.g. SHAMROCK LADY LUCK)

• 2-word phrase followed by 8-letter word (e.g. LADY LUCK SHAMROCK)

Or just send me a PM if you prefer.

[ReB]

First nudge gently eased me off the couch. Nice tribute to Al.

[Cap'n Rick]

Leaderboard Update

Okay, it looks like the Nudges are working as 15 more Muggles have decouched:

SeamusOL
mkmf
Tom Wilson
bhamren
Johnny Luau
THC
Richard
David
DebbieC
Mr Tex
ReB
cbarbee002
Steve M
Jeremy Smith
JeanneC

That brings us up to 67 solvers! Terrific!

Please let me know if I've missed anyone.