Grid: untimed; Meta: got a nudge
Alex Eaton-Salners’s contest, “Counting Rhyme” — Conrad’s writeup
This month we’re asked, What television personality of the past or present is hinted at by this puzzle? There were five long theme entries:
FB Contest – 09.14.2025
- WI[THRE]LISH: Gladly
- HUMA[NE]RROR: Titanic problem?
- BULLETPROO[FVE]ST: Shot blocker
- NE[WO]RLEANS: Birthplace of Louis Armstrong
- GOL[FOU]TING: Time spent doing shots, including putting some into cups?
I found step one: each themer contained a number that was missing one letter: three, one, five, two, four. Step two eludes me. I tried various mappings, and came up dry. For example: the third letter of the first themer is T. Following that logic got me THEEF. Not helpful.
I just got to Amsterdam and I’m jet lagged, so I’m sure I’m missing something obvious.
Breaking news: a friend gave me a nudge. Place the missing letters in numeric order. [O]NE, [T]WO, THRE[E]. FOU[R], F[I]VE. Spelling Cheri OTERI, which rhymes. Solvers: please share your thoughts.