LAT untimed (pannonica) 
[2.80 avg; 5 ratings] rate it
NYT 5:29 (Amy) 
[3.90 avg; 15 ratings] rate it
Universal 5:18 (Jim P) 
[3.40 avg; 5 ratings] rate it
USA Today tk (tk) rate it
Rachel Fabi’s New York Times crossword — Amy’s recap
NY Times crossword solution, 4/17/26 – no. 0417
Erstwhile Fiend blogger Rachel is back with a themeless whose criss-crossed 15s are a point in contrast: We may be living in the DARKEST TIMELINE, but ON A POSITIVE NOTE, winter is over? If you’re not big on social media, the answer to 36A. [Worst of all imaginable chronologies] might have seemed odd, but I see it a lot on Bluesky.
Other fave fill: SQUARE UP, CIVIC DUTY, “GROW UP!”, NAYSAYER, GRAN TORINO (never saw the movie), LORD IT OVER, DATABANK, “We’re here, we’re queer, GET USED TO IT,” discussion FACILITATOR, modern slang DEADASS (Merriam-Webster has plenty of example sentences using it), LAUDANUM, TAKES A HINT.
New to me but I’m sure my niece knows it: 11D. [2000 song for Aaron Carter about seeking someone “tough but sweet”], “I WANT CANDY.”
Awkward answer saved by its clue: 17D. [“Mars, the ___ of War” (first movement of “The Planets”)], BRINGER. In crosswords, a solid classical music reference has grid cred.
Clue I liked: 10A. [50, on a table], TIN. First thought was of 50 points or dollars on some sort of gaming table, but no, it’s the periodic table.
4.25 stars from me. Plenty of fun!
Patti Varol’s Los Angeles Times crossword — pannonica’s write-up
LAT • 4/17/26 • Fri • Varol • solution • 20260417
The theme has us replacing initial w-sounds with v-sounds, adjusting spelling to have the puns make sense.
- 17a. [Encouragement to a writer who shows an early penchant for rhyme?] YOU COULD DO VERSE (you could do worse).
- 24a. [Carefully evaluate pasta?] VET NOODLES (wet noodles).
- 31a. [Gardener who only plants the most exquisite ivy?] VINE SNOB (wine snob). This wordplay draws on the etymological connection between vine and wine (Latin: vinum).
- 41a. [Anthem for a Colorado ski resort?] VAIL SONG (whale song).
- 47a. [Weapon wielded by a particularly dangerous snake?] VIPER BLADE (wiper blade).
- 54a. [Safes made in the Volunteer State?] TENNESSEE VAULTS (Tennessee Waltz).
Six themers, quite a lot.
- 9d [Vinegary marinade] ADOBO.
- 18d [Berkeley, familiarly] CAL. Just CAL? Okay.
- 24d [Wind instruments?] VANES, not OBOES. 46a [Compass dir.] ENE.
- 26d [Word often seen under a tilde] TAB, on a qwerty keyboard.
- 36d [Kansas or Alabama] BAND. Tricked me for a while, yep.
- 16a [Lion’s “I’m going to eat you!”] ROAR. erm.
- 30a [Actress Russo] RENÉ. 55d [Once called] NÉE.
- 36a [Cry of frustration] BLAST IT. I’d have liked to see a qualifier such as old-timey or quaint.
- 63a [Heap affection (on)] DOTE. 64a [Has disdain for] SCORNS.
Kareem Ayas and Carina da Rosa’s Universal crossword, “Crack Down!”—Jim P’s review
Theme answers are familiar(ish) phrases in the Across direction that feature the letters EGG. These letters are turned in the Down direction before each entry finishes Across. The revealer is EGG DROP (54a, [Classic science class experiment … or a hint to the starred clues’ answers]).
Universal crossword solution · “Crack Down!” · Kareem Ayas and Carina da Rosa · Fri., 4.17.26
- 12a. [*Kicked a soccer ball between an opponent’s legs] NUTM(EGG)ED with 8d REGGAE. This was a tough one to start with for me in particular because I’ve never heard the term. Even though I played soccer in my youth, I stayed in my goalie box, since I lacked any finesse when just using my feet.
- 16a. [*Assorted stir-fry components] MIXED V(EGG)IES with 4d ARPEGGIOS.
- 52a. [*”Pretty, pretty please!”] “I’M B(EGG)ING YOU!” with 29d RUTH NEGGA.
Fun theme! I especially like that two of the EGGs are supplied by wonderful long crossing answers. Impressive grid design!
I don’t recall ever doing the EGG DROP when I was in school, but my kids did. I don’t think they met with success, but if you did, please let us know in the comments.
The puzzle also reminded me of my crossword egg that I made for Easter a few years back. I can’t resist adding a picture here.
I need to know a little more about the origin of “nutmegging”. Apparently, it’s not related to the John Legend / Stephen Colbert Christmas song “Nutmeg“. The Guardian posits two possible origins, one relating to Cockney rhyming slang (nutmeg rhymes with leg) and one relating to disreputable nutmeg exporters.
Back to the grid! I’m just noticing if you look at the grid at an angle, you could argue it’s somewhat egg-shaped. It’s definitely a little unusual with plenty of wide open spaces. Highlights in the fill include ARPEGGIOS, Irish-Ethiopian actress RUTH NEGGA, BOX SEAT, LASAGNA, EPONYMS, and ART DECO. Also good: INSPO, TIGONS, BOBA, GOTHS…in fact smooth fill all around.
Four stars from me.
Puzzle: NYT; Rating: 4 stars
Lots of good stuff today. Surprised DARKESTTIMELINE is a debut entry, at least in NYT.
It was new to me, and the center right was my last to fall. I’m always thrown by the occasional clue that’s the part of speech for a description of sorts, not a synonym. Am always also thrown when a crossword gets raunchier, with ASS in that section. And didn’t know the song coming down there from the NE. But all done.
I liked the puzzle for the most part, but DARKESTTIMELINE struck me as an implausible phrase. Is IWANTCANDY a new version of the old Bow Wow Wow song? And ‘Bend it like Beckham?’ for KNEE makes no sense.
Aaron Carter covered the song over 20 years ago (and has been dead for a couple), so I wouldn’t say it’s a “new” version. (Also, the Bow Wow Wow version itself was a cover of a 20-year old song when recorded.)
The cluing for Beckham echoes a PANDA clue like “It’s going around?” for GIRTH. David Beckham, a soccer player, would do a lot of knee-bending as he runs around the field, and the clue is referencing the movie title, “Bend It Like Beckham.”
I’ve always thought that “bend it” referred to the soccer ball curving after it was kicked. I get a different image when I think of “bending the knee”
The Bend in Bend it like Beckham refers to way he would bend the ball around defenders and the goalie. It was one of his signature skills. Lots of examples on YouTube. Nothing to do with knees.
Hey – it’s just a little misdirection. You (and PJ) are correct that the “bend” in Bend it Like Beckham is the path of the ball. And the clue intends for us to think of the movie. But note that the “L” in the clue is not capitalized – it’s not the title of a movie, just a reference to a movement that any soccer player might make – bending his or her KNEE.
But as for I WANT CANDY, I have to agree, a 25 year old cover by a semi-famous artist, of a 60 year old song is not a clue that’s going into the crossword hall of fame.
It’s just new.
“darkest timeline” Google Ngram
“Darkest timeline” is very familiar to fans of the TV series Community.
The ? suggests it’s meant to be a misdirection: the clue makes you want to think of the movie or the soccer player, but it actually just wants you to think of Beckham as per any other human who has a knee they can bend (at the joint).
Puzzle: NYT; Rating: 4.5 stars
NYT: So nice to see such a smooth Friday puzzle by one of my favorite constructors! Such nice long answers, especially the grid spanners. As I mentioned last week, I am in the minority regarding easier Friday and Saturday themeless puzzles (I like them). Thanks Rachel (and my coffee) for such a nice start to my Friday morning 😎
A fine and smooth Friday; I ended up slowed down trying to fix PIN that I had for Solo pilot before eventually getting it to HAN. I had FIN instead of TIN which didn’t help either, and I’m a little embarrassed that I didn’t get the clue for TIN until coming here.
Puzzle: NYT; Rating: 4 stars
While I enjoyed the NYT, I find that recently, the Friday puzzles are playing more like Wednesday level.
Today’s WSJ meta seems fairly easy (as in I got an answer that makes sense and that I’m reasonably certain about).
Thanks to Conrad for a few tips in his previous WSJ reviews that pointed me in the right direction.
Puzzle: LAT; Rating: 4 stars
I liked this crossword because of its punny wordplay. There are 6 theme answers, so give it a go!