Sally Analyzes USA TODAY’s Daily Crossword Puzzle, Back Channels

There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today’s puzzle before reading further!

Constructor: Jay Silverman

Editor: Jared Goudsmit

Jay: As you might imagine, this puzzle is the product of watching just a wee bit too much television whilst growing up in suburban Upstate NY. After all, there wasn’t much else to do. But if you’re the sort who enjoys a good crossword but doesn’t watch or own a television – well, mea culpa. You’ll have to forgive me.

My thanks, as ever, to Amanda and Jared at the USA Today team for giving me this opportunity to create something fun and share it with the world. They made this puzzle better than what I initially pitched them, and I’m grateful to them for it.

Good luck, everyone! Happy solving!

• RAISINS (24A: Dried fruits in pan de jamon) Pan de jamón is a savory, rolled Venezuelan Christmas bread. Many variations exist, but the traditional filling for pan de jamón is ham, raisins, and green olives.
• ART (29A: Clarissa Sligh’s field) Clarissa Sligh is a visual artist specializing in photo series, artists’ books, and text-based installations. Her art has been displayed at The Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the National African American Museum at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C. When she was 15 years old, Sligh was the lead plaintiff in Clarissa Thompson et. al. vs. Arlington County School Board, a 1955 school desegregation case in Virginia. According to her website, Sligh’s art weaves together cultural, historical, personal, and political themes to explore concepts of memory and identity.
• MANET (33D: “The Railway” painter Edouard) Édouard Manet (1832-1883) was a French modernist painter. “The Railway,” painted in 1873, depicts a woman sitting before an iron fence with a sleeping puppy and an open book on her lap. Next to her is a little girl with her back to the painter. The only evidence of a train in the painting is a cloud of steam in the background. “The Railway” is in the National Gallery of Art’s collection.

• NATO (17A: Org. with a phonetic alphabet) The NATO phonetic alphabet is a widely used radiotelephone spelling alphabet. Today’s focus is on letters I through M: India, Juliett, Kilo, Lima, and Mike.
• PARTY IN THE USA (38A: Miley Cyrus hit with the lyric “I hopped off the plane at LAX”) “Party in the U.S.A.” is a 2009 song by Miley Cyrus. The music video pays homage to the movie “Grease” and includes details that are a tribute to Cyrus’ parents.
• ACROSS (44A: Like this clue’s answer, direction-wise) Self-referential clues are always fun!
• ISLAM (53A: Religion with salah) Salah refers to the prayers performed by Muslims, a fundamental practice in Islam known as the Second Pillar of Faith.
• ANNE WITH AN E (55A: Drama series set in Avonlea) “Anne with an E” is a TV series loosely adapted from Lucy Maud Montgomery’s 1908 book, “Anne of Green Gables.” The show originally aired on CBC Television and Netflix from 2017 to 2019.
• PAWED (59A: Poked at, like a cat might) My cat, Willow, says, “I was not the one who pawed the puzzle pieces onto the floor. Why do you ask?”

• LORD (67A: “Downton Abbey” title) The British historical drama “Downton Abbey” is set in the early 1900s, following the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants. Hugh Bonneville portrays Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, often called Lord Grantham.
• AVA (11D: “The Door” director DuVernay) “The Door” (2013) is a short film directed by Ava DuVernay, created for the “Women’s Tales” anthology series by Miu Miu. According to DuVernay, the film’s door symbolizes a pathway to one’s true self.
• SHE (28D: “___-Hulk: Attorney at Law”) “She-Hulk: Attorney at Law” is a Disney+ TV series that premiered in August 2022. The series is based on the Marvel Comics character She-Hulk. Jennifer Walters, who becomes She-Hulk after receiving a blood transfusion from her cousin Bruce Banner, retains her personality in her Hulk form and specializes in cases involving superhumans.
• HBO (40D: “Fantasmas” network) “Fantasmas” is a surrealist comedy series that premiered in June, featuring Julio Torres in a search for a golden oyster earring.
• A few additional clues that stood out: TEA BAG (43A: Pouch that steeps in hot water), ERAS (70A: Chapters of Taylor Swift’s career), and TOY (31D: Fidget spinner or Hula-Hoop).

Back Channels: A TV channel is found at the back (end) of each theme answer: ABC, USA, and E!

I am one of those people that Jay mentioned who enjoys crosswords but doesn’t own a TV. However, I still enjoyed this puzzle! This is a great set of theme answers. My favorite theme answer is ANNE WITH AN E; though I haven’t seen the TV series, I thoroughly enjoyed the books when I was a kid. Thank you, Jay, for this excellent puzzle.

Source: USA TODAY