Sally Breaks Down USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzle: Best Day Ever

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

Constructor: Amanda Rafkin

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Random thoughts and interesting elements from today’s crossword puzzle:

EDITS (4A: Tweaks a crossword clue, say) – This clue is delightfully self-referential.

AUDRA (15A: McDonald set to play Mama Rose in fall 2024) – Gypsy: A Musical Fable is based on the 1957 memoir of Gypsy Rose Lee. It focuses on Mama Rose, the mother of the striptease artist. The original Broadway production premiered in 1959 with Ethel Merman as Rose. This fall, AUDRA McDonald will revive this iconic role.

NSYNC (20A: “It’s Gonna Be Me” boy band) – This song is from their 2000 album, No Strings Attached, which topped Billboard’s Hot 100. The music video features NSYNC members as action figures in a store.

EGOT (42A: Four-award feat) and MORENO (48D: Rita who won a 42-Across) – Only a select few notably including Rita MORENO have achieved EGOT status, having won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards.

CONVOY (45A: Group of vehicles) – The 1975 song “Convoy” by C.W. McCall inspired a 1978 movie starring Kris Kristofferson, Ali McGraw, and Ernest Borgnine.

THE MAN (47A: Taylor Swift song with the lyric “Every conquest I had made would make me more of a boss to you”) – Taylor Swift’s 2019 song from the album Lover. She also directed the music video for this song, which won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Direction.

SPA (66A: Place to get an Ayurvedic massage) – Ayurveda, originating from the Indian subcontinent, focuses on holistic healing through practices like Ayurvedic massages, using body-type specific essential oils.

END (69A: Apt last word for this puzzle) – Placing END at the bottom corner aptly signifies the conclusion of the crossword.

EAR CANAL (4D: Body part also known as the “external acoustic meatus”) – Known commonly as the ear, it connects the outer ear to the middle ear and is approximately one inch long.

BODEGA CAT (19D: Kitty “hired” as a form of pest control) – Popular in New York City, BODEGA CATS help keep pests at bay despite regulations by the NYC Department of Health. Many store owners prefer paying the fine over dealing with rodents.

TAKE (26D: “___ Me or Leave Me”) – This song is from the musical Rent. In the 2005 movie version, Idina Menzel and Tracie Thoms sing it.

WINGS (27D: Food served on “Hot Ones”) – The YouTube show Hot Ones features interviews with guests as they eat increasingly spicy chicken WINGS.

THIS IS THE BEST DAY I CAN EVER REMEMBER (Freestyle): This puzzle doesn’t follow a specific theme as it’s freestyle. The title refers to two clues: NEVER BEEN BETTER (17A: “I’m truly at my peak!”) and IT’S NOT EVEN CLOSE (60A: “No comparison whatsoever!”).

The title “THIS IS THE BEST DAY I CAN EVER REMEMBER” is a lyric from the Dashboard Confessional song, “Hands Down” (2003). Interestingly, this comes right after a previous puzzle titled “Hands Down,” creating a delightful connection between puzzles.

One thing I enjoy about USA Today crosswords is these little Easter eggs that connect puzzles across different days.

Thank you, Amanda, for this excellent puzzle.