Joseph Knecht

    Games People Play A classic song by Joe South and a classic on transactional analysis by psychiatrist Eric Berne Our constructors today, Alan Massengill and Doug Peterson , clue there themers with 4 leading questions about popular game shows, resulting in 4 in the language phrases.  No stars, circles, or reveal ... 17. Mistake by a contestant on "The Price Is Right"?: COST OVERRUN .  " The Price Is Right " is an American television game show where contestants compete by guessing the prices of merchandise to win cash and prizes.  Contestants are selected from the studio audience: the announcer calls their name, inviting them to "Come on down!", the show's famous catchphrase. 27. Very long response by a contestant on "Jeopardy!"?: ESSAY QUESTION . Jeopardy! is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin . The show is a quiz competition that reverses the traditional question-and-answer format of many quiz shows. Rather tha

Have it Both Ways Psych: The Musical is a spinoff from Psych ,   a detective comedy-drama TV series (2006 - 2014). (currently streaming on Prime ) Today constructor Margi Stevenson presents us with a theme about what is arguably everyone's favorite conjunction: AND [why settle for just OR ?].  Here are her themers (no stars, circles, or reveal) -- 17A. Tap options?: HOT AND COLD .  There doesn't seem to be a convention for which is on the left and which is on the right. 25A. Poker options?: SHOW AND TELL .  Or an elementary school introduction to public speaking. 37A. Flower options?: CUT AND DRIED .  Teri is very adept at the keeping the former from becoming the latter.  However deliberately drying flowers is also a means of preserving them . 52A. Mouth options?: OPEN AND SHUT .   I need to work on the second option.  😀 61. Boxing options?: DOWN AND OUT .  If you go DOWN you've got until the count of 10 before you're OUT . This theme explication is now OV

  Someone's in the Kitchen With Dinah! Today's offering by Amanda Cook and Kelly Richardson reminds me of a puzzle by David Alfred Bywaters that I reviewed a few years back, all about things found in a Victorian kitchen .  In this case the constructors treat us to 5 punny clues loosely describing kitchen utensils (no stars, circles, or reveal) ... 18A. Reporters who cover the multiple-recalls beat?: LEMON PRESS .  Reporters ( PRESS ) specializing in faulty cars ( LEMONS ).  Here's an unpunned LEMON PRESS ... 23A. Championship match for competitive waitstaff?: SERVING BOWL .  The competitive waitstaff make their living SERVING and the BOWL doubles as either the final game in a series or the coveted award to the winner.  Here's a real bowl we use for serving salads ... 35A. Party where sparks really fly?: ELECTRIC MIXER .  A party thrown by the Mean Girls ? 51A. Zero-star review that goes fully scorched earth?: ROASTING PAN .  I viewed a number of celebrity ROA