XWord Muggles Forum

The first Month of March Muggle Meta Monday is also the last MMM before daylight savings, and a special day it is. Today’s puzzle is right on schedule, though I composed it back in 2023. I’m not even sure I remember how to solve it, which is to say that this is not an easy one. It’s at least a 3, some say a 4. Without asterisks to mark the themers, it might be more like a 5. But with the stars to guide you, plus tenacity, imagination, and perhaps the Internet, and with our MMM drum and bugle corps keeping the beat, you should march forth to the solution. If not, there will be nudges.

Editorial advice and encouragement came from @Abide and @Al Sisti (the latter came up with the title); Joe Ross made it all visible and downloadable. No spreadsheet format for this one since the constructor chose to use a non-square (15 x 17) grid.

The answer is an actor whose name sounds like a middle school subject.

Central Casting
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OTC! Thanks for the Monday morning jolt to the brain (in case the caffeine doesn't work)!

Couch? What couch? Fun puzzle, Jay, you've outdone yourself!

Still hovering a bit above the casting couch but had enough for an answer. Interested in seeing the whole picture eventually, but I do like what I see for now! Thanks, Jay!


[About an hour later...]
Oh my! Just realized what was what! Fabulous!

Fun stuff indeed, thanks. Played easy for me just because I got lucky.

OTC. Very clever and fun. Thanks, Jay.

Ohhh, very nice Monday start. Great puzzle Jay! I was luckily unlucky in that an error on my part revealed the path. I am off the couch which makes me UNCOUCH but hopefully not UNCOUTH.
T

Thoroughly enjoyable! Challenging but doable, for sure… just have to stick with it, and it rewards you. Loved the couch, and fun to fall off it too.

OTC. That was a thoroughly enjoyable solving experience. No anxiety at all. Thanks, Jay!

OTC. Very clever and a lot of fun! Thanks, Jay!

OTC...good one! Thanks Jay!

Jeremy Smith wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2024 3:17 pm OTC. Very clever and a lot of fun! Thanks, Jay!


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I see what you did there, in view of the title. Brilliant! (Well, and sad and infuriatingly true…).

Clever! We are off the couch!

Terrific puzzle, Jay! Really enjoyed it! And a chef's kiss for proper use of "comprises" in the 49D clue.

The clue for 52 Across should be "Tolkien creation." Not Tolkein. The inversion of the i and e was a spelling error on my part; I can't even dismiss it as a typo. You'll have to look elsewhere for spelling champions. In any case, the spelling has nothing to do with the solution.

Thanks to Bob cruise director (Bob copy editor?) for catching this one.

OTC! Thanks Jay!

Off the couch! Finally. Went down a deep rabbit hole but finally managed to pull myself out. Thanks Jay!

Off the (casting) couch! Excellent puzzle, Jay!

OTC! Great meta. Just had to stick with it and keep grinding. Three levels of aha moments for me.

Jeremy Smith wrote: ↑Mon Mar 04, 2024 3:17 pm OTC. Very clever and a lot of fun! Thanks, Jay!


IMG_1935.jpeg

So some Hollywood stars needed a lot of psychiatric therapy to become successful?

Still working on the meta but great grid!