Solve the Special Crossword
The New York Times regularly publishes Special Crossword puzzles for subscribers. These are designed to have the difficulty of an early-week puzzle and to use their theme throughout. The title of this puzzle is “1-Across From New York, It’s Saturday Night!” It was constructed by Christina Iverson, a Times puzzle editor, and Rachel Dratch, the comedian and writer who was a cast member on “Saturday Night Live.” Since its premiere in 1975, “Saturday Night Live” has evolved and endured as an entertainment institution, giving us some of the most celebrated voices in comedy. Like many of the show’s alumni, Rachel Dratch has enjoyed a decorated career: She has appeared in smash-hit TV comedies like “30 Rock” and “Broad City,” created the supernatural podcast “Woo Woo With Rachel Dratch” and earned Tony nominations for her Broadway performances. (I recently caught her excellent rendition of the Narrator in Richard O’Brien’s “The Rocky Horror Show.”) But Dratch’s comedy has also earned her a particularly unique honor: cementing a new phrase into the lexicon. Her recurring “S.N.L.” character Debbie Downer was so popular that the name eventually became synonymous with anyone pessimistic (regardless of how preoccupied they are with mad cow disease). With that kind of etymology credit, it’s not surprising that she has a knack for wordplay as well. For this month’s Special Crossword, Dratch teamed up with Christina Iverson, a puzzle editor for The Times, to craft a playful puzzle that doubles as a tribute to “S.N.L.,” which has a long crossword legacy. As an entry, “S.N.L.” debuted in 1995, originally clued with [Variety show since 1975: Abbr.]. It has since appeared 270 times, its clues often featuring trivia about its hosts, its cast members and the show itself (it’s still the program with the most Emmy nominations). “S.N.L.” even inspired a themed Wednesday puzzle that ran in 2021. This Special puzzle offers a representative sample of the show’s most memorable moments across its 51-year history, featuring fan-favorite characters, cast members past and present, and, of course, endlessly quoted sketches. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the show or a more casual viewer, I bet you’ll find a reference that elicits a smile or recalls your favorite sketch. As for me: I tried my best, but the editors would not set the clues in Papyrus. Solve the Puzzle.
Try This Clue18-Across: Recurring sketch featuring a verklempt Linda Richman
How are we doing? Thanks for playing! Subscribe to New York Times Games. If you like this newsletter, you can tell your friends to sign up here. The answer to the clue is COFFEE TALK.
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