November 30, 2025

Title: CALLBACKS

Constructor: Max Schlenker

Editor: Amie Walker

Theme synopsis:

• WELL ACTUALLY (20A: "That's not correct…)
• ALL ACCESS PASS (38A: VIP ticket that may include a backstage tour)
• TORTILLA CHIP (55A: Guacamole scooper)

CALLBACKS: Each theme answer contains the letter string L-L-A-C, which is the word CALL going BACK: WELL ACTUALLY, ALL ACCESS PASS, and TORTILLA CHIP.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• DEUS (1A: ___ ex machina) "DEUS ex machina" is a Latin translation of a Greek phrase that means "god from a machine." This phrase originally referred to an actual machine that held a god over the stage in Greek and Roman plays. The phrase, "DEUS ex machina," has come to be used to refer to outcomes resulting from improbable and unlikely mechanisms.
• PHASE (9A: "Its just a ___") "It's just a PHASE," is a phrase I use frequently. It's true of most things in life – the good as well as the not-so-great things.
• OCD (29A: Condition often treated with ERP) Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) is recommended by the American Psychiatric Association as a treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The treatment involves habituation to a situation in order to change behavior.
• EMMY (37A: Award Jean Smart has won four times for "Hacks") Hacks is a TV series that premiered in 2021 on HBO Max. Jean Smart portrays Deborah Vance, a comedy diva needing to reinvent her aging act to remain relevant in Las Vegas. As the clue informs us, Jean Smart has won four EMMY Awards for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for her role on Hacks (2021, 2022, 2024, and 2025).
• ERIE (41A: Lake bordering Ontario) Lake ERIE is bordered on the north by the Canadian province of Ontario. Lake ERIE is also bordered – on the west, south, and east – by the U.S. states of Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Our crossword friend ERIE is making its second appearance of the month on this last day in November.
• HOT SEAT (42A: Grilling spot?) The question mark in this clue alerts solvers to expect some trickiness. The grilling spot here is not a patio where one might use a barbecue grill, but a HOT SEAT, a spot where one might be grilled in the sense of being asked a lot of questions.
• IS A (46A: "Sympathy ___ knife" (Charli XCX song)) "Sympathy IS A Knife" is a song from Charli XCX's 2024 album, Brat. A remix version of the song has also been released, featuring Ariana Grande.
• DAMES (53A: Agatha Christie and Anna Wintour, e.g.) DAME is a British honorary title for women equivalent to Sir used for men. DAME Agatha Christie (1890-1976) was an author and playwright considered to be one of the greatest mystery writers. For her contributions to literature, she was made a DAME in 1971 by Queen Elizabeth II. DAME Anna Wintour was the editor-in-chief of Vogue from 1988 to 2025 and is currently global chief content officer and artistic director at Condé Nast. She became a DAME in 2017 for services to fashion and journalism.
• LEIA (61A: "Star Wars: ___, Princess of Alderaan") In the Star Wars franchise, Alderaan is an Earth-like planet with humanoid inhabitants. Alderaan is the home planet of Princess LEIA Organa. Star Wars: LEIA, Princess of Alderaan is a 2017 book by Claudia Gray. The book tells of the teen years of Princess LEIA, before the events of the 1977 Star Wars movie. 
• BOTOX (66A: Wrinkle-smoothing injection) BOTOX is the familiar name for botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. This is the neurotoxin that causes the disease botulism. In controlled doses, BOTOX has a number of medicinal uses, including being used cosmetically for smoothing facial wrinkles.
• AIN'T (6D: "___ I a Woman?") "AIN'T I a Woman?" is a line credited to abolitionist and women's rights activist Sojourner Truth (1797-1883), although she most likely didn't say it. In 1851, Sojourner Truth delivered a speech at the Women's Convention in Akron, Ohio. The phrase, "AIN'T I a woman?" appeared in a transcript of the speech that was published 12 years after she spoke, but does not appear in a transcript of the speech published just a month after the convention.
• ESTAR (8D: One form of "to be," in Spanish) I have previously written about the differences between the Spanish words "ESTAR" and "ser," which both mean "to be."
• PHELPS (9D: Olympic swimmer Michael) Michael PHELPS is a former competitive swimmer. With a total of 28 Olympic medals (23 gold), he is the most decorated Olympian of all time. 
• ANO (11D: Portuguese for "year") For many years, the word ANO appeared in crosswords clued as [Year, in Spanish], or some variation along those lines. The problem with these clues is that the Spanish word for "year" is AÑO. Without the tilde, ANO in Spanish means "anus." Oops, that's not quite the same thing! Fortunately, it's now more common to see ANO clued as we see it today. In Portuguese, ANO really does mean "year."
• HBO MAX (44A: "The Gilded Age" streaming service) The Gilded AGE is an HBO MAX TV series that premiered in 2022. The show is set in New York City during the 1880s, a period known as the Gilded Age, a time of materialistic excess and political corruption.
• SEITAN (47D: Gluten-based meat substitute) SEITAN, also known as wheat gluten, is made by washing wheat flour dough to remove the soluble starch, leaving the gluten behind. As the clue mentions, SEITAN is used as a meat substitute.
• TITO (55D: Mambo legend Puente) TITO Puente (1923-2000) was a musician, songwriter, bandleader, and record producer known for Latin jazz and dance-oriented mambo compositions. One of his nicknames was "el Rey del Timbal" which means "the King of the Timbales." TITO Puente's most famous song is "Oye Como Va."
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
• ORCA (17A: Ocean predator that's actually a member of the dolphin family)
• T-SHIRT (32A: Part of a "uniform" for some Silicon Valley CEOs)
• ART (60D: Without it, Earth is just "eh")

I guessed the theme of today's puzzle from its title, which always make me feel like I've earned a gold star.  I laughed at the theme answer "WELL, ACTUALLY..." because when our son was two, he started saying this phrase (and using it correctly). It was adorable coming from a two-year old, and it made me realize that … WELL, ACTUALLY … this is a phrase I say a lot. Thank you, Max, for this excellent puzzle.