December 8, 2025

Title: VISE GRIP

Constructors: Michael Drusedum & Jason Reuben

Editor: Amie Walker

Theme synopsis:

• VISITOR'S BADGE (20A: Temporary access pass)
• VICHYSSOISE (37A: French leek-and-potato soup often served cold)
• VOCAL EXERCISE (53A: Singer's warm-up, often)

VISE GRIP: Each theme answer is contained in (i.e. in the GRIP of) the word VISE: VISITOR'S BADGE, VICHYSSOISE, and VOCAL EXERCISE.

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• ROLE (14A: Rumi, for Arden Cho) A few weeks ago I wrote about the animated movie KPop Demon Hunters (2025). In the movie, Arden Cho voices the ROLE of Rumi, the lead vocalist of the K-Pop trio Huntr/X.
• SISTA (30D: ___ Monica Parker (blues artist)) SISTA Monica Parker (1956-2014) was a blues, gospel, and soul singer. SISTA Monica Parker didn't pursue a career in music until she was in her 30s. Prior to that she served in the U.S. Marine Corps and worked as a Silicon Valley recruiter. Her 1995 debut album was titled Get Out of My Way. SISTA Monica Parker died at the age of 58 as a result of a recurrence of cancer. In 2015 she was posthumously honored with a Blues Music Award for "Soul Blues Female Artist of the Year."

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• GRAY (1A: Color of an elephant's skin) I can never remember whether I'm supposed to spell this word as "GRAY" or "grey." The "GRAY" spelling is more common in the U.S., while the "grey" spelling is more common in Canada and the U.K. I think my confusion comes from the fact that I read quite a few books that are set in the U.K., so I see the "grey" spelling often. Anyway, the crossing answer of ALISON got me where I needed to be.
• EYES (5A: Optometrists examine them) 👀 EYES is making back-to-back crossword appearances, as we saw it yesterday clued as [Emoji that may mean "I'm paying attention!"]. See, I was paying attention!
• BURR (18A: "Hamilton" character Aaron) and LESLIE (25A: ___ Odom Jr. (portrayer of 18-Across)) This is a nice clue pairing. The musical Hamilton premiered on Broadway in 2015, with LESLIE Odom Jr. portraying Aaron BURR. I have seen Hamilton multiple times and have enjoyed it every time. Sadly, although I have seen it on Broadway, I missed seeing LESLIE Odom Jr as Aaron BURR.
• ENO (23A: Ambient musician Brian) Brian ENO coined the term ambient music to describe music designed to induce calm and be interesting and ignorable at the same time.
• MISSION (33A: Apollo 13, for one) Apollo 13 was a crewed NASA MISSION launched April 11, 1970 that would have been the third Moon landing. However, an oxygen tank in the service module exploded on the second day of the MISSION, requiring the landing to be aborted. The crew of Apollo 13 returned safely to Earth on April 17. The story of the Apollo 13 MISSION has been dramatized multiple times, including in the 1995 movie Apollo 13 starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon, and Bill Paxton.
• VICHYSSOISE (37A: French leek-and-potato soup often served cold) VICHYSSOISE is a soup made from leeks, onions, potatoes, and cream. As the clue informs us, VICHYSSOISE is traditionally served cold. I knew the answer as soon as I read the clue; my biggest challenge was remember how to spell VICHYSSOISE. Thank goodness for crossing answers. I amused myself by wondering if there's even been a mystery written where the detective exposed an imposter chef by asking them to reheat the VICHYSSOISE.
• BEET (39A: Red vegetable in the Schrute Farms logo) Schrute Farms is a fictional bed and breakfast and BEET farm owned by The Office character Dwight Schrute. Although I have never watched the TV series The Office (2005-2013), I learned about Dwight Schrute's BEET farm from the April 23, 2024 puzzle. 
• INCA (43A: Quechua speakers) I have recently written about the INCA Empire. Quechua was the language spoken by the INCA. 
• AGITA (57A: Feeling of anxiety) At first I thought the answer here might be "angst," which also fits the clue and has 5 letters. Crossing letters soon alerted me that answer was incorrect. Fortunately, I didn't experience AGITA as I trusted the process and let crossing answers clue me in to the correct answer.
• ASHA (60A: "Wish" character voiced by Ariana DeBose) Wish is a 2023 animated Disney movie about ASHA, a 17-year-old girl who makes a wish on a star, and then meets a living, magic fallen star. Ariana DeBose voices the role of ASHA.
• TESS (65A: Joel's partner in "The Last of Us") The Last of Us is a TV series based on a 2013 video game of the same name. Joel (Pedro Pascal) is a smuggler tasked with escorting a teenager (Ellie, portrayed by Bella Ramsey) across the country. Joel's partner, TESS, is played by Anna Torv.
• ALISON (3D: "Community" star Brie) Community is a TV sitcom about life at a community college. ALISON Brie plays the role of student Annie Edison. The TV series ran for six seasons from 2009-2015.
• YOU'RE (6D: "___ Welcome" (Maui's song in "Moana")) The 2016 Disney animated movie, Moana, is set on a Polynesian island. One of the characters in the movie is Maui, a trickster and shape-shifting demigod of the wind and sea and a master of wayfinding, a Polynesian system of navigation. "YOU'RE Welcome" is a song sung by Dwayne Johnson, who voices Maui.
• SERB (8D: Person from Belgrade) Serbia is a landlocked country in Europe. Belgrade is the capital of Serbia.
• AL-ANON (22D: Twelve-step program for friends and relatives) When AL-ANON was founded in 1951, 16 years after Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), the organization adopted the twelve-step program used by AA for its own use. AL-ANON provides "help and hope for families and friends of alcoholics."
• SHANIA (34D: Country singer Twain) I have previously written about SHANIA Twain.
• VESUVIUS (37D: Volcano that inspired Bastille's song "Pompeii") "Pompeii" is a 2013 song by the British indie pop band Bastille, and it became the band's breakout song. The song's title is a reference to the Roman city of Pompeii that was destroyed by the eruption of Mount VESUVIUS in 79 CE.
• MEOWS (51D: Cat sounds) These are sounds with which I'm quite familiar! My cat, Willow, is extremely vocal and MEOWS a lot. She doesn't MEOW for food, since she is free-feeding and has access to her food at all times (though she will MEOW if I'm using ham or tuna in the kitchen!). Most of Willow's MEOWS are for attention or to tell us she's been "hunting" and has brought us a present (usually a crocheted toy).

• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
• ALPO (59A: Food brand for Rover, perhaps)
• GRAVEL (1D: Rocky surface for some cyclists)
• YETI (4D: Cooler brand named for a cryptid)

Today was one of those days where the title let me know just what to expect theme-wise. I amused myself as I uncovered each theme answer by thinking, "Ah, (theme answer) is in the GRIP of VISE." I am easily amused. Thank you, Michael and Jason, for this enjoyable puzzle.