January 19, 2026

Title: DOWN TO CLOWN

Constructor: Kiran Pandey

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme synopsis:

• DIGITAL COMIC (4D: One of many available on the Marvel Unlimited app)
• THE PEOPLE'S JOKER (7D: 2022 superhero parody film)
• SHAQTIN' A FOOL (23D: "Inside the NBA" segment featuring host O'Neal)

DOWN TO CLOWN: The last word of each vertical theme answer (the DOWNmost word) is a synonym for the word CLOWN: COMIC, JOKER, and FOOL.

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• ODE (16A: "___ to the Mets" (The Strokes song)) "ODE to the Mets" is a 2020 song by the rock band, the Strokes. Julian Casablancas, the band's lead singer, began writing the song as he was waiting to take the subway after the New York Mets' loss in 2016 that knocked them out of postseason play. The music video for "ODE to the Mets" was released on July 23, 2020 to coincide with the New York Mets' Opening Day (delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
• ERIC (38D: "Bad Trip" actor Andre) Bad Trip is a 2021 movie starring ERIC André and Lil Rel Howery as two best friends who take a road trip from Florida to New York City. Bad Trip is a hidden-camera comedy movie. With a cast of only four people, there are some scripted scenes in the movie, but most of the action comes from the actors unscripted interactions with real people (who are unaware they are in a movie). 
• THE PEOPLE'S JOKER (7D: 2022 superhero parody film) THE PEOPLE'S JOKER parodies characters from the Batman comics. The movie is directed by Vera Drew, who plays the main character, a transgender woman based on the JOKER who is trying to break into the world of stand-up comedy.
• SHAQTIN' A FOOL (23D: "Inside the NBA" segment featuring host O'Neal) Although I know the former professional basketball player Shaquille O'Neal, I was not familiar with the show SHAQTIN' A FOOL. The show, which is a weekly segment on Inside the NBA, highlights humorous basketball plays that have happened during the past week. The show's name is a play on the phrase "actin' a fool." I had a difficult time correctly parsing this answer, even after I had it filled in.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• BOP IT (14A: Toy with pull handles) The interactive game BOP IT, which has buttons, handles that can be pulled, switches, and cranks, was released in 1996.
• JINGLE BELLS (17A: Christmas song originally titled "The One Horse Open Sleigh") Here's a bit of fun music trivia, courtesy of today's puzzle. The song now known as "JINGLE BELLS" was written by James Lord Pierpont and published in 1957 as "The One Horse Open Sleigh." It originally had no connection to Christmas.
• BOT (19A: Many an X account) This is a good reminder to be careful on social media. It's often difficult to tell whether an account is that of a real person or a BOT. (Have no fear, this blog is written by a real person!)
• OVERALLS (28A: Attire for both Mario and Luigi) This is a fun follow-up to the clue for HAT in yesterday's puzzle, which was [Accessory for Mario or Luigi]. In the Mario Bros. video game franchise, Mario and Luigi have different colored hats and shirts, but they both wear blue OVERALLS. 
• NEMO (41A: Animated son of Marlin and Coral) This is a reference to the 2003 animated movie Finding NEMO. I'm not sure I could have told you that NEMO's mom's name is Coral, but I recognized Marlin as NEMO's dad's name.
• WAX (57A: Medium for Madame Tussaud) Marie Tussaud (1761-1850) was a French artist known for her life-size WAX sculptures. The first Madame Tussauds WAX Museum was opened in London in 1835. Since then, similar WAX museums have been opened around the world. The Madame Tussauds London even features a WAX sculpture of Marie Tussaud.
• ATL (5D: Georgia airport code) ATL is the airport code of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport located in Atlanta, Georgia. The airport is one of the world's busiest airports by passenger traffic. In 2024, it served over 108 million passengers.
• LUIS (30D: San ___ Obispo, California) San LUIS Obispo is located in the area of California known as the Central Coast. It is roughly halfway between the San Francisco Bay Area and Greater Los Angeles. San LUIS Obispo is home to California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly.
• ART (61D: Kara Walker's field) Kara Walker is best known for her panoramic ART of black cut-paper silhouettes against a white wall. In her ART, Kara Walker explores race, gender, sexuality, violence, and identity. She has taught at Columbia University and Rutgers University.
• A couple of other clues I especially enjoyed:
• URL (9D: Address you can't drive to)
• MAP (59D: Guide for the lost, perhaps)

I am a fan of synonym themes. It's always fun (to me, at least) to think about different words with the same meaning. Thank you, Kiran, for this enjoyable puzzle.