January 22, 2026

Title: CRACK TEAM

Constructor: Emma Oxford

Editor: Amie Walker

Theme synopsis:

• POSTAL CODE (20A: 11101, for Long Island City, for example)
• CADBURY CREME EGG (40A: Easter treat featuring a chocolate shell and a fondant filling)
• INSIDE JOKE (57A: It won't click outside a clique)

CRACK TEAM: The last word of each theme answer is something one can CRACK: CRACK a CODE, CRACK an EGG, and CRACK a JOKE.

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• MAN'S (23A: "___ Best Friend" (2025 Sabrina Carpenter album)) MAN'S Best Friend, released last August, is Sabrina Carpenter's seventh studio album. The album's first single, "Manchild" reached the top of the charts in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Ireland. Although I'm familiar with Sabrina Carpenter, I just wasn't familiar with this album. Happy to learn it.
• ETHAN (71A: "The Lowdown" star Hawke) The Lowdown is a TV series that premiered in September 2025. Set in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the crime dramedy stars ETHAN Hawke as a truth-seeking reporter named Lee Raybon. The Lowdown is loosely inspired by historian Lee Roy Chapman.
• ESPN (61D: "Pardon the Interruption" channel) Pardon the Interruption is a talk TV show on ESPN. Co-hosts Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon discuss the top stories of the day in "sports ... and other stuff." Although this show has been on the air since 2001, I don't watch a lot of ESPN, so it's new to me.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• CHIMP (1A: Type of animal studied by Jane Goodall) and APE (18A: 1-Across, e.g.) Jane Goodall (1934-2025) was a primatologist and anthropologist. She spent most of her life studying social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees and was the world's foremost expert on CHIMPs. Jane Goodall was a phenomenal person, and I have two recommendations for you if you'd like to learn more about her and her life's work. The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall, Douglas Abrams, and Gail Hudson was published in 2021. It's an excellent read. Famous Last Words is a Netflix TV series in which people are interviewed, with the understanding that the show will not be released until after their death. The show's first (and so far only) episode features Jane Goodall. I find this such an interesting concept. It's definitely worth a watch.
• BTS (6A: "Dynamite" K-pop group) BTS released their song, "Dynamite" in 2020. It is the band's first song recorded completely in English.
• OTOH (24A: Texter's "Then again...") OTOH = on the other hand
• SAFEWAY (25A: Predominantly western United States supermarket chain) The supermarket chain SAFEWAY was founded in 1915 in Pleasanton, California. When I read the clue, I expected not to know the answer, since I don't live in the western United States. However, I am familiar with SAFEWAY and have, in fact, shopped there. 
• WTA (30A: Org. founded by Billie Jean King) WTA is the Women's Tennis Association. The WTA was founded in 1973. As the clue informs us, Billie Jean King founded the WTA, and at the time of its founding, she was one of the organization's nine players. The WTA now has over 2,500 players. 
• RENEE (36A: "At least I'm Hot" singer Rapp) "At Least I'm Hot" is a song from RENEE Rapp's second studio album, Bite Me (2025). 
• ALBANIA (50A: Neighbor of Greece) ALBANIA is a country in southeast Europe. It is located on the Adriatic and Ionian Seas, which are marginal seas of the Mediterranean. In addition to Greece, ALBANIA's neighbors include Montenegro, Kosovo, and North Macedonia. The capital of ALBANIA is Tirana. 
• TETE (54A: Head of France?) The question mark in this clue means it is not referring to the President of France (Emmanuel Macron), but to the word "TETE," which is the French word for "head."
• MENTOS (4D: Candy that may be used in a Coca-Cola volcano) MENTOS are a brand of mint-flavored candies sold by the Italian-Dutch company, Perfetti Van Melle. MENTOS have been on the market since 1932. Sometime in the 1980s, people realized that if you dropped MENTOS into Coca-Cola, a volcano-like reaction occurs. If you haven't ever done this, I encourage you to try combining MENTOS and Coke. Diet Coke works best, and do it in a backyard or some other space where mess is okay. If you want to take this experiment even further, here's some inspiration.
• TYPO (7D: This cleu has one) For me, this type of clue never gets old. (And yes, autocorrect, I do, in fact, want to type the word "cleu.")
• FARMS (26D: Produces produce) This is such a fun clue.
• BOCA (27D: ___ Raton, Florida) BOCA Raton, Florida is located in Palm Beach County, about 45 miles north of Miami. With coastline along the Atlantic Ocean, BOCA Raton is particularly known for its two mile stretch of lifeguard-protected beaches. BOCA Raton's motto is "A City for All Seasons."
• LLAMA (51D: Wooly animal similar to the guanaco) Guanacos and LLAMAs both belong to the camelid family. Guanacos are native to South America.
• ANGIE (53D: "The Hate U Give" author Thomas) The Hate U Give, published in 2017, was the debut novel of ANGIE Thomas. The Hate U Give was adapted into a movie in 2018. The book tells the story of Starr Carter, a teenage girl, whose friend, Khalil - an unarmed Black teen - dies after being shot by a white police officer.
• OPAH (59D: Moonfish or sunfish) An OPAH is a type of fish. Its common names include sunfish, moonfish, kingfish, and redfin ocean pan. OPAH have a round body, and are unusual in that they are one of the few fish species that can regulate their internal body temperature. 
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
• PLOT (56A: It might be summarized on a book jacket)
• GREAT IDEA (35D: "Nice thinking!")
• APRIL (50D: Taxing month?)

I made a guess about the theme from the title, and I was wrong. That made for a nice "Aha!" moment when I figured out what was actually happening theme-wise. I enjoyed uncovering the CRACK TEAM members here. Thank you, Emma, for this delightful puzzle.