February 6, 2026

Title: FIRST GENERATION

Constructor: Michael Berg

Editor: Amie Walker

Theme synopsis:

• ALPHA WAVE (18A: Neural oscillation associated with relaxation)
• X MARKS THE SPOT (37A: Treasure map phrase)
• BETA TESTS (59A: Software trial runs)

FIRST GENERATION: The FIRST part of each theme answer is the name of a GENERATION: GENERATION ALPHA (2011-2024), GENERATION X (1965-1980), and GENERATION BETA (2025-approximately 2039).

And now a word from our constructor:

Michael: This puzzle is dedicated to my two Gen Z kids. Thanks for keeping me young at heart!

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• REESE (52D: "Election" star Witherspoon) Before she made a huge splash playing Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (2001), REESE Witherspoon portrayed Tracy Flick in the film Election (1999). Election is a satire of politics and high school life. The show focuses on a student body election. REESE Witherspoon's character is a high achieving student who runs for student government president. A social studies teacher – portrayed by Matthew Broderick – attempts to sabotage her campaign.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• Again today we have several clues to remind us that the Opening Ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics takes place today. This year's Olympics are hosted by Italy.
• TRIO (6A: Mixed Team Aerials unit, e.g.) Mixed Team Aerials is a freestyle skiing event. Each team consists of a TRIO of skiers, with at least one of each gender. Mixed Team Aerial debuted at the 2022 Winter Olympics, and Team USA won the gold. Time will tell what will happen this year.
• ARG (26A: South American country with eight competitors at the 2026 Winter Olympics (Abbr.)) Argentina (ARG.) is located on the southeast portion of South America, with coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. The eight 2026 Winter Olympics competitors from Argentina include three men and five women, who will compete in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, and luge.
• OSLO (28A: Norwegian City that hosted the 1952 Winter Olympics) Our crossword friend OSLO is making its second February appearance today.
• CANOE (4D: Word before "sprint" or "slalom" at the Summer Olympic Games) Canoeing has been featured at the Summer Olympics since 1936. The two current CANOE events at the Summer Olympics are sprint CANOE (on flatwater) and slalom CANOE (on rapids). 
• OVEN (16A: "Hansel and Gretel" appliance) "Hansel and Gretel" is a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. I found this OVEN reference to be a bit grim (pun intended), since the fairy tale ends with Gretel saving her brother Hansel by pushing the witch into the OVEN. Granted, the witch had imprisoned them and was planning to eat Hansel, so I suppose it was justified. Some fairy tales are quite dark!
• ALPHA WAVE (18A: Neural oscillation associated with relaxation) An ALPHA WAVE is one type of brain wave that can be detected by electroencephalography (EEG). 
• COOKIE (20A: Snickerdoodle and gingersnap) Personally, I have yet to meet a COOKIE I didn't like. (I'm not particularly fond of those with raisins, but I've been known to eat them anyway, because ... COOKIE!) Also, I make a mean snickerdoodle. 
• MRS (25A: "The Marvelous ___ Maisel") The Marvelous MRS. Maisel (2017-2023) is a TV series set in the 1950s and 1960s. Rachel Brosnahan plays the role of MRS. Maisel, who is pursuing a career in stand-up comedy.
• ACTS (44A: Performs in "Hadestown") The musical Hadestown tells a version of the Greek myth of Orpheus going to the underworld to rescue his fiancée, Eurydice. Hadestown won eight Tony Awards in 2019, including Best Musical and Best Original Score.
• PETE (47A: Politician Buttigieg) I wrote about PETE Buttigieg a week ago when we saw PETE clued as [Former Mayor Buttigieg].
• LOU (50A: Mary ___ Retton) Mary LOU Retton was the first American woman to win the Olympics all-around gold medal for gymnastics, which she did in 1984.
• NAOMI (61A: Tennis star Osaka) I have previously written about NAOMI Osaka.
• PET (2D: Furry friend) My PET, Willow, is always delighted when furry friends get a mention in the puzzle.

• ICE CREAM (3D: Moose Tracks, e.g.) How did Michael know that Moose Tracks is my current favorite flavor of ICE CREAM?! The other day I was at the grocery store and I texted my husband, "I forgot to check ... do we need ICE CREAM?" He replied, "We need one Moose Tracks." So of course I bought two. Does one ever need just one container of Moose Tracks? 
• OTHER (9D: "Hell is ___ people") "Hell is OTHER people" is a line from Jean-Paul Sartre's existential 1944 play, No Exit. 
• COWS (10D: Animals that outnumber people, in Montana) Isn't this a fun fact? The ratio of COWS to people in Montana fluctuates, but it's currently estimated that the state has twice as many COWS as people. As an Iowan, I can relate to being outnumbered by livestock. The state of Iowa has roughly seven to eight pigs for each person in the state.
• ENERGY (13D: What Celsius drinks provide) The ENERGY in Celsius drinks comes from caffeine. Depending on the product line and can size, a Celsius drink contains 200-270 mg of caffeine. That compares to 95 mg of caffeine in an 8-ounce cup of coffee and 47 mg of caffeine in an 8-ounce cup of black tea.
• FAT (23D: "My Big ___ Greek Wedding") My Big FAT Greek Wedding (2002) is the first of three movies starring Nia Vardalos as Toula Portokalos.
• IBEX (24D: Goat with long horns) The IBEX is a species of wild goat found in Eurasia, North Africa, and East Africa. Both male and female IBEX have large horns that curve backwards and have knobby ridges.
• MAL (43D: What makes practice imperfect?) The question mark in this clue alerts solvers to expect some trickiness. The clue is referring to the fact that MAL can be added to the word "practice" to make "MALpractice."
• MEL (62D: First name of two Spice Girls) Formed in 1994, the Spice Girls original members were Posh Spice (Victoria Beckham), Scary Spice (Melanie Brown aka MEL B), Baby Spice (Emma Bunton), Sporty Spice (Melanie Chisholm aka MEL C), and Ginger Spice (Geri Haliwell).
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
• EASTER (22A: Time to celebrate with your Peeps)
• SHALOM (42A: Synagogue greeting)
• MOTH (25D: Insect drawn to light)

Today's title allowed me to guess exactly what the theme mechanism would be. I even correctly predicted that X MARKS THE SPOT would be one of the theme answers. Aren't I a clever member of GENERATION X? (There aren't that many phrases that begin with the letter X...) Thank you, Michael, for this enjoyable puzzle.