March 16, 2026

Title: BLISS OUT

Constructor: Guilherme Gilioli

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme synopsis:

• JOHN MULANEY (17A: Actor who voiced Spider-Ham in "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse")
• JOG MY MEMORY (37A: "Help me remember")
• JOB SECURITY (59A: What tenure provides)

BLISS OUT: The word JOY –a synonym of BLISS – is found at the OUTer edge of each theme answer: JOHN MULANEY, JOG MY MEMORY, and JOB SECURITY.

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• BIASES (13D: Dunning-Kruger effect and the halo effect, e.g.) The Dunning-Kruger effect, identified in 1999 by psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger, describes the tendency of people to overstate their abilities in areas in which they are unskilled. The halo effect is the tendency for positive impressions a person has formed of a person (or company, brand, or product) in one area to positively influence opinions about another area. I'm pretty sure I've heard of both of these types of BIASES before, but I appreciate the opportunity to review them.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• ELI (16A: Name hidden in "true life") Where's ELI? He's living his true life.
• JOHN MULANEY (17A: Actor who voiced Spider-Ham in "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse") I wrote about Spider-Ham aka Peter Porker in January when we saw the clue [Radioactive animal that bit Spider-Ham] for the word PIG. Spider-Ham appeared the 2018 movie Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse and the character was voice by stand-up comedian, actor, and writer JOHN MULANEY.
• TESLA (33A: Inventor with a namesake coil) Nikola TESLA (1856-1943) was an inventor and engineer known for his contributions to the design of modern electricity supply systems and alternating current. One of Nikola TESLA's inventions was the TESLA coil, an electrical resonant transformer circuit. TESLA invented the coil in 1891. Although they've been used in a variety of applications, today the main use of TESLA coils are for entertainment and educational purposes. Tesla coils can even be used to play music.
• DATE (43A: March 16, 2026, e.g.) I appreciate the choice to use today's DATE in this clue.
• SEA (52A: Neptune's realm) This clue is not referencing the planet NEPTUNE, but rather the Roman god for which the planet was named. In Roman mythology and religion, Neptune is the god of the SEA. He is the counterpart of the Greek god Poseidon.
• ASIAN (62A: Like most actors in a J-drama or K-drama) The terms J-drama and K-drama refer to Japanese drama and Korean drama, respectively. As one might expect, most actors in these TV shows are ASIAN, as Japan and Korea are located in Asia.
• AVOWAL (2D: Open admission?) In the world of higher education, open admission refers to an unselective and noncompetitive admissions process. However, the question mark in this clue means that it is referring to an admission made out in the open – an AVOWAL.
• SAHARA (3D: Desert in North Africa) The SAHARA, which covers parts of 11 African countries, is the world's largest hot desert. The region we know as the SAHARA hasn't always been a desert. Scientists have found that the SAHARA experiences cycles of being a desert region alternating with being a savanna grassland. These different climates are related to changes of the Earth's axis as it rotates around the sun, which affects the location of the North African monsoon. Those cycles last around 20,000 years, so the SAHARA will remain a desert during our lifetimes.
• ELMER (5D: Bull on a glue bottle) Glue isn't the only product made by ELMER's, but it is arguably their most well-known product. Even without looking it up, I was able to visualize the ELMER's label with its blue and orange coloring and its bull mascot. ELMER's is a spin-off company of the dairy company Borden. Fun fact: ELMER the Bull was based on the mate of Borden's mascot, Elsie the Cow.
• SAL (6D: Actor Mineo) SAL Mineo (1939-1976) was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award when he was just 17 years old. That nomination was for his portrayal of John "Plato" Crawford in the 1955 movie Rebel Without a Cause. Sadly, SAL Mineo died at the age of 37 after being stabbed by a mugger. 
• FEY (10D: "The Four Seasons" actress Tina) The Four Seasons is a Netflix TV series that premiered last year. The series is an adaptation of the 1981 movie of the same name. The show centers on three couples who vacation together each season. In addition to starring in the show, Tina FEY co-created the show with Lang Fisher and Tracey Wigfield.
• JAH (59D: God to a Rastafarian) Rastafarianism developed as a religion in Jamaica during the 1930s, and is based on a specific interpretation of the Bible.  Rasta beliefs include monotheism, a belief in one God, referred to as JAH. 
• END  (60D: Apt place for this answer) We've seen this clue for END before when it is the last clue in a puzzle. I will never get tired of this clueing angle. 
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
• WIRES (32A: Marionettist's controls)
• DOORS (39A: Opportunities, metaphorically)
• TEA PARTY (11D: Social gathering where the "guests" might be dolls)

Identification of today's theme requires the extra step of identifying the word JOY, which appears at the edges of the theme answers, as a synonym of BLISS. I'm a fan of themes that require solvers to do a little bit of work, because they generally provide a nice "Aha!" moment when the theme clicks. Thank you, Guilherme, for this joyful puzzle.