March 20, 2026

Title: ANIMAL RIGHTS

Constructor: Jay Silverman

Editor: Amie Walker

Theme synopsis:

• SILVER FOX (17A: Attractive older person with graying hair)
• DUST BUNNY (24A: Vacuum cleaner's target)
• POOL SHARK (45A: Cue stick-wielding hustler, perhaps)
• LUCKY DUCK (56A: Fortunate one)

ANIMAL RIGHTS: The words on the RIGHT sides of the theme answers are ANIMALs: FOX, BUNNY, SHARK, and DUCK.

And now a word from our constructor:

Jay: I had been kicking around the idea of a puzzle called "Animal Rights" for awhile - as in, I pitched a puzzle called "Animal Rights" with a completely different theme idea to Amanda at USA Today over two years ago that she passed on (true story!).  But the vegetarian in me kept coming back to the title, and I'm pleased that I was able to find a simple, elegant theme that finally clicked into place.  It was a lot of fun to create (with a little bonus help and inspiration from my wonderful and lovely partner, Julie) and I hope that people enjoy it.  Happy solving, folks!

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• PIANO (13A: Oscar Peterson's instrument) Oscar Peterson (1925-2007) was a Grammy Award-winning jazz pianist and composer. He is considered one of the greatest jazz PIANO players of all time, and played with many other jazz artists including Count Basie and Herbie Hancock. Fun fact: Oscar Peterson was Canadian, and in 2022 Canada honored him on a special collectible coin.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• IRAN (14A: Tehran's country) Tehran is the capital and largest city of IRAN.
• BEA (42A: "The Golden Girls" star Arthur) BEA Arthur (1922-2009) portrayed Dorothy Zbornak on the TV series The Golden Girls (1985-1992). We see BEA Arthur in the crossword on a fairly regular basis. I decided to take this opportunity to learn something about her that I didn't know before. BEA Arthur served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1943-1945. (I actually knew that.) After her time in the Marines, she became a licensed medical technician. (This I learned today!) She spent a summer as an intern, but decided not to work as a lab tech. Instead she went to New York City to attend drama school at The New School. The rest, as they say, is history.
• OUR (49A: "___ Lips Are Sealed" (The Go-Go's song)) The Go-Go's released "Our Lips ARE Sealed" in 1981. As you know if you're a regular reader of the blog, I appreciate clues such as this that use song titles to add interest to common words."Can you hear them? / They're talking about us..."
• UMPIRES (52A: They often work from home?) I like this question mark clue. This clue isn't referring to remote workers, but UMPIRES who work behind home plate.
• ASHE (60A: Arthur ___ Stadium) Arthur ASHE Stadium is the largest tennis arena in the world. Part of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City, Arthur ASHE Stadium is the primary stadium for the US Open. It has a seating capacity of 23,771. Arthur ASHE (1943-1993) won the inaugural US Open in 1968.
• WHO (62A: Start of many "Jeopardy!" responses) Since Jeopardy! responses are required to be in the form of a question, many of them begin with "WHO," or other question words such as "what" or "when."
• NINE (2D: Number of words in this clue (yes, this clue!)) I appreciate a good self-referential clue, and this is a fun one. How many times have I counted the number of words in this clue just to make sure? Likely also NINE.
• CATS (3D: 2019 film in which Jennifer Hudson plays Grizabella) The 2019 movie CATS is based on the 1981 Andrew Lloyd Webber musical of the same name. The musical was based on T. S. Eliot's 1939 poetry collection, Old Possum's Book of Practical CATS. I have not seen the movie CATS, but I remember that when it came out it inspired some strong reactions from viewers. People seemed to really love it ... or not. The movie featured many big name stars as CATS, including Jennifer Hudson as Grizabella, Judi Dench as Old Deuteronomy, Taylor Swift as Bombalurina, and Idris Elba as Macavity. This clue sent me down memory lane. I began blogging about the USA Today crossword on June 9, 2020, just a little over six months after the movie CATS came out. In my first six months of blogging there were a number of references to this movie, so I started keeping track of which CATS we'd seen mentioned. The CATS (the movie) references eventually slowed down, but my CAT, Willow, is delighted that mentions of CATS in the crossword have continued. Here's Willow "helping me" as I write the blog.

• MISS (6D: ___ Piggy (Muppet diva)) I'm always happy to see a mention of MISS Piggy. On the recent episode of The Muppet Show revival MISS Piggy had some fabulous scenes with guest Sabrina Carpenter.
• TRISHA (15D: Country singer Yearwood) TRISHA Yearwood's debut single, "She's in Love with the Boy," was released in 1991. It became a number one hit on Billboard's country singles chart. In addition to her singing career, TRISHA Yearwood has hosted a Food Network show, TRISHA's Southern Kitchen (2012-2022).
• PIPER (30D: "Imagine Me & You" star Perabo) Imagine Me & You is a 2005 rom-com about a relationship between two women who meet on the day one of the women is getting married (to a man). Lena Headey portrays Luce, and PIPER Perabo plays the role of Rachel.
• RICE (53D: Grain in waakye) Waakye is a RICE and beans dish that originated in Ghana. The beans are usually black-eyed peas. The RICE and beans are cooked with dried red sorghum leaves and an additive similar to baking soda, which gives the dish a distinctive red color. In Ghana, waakye is sold as street food, wrapped in a banana leaf.
• LAW (56D: Columbia ___ School (graduate institution where Ruth Bader Ginsburg studied)) Ruth Bader Ginsberg (1933-2020) was an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court from 1993-2020. She began LAW school at Harvard University, but transferred to Columbia LAW School before her third year as her husband had taken a job in New York City. I am always delighted to see a mention of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in the crossword.

I enjoyed uncovering the ANIMAL phrases in today's puzzle. My favorite is LUCKY DUCK. Willow wonders why COOL CAT didn't make the cut. I tried to explain to her that it would dupe the entry CATS, but she is all for mentioning CATS whenever possible. Kidding aside, thank you, Jay, for this delightful puzzle.

A note about comments: I welcome your comments on the blog! For one thing it's nice to know folks are reading what I've written. My goal for this blog has always been for it to be informational, conversational, and kind. I ask that you keep those goals in mind when commenting. Unkind comments will be deleted. (Note: You can point out when I make a mistake – in fact, I appreciate that so I can correct it.)