April 7, 2026

Title: WELCOME TO SUNNYDALE (Freestyle)

Constructor: Michael Berg

Editor: Amie Walker

Theme synopsis:

WELCOME TO SUNNYDALE (Freestyle): There's no theme today, as this is a freestyle, or themeless, puzzle. The title is a nod to VAMPIRE SLAYER (40A: Hero with stake and garlic, perhaps?).

And now a word from our constructor:

Michael: I’m excited to share my first USA Today themeless with you all. Hope you all have as much fun solving it as I did making it!

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• OMAHA (15A: Midwestern people with a sacred pole) The OMAHA people have lived in the upper Missouri River basin since the late 17th century. Currently the OMAHA reservation is located in northeastern Nebraska and western Iowa. The Sacred Pole of the OMAHA is their most revered religious object. In 1888, the Sacred Pole was taken to the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology at Harvard. The Sacred Pole was returned to the OMAHA people in 1989.
• ASIAN PEARS (51A: Fruits often used in bulgogi) Bulgogi is a Korean grilled dish made of thinly-sliced, marinated beef or pork. ASIAN PEARS are often used as a tenderizing agent that also adds a subtle sweetness to the marinade.
• ACTIVISION (27D: Pitfall! and Kaboom! video game publisher) ACTIVISION is a video game publisher that was founded in 1979. The 1982 game, Pitfall!, was the company's breakout game. In the game, the player controls Pitfall Harry as he attempts to seek treasure in a jungle while avoiding enemies and hazards. Kaboom! was published a year before Pitfall! and was moderately successful. It features falling bombs that the player must catch in water buckets.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• COPA (10A: ___ Mundial) "COPA Mundial" is Spanish for "World Cup," the international soccer competition held every four years. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place in June and July of this year. It is being jointly hosted by sixteen North American cities – eleven in the U.S., three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
• AMER (23A: "Mo" star Mo ___) Mo AMER is a stand-up comedian, and the star of the Netflix TV series, Mo (2022-2025). Mo is loosely based on Mo AMER's life as a Palestinian refugee living in Houston, Texas.
• DA VINCI (24A: "The ___ Code" (Dan Brown thriller)) The DA VINCI Code is a 2003 book by Dan Brown. The book was a worldwide bestseller and was adapted into a movie in 2006. I read The DA VINCI code when it first came out, and although I don't remember a lot of the details about it, I do remember that I enjoyed it.
• LOTTE (35A: "Little ___/The Mirror" ("The Phantom of the Opera" song)) The Phantom of the Opera is a 1986 musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber. The musical is based on Gaston Leroux's 1910 book of the same name. "Little LOTTE/The Mirror" is a song from the musical first act; it's sung by the characters Raoul and Christine as they reminisce about their childhood. 
• PSI (37A: Letter before omega) Omega is the last letter of the 24-letter Greek alphabet. That makes PSI the Greek alphabet's penultimate (next-to-last) letter.
• VAMPIRE SLAYER (40A: Hero with stake and garlic, perhaps?) This is a fun question mark clue. The hero here isn't a sandwich, but a person with a stake (notice the spelling) and garlic, things used against VAMPIREs. 
• DAVID (55A: "Broadchurch" star Tennant) Broadchurch is a British TV series that originally aired between 2013-2017. DAVID Tennant stars as Detective Inspector Alec Hardy. The show is set in the fictional English town of Broadchurch.
• TRIO (56A: The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, aptly) The Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an indie rock TRIO made up of Karen O (vocals), Nick Zinner (guitars, keyboards) and Brian Chase (drums, percussion).
• ANN (57A: Journalist Curry) ANN Curry is a retired journalist and photojournalist that has worked for NBC and founded her own media company. In 2018, she co-hosted and co-produced a documentary series that aired on PBS, We'll Meet Again with ANN Curry.
• STARS (58A: There are 18 main ones in Pisces) Pisces is one of the constellations of the zodiac. Its 18 main STARS are sometimes described as forming a distant pair of fishes connected by a cord. 
• ALBA (3D: Honest Company co-founder Jessica) The Honest Company is a company founded in 2011 by Jessica ALBA, Christopher Gavin, and Brian Lee. The company offers a range of products that are marketed as safe and eco-friendly. Jessica ALBA was the Chief Creative Officer of the company until 2024.
• CARRIE (10D: "Star Wars" star Fisher) CARRIE Fisher portrayed Princess Leia in the 1977 movie Star Wars, as well as in the movies The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983). When CARRIE Fisher reprised the role in the 2015 movie, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Leia had become General Leia. CARRIE Fisher died in 2016 at the age of 60. Before her death, she had completed filming of Star Wars: The Last Jedi, which was released in 2017 and that movie was dedicated to her. The 2019 movie, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker used archival footage of CARRIE Fisher as General Leia. 
• OCEAN SPRAY (11D: Cranberry juice brand in many a Cape Codder) A Cape Codder is a cocktail made of cranberry juice (OCEAN SPRAY, perhaps) and vodka.
• EVIE (22D: "Descendants" character whose mom is the Evil Queen) Descendants is a 2015 made-for-TV Disney movie. The movie centers on the teenage children of Maleficent, the Evil Queen, Jafar, and Cruella de Vil. Sofia Carson portrays EVIE, the daughter of the Evil Queen.
• AMAL (38D: Human rights lawyer Clooney) AMAL Clooney is a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, who specializes in international law and human rights. She is also the co-founder of the Clooney Foundation for Justice, with her husband George.
• SIVA (47D: Figure in the Hindu trinity) The Hindu trinity are the three primary gods in Hinduism: Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver) and ŚIVA (the destroyer).
• Other clues I enjoyed:
• CHARADES (20A: Game where your partner may mimic filming a movie)
• POOH (2D: Piglet's pal)
• TAP DANCE (9D: Give a cleverly evasive reply)
• LIP READS (35D: Sees what someone is saying?)
• STANDS (42D: Where fans sit, ironically)

SUNNYDALE is the fictional town that is the setting for the TV series Buffy the VAMPIRE SLAYER (1997-2003). Do I have to admit that I've never actually seen Buffy the VAMPIRE SLAYER and I had to look up "WELCOME TO SUNNYDALE" to figure out which entry the title was referring to? I guess I don't really have to, but I did. (Add it to the list of TV shows I've never seen – it's a long list!) Thank you, Michael, for this enjoyable puzzle.

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