May 25, 2026

Title: ALTERED STATES

Constructor: Zachary Edward-Brown

Editor: Amie Walker

Theme synopsis:

• LOST STEAM (17A: Ran low on energy)
• IS THIS SEAT TAKEN (39A: "Can I sit here?)
• GUEST STAR (59A: TV actor who doesn't have a regular role)

ALTERED STATES: Each theme answer contains an anagram of the word STATES: LOST STEAM, IS THIS SEAT TAKEN, and GUEST STAR.

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• PETUNIAS (41A: Flowers related to tobacco) There are about 20 species of PETUNIAS in the genus Petunia. This genus is in the family Solanaceae, which also includes tobacco. This family also includes tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and peppers. The toxic plant deadly nightshade (belladonna) is also in this family. (I guess every family has its toxic members...)
• OPERA (54A: "La Cenerentola," e.g.) La Cenerentola, ossia La bontà in trionfo is an OPERA by Gioachino Rossini. It was first performed in 1817. La Cenerentola is a version of the fairy tale "Cinderella." In Rossini's version, a stepfather replaces the wicked stepmother. There's also a philosopher instead of a Fairy Godmother, and Cinderella is identified by her silver bracelet rather than a glass slipper.
• MULE (53D: "Low Bridge, Everybody Down" animal) "Low Bridge, Everybody Down," also known as the "Erie Canal Song," is a folk song dating back to the early 1900s. The song memorializes the years from 1825 to 1880, when MULE barges were used on the Erie Canal. When the barge came to a low bridge, passengers on the barge would need to duck to pass under the bridge.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• WHO (21A: "___ let the dogs out? (___? ___? ___? ___? ___?)") This clue made me laugh! What a fun string of blanks interspersed with question marks. "WHO let the dogs out? (WHO? WHO? WHO? WHO? WHO?)" is an oft-repeated lyric in the 2000 song "WHO Let the Dogs Out" by the Baha Men.
• RITA (23A: EGOT winner Moreno) EGOT is an acronym for Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards, and is used as a designation for people, like RITA Moreno, who have won all four of these honors. RITA Moreno won Emmy Awards in 1977 for The Muppet Show and 1978 for The Rockford Files, a Grammy in 1972 for a recording of The Electric Company, an Oscar in 1962 for Westside Story, and a Tony in 1975 for The Ritz.
• STY (43A: Place to go hog wild?) Not a place to go "hog wild" as in "lacking restraint," but a literal place to find a hog – a STY.
• AIR (45A: 2023 Ben Affleck film about Nike) The movie AIR, released in 2023, is based on true events about the basketball shoeline AIR Jordan. Michael Jordan was not directly involved with the making of AIR, but he did consult with director Ben Affleck.
• FAT (5D: ___ Tuesday (Mardi Gras)) Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Christian observance of Lent, the period of time leading up to Easter. Mardi Gras, also known as Shrove Tuesday or FAT Tuesday, is the day prior to Ash Wednesday. "Mardi Gras" is French for "FAT Tuesday." Since Lent is a time when some Christians fast (notably from red meat), FAT Tuesday is seen as the last day of consuming rich foods before fasting begins.
• CHAN (11D: "Shanghai Noon" actor Jackie) Shanghai Noon is a 2000 movie that combines elements of a Western with martial arts sequences seen in a kung fu action film. It also has elements of slapstick. Shanghai Noon – which is a play on the title of the 1952 Western High Noon – stars Jackie CHAN and Owen Wilson as a Chinese Imperial Guard and an American Western outlaw who team up to stop a crime.
• SPITTING IMAGE (18D: Doppelganger) I like the word doppelgänger – it's fun to say. The word doppelgänger is derived from the German words for "double" and "goer" (or "walker"), and refers to a person that is a SPITTING IMAGE of someone else even though the two are not related. 
• AUSTRIA (26D: Homeland for Hans and Franz, in a 60-Down sketch) and SNL (60D: NBC sketch show since 1975) In the recurring SNL sketch, "Pumping Up with Hans & Franz," Hans (Dana Carvey) and Franz (Kevin Nealon) are bodybuilders from AUSTRIA. The characters are fashioned after Arnold Schwarzenegger, who made a guest appearance in one of the sketches.
• ARKIN (32D: "Argo" actor Alan) The 2012 movie, Argo, is a historical drama that tells the story of a CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) agent named Tony Mendez (portrayed by Ben Affleck), who led the rescue of six U.S. diplomats from Iran under the guise of filming a science fiction movie. Argo was adapted from Tony Mendez's 1999 memoir, The Master of Disguise, and a 2007 Wired article by Joshuah Bearman titled, "The Great Escape: How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran. Alan ARKIN portrays film producer Lester Siegel.
• REESE (33D: "Legally Blonde" star Witherspoon) REESE Witherspoon portrays Elle Woods in the 2001 movie, Legally Blonde. Elle Woods is a sorority girl who attends law school in an attempt to win back her ex-boyfriend.
• CHU (36D: "Wicked: For Good" director Jon) Jon CHU not only directed the 2025 movie, Wicked: For Good, but also the 2024 movie Wicked. The movies are adaptations of the 2003 stage musical Wicked, which was loosely based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel of the same name. The Wicked stories are re-imaginings of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900) by Frank L. Baum.
• MAT (58D: Place to strike a pose?) The pose one strikes on a MAT is a yoga pose.
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
• HOSE (3D: It might wind up in your backyard)
• LEMON TEA (8D: Citrusy beverage that might soothe a sore throat)
• YOU'D BETTER NOT (9D: "I'd avoid that, personally!")

Today the word ALTERED in the title is acting as an anagram indicator. In each theme answer, the letters of the word STATES has been ALTERED. Thank you, Zachary, for this enjoyable puzzle.

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