May 30, 2026

Title: TEENAGERS WITH ATTITUDE

Constructors: Amie Walker & Brian Callahan

Editor: Amie Walker


Theme synopsis:
  • BREAKFAST PIZZA (15A: *Slices topped with eggs and bacon, e.g.)
  • LET'S PRETEND (30A: *"Imagine with me...")
  • VULTURE FUND (48A: *Aggressive debt-buying equity firm)
  • Revealer: IT'S MORPHIN TIME (65A: "Power Rangers" catchphrase ... or what could be said about each starred clue's answer)
IT'S MORPHIN TIME: Each theme answer contains a hidden anagram of a dimension of TIME: BREAKFAST PIZZA (past), LET'S PRETEND (present), and VULTURE FUND (future).

What I learned from today's puzzle:
  • IZZY (10D: Soul singer Bizu) IZZY Bizu is a British Ethiopian singer-songwriter. Her debut studio album, A Moment of Madness, was released in 2016. I enjoyed reading this okayafrica interview with IZZY Bizu.
  • MII (66D: Nintendo avatar in a "parade") I learned about MII, the customizable avatar used on some Nintendo game consoles and apps, from the June 28, 2021 puzzle. However, I did not know about the MII Parade, a feature in Nintendo's MII channel
Random thoughts and interesting things:
  • OUR (11A: "___ Lips Are Sealed") "OUR Lips Are Sealed" is a 1981 song by the Go-Go's. It was the opening track on their debut album, Beauty and the Beat. "Doesn't matter what they say / In the jealous games people play / OUR lips are sealed."
  • NIN (27A: "Closer" band, for short) "Closer" is a 1994 song by the rock band Nine Inch Nails, or NIN, for short. 
  • SUITS (40A: Acorns and Leaves, in a German card deck) German-suited playing cards are common in south and east Germany, as well as in some other parts of central Europe. These card decks use the following four SUITS: Acorns, Leaves, Hearts, and Bells. I like this clue, because even solvers unfamiliar with German-suited cards might infer the answer from the words "card deck."
  • CMA (70A: 2023 prize for Tracy Chapman) Singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman released her debut single, "Fast Car," in 1988. The following year, the song won a Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Country artist Luke Combs released a version of "Fast Car" in 2023, and that year it won Song of the Year at the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards. Tracy Chapman is the first Black songwriter to win a CMA Award. At the 66th Grammy Awards in 2024, Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs sang "Fast Car" together. 
  • SIS (71A: "Pretty sneaky, ___" (classic line from a Connect Four ad)) In case you want to revisit (or view for the first time if you're young!) the Connect Four commercial featuring the line, "Pretty sneaky, SIS," here's a link.
  • IDK (4D: Texter's "beats me") IDK = I don't know
  • OMAN (6D: Neighbor of Yemen) OMAN is located in West Asia, on the Arabian Peninsula. In addition to Yemen, OMAN's other neighbors are Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). OMAN has coastline on the Gulf of OMAN, and the Arabian Sea. The capital of OMAN is Muscat.
  • POP-TART (8D: Toasted treat "sacrificed" at an annual bowl game) The POP-TARTs Bowl is a college football bowl game played annually in Orlando, Florida. This bowl game has had a number of names since its founding in 1990, reflecting various sponsorships. Since 2023, it has been named after POP-TARTs toaster pastries. Since the game became the POP-TARTs Bowl, it has become a post-game tradition to lower a giant POP-TART into a giant toaster; it is then devoured by the winning college football team.
  • OZONE (14D: Its chemical formula is O3) and PROTONS (45D: A helium atom has two) I'm always delighted to see science in the crossword, so I enjoyed these clues.
  • GLAMOUR (24D: Digital-only fashion mag) GLAMOUR magazine printed its first issue in April 1939. Since 2019, the magazine has been digital only.
  • RAP (29D: Perform like 41-Down) and ICE SPICE (41D: Artist featured on "Boy's a liar Pt. 2") "Boys a liar Pt 2" is a 2023 song by PinkPantheress, featuring RAP artist ICE SPICE. 
  • NPCS (60D: Background video game characters) NPCS are non-player characters.
  • GHEE (61D: Butter in bulletproof coffee) Bulletproof coffee is a high-calorie drink made by adding GHEE (clarified butter) to coffee. Bulletproof coffee was developed by Dave Asprey, founder of the low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet known as the Bulletproof diet. (Side note: Many of the claims Dave Asprey makes about the Bulletproof diet are not backed up with scientific evidence.)
  • EMMA (63D: Actor D'Arcy) EMMA D'Arcy portrays Rhaenyra Targaryen on the TV series House of the Dragon (2022-present). House of the Dragon is based on George R. R. Martin's 2018 book, Fire & Blood. The show is a prequel to Game of Thrones (2011-2019).
  • Other clues and answers I especially enjoyed: 
    • SIGN (23A: "Falling Rocks," for one)
    • WAIT A SEC (34A: "Hold up, whaaat?")
    • VETS (55A: Future ones might "heal" their stuffed animals)
    • SCOFF (32D: Say "In your dreams!")
    • NEAT (64D: "Cool cool cool")
The Power Rangers franchise began with the TV series, Mighty MORPHIN Power Rangers, which originally aired from 1993-1995. The superhero series centers on a group of "TEENAGERS WITH ATTITUDE" recruited and trained to morph into Power Rangers. It's a special treat to have a puzzle with a revealer. Even after uncovering IT'S MORPHIN TIME, I stared at the completed grid for a bit before seeing the hidden anagrams of PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE (nicely in order in the grid). This made for a nice "Aha!" moment. Thank you, Amie and Brian, for this super 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 that I am more likely to delete a negative comment if it is posted anonymously. (P.S. You can point out when I make a mistake – in fact, I appreciate that so I can correct it.)

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