August 26, 2026

Title: BURY THE LEDE

Constructor: Ron Ammirante

Editor: Amie Walker

Theme synopsis:

• SCRAMBLED EGGS (20A: Offerings at many hotel breakfast buffets)
• GRILLED EGGPLANT (37A: Charred vegetable often paired with tahini)
• MOBILE DEPOSIT (51A: Money put into a bank account via smartphone)

BURY THE LEDE: The word LEDE is hidden in each theme answer: SCRAMBLED EGGS, GRILLED EGGPLANT, and MOBILE DEPOSIT.

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• IVAN (34A: "Big Mistakes" character played by Mark Ivanir) Big Mistakes is a Netflix TV series that premiered in April of this year. The show was created by Dan Levy and Rachel Sennott. Dan Levy also stars in the series as Nicky, an openly gay pastor. The other main character is Nicky's sister Morgan, played by Taylor Ortega. Nicky and Morgan make some mistakes (as one might expect from the show's title) and get blackmailed into the world of organized crime. Mark Ivanir portrays the recurring character of crime boss IVAN. It's interesting (to a word nerd like me) that the name of Mark Ivanir's character is found in his last name. If he was the star of the show rather than a recurring character, one might say his name "buries the lead." (I couldn't resist...)

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• OBOE (9A: Woodwind instrument featured in "Kiss From a Rose") Singer-songwriter Seal released the song "Kiss From a Rose" in 1994. The song was a huge hit, reaching the top ten in several countries, and winning three Grammy Awards. "Kiss From a Rose" is one of the few hit songs that have an OBOE solo.
• BOONE (18A: "Mystical Magical" singer Benson) I just learned about Benson BOONE earlier this month. "Mystical Magical" is a single from his second studio album, American Heart (2025).
• RITA (42A: "Lovely ___" (Beatles song)) "Lovely RITA" is a 1967 song by the Beatles, off of the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. If you're looking for a song to listen to today, this puzzle has provided you with several suggestions.
• LIST (66A: "It's on my to-do LIST" ("I haven't forgotten about that")) This clue made me smile, because "It's on my top-do LIST," happens to be a sentence I use frequently. Most of the time it's even true.
• IMAC (2D: Computer whose original model featured a translucent blue exterior) That first IMAC model, the iMAC G3, was released in 1998. It featured an all in one design and the translucent blue exterior mentioned in the clue. Fun fact: The iMAC was the first Apple product to use the lower case "i" prefix that is now seemingly ubiquitous. 
• OMAR (3D: Representative Ilhan) I have previously written about Representative Ilhan OMAR.
• EYE (12D: "___ of the Tiger") Hey, here's another song you might listen to today. "EYE of the Tiger" is a 1982 song by Survivor. It was used as the theme song for the movie Rocky III (1982). "Rising up, back on the street / Did my time, took my chances..."
• ERICA (27D: "Fear of Flying" author Jong) Fear of Flying is a 1973 book by ERICA Jong. While on a trip to Vienna with her second husband, the novel's protagonist and narrator, Isadora Wing, indulges her sexual fantasies with another man. At the time Fear of Flying was published, it was controversial for its portrayal of female sexuality.
• ATARI (30D: Asteroids game developer) Here's my opportunity to remember that ATARI's arcade game, Asteroids, was released in 1979. And no matter how hard I try to maintain the illusion that the '80s were a mere 20 years ago, the fact is that 1979 was 47 years ago!
• LANGE (31D: "Tootsie" Oscar winner Jessica) The 1983 Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for Tootsie is one of two Oscars Jessica LANGE has won. In 1985, she won a Best Actress Oscar for the movie Blue Sky.
• VET (35D: Doc that gives pet scans?) This clue relies on a classic pun, and I am here for it. After doing a cat scan, Willow also gives her seal of approval.

• A few other clues and answers I especially appreciate:
• OOZE (61A: Move like a sci-fi blob)
• I DID (34D: "___ it my way")
• MAZE (51D: Puzzle with an exit)

A LEDE is the introductory section of a news story. Its purpose is to entice readers to continue reading. BURY THE LEDE is an expression used to indicate that the most important information was not included in the introduction, but instead was buried deeper in the article. Of course, you don't need to know all that to appreciate today's theme. Thank you, Ron, for an enjoyable puzzle.