"Color Spectrum," by Zhouqin Burnikel

Constructor's Comments

When I first proposed this theme to David back in February, I had ONE LIFE TO LIVE for OLIVE, which fully contains OLIVE in the end.  He noticed immediately, of course.  And the title is his again.

Thank you, David, for patiently guiding me through all the Puzzle Society puzzles this year.

"Golden Words," by Gary D. Schlapfer and Zhouqin Burnikel

Constructors' Comments

Gary D. Schlapfer:  I'm a retired math and science teacher based in Fremont, Nebraska.  I met C.C. a few years ago in Minneapolis, and we have been good friends since.  I now blog the Saturday puzzles for the L.A. Times Crossword Corner.  We had fun going back and forth with the theme entry selections.  We also considered HAUSFRAUEN but feared it might be a bit shaky, so we sent David the current set first.

"Jam-Ups," by Jim Bordoni and Zhouqin Burnikel

Constructors' Comments

We're very excited about this puzzle.  It's Jim's debut.  He's an avid crossword solver, and he helps coach the cross-country team at Mountain View High School in California.  We finally met two years ago when he visited Minneapolis to see his son run in the Roy Griak Invitational.  This puzzle was the result of many ideas we brainstormed together.  Thanks for making this possible, David, and thanks for the new title also.

"Free for All XX," by Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor's Comments

Although all of Zhouqin's Puzzle Society Crosswords so far have been themed, she's also one of the best themeless constructors in the business!  In this grid, my top five favorite entries are ALMOND ROCA, VIP PARKING, OLGA KORBUT (as opposed to just OLGA with the clue [Gymnast Korbut], which is what you usually see), HATE MAIL, and I'M IN HEAVEN.  I like how Zhouqin filled each corner with two strong 10-letter entries and a lively 7—such attention to midlength slots can make an already-good themeless great.  The short fill also feels smooth all around.

"Starting Lineup," by Zhouqin Burnikel

Constructor's Comments

I originally used "Leading Ladies" as a puzzle title.  David thought the theme might be tough to suss out if there weren't a reveal entry.  Thanks again for the new title, David!

Editor's Comments

A LEADING LADY puzzle from one of the leading ladies of crosswords leading off a new week!  Zhouqin is up with another masterful early-week offering.  All the theme entries are lively and in-the-language—my favorites are the colloquial SO WE'VE HEARD and DOES IT MATTER, both of which make their crossword debuts today.  The nonthematic fill is silky smooth all around, and Zhouqin even found room for the zippy LIVE-TWEETS and TAKE THE RAP.  And finally, most of the clues are hers.

"Hugs," by Zhouqin Burnikel

Constructor's Comments

I tried a few grids after David OK'd the theme set.  This one gave me the best fill.  Stacking theme answers has bailed me out quite a few times, especially when the overlapping letter count is fewer than six letters.  Thanks for the new title, David!

Editor's Comments

Four long theme entries plus a 15-letter reveal is already very impressive.  Squeezing in four juicy long down entries on top of all of that?  Um, yes please!  So how did Zhouqin do that?  Her tremendous construction skills aside, she brings up an astute point about stacking theme entries in her blurb.  Having three (rather than the usual two) rows in between the central grid-spanner and the nearest theme entry allows the middle section to be much more flexible.  The theme entries also overlap in just two sections, so from a fill perspective, all other parts of the grid fall into place like you're working with just three theme entries.  Very clever on Zhouqin's part!

"Call Batman!" by Zhouqin Burnikel

Constructor's Comments

When I first proposed the idea to David, it was just a simple HA* HA* theme.  He proposed that we remove HA from the grid and use THE JOKER as a reveal.  And he gave me a list of the words from a quick program he wrote.  Just amazing!  Grid-wise, I initially put SARA in 53-Across—totally forgot my original word.  Thankfully I caught my goof [before] I sent out the grid to David.

Editor's Comments

Zhouqin did an amazing job with this puzzle!  Incorporating 12 short theme entries may not look hard, but with two entries constraining every corner of the grid, I'd argue that it's one of the most challenging layouts.  As usual, though, Zhouqin made it look easy—she got THE JOKER to cross two theme entries, and she even worked in fun bonus fill such as SCAREDY CAT, EYES ON ME, and PANDORA.  The clues were also top-notch.  One of the only changes I made was adding another DC reference to the RIDDLE clue.  You may think you've conquered the puzzle after catching The Joker red-handed, but there's always a need for Batman!

"Missing Out," by Zhouqin Burnikel

Constructor's Comments

At times theme entries with no challenging letter combos can be tricky.  The upper left of this grid is a good example.  Somehow I just could not come up with a better 9-Down and no partial at 7-Down.

Editor's Comments

I like how this puzzle's theme entries look cryptic on the surface but suddenly make sense once you figure out what's going on.  That kind of aha moment is my favorite thing as a solver.  Zhouqin also chose a lively, in-the-language set of theme entries.  One thing that bugs me about many "reverse definition" themes is that the definitions sound unnatural.  For example, if Zhouqin had used LOOK QUITE MOPEY instead of PUT ON A LONG FACE for [Pout], that would've been significantly less elegant.  Zhouqin is also way too modest about her grid skills—working in bonuses like SERVICE DOG, SELFIE, KD LANG, LAKE COMO, and SKI RUN while keeping the short fill silky smooth is no mean feat.  What are your thoughts?