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Ingenious Quiz

· By Mikey G · Published 2024-03-02T18:00:36.375Z

Meta Prompt
[Level 1.5] The answer to the meta is a 2-word television title.
Checking for previous play data...

Leaderboard (updated hourly)

  • oldjudge solved 2024-03-02T18:02:28.309Z
  • Hector solved 2024-03-02T18:08:06.269Z
  • BrennerTJ solved 2024-03-02T18:20:46.580Z
  • DJB solved 2024-03-02T18:25:52.302Z
  • JM solved 2024-03-02T18:27:58.341Z
  • dannyvee solved 2024-03-02T18:29:08.268Z
  • damefox solved 2024-03-02T18:32:31.571Z
  • BarbaraK solved 2024-03-02T18:35:06.256Z
  • Bird Lives solved 2024-03-02T18:39:35.487Z
  • FrankieHeck solved 2024-03-02T18:39:41.555Z
  • Tom Wilson solved 2024-03-02T18:44:41.183Z
  • LarsCaine solved 2024-03-02T18:50:23.988Z
  • Pair O Ducks solved 2024-03-02T18:55:51.981Z
  • lbray53 solved 2024-03-02T19:35:40.571Z
  • Mr Tex solved 2024-03-02T19:41:14.675Z
  • I K Snamhcok solved 2024-03-02T19:48:02.584Z
  • Berto solved 2024-03-02T19:59:16.124Z
  • Meg solved 2024-03-02T20:01:47.027Z
  • hoover solved 2024-03-02T20:11:52.189Z
  • boharr solved 2024-03-02T20:17:52.658Z
  • Darth solved 2024-03-02T20:19:37.020Z
  • Gutman solved 2024-03-02T20:19:55.609Z
  • HeadinHome solved 2024-03-02T20:33:10.393Z
  • Philip Chow solved 2024-03-02T20:44:56.463Z
  • MatthewL solved 2024-03-02T20:44:58.428Z
  • markhr solved 2024-03-02T20:46:09.831Z
  • Qmark solved 2024-03-02T20:48:41.031Z
  • Cindy Weatherman solved 2024-03-02T20:50:47.774Z
  • Rick solved 2024-03-02T21:12:09.648Z
  • KayW solved 2024-03-02T22:00:53.523Z
  • Laura M solved 2024-03-02T22:09:50.751Z
  • benchen71 solved 2024-03-02T22:13:17.949Z
  • Abide solved 2024-03-02T22:20:14.053Z
  • Danny K Bernstein solved 2024-03-02T22:32:09.980Z
  • Deb W solved 2024-03-02T22:33:35.391Z
  • Tyrpmom solved 2024-03-03T00:16:43.487Z
  • woozy solved 2024-03-03T00:40:45.632Z
  • kurtalert solved 2024-03-03T00:43:03.866Z
  • whimsy solved 2024-03-03T02:24:55.477Z
  • JHSeeman solved 2024-03-03T04:11:12.918Z
  • SJMcK solved 2024-03-03T05:41:46.965Z
  • Schmeel solved 2024-03-03T09:31:48.174Z
  • SJ solved 2024-03-03T09:41:33.969Z
  • Alex Sisti solved 2024-03-03T14:13:18.527Z
  • Joe solved 2024-03-03T14:44:18.375Z
  • Bbaack solved 2024-03-03T15:10:42.750Z
  • rjy solved 2024-03-03T15:12:03.584Z
  • Matt A solved 2024-03-03T15:24:30.736Z
  • andeux solved 2024-03-03T17:02:39.637Z
  • Toast solved 2024-03-03T17:23:31.676Z
  • Tim solved 2024-03-03T17:43:26.351Z
  • heidi solved 2024-03-03T18:24:54.745Z
  • Carolyn solved 2024-03-04T00:11:27.103Z
  • Darrell solved 2024-03-04T01:34:17.903Z
  • Bob J solved 2024-03-04T03:56:17.240Z
  • DrTom solved 2024-03-04T12:47:17.563Z
  • Alvibu67 solved 2024-03-04T20:51:39.231Z
  • edestlin solved 2024-03-05T20:49:58.574Z
  • CPJohnson solved 2024-03-07T21:41:18.385Z
  • Cindy Heisler solved 2024-03-08T00:30:29.809Z
  • Jeremy Smith solved 2024-03-08T20:41:29.032Z
  • Meta World Peace solved 2024-03-09T00:36:34.378Z
  • syoustra solved 2024-03-09T06:01:57.526Z
  • Steve M solved 2024-03-10T01:22:17.202Z
  • Polyagonist solved 2024-03-13T07:43:49.459Z

Comments

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  • Hector 🤓6:12 · 2024-03-02T18:22:31.397Z
    Inspiredly quixotic
    • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-09T17:41:17.806Z
      Oooh, love it! I think the DORM clue was initially Introspective Quixote or something like that for DON, until realizing that was part of the meta-related name and so that had to get nixed.
    • oldjudge 2s · 2024-03-02T18:03:47.379Z
      Incredibly quick! Nice puzzle Mikey.
      • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-09T17:40:40.377Z
        Thank you, Jay!
      • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-02T18:03:09.234Z
        Answer: GET SMART
        Explanation: In line with the title, initials IQ, eight symmetrical across entries also have the initials IQ. Their entries' initial letters spell out DON ADAMS, and a quick search (if you didn't already know!) shows he played Agent 86 (number tie-in!) on the late '60s spy send-up GET SMART, the answer to the meta. Four catchphrases made popular by the show also make an appearance in the clues!
        • JM 🤓8:58 · 2024-03-02T18:42:44.282Z
          Was Agent 86’s shoe the first Smart phone?
          • hoover 4s · 2024-03-02T20:12:25.880Z
            Groan. Is this DrTom in disguise?
            • DrTom 5s · 2024-03-04T20:38:26.422Z
              No because he would have said, "not only that but even though they said it would never last, it played sole music! Why it even had a separate compartment for toiletries...a bar of Dial soap of course...."
              • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-09T17:41:27.836Z
                I love all of this, bahaha.
          • BarbaraK 3s · 2024-03-02T18:37:03.939Z
            Very clever! (You, not me:)
            But what are VAN and RIVER about?
            • Meg 2s · 2024-03-02T20:09:14.089Z
              SNL. Chris Farley playing motivational speaker, Matt Foley.
              • BarbaraK 3s · 2024-03-02T23:46:58.648Z
                Thanks!
                I thought it was meta related. Maybe a reality show about how Donavan Dams a River
                • DrTom 5s · 2024-03-04T20:39:48.692Z
                  Me too, I spent a LOT of time with that and "Ooh I shot my baby...down by the river". I tried sooo hard to make it soooo hard.
                • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-09T17:42:02.552Z
                  That first clip with him, Spade, and Applegate is an absolute classic.
              • DJB 3s · 2024-03-02T18:29:46.133Z
                The old have a TV show as the answer to the meta trick
                • LarsCaine 🤓17:00 · 2024-03-02T18:51:45.493Z
                  Sometimes it's good to be a Boomer
                  • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-09T17:42:34.157Z
                    This millennial wholeheartedly agrees with that.
                  • Bird Lives 5s · 2024-03-02T18:44:07.920Z
                    At last, a show I've watched, uh, once or twice? a few times? Would you believe every week? Are there any other Easter Eggs or hints in addition to 48A, 21A and 16A?
                    • BarbaraK 3s · 2024-03-02T19:44:12.340Z
                      33A, wasn't it?
                      • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-09T17:43:04.034Z
                        I purchased the first season after this meta and watched a few episodes. Very endearing parody - and I didn't know Mel Brooks was involved until creating this puzzle!
                      • I K Snamhcok 3s · 2024-03-02T19:51:56.613Z
                        Mikey, you should know that I regularly quote your punny clues and entries to my wife. Occasionally she’ll chuckle. (Tough audience.) I, OTOH, laugh often. Thanks, as always, for a puzzle I always look forward to. (Though not as much as the baseball season.)
                        • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-09T17:43:31.941Z
                          Yeah, I think you said in the Muggles board she was a tough crowd, haha! You'll have to remind me what your team/teams are!
                        • boharr 6s · 2024-03-02T20:20:53.019Z
                          I needed to have watched more TV.
                          • Berto 1s · 2024-03-02T20:03:06.868Z
                            I started out with just clues beginning “IN” - but DADAMS wasn’t getting me anywhere fast. Guess I don’t quite have the requisite IQ lol
                            • Meg 2s · 2024-03-04T00:02:32.922Z
                              I did exactly the same as did another solver I was working with.
                            • Darth 🤓10:32 · 2024-03-02T20:26:11.305Z
                              Ingenious indeed, Chief. =)
                              • hoover 4s · 2024-03-02T20:12:11.277Z
                                Woo hoo, no Googling required! (because I'm old)
                                • MatthewL 🤓7:57 · 2024-03-02T20:54:07.899Z
                                  Fun one. Gotta say though, missed the whole IQ thing. Just saw that there 8 two-word clues starting with "I", and got there that way. But hey -- a solve's a solve. Thanks for the puzzle, Mikey!
                                  • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-09T17:44:03.357Z
                                    A solve's a solve indeed!!
                                  • Steve M 35:05 · 2024-03-02T20:43:17.231Z
                                    Fun! Missed the IQs (clever!) but remembered the catch phrases from the show.
                                    • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-09T17:44:27.424Z
                                      Yeah, I figured that if you get it by that method due to your TV IQ, I'm all for it!
                                    • Philip Chow 9:06 · 2024-03-02T20:51:39.467Z
                                      when i didn't see anything immediately, i tried quantum leap just for funsies... then i scanned the clues like i was supposed to and got "Dona Dams?" probably some show i've never heard of about lady boss beavers... a quick google search sorted it out 😅... i feel so stupid
                                      • FrankieHeck 🤓9:17 · 2024-03-02T22:53:09.748Z
                                        I'm stupid too...I first passed it as Do Nadams!
                                        • DrTom 5s · 2024-03-04T20:48:18.980Z
                                          Well don't feel badly Philip, I watched the original, read the clues, saw the catchphrases, said to myself, "those are all Get Smart quotes" and STILL did not see the way to the end until someone told me NOT to abandon the initials. Clearly I missed it by THAT (where that is the expanse of the Grand Canyon) much.
                                          • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-09T17:45:23.923Z
                                            The original seems right up my alley, actually, haha.
                                          • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-09T17:44:48.058Z
                                            That would've been funny to have the same answer twice in a row! Maybe one of these days!
                                            • DrTom 5s · 2024-03-10T04:14:30.679Z
                                              Funnier yet would make it seem like the previous week's clue SHOULD be the answer, but have it not be....diabolically funny that is.
                                          • Qmark 5s · 2024-03-02T20:49:57.671Z
                                            Loved puzzle #86 Mikey...thanks!
                                            • HeadinHome 🤓2:48 · 2024-03-02T20:37:28.306Z
                                              Have to admit, I got it just from 21D and the title. Fun nevertheless, and nostalgic. As a little girl I wanted to look like Barbara Feldman, with her crazy long eyelashes!
                                              • Hector 🤓6:12 · 2024-03-02T21:54:44.477Z
                                                *Feldon. (Who is still living!)
                                                • HeadinHome 🤓2:48 · 2024-03-02T22:26:20.405Z
                                                  Right - Felton!
                                                • HeadinHome 🤓2:48 · 2024-03-02T22:26:58.079Z
                                                  Autocorrect attacked again.. FELDMAN not Felton. !!
                                                  • Abide 🤓9:00 · 2024-03-03T03:59:01.605Z
                                                    lol---FELDON!
                                                  • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-09T17:46:02.448Z
                                                    I'm all for nostalgia!!
                                                  • Laura M 🤓7:25 · 2024-03-02T22:10:10.356Z
                                                    Fun!
                                                    • Abide 🤓9:00 · 2024-03-02T22:24:37.807Z
                                                      Team Title/Catchphrases. Never saw the IQs...now I feel dumb.
                                                      • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-09T17:46:14.238Z
                                                        But you got smart!
                                                      • KayW 🤓8:38 · 2024-03-02T22:03:18.774Z
                                                        incomparable quality! and so much fun to solve. Thanks Mikey!
                                                        • benchen71 🤓6:20 · 2024-03-02T22:16:01.805Z
                                                          I was starting to worry about not solving a 1.5 level puzzle when a review of the clues revealed something significant. But I have to say I was shocked to see all the easter eggs after the fact!
                                                          • Tyrpmom 11s · 2024-03-03T00:20:59.724Z
                                                            Fun.
                                                            • woozy 🤓10:53 · 2024-03-03T01:01:19.074Z
                                                              I'm really glad it's not what I was afraid it would be. And I'm further pleased that it was something I'd like it to be.
                                                              • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-09T17:46:36.764Z
                                                                I'm attempting to decipher your cryptic message, haha.
                                                                • woozy 🤓10:53 · 2024-03-09T19:56:18.398Z
                                                                  I was afraid it was going to be "Young Sheldon". Which would have been very disappointing and unpleasant. But instead it was "Get Smart" which was very gratifying and a pleasant surprise.
                                                              • whimsy 🤓11:40 · 2024-03-03T02:38:33.066Z
                                                                Fun! Thanks, Mikey! I gotta remember to be on the lookout for #99 -- but it'll probably be about bottles of (root) beer on the wall or something. :-)
                                                                • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-09T17:47:11.776Z
                                                                  Yeah, I think those will hit during the Summer of Solves, given that my well of ideas doesn't run out by then!
                                                                  • woozy 🤓10:53 · 2024-03-09T19:54:39.774Z
                                                                    I was afraid it was going to be "Young Sheldon". Which would have been very disappointing and unpleasant. But instead it was "Get Smart" which was very gratifying and a pleasant surprise.
                                                                  • woozy 🤓10:53 · 2024-03-09T19:55:36.139Z
                                                                    Arggh! How on earth to my hitting reply, reply to a completely different post?
                                                                  • JHSeeman 2s · 2024-03-03T04:15:56.324Z
                                                                    Fun one... brings back memories
                                                                    • SJMcK 🤓6:08 · 2024-03-03T05:47:05.445Z
                                                                      Ixcellent Quzzle
                                                                      • Joe 🤓7:35 · 2024-03-03T14:46:50.131Z
                                                                        This was my absolute favorite show when I was a kid! I'm old enough to know it, but young enough to have seen it in syndicated reruns after school. My "favorite number" has been 86 ever since. And I still use the term "Cone of Silence." Also, thanks for the gift card!!
                                                                        • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-09T17:47:59.084Z
                                                                          You are welcome! I saw a couple episodes last week, and I think I might keep watching it. It was comforting for some reason, and that's probably due to the affectionate nature of the satire. Always love send-ups like this!
                                                                        • Bbaack 15:49 · 2024-03-03T15:24:52.231Z
                                                                          Aah, this brought back good memories, including Tennessee Tuxedo!
                                                                          • rjy 4s · 2024-03-03T15:16:27.969Z
                                                                            Another clever, intricate work of art!
                                                                            • Carolyn 3s · 2024-03-04T00:12:46.214Z
                                                                              Very cute... and I remember the show very well.
                                                                              • DrTom 5s · 2024-03-04T13:02:25.707Z
                                                                                I, of course, tried to make it much too hard. BLOSSOM made me think of BIG BANG or JEOPARDY (Mayim Bialik) but of course both of those were longer than 5 seasons. Quiz and quips made me think of Weakest Link (5 seasons, on and off) and countless others. I had noticed the letter were I.Q. but no show with that name came to mind. Finally a friendly Muggle reinforced the name idea and I was off looking at the show I.Q. (well actually Q.I. for "Quite interesting" - which I plan to find and watch because it sounds, well quite interesting). As I struggle with that I went back through the grid and saw Indefinite quantity, which I though originally should have been SOME. Hmm, wasn't there another quantity somewhere, maybe that has somehting to do with it? Yep "Impressive quantity"! I'll just be that quantity has...wait a minute I.Q. TWICE...DOH!!!
                                                                                You got me on that one Mikey, and when I saw "Sorry about that chief" and "Would you believe" this Boomer's mind Immediately Questioned the fact that Don Adams wasn't Individually Quoted. A true level 1-2 that I tried desperately to turn into a 2-3. A level 1.5 in a grid that had to be a 3-4 to build with all that content.
                                                                                • Meta World Peace 3s · 2024-03-09T00:38:57.641Z
                                                                                  Did I get 100 on the IQ test? I'm going for a perfect score!
                                                                                  • Mikey G constructor · 2024-03-09T17:48:37.482Z
                                                                                    Bahaha, exactly!
                                                                                  1A
                                                                                  Where MLB's Grapefruit League plays
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                                                                                  57
                                                                                  Across
                                                                                  1. 1A
                                                                                    Where MLB's Grapefruit League plays
                                                                                  2. 4A
                                                                                    Vientiane's land
                                                                                  3. 8A
                                                                                    Indefinite quantity
                                                                                  4. 12A
                                                                                    Adorable raccoon cousin
                                                                                  5. 14A
                                                                                    Cruciverbalists' favorite nautical direction
                                                                                  6. 15A
                                                                                    Ironic quip
                                                                                  7. 16A
                                                                                    "Good thinking!"
                                                                                  8. 17A
                                                                                    Chicken tikka ___ (yummy dish!)
                                                                                  9. 18A
                                                                                    Continuing storyline, perhaps in our five-season, live-action answer to the meta
                                                                                  10. 20A
                                                                                    Traffic cop?
                                                                                  11. 22A
                                                                                    "Impressive!," quaintly
                                                                                  12. 26A
                                                                                    Diamond name
                                                                                  13. 29A
                                                                                    Sandwiches that even I know how to cook (maybe)
                                                                                  14. 31A
                                                                                    "Well, ___-di-dah!" (I'm doing crosswords in a VAN down by the RIVER)
                                                                                  15. 32A
                                                                                    Inn quaffs
                                                                                  16. 33A
                                                                                    "Would you believe!"
                                                                                  17. 34A
                                                                                    Institute's quarters
                                                                                  18. 35A
                                                                                    2013 film in which Scarlett Johansson is heard but not seen
                                                                                  19. 36A
                                                                                    "Ish"
                                                                                  20. 37A
                                                                                    Union guys you might see at the gym?
                                                                                  21. 38A
                                                                                    Inquisitive questioner
                                                                                  22. 40A
                                                                                    With 30-Down, actress who portrayed Miss Kenton in 1993's "The Remains of the Day"
                                                                                  23. 42A
                                                                                    "How'd you do on your oceanography test?" "So-so, got a ___"
                                                                                  24. 44A
                                                                                    Now that's slick!
                                                                                  25. 48A
                                                                                    "Sorry about that, Chief"
                                                                                  26. 51A
                                                                                    Inbox queue
                                                                                  27. 53A
                                                                                    When I go to the arboretum, ___'s company!
                                                                                  28. 54A
                                                                                    Floral verb that retains its meaning when its middle two letters are dropped
                                                                                  29. 55A
                                                                                    Inspect quickly
                                                                                  30. 56A
                                                                                    Company whose name, in part, is derived from the Latin for "sound"
                                                                                  31. 57A
                                                                                    44-Across, e.g.
                                                                                  Down
                                                                                  1. 1D
                                                                                    Tag line?
                                                                                  2. 2D
                                                                                    Musical Horne
                                                                                  3. 3D
                                                                                    Summer coolers
                                                                                  4. 4D
                                                                                    With 9-Down, boxer who retired 24-0 in 2007
                                                                                  5. 5D
                                                                                    City home to the University of Michigan
                                                                                  6. 6D
                                                                                    "Do you like Keats?" "He's kind of ___-fashioned"
                                                                                  7. 7D
                                                                                    "True Biz" author Novic
                                                                                  8. 8D
                                                                                    Trip the light fantastic (I would just trip)
                                                                                  9. 9D
                                                                                    See 4-Down
                                                                                  10. 10D
                                                                                    "Can you find the reciprocal of cos?" "Just give me a ___!"
                                                                                  11. 11D
                                                                                    Half a laugh (surprised I got half of one)
                                                                                  12. 13D
                                                                                    Three non-collinear points determine them, in Euclidean geometry
                                                                                  13. 19D
                                                                                    Members of the IV league, har har
                                                                                  14. 21D
                                                                                    "Missed it by that much!"
                                                                                  15. 23D
                                                                                    How a spiny houseplant answers the phone
                                                                                  16. 24D
                                                                                    It might protect a diamond
                                                                                  17. 25D
                                                                                    Fictional detective who solves physics-based mysteries: Sherlock ___
                                                                                  18. 26D
                                                                                    "Your puns and dad jokes are so hilarious!"
                                                                                  19. 27D
                                                                                    Corrida cheers
                                                                                  20. 28D
                                                                                    "You put coffee in your gas tank?" "Well, I had to ___ the car"
                                                                                  21. 30D
                                                                                    See 40-Across
                                                                                  22. 34D
                                                                                    Some soaps, say
                                                                                  23. 36D
                                                                                    It's of miner concern LOL
                                                                                  24. 39D
                                                                                    I'm not sure if this German city has an urban area, but it has a Ruhr-al one
                                                                                  25. 41D
                                                                                    Like the roof the singer in Elton John's "Your Song" sat atop
                                                                                  26. 43D
                                                                                    Diplomats: Abbr.
                                                                                  27. 45D
                                                                                    Flabbergasted
                                                                                  28. 46D
                                                                                    ___ tape
                                                                                  29. 47D
                                                                                    Exxon, once
                                                                                  30. 48D
                                                                                    Fifth qtrs., in a way
                                                                                  31. 49D
                                                                                    Tolkien creature that is not a sinus specialist in his spare time
                                                                                  32. 50D
                                                                                    "Once Upon a Mattress" legume
                                                                                  33. 52D
                                                                                    Don't bring me down - and name this "Don't Bring Me Down" group, coming to a crossword near you!
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