New York Times, Wednesday, April 28, 2021

The idea for this progression hit me late one night while mulling over the potential of 58-Across as a themeless entry. Maybe it's a kind of reverse semantic satiation (a term I just learned from "Ted Lasso") where if you stare at a word long enough, it can actually gain meaning.

I figured there would be a decent number of options for CAS-E, CA-SE, and C-ASE, but realized there are very few entries that begin CASE without using the word itself. I'm a baseball fan who married into a family of even bigger baseball fans, and I knew I wanted to start the progression with 20-Across. Given the lengths (13, 15) and relatively fixed placements of those two answers, mirror (left-right) symmetry was required. With rotational (180-degree) symmetry so dominant, I always enjoy seeing what the mirror will reveal.

Somewhat surprisingly, this arrangement of stacked themers seemed to yield the best fill, though some compromises were necessary, as in the wide-open "North" section. I suspect many solvers won't notice or care, but I do hope some enjoy the unusual layout, including the 2x2 Tetris blocks on either edge of the grid's middle.

The clues reflect a harmonious balance between my submission and fresh ideas from the editorial team. They injected new life throughout, with 17-Across a prime example. 42-Down is saltier than what I would have dared submit — but I loved seeing it! I appreciated the essence of my clues being retained in many places, especially 28-Down, 43-Across, and 27-Across.

OPEN AND SHUT CASE ... seems like the theme should be easy to figure out. Some might even say open and shut. Yet Jim Horne and I spent five minutes on the phone, discussing why a CASE to CAS/E to CA/SE to CAS/E to CASE progression would mean "open and shut." It felt more like a deck of cards being riffled to me. And why the stack pairs of themers? Was that supposed to elicit a suitcase-esque image?

In any case (sorry), the progression worked, and I appreciated that each themer fit exactly one pattern. For instance, CATCH PHRASE could have fit either CA/SE or C/ASE. I don't know how many solvers would have noticed that (or cared), but I enjoy those types of touches.

Mike Shenk at the WSJ doesn't like mirror symmetry unless the theme or grid absolutely calls for it. It was perfect for Monday's puzzle, but it felt out of place for today's. Placing OPEN AND SHUT CASE in the middle row would have allowed for normal symmetry, although it would give away the game quicker.

OPEN AND SHUT CASE is a great phrase to play on. This isn't the most a-ha-inducing execution, but it's a different take on the "word progressions" genre.