New York Times, Monday, July 6, 2020

I think it was BILLFOLDS that got me started on this one. But really, I find there's an embarrassment of riches when it comes to using people's names for puzzle themes. The stumbling block here was finding a second 9-letter option, so the idea sat around until I finally came up with VANGUARDS. The puzzle was submitted roughly a year ago. I don't see any especially noteworthy clue changes.

As always, I hope it's a fun one. Hurray for puzzles to keep us all occupied, these days more than ever.

Monday fill is like an NFL right tackle — 99% of the time that you notice it, it's because of something it did wrong. Perhaps it missed a block (ambiguous crossing) or forgot the play call (crossword glue unfamiliar to newbs). It's so rare that it executes a play spectacular enough for announcers to applaud.

Check out what Lynn did with her mid-length fill today. As I solved, I kept noticing the beautiful entries: NOSE JOB, UTOPIA, IN DRAG, ATTIRE, GAMBIT, ELOISE, MAIDEN, PEORIA, NO MORE ... but there was more! It's astounding that Lynn created so many of these slots, and then used so many of them so well. All those colorful and evocative ASSETS!

Most themed grids break up their 15-length sides into three chunks, making 3-5 length entries show up over the years ad infinitum. 6s and 7s make appearances much less frequently, so when they do, they often feel fresher to us regulars. I love this layout, the black squares spaced in a Zen-like balance that allows for 6-7 heaven all over.

I usually emphasize longer bonus fill — I'd have tried to extend STATS to make it an 8-9 letter slot, since long entries can often sing more strongly than mid-lengthers — but Lynn achieved so much with her layout. I'll have to rethink my gridwork philosophy.

We've seen many variations on this theme type, celeb names repurposed in different ways. I did enjoy feeling sheepish, as all these years, I thought it was [First name] van Cliburn.

Overall, though, it would have been great to find some way to make this theme set stand out. There are so many first names that can be worked into common phrases that this set came across as too loosey-goosey.