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Brad Wiegmann author page

4 puzzles by Brad Wiegmann
with constructor comments

TotalDebutLatest
42/28/20211/13/2023
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
3000010
Scrabble
1.57
Brad Wiegmann
Puzzles constructed by Brad Wiegmann by year

Brad Wiegmann is a national security lawyer for the Department of Justice in Washington.

Fri 1/13/2023
PEIDAMESSCARF
INDUETIMEALTER
STEPSONITMULTI
CRACKPOTBEARD
EELSATSEANIA
SESPANERASTAY
MIRRORQUAL
BRETTBURNS
LETTERCOAF
PATHSNOBBYPCS
ICHSTARRAARP
SKATENEATIDEA
ACTIVSEALADDER
NACRERACEWALKS
OTHERASHESESE

Q: So Brad, how would you describe today's puzzle?

A: It's just very unfortunate.

Q: I know, right? I was so disappointed not to get my regular awesome themeless Friday today. Do you have any comment for people like me who are feeling a little let down or even annoyed by your work?

A: I dunno ... tough luck?

Q: And then there's the "rorqual" issue. C'mon — who's ever heard of a rorqual? Some kind of obscure whale?

A: Yeah. Didn't you ever tell rorqual jokes when you were a kid?

Q: What?

A: You know, like, "did you hear about the guy who hired a rorqual as his mechanic?"

Q: No.

A: His car was a whale-oiled machine.

Q: No. Just no.

A: Or the rorqual who had a lot of hopes and dreams? . . . He was a wishing whale.

Q: OK. That's a wrap.

Sun 3/20/2022 EXES & NOS
CAMPAMUSTARLOPEP
OBOEPALLIDMOORTAPE
HADNOPRAYERETESSLAW
ICEOLINDIDNTWORKOUT
BULLPENOBEDIENTOLE
ASTIESPNMINBEAKER
KETONETONGUELATS
CAMETONOTHINGSAHL
ALOHAOEETSGENESIS
RESELLGULLBAOHTTPS
DUALLETMEDOWNASIA
STILLOREBUNKSIRENS
SCIENCECOEJUMBLES
TOOKWOULDNEVERFLY
THAITENHUTRELATE
HUSSARAIRMEWLAPPS
EMUBEATTIMEOSHKOSH
MISSEDTHECUTOSHALYE
ADUEARALDIDTHETRICK
GOATMINISENIORACHE
IRLEASERASTAPEEL

Q: So Brad, tell me, is this puzzle autobiographical in any way?

A: Do you mean, like, did I ever do jello shots on Marine One with Katie Couric and Orson Bean? No, but it sounds like fun.

Q: No, I mean the whole dating thing. I'm assuming, just based on your personality, you've been in a lot of failed relationships.

A: I wouldn't say a lot. I did date a ski racer briefly, but she went downhill fast. Then there was this cute limbo dancer. I really liked her.

Q: What happened there?

A: She went belly up.

Q: Kind of like your puzzle. A flop.

A: Art imitates life I guess. Or is it life imitates art? I forget.

Q: Honestly, I really wish you'd do something more creative with your puzzles, like the Times usually does. Shakespeare quotes that contain anagrams of breakfast cereals, a connect-the-dots picture of Gandhi — anything? C'mon man.

A: Well, I did have "PEP" in this one. Upper right corner. It's a palindrome — the same spelled forwards AND backwards. Pretty cool.

Q: And you have "KETONE" at 42 across. What the heck is that?

A: Not sure. But it did fit quite nicely there.

Q: [Sigh]

A: What about you — how's your love life going?

Q: If you must know, I had been dating this Marxist professor. Kind, intelligent, funny — and totally hot. But I just broke up with him.

A: Why?

Q: He just wasn't right.

A: Maybe it's for the best.

🌻🌻🌻

Sun 5/9/2021 MOTHER'S DAY CONCERT
DOCSCABACHESTERMS
OPALORICHILLASIANS
REMIGETAKICKOUTOFYOU
IREMITERSTAPLERS
CARRYTHATWEIGHTHERES
HAIOATAXLEERA
COCOTCELLREGATTA
HURTSSOGOODPUSHIT
USEPUPAETOMSSKEET
MEWEVERTFINALEASY
IWANNABESEDATED
USPSTEPIDEELEDZAP
REALMORSOADOREODE
SCREAMIMCOMINGOUT
ATATROTDENCHMALE
GNUALTAANAANT
AMEBABABYONEMORETIME
CANARIESABUTSMOT
THEKIDSAREALRIGHTAVA
SERENEMARRYTAROLIP
ROSESITSMESTOPSEE

Q: So Brad, tell us about your latest puzzle. Why the childbirth theme?

A: Well, I just love babies. They're such great people — so down-to-earth and thoughtful. So I figured, why not a puzzle honoring all the infants out there who work so selflessly to enrich their parents' lives.

Q: But isn't this a Mother's Day puzzle?

A: I guess you could see it that way, since the Times changed the title from "Labor Day Concert" to "Mother's Day Concert." And that's fine. But to me, I believe the children are our future, as Whitney Houston taught us.

Q: You dedicated the puzzle to your mom though.

A: Yes, I did. Hi Mom! If you're reading this, you still owe me fifty bucks.

Q: Let's shift gears. How did you pick the songs for this puzzle?

A: That was tough. There are so many great songs about childbirth. "Stand and Deliver" by Adam Ant. "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-a-Lot. And more recently, "Despacito," which I understand means "obstetrician" in Spanish.

Q: Any regrets about doing a crossword that makes light of the hardships of pregnancy and labor?

A: There is one song/clue I kind of regret not including: "Greeting to expectant Mom who just bought some new maternity clothes? [Peggy Lee 1966]"

Q: I'm afraid to ask. . . . OK, what's the answer?

A: "Hey Big Spender."

Q: I think it's best you left that one out.

Thanks to Carol and Theresa, my favorite moms!

Sun 2/28/2021 CROSSWORD BUFF
TREBEKVALISESDEBONE
OHIOANIMALONEEPIPEN
LENTTOBARELYMANAGING
LASTSEESVAILWEE
OBSESSIVESLEET
BLAMEONMANYMOONSAGO
LADLESTHATTOONOTYET
ANDESROEGDRAGSLEI
DAISRAWRECRUITSWOKS
EINSTEINHADATFIRS
PENNOPINEETON
REINBERETSMIRNOFF
EASTCOMICSTRIPSILER
RICLEWISAINTINDIE
INABITLIVEMASENGINE
EXPOSURETIMECLOSETS
ECASHSOREPOINT
APEESTALUSTREAL
FULLYRECOVEREDICEAXE
ITALIAARISINGSEASON
TONINGRESTDAYTOKENS

Q: So Brad, tell me, how long have you been obsessed with nudity?

A: Thanks for that question. I'm actually more prude than nudist. I keep my clothes on at all times. Even in the shower.

Q: Interesting. So why the puzzle au naturel then?

A: It was an act of desperation. I wasn't having much luck getting published. After a bazillion submissions, I thought: so many great artists throughout history featured naked people in their work. If Michelangelo could get the Sistine Chapel gig by painting a lot of nudes, maybe I could do the same in the New York Times crossword. It worked!

Q: With all due respect, Brad, you're no Michelangelo. Your naked jokes are lame, and your fill isn't colorful.

A: Well, I do have RAINBOW at 51-Down. So there's that.

Q: The one thing I loved about your puzzle was the title: "Crossword Buff." Clever!

A: Yeah, that was from the Times' staff. My original title was "Altogether Now."

Q: I don't get it.

A: Exactly.

Q: I have to be honest. The contrast between your puzzle and the amazing stuff the Times usually publishes is pretty stark.

A: Oh, I get it — stark! Like stark naked. Good one! You mean my puzzle is em-bare-ass-ing?

Q: Awful. This interview's over.

A: Why? You gotta take off? Get it? Take off?

Q: [Sigh]

Thanks to Kim and Steve for doing my puzzles!

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