IMPORTANT NOTE: As of January 2015 MGWCC is a subscribers-only crossword. The cost is $26 per year, and you can subscribe (or get a free trial month first) here:
LAST WEEK’S RESULTS:
Easy one to start off the new year: We were looking for a movie in theaters now, and our four theme entries were:
17-A [+1 for those calling the U.S. or +52 for those calling Mexico, e.g.] = COUNTRY CODE
27-A [They watch their pennies] = COIN COLLECTORS
48-A [Oscar-nominated role for Talia Shire] = CONNIE CORLEONE
63-A [Business owner’s concern] = COST CONTROL
Each pair of words in the theme entries starts with CO and CO, making COCO our contest answer. A Subscription-era record 651 solvers got it right; we’re creeping up on beating the pre-Subscription era record of 723. Someday this year, maybe? Could happen!
Jonesy says:
1/1!
patanga writes:
Drinking some hot cocoa right now…..is that meta?
Brent Holman, who lost a 200+ streak on MGWCC #500 due to tough meta + the flu, writes:
Back on the horse! 🙂
ecm2 writes:
This is my first entry!
Similarly, Cameron274:
Just subscribed and am looking forward to the puzzles of 2018!
And finally, Meta – World Peace writes:
Congratulations, constructor… on the start of second half play!
Thanks! Looking forward to it.
This week’s winner, whose name was chosen at random from among the 651 correct entries received, is John Lenning of Irvine, Calif. In addition to a MGWCC pen, pencil, and notepad set, John will also receive a 1-year subscription to Matt Gaffney’s Daily Crossword.
2017 YEARLY WINNERS:
Apologies, was running my Mom around to medical appointments today. She’s fine, nothing serious, but I didn’t realize how long it would take and wasn’t able to get all the winners’ names and prizes up in time (more logistics to it than it sounds like there would be). So we’ll do that next week for sure to make sure everyone gets the glory they deserve, and sorry again for the delay.
THIS WEEK’S INSTRUCTIONS:
This week’s contest answer is an NFL team.
Solve well, and be not led astray by words intended to deceive.