NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 24, 2018): X Marks the Spot

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 24, 2018): X Marks the Spot:

Q: Think of a well-known commercial name in 9 letters. Change both the fourth and ninth letters to X's and you'll get two other familiar commercial names, one after the other. What names are these?

I didn't realize how many commercial names contain X. Trix, Timex...

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 17, 2018): Four-letter American Companies

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 17, 2018): Four-letter American Companies:

Q: Think of a familiar hyphenated 7-letter word. The first 4 letters name a prominent American company, and the last 4 letters name a different prominent American company. What word is it?

A: Vis-à-vis (Visa, Avis)

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 10, 2018): Welcome Back, Potter - TV Show Pitch (Week 2)

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 10, 2018): Welcome Back, Potter - TV Show Pitch (Week 2):

Q: The object is to pitch a TV show idea to one of the networks, either broadcast or cable, in which your TV show's title is just one letter different from an existing show's title, past or present. Name your TV show and summarize it in 15 words or less.

Examples:
AMERICAN I DO'S — Hilarious misadventures of a bumbling wedding planner
YOU BET YOUR WIFE — Trivia contest, with wagering, to determine who knows more — husband or spouse

Entries will be judged on their sense, naturalness of wording, humor and overall effect. No more than three entries per person, please. The person who sends the best TV pitch will play the on-air puzzle in two weeks

Winner:
I Remember MOMA - Each episode focuses on a past exhibit or artist at the Museum of Modern Art
According to Will it was "chosen because of its originality, surprising letter substitution, naturalness of its description, and humor."

Runners-up:
Perks And Recreation
The O.C.D. Couple
Father Knots Best
Star Trek: The Next Veneration
Big Brothel
The Mary Tyler Moose Show
Beverly Sills 90210
Mayberry B.F.D.
The Punsters
The Incredible Hunk
The Incredible Hula
Little Souse on the Prairie
Let's Make a Meal
Saturday Night Jive
Lust in Space
Big Bong Theory
Get Kmart
PR
The Greatest American Herb
Who Waits to Be a Millionaire?
America's Next Top Mohel
As the World Burns
Hawaii Five-K [race]

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 3, 2018): Two Week Challenge - TV Show Pitch

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Jun 3, 2018): Two Week Challenge - TV Show Pitch:

Q: The object is to pitch a TV show idea to one of the networks, either broadcast or cable, in which your TV show's title is just one letter different from an existing show's title, past or present. Name your TV show and summarize it in 15 words or less.

Examples:
N.Y.P.D. CLUE — Manhattan crime investigation in which each case hinges on a single, unexpected piece of evidence
HAVE GUT, WILL TRAVEL — Portly host tours the best all-you-can-eat restaurants in America

Entries will be judged on their sense, naturalness of wording, humor and overall effect. No more than three entries per person, please. The person who sends the best TV pitch will play the on-air puzzle in two weeks

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 27, 2018): There's Something Worrisome About My Body?

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 27, 2018): There's Something Worrisome About My Body?:

Q: Name part of the human body. Switch the first two letters to get a two-word phrase for something that is worrisome. What is it?

In reverse it's a fish dance move.

Edit: Backwards it's NEMO DAB

A: ABDOMEN --> BAD OMEN

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 20, 2018): Hit Film with Sequels

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 20, 2018): Hit Film with Sequels:

Q: Take the title of a famous Hollywood flop. Change an A to an R, then rearrange the letters to spell a famous box office hit — which went on to spawn sequels. What films are these?

As with most things, we can blame Shakespeare.

Edit: The phrase was made familiar in Shakespeare's sonnet 29, "my state...sings hymns at heaven’s gate"

A: HEAVEN'S GATE --> THE AVENGERS

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 13, 2018): When's Dinner?

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 13, 2018): When's Dinner?:

Q: Think of a two-word phrase a child might shout when walking in the front door. Rearrange the letters and add an "E" at the end, and you get the next two words the child might shout. These are both common expressions. What are they?

There are a few assumptions being made, but I'll allow it.

Edit: It's a little dated to expect Mom to be the one staying home waiting for the kids to arrive from school. Can't Dad be there too? And how did the child get home? They didn't walk home alone, did they?

A: HI MOM! I'M HOME!

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 6, 2018): Criminal Country

NPR Sunday Puzzle (May 6, 2018): Criminal Country:

Q: Name a certain kind of criminal. Drop the first two letters and the last letter of the word, and you'll name a country. What is it?

I'm not writing a misleading clue today.

A: I'll be interested to see whether PYROMANIAC or VAGABOND was Will's intended answer.

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Apr 29, 2018): Concert at the Baseball Hall of Fame

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Apr 29, 2018): Concert at the Baseball Hall of Fame:

Q: Name a famous player in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Take a letter out of the last name and move it into the first name. The result will name something you might see at a concert. What is it?

Or perhaps on the way there?

Edit: When I came up with road crew, my first thought was of the team of workers that build or repair roads.

A: ROD CAREW --> ROAD CREW

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Apr 22, 2018): Finding Nemo

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Apr 22, 2018): Finding Nemo:

Q: Take the name of a famous film director. Drop the first letter of this person's first name and you'll name a fish. Read the last name backward and you'll name another fish. What film director is it?

Don't forget to turn in your answer by Thursday at 3pm ET.

Edit: The hint was turn which combines to make turnpike.

A: SPIKE LEE --> PIKE, EEL