NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 23, 2025): Musical Artists and Game Pieces

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 23, 2025): Musical Artists and Game Pieces

Q: Think of two classic music artists with multiple top 40 hits. Their first names are near-synonyms. And their last names are both game pieces. Who are they?

Their last names being similar is not a coincidence.

Edit: Ernest Evans had the nickname "Chubby". Barbara Clark (wife of Dick Clark) heard a song from "Chubby" of him doing a vocal impression of Fats Domino. She suggested that Chubby be called "Chubby Checker" in homage to Fats Domino and the stage name stuck.

A: FATS DOMINO, CHUBBY CHECKER

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 16, 2025): Sports Figure and American of the Past

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 16, 2025): Sports Figure and American of the Past

Q: Name a famous sports figure of the past (5,4). Change the third and fourth letters of the first name to a single D, and you'll have the nickname of another famous American of the past. Who are these two people?

Been there, done that.

Edit: I liked the way the puzzle was presented previously.

A: LARRY BIRD, LADY BIRD (Johnson)

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 9, 2025): Happy Valentine's Day!

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 9, 2025): Happy Valentine's Day!

Q: Name a well-known cartoon character in eight letters. Change the last letter to a U and rearrange the result to make a phrase you might see on a Valentine's Day card.

The cartoon starring this character had a different name for quite awhile.

Olive Oyl was one of the cast of characters in the strip "Thimble Theater". It would be almost a decade later before the character Popeye appeared.

A: OLIVE OYL --> I LOVE YOU

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 2, 2025): Hip, Hip Hooray!

NPR Sunday Puzzle (Feb 2, 2025): Hip, Hip Hooray!

Q: Name a part of the human body in seven letters. Add a B and rearrange the result it to get another part of the human body.

I woke up and it was yet another body part puzzle. Is this Groundhog Day?

Edit: The groundhog actually has a functioning tail containing bones. Also, hip (from the title) and toe are examples of three-letter parts of the body. Can you name eight more?

A: TOENAIL + B --> TAILBONE