Q: Think of a famous current actor. His first name is also the name of a famous movie character. Drop the middle letter of his last name and you'll name another famous movie character. Each character is a central figure in a dozen or more films. What actor is this?Let me add that I've already heard part of this wordplay. The puzzle might have been more relevant in a couple weeks, give or take.
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ChatGPT solved it.
ReplyDeleteSo did Claude and DeepSeek. Gemini didn't.
DeleteHm, you must have the high-price versions! After I got my own answer, I tried ChatGPT and DeepSeek, which both completely failed.
DeleteChatGPT worked for me. Just copied in the puzzle and out it came, reasoning and all.
DeleteI don't know why the wordplay would be more relevant in a couple weeks. Unless maybe you're going to come sailing with me? You can be in charge of the sail toward the stern.
ReplyDeleteMade a slight update to clarify.
DeleteOhhhh.
DeleteYeah I should have seen that!
Finally got it. One of the characters I was thinking of was wrong. Aaargh!
DeleteGo!
DeleteIf you're feeling unlucky...
ReplyDeleteThe wordplay has been in the news. And in the sports. And in the sitcoms...
ReplyDeleteAnd possibly in podcasts
DeleteYesterday there were news stories of Taylor Swift reclaiming the rights to her famous songs. In the background, of course, they played some of the songs. I didn’t recognize a single tune. My being 75 years old might account for being so out of it. Similarly, I had not heard of this actor; I had to consult lists to get an answer.
ReplyDeleteRearrange the letters of the actor’s last name. You get an animal not associated with tacos.
Oh, heck. I meant: "Rearrange the letters of the character formed from the actor’s last name. You get an animal not associated with tacos."
DeleteI know the reference. Clever. My clue to answer your clue is Ilka Tanya Payan Park, NYC
DeleteI disagree, Rob. The animal is very much associated with tacos this week!
DeleteLove it!
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteGot it. Now for a clue—hmmmm.
ReplyDeleteThe first name of the actor/character is also the middle name of a famous actress. (TMI?) If so, I will self-delete. Unlike the Terminator, I believe I can self-terminate!
DeleteThat middle name was given to honor the first name of another actor, not the last name of the actress' father's co-star.
DeleteI just read that the actor him/herself changed to that middle name, and thus dumped his/her father's surname in the process.
DeleteOOps, I guess you (Jan) aleady mentioned it was an actress, so I didn't need to use his/her....
DeleteOur neighbors aren't the best. Their cars have been parked in front of our house for over a week now. Police took notice and ticketed them Friday, but the cars haven't yet been moved
ReplyDeleteThat's horrible. Please let us know if/when there are any arrests.
DeleteI do indeed know that the famous actress I referenced changed her middle name, to honor a family friend.
DeleteWhile not a fan of the first character, I've enjoyed several versions of the second.
ReplyDeleteThanks to whoever sent in the railway station in Transnistria clue last week. I already had the answer, but that confirmed it and I thought it was hilariously clever! The actor in question has been around on TV sitcoms and dramas and in the Movies. This actor is known for having a straight forward, yet somewhat acerbic, wry personality. Starred in a series in which he got a lot more than he bargained for, especially considering the locale.
ReplyDeleteWow, it's kind of crazy but I was really slow on this one! It might also be relevant towards the end of the year.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteYes.
DeleteA switch on Blaine's hint?
DeleteOther than the fact that they both deal with time, my hint has little to do with Blaine's, which I actually understand this week.
DeleteI have a family connection to this puzzle.
ReplyDeleteIt’s a prime number.
ReplyDeleteAfter consulting lists unsuccessfully and then giving up, the answer suddenly popped into my head. I'm glad I was able to solve this week's puzzle (last week's completely stumped me).
ReplyDeleteRicky Schroeder?
ReplyDeleteTake the surname of someone associated with the second character, rearrange, and get two creatures, one a reptile that can prey on the other, a bird.
ReplyDelete300 some odd correct answers last week?
ReplyDeleteSome odd, some even 🙃
DeleteSpeaking of numbers, here an odd one: #27.
DeleteI initially mis-read the comment above as meaning that the answers that were sent in -- were themselves "odd."
DeleteNo, it's just my odd way of expressing some unspecified number in the 300 range. So few!
DeleteYeah, I finally worked out what you had meant!
DeleteThere is a connection between the first name of a famous past actor and the second famous movie character.
ReplyDeleteThis puzzle might be appropriate within the next few months.
ReplyDeleteI guess I'm a little bit more familiar with the sister, but it's been years!
ReplyDeleteHere's another clue: Jackie Blue, without the hills or the acrobats.
ReplyDeleteRIP Hudson Bay Co., the answer to last October 27th's puzzle.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThis might be TMI.
DeleteTime for a math quiz! This showed up on YouTube, from an entrance exam for Harvard:
ReplyDeleteSolve for x:
(x + 3)(x + 5)(x + 7)(x + 9) = 9
x = -6 is the simple solution, which is only easy to find if you start by assuming there's a solution that should be easy to find. I don't feel like looking for others.
DeleteAs far as I know, you are ready to go to Harvard!
DeleteI wonder how many YouTube videos claim to be solving a puzzle that comes from an entrance exam for Harvard.
ReplyDelete(I know how many puzzles actually come from an entrance exam for Harvard.)
Finally came across the right name to get the answer.
ReplyDeleteThe name is not Stanley.
DeleteMy (adult) son thinks this actor looks really good "for his age."
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't cast this actor as either of the referenced characters, but I suppose he *could* play the second.
Remove the last two letters of an alternate name of the second character. Then rearrange the remaining letters to get a tired baby bear.
ReplyDeleteMusical Clue: Drummers
ReplyDeleteI'm ashamed to admit I used AI to get an answer. If NPR calls, I'll admit how I got the answer and withdraw
ReplyDeletePS My conclusion is that AI is definitely cheating. It's one thing to use a list, but quite different from getting the answer from a machine that deprives one of the challenge.
ReplyDeleteAgreed.
DeleteThe famous actor’s first name is associated with another well-known movie character with fewer than a dozen movies
ReplyDeleteWasn't there a birthday celebration in one of these movies?
ReplyDeleteIn my experience, Chat GPT gave a very stupid, and therefore wrong, answer. Luckily, the intended answer finally popped into my head late last night in bed.
ReplyDeletepjbKnowsExactlyWhichCommercialPhredp(IThinkItWasHim/Her)ClaimedToHaveSeen
Got it before it was too late!
ReplyDelete