Q: Think of a famous living singer. The last two letters of his first name and the first two letters of his last name spell a bird. Change the first letter of the singer's first name. Then the first three letters of that first name and the last five letters of his last name together spell another bird. What singer is this?I'm not sure he'd like having his first name changed to that.
For NPR puzzle posts, don't post the answer or any hints that could lead to the answer before the deadline (usually Thursday at 3pm ET). If you know the answer, submit it to NPR, but don't give it away here.
You may provide indirect hints to the answer to show you know it, but make sure they don't assist with solving. You can openly discuss your hints and the answer after the deadline. Thank you.
Remove a letter from the last name and add a different letter at the end to spell the last word of a band name.
ReplyDeleteI read this at first as "brand name," but it didn't matter.
DeleteNice wordplay, Lancek, and good delivery.
Delete👏
DeleteWrite down the names of the two birds involved. If a letter repeats, remove all instances of that letter. You are left with a word describing a degree of heat.
ReplyDeleteHa! I guess those of us who sometimes have to ponder Blaine's clues will have an easier time this week.
ReplyDeleteI had a little clue involving today, but I think it's arguably tmi. Jan said at the end of last week's thread that it's an appropriate day, and I agree, but I'm worried about adding anything to that.
I'll say that aspects of this very wordplay have appeared in the on-air puzzle, and also were suggested by a Blaine's Puzzle commenter in the past.
Let me relay what NPR posted: This week's challenge comes from Mike Reiss, who's a showrunner, writer, and producer for "The Simpsons."
ReplyDeleteThis actually functions as a hint.
DeleteOr two.
DeleteSeems like it's been a while since the correct answers submitted exceeded 2000. Maybe half that this week? We'll see. (Good one, Blaine.)
ReplyDeleteBlaine, what more can we say?
ReplyDeleteThis puzzle has been around the block before.
Got it. As always, tough to come up with a non-tmi hint...
ReplyDeleteRearrange the letters of the first name to get something a superstar may wear on their head.
ReplyDeleteI thought I was on my way to solving it, but even though I have something that works for the first part of the puzzle, recent hints are telling me I'm on the wrong path.
ReplyDeleteNow that I have the answer, I believe it's safe to divulge that I was unable to find a bird matching the _AYEWTON template. Danke schoen, again, jan.
DeleteI solved this puzzle while cleaning the bathtub.
ReplyDeleteI like this one, and I love Blaine's comment.
ReplyDeleteEasy solve for me since I’m a bird nerd.
ReplyDeleteIs this what a bird nerd looks like? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Gc4QTqslN4
DeleteNo clue here (and no offense intended).
I love this!
DeleteThat's not a link, Zeno.
DeleteThe moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn...
ReplyDeleteSadly Pluto is no more
DeleteA literary hint: Thomas Pynchon.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDelete5280
ReplyDeleteMusical Clue: The Girl Can't Help it
ReplyDeleteI love your clue but I doubt that too many people will get it but that’s water under the bridge
DeleteAre these bird names read left to right in order, or are they anagrams?
ReplyDeleteBIRD, not DIRB
DeleteThe Puzzle Answer has a relationship to the show itself
ReplyDeleteI believe that's where Leo was headed.
DeleteA perfect Sunday puzzle.
DeleteAnd where jan was headed at the tail end of last week's post.
DeleteThis is an appropriate day for this puzzle.
ReplyDeleteCinematic clue: little Ricky Schroeder.
ReplyDeleteWhen I first heard Will say the puzzle I thought it was going to be a difficult one for me to solve, but my mind directed me immediately to the answer and I went back to sleep.
ReplyDeleteIf we go with the original first name as Blaine suggests, I don't think the change of its first letter is very flattering.
ReplyDeleteOh, that was Blaine's point ...
DeleteThis thread is pointless.
DeleteYeah, this one is for the birds.
ReplyDeleteIt's not the very basic answer you might expect.
ReplyDeleteFor some, it may be an Olympic effort to come up with the singer's name.
ReplyDeleteI got the answer on my third try.
ReplyDeleteLiterary clue: I'm thinking of an author whose name is seasonally appropriate.
ReplyDelete