I got it on the fourth try.Q: Think of a famous movie villain. Insert one letter to get the brand name of a household product. Then change one letter of the product to get the last name of another famous movie villain. Who are the characters, and what is the product?
Sunday, August 16, 2026
NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 16, 2026): Movie Villains
NPR Sunday Puzzle (Aug 16, 2026): Movie Villains
52 comments:
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Never saw either film, but I used the product. What a waste!
ReplyDeleteOne of the names has appeared in multiple movies, with different hero’s.
ReplyDeleteRead the villain's first name backwards to get a name from another movie.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand SuperZee's clue, but I do have the same answer as Jan.
ReplyDeleteInstead of going for a last name, on the final step, you could change a letter of the product to get the first name of a movie villain.
Yes, but like most of these puzzle, this is for an older audience.
DeleteCrito - Matthew 20:16 may help you understand.
DeleteCrito-as it turns out, there is a better solution than my initial one. Details Thursday.
Delete86 the villain.
ReplyDeleteIt's 8:38 on the east coast and I have yet to see the puzzle for August 16th posted.
ReplyDeleteBlaine, it may be the familiarity of puzzling with you here for 13 years, but your clue took me right to the answer.
ReplyDeleteThe puzzle still,isn't available online. How did Blane get the puzzle and the answer before it was even online?
ReplyDeleteI subscribe to the NPR "Up First" newsletter which is published each Sunday morning. It has the puzzle. I learned of that "trick" from SDB.
DeleteShhhh. Don't tell. Everyone should think you are omniscient, simply residing in the ether and answering all puzzles as soon as they emerge.
DeleteI thought of the first two answers as soon as Will read the challenge. A clue ? I don't have a clue.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAgain, I ask, how did Blaine get the puzzle AND the answer before it was published on line. In the East, our puzzle segment is at approximately 8:45 a.m. So, how?
ReplyDeleteYes, it's true that Blaine resides outside the Bay Area in California. Which you would think is three hours behind the NPR Offices. But Blaine knows a shortcut so he is, in fact, 21 hours ahead of NPR.
DeleteCorrect, it is Monday morning here. 😜
DeleteI have the answer to this one, but it's not on the NPR website. How are we supposed to even send in the @#$%(figure out what curse word I'm thinking of for that one, y'all are so smart)answer in the first @#$% place?!?!?!?!?!
ReplyDeletepjbShouldJustEndThisPostWith"FrustratedInAlabama",AsThoughThisWereALetterToDearAbbyBackInTheDay!
Dear FrustratedInAlabama,
DeleteI always send postcards.
-- AbbyBackInTheDay
It's up.
DeleteI can think of an animal that unites all three.
ReplyDeleteWhile I appreciate Blaine’s clue, I got it on the 3rd try. Once again, this puzzle uses a bit of poetic license.
ReplyDeleteIt took me 7 tries.
ReplyDeleteIt took me a while, too. For a time, I was struggling with answers that almost, but not quite, worked, but I am persistent.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if we were in the same rabbit hole…..
DeleteMaybe. What I said is true, but there is an oblique hint, too.
DeleteNary anything over here. Not a clue.
ReplyDeleteToo tough for me. At age 88 I don't have time for an Infinity of attempts!!
DeleteThe villain is related to some earlier puzzles. Speaking of movie villains, was the lady JAWS was reminded of in a clue for the trampoline, tramline puzzle Lady Tremaine? I was wondering because Tremaine sounds like Tramline. Is that correct, JAWS?
ReplyDeleteSorry, between traveling for a funeral, and some other things, I have been quite busy, and not taking time to post on this site. On the trampoline puzzle, I was reminded of Lady and the Tramp.
DeleteAs for today's puzzle, I do not yet have the answer. I thought I had something that would work as the second villain and household product, but it does not work backwards to another villain. Hmm, now with a Google search, the answer I have does technically work, but the first villain does not seem famous to me.
Think of a popular song of the 80s. Then think the opposite.
ReplyDeleteOr, think of a popular song of the '60s without thinking of the opposite.
DeleteAnd then think of a tagline for a popular film of the 80s. Then think the opposite.
DeleteChange the fourth letter of the product to another letter and you’ll get the first name of a well-known antagonist.
ReplyDeleteFrom the Department of Redundancy Department.
DeleteYes; Crito made the same point earlier. I suspect the first name version is better known than the second name version. I had to recheck the wording and do some research to get the intended answer. In the process, I came to appreciate Blaine's comment
DeleteAhhh, Lancek's little note helped me understand Blaine's clue. Shoulda been obvious!
DeleteI'm just excited I understood Blaine's clue
ReplyDeleteMe too (or at least I think I did).
DeleteThis is all so petty! I'm going over to the angels' side.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm pretty sure it's not Syndrome from The Incredibles. The correct villain came to me immediately as I was reading the puzzle online. I can't say it's a repeat, but it seems very familiar
ReplyDeleteThe answer sneaks up on you like a snake.
ReplyDeleteWordle today was easier to solve.
ReplyDeleteprovided you don't get caught in the piano trap.
DeleteI eliminated that possibility quickly. Mine was more basic.
DeleteNo clue.
ReplyDeleteClearly, when I get stuck on the puzzle, I need to post on here that I'm stuck. Once again, minutes after I posted, the answer popped into my head.
ReplyDeleteI commented above about an answer that technically works, but the first villain is not famous enough in my opinion. I will explain Thursday.
Rearrange all the letters of the two villain names to get something a university hopes to produce.
ReplyDeleteI like that. I can assert that my school produced it!
DeleteI'm reminded of a disturbing nursery rhyme.
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