Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Let Me Spell It Out

There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Let Me Spell It Out

Constructor: Owen Bergstein

Editor: Jared Goudsmit

Comments from Today’s Crossword Constructor

Owen: This was my first ever puzzle submitted to USA Today, and I'm so grateful that the editors gave it a home! From theme idea to publication, this puzzle took less than 5 months (which is pretty fast for me), and I'm so pleased with the product! As a queer teenage constructor, I'm especially happy with the inclusion of SUS and all of the queer content. I'd like to give a shout-out to the editors, but also everyone in the crossword community for their warmth and love, especially those who fielded my fanboy emails and sometimes random requests for collaboration. You know who you are. And most importantly, I'd like to thank you, the solver, for giving this one a go. I hope you enjoyed it!

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

• ANKLET (49A: Bit of jewelry such as a kholkhal) Kholkhal is a traditional term used for an ANKLET worn by women in some North African countries such as Egypt and Tunisia.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• LIBRA (14A: The Scales, in the zodiac) LIBRA is the zodiac sign for those born between September 22 and October 22. LIBRA, symbolized by the scales, is the only sign represented by an object, rather than an animal or a mythological character.
• LENO (15A: Comedian Jay) Jay LENO hosted The Tonight Show on NBC from 1992 to 2009, and from 2010 to 2014. Since 2015, Jay LENO has starred in the TV show, Jay LENO's Garage, first on CNBC, and now on YouTube, on which he reviews cars. Jay LENO has an extensive car collection that includes over 180 cars and 160 motorcycles.
• IOWA (16A: Des Moines' state) Des Moines is the capital of IOWA. Hello from IOWA!
• FAD (20A: Silly Bandz, once) Silly Bandz are silicone rubber bands that come in a variety of colors and shapes, and are generally worn as bracelets. Silly Bandz were first sold in 2008, and became a FAD.
• MASKS (30A: Parts of Ghostface costumes) Ghostface is a disguise used in the Scream franchise of horror movies. Ghostface MASKS are white and resemble a ghost with an anguished expression.
• IDENTICAL TWIN (38A: Sibling like Hallie or Annie in "The Parent Trap") The 1998 movie, The Parent Trap (a remake of the 1961 movie of the same name), featured Lindsay Lohan as IDENTICAL TWINs, Hallie and Annie. The girls were separated at birth when their parents divorced, and are reunited at summer camp.
• OTIS (42A: Blues singer Rush) OTIS Rush (1934-2018) was a blues guitarist who was influential in the Chicago Blues scene in the 1950s. In addition to his music, he was known for his playing style; he was left-handed and his guitars were strung upside down from typical guitars.
• PORTUGAL (9D: Country that only borders Spain) PORTUGAL is a European country on the Iberian Peninsula. As the clue informs us, its only neighbor is Spain, which borders PORTUGAL to its north and east. Along its western and southern coast, PORTUGAL borders the Atlantic Ocean, and the country includes the archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira. The capital of PORTUGAL is Lisbon. 
• APU (23D: "The ___ Trilogy" (Satyajit Ray series)) The APU Trilogy is a series of Indian Bengali language films directed by Satyajit Ray: Pather Panchali (1955), Aparajito (1956), and The World of APU (1959). The three films won awards at the Cannes, Berlin, and Venice Film festivals and are frequently listed among the greatest films of all time.
• ANN (31D: "Tom Lake" author Patchett) Tom Lake is a 2023 book by ANN Patchett. The novel tells the story of three sisters who want to learn more about their mother's relationship with a famous actor when she was young.
• KENAN (50D: "SNL" comic Thompson) KENAN Thompson has been a cast member of Saturday Night Live (SNL) since 2003. He is currently the longest-tenured cast member in SNL history. He was also the first SNL cast member to join the show that wasn't born yet when the show first aired. (KENAN Thompson was born in 1978; SNL premiered in 1975.)
• NGO (63D: Grp. like Human Rights Watch) Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization (NGO) based in New York City. The group conducts research on economic, social, and cultural human rights. In 1997, Human Rights Watch shared in the Nobel Peace Prize as a founding member of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
  • CLIFF (1D: Apt name for a rock climber)
  • BRR (4D: "My teeth are chattering")
  • SAYS (5D: "___ you!" ("That's just one opinion!"))

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

• IVORY TOWER (17A: "Building" that represents academia)
• IDENTICAL TWIN (38A: Sibling like Hallie or Annie in "The Parent Trap")
• INNER TUBES (62A: Inflatables on waterslides)

Each theme answer has the initials IT.

I'm not sure exactly what I was expecting the theme of the puzzle to be after reading the title, but I definitely experienced an "AHA!" (48A: "Now I see!") moment after filling in IVORY TOWER. Each theme answer is the long (SPELLed OUT) version of the initials I.T. Congratulations to Owen Bergstein making a USA Today debut! Thank you, Owen, for this delightful puzzle.

Edited on July 25, 2024: This article was originally published with an older version of the puzzle. I apologize for the mistake.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles

• USA TODAY’s Daily Crossword Puzzles
• Sudoku & Crossword Puzzle Answers