Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Back Channels

There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! Back Channels

Constructor: Jay Silverman

Editor: Jared Goudsmit

Comments from Today’s Crossword Constructor

Jay: As you might imagine, this puzzle is the product of watching just a wee bit too much television whilst growing up in suburban Upstate NY. After all, there wasn't much else to do.  But if you're the sort who enjoys a good crossword but doesn't watch or own a television – well, mea culpa. You'll have to forgive me.

My thanks, as ever, to Amanda and Jared at the USA Today team for giving me this opportunity to create something fun and share it with the world. They made this puzzle better than what I initially pitched them, and I'm grateful to them for it.  

Good luck, everyone! Happy solving!

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

• RAISINS (24A: Dried fruits in pan de jamon) Pan de jamón is a savory, rolled Venezuelan Christmas bread. Many variations exist, but the traditional filling for pan de jamón is ham, raisins, and green olives.
• ART (29A: Clarissa Sligh's field) Clarissa Sligh is a visual artist (specializing in photo series, artists' books, and text-based installations), lecturer, and essayist based in Asheville, North Carolina. Her ART has been displayed at The Museum of Modern ART (New York City), the Walker ART Center (Minneapolis, Minnesota), and the National African American Museum at the Smithsonian (Washington, D.C.), as well as other venues. When she was 15 years old, Clarissa Sligh was the lead plaintiff in Clarissa Thompson et. al. vs. Arlington County School Board, a 1955 school desegregation case in Virginia. According to her website, Clarissa Sligh's ART weaves "together the cultural, historical, personal and political to explore concepts of memory and transmutation, and perceptions of boundaries and identity: themes that have roots in her own experiences."
• MANET (33D: "The Railway" painter Edouard) Édouard MANET (1832-1883) was a French modernist painter. The Railway, which he painted in 1873, was one of his many works that depicted Paris street scenes. Also known as The Gare Saint-Lazare, the painting depicts a woman sitting before an iron fence with a sleeping puppy and an open book on her lap. Next to her is a little girl with her back to the painter. Although the painting is titled, The Railway, the only evidence of a train is a cloud of steam in the background. The Railway is in the National Gallery of Art's collection.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• NATO (17A: Org. with a phonetic alphabet) The NATO phonetic alphabet is a widely used radiotelephone spelling alphabet. Each time the NATO alphabet is referenced in a puzzle, I like to use that as an opportunity to review part of it. Today I choose to review letters I through M in the NATO alphabet: India, Juliett, Kilo, Lima, and Mike.
• PARTY IN THE USA (38A: Miley Cyrus hit with the lyric "I hopped off the plane at LAX") "PARTY IN THE U.S.A." is a 2009 song by Miley Cyrus. The music video for "PARTY IN THE U.S.A." pays homage to the movie, Grease, and also contains details that are a tribute to Miley Cyrus' parents.
• ACROSS (44A: Like this clue's answer, direction-wise) I'm always up for a self-referential clue)
• ISLAM (53A: Religion with salah) Salah are prayers performed by Muslims. Prayer is the Second Pillar of the Five Pillars of ISLAM.
• ANNE WITH AN E (55A: Drama series set in Avonlea) The TV series ANNE WITH AN E is loosely adapted from Lucy Maud Montgomery's 1908 book, ANNE of Green Gables. ANNE WITH AN E originally aired on CBC Television (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) and Netflix from 2017 to 2019.
• PAWED (59A: Poked at, like a cat might) My cat, Willow, says, "I was not the one who PAWED the puzzle pieces onto the floor. Why do you ask?"

• LORD (67A: "Downton Abbey" title) The British historical drama Downton Abbey is set in the early 1900s. The show centers on the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants. Hugh Bonneville portrays Robert Crawley, Earl of Grantham, who is usually called LORD Grantham.
• AVA (11D: "The Door" director DuVernay) The Door (2013) is a short film directed by AVA DuVernay. It was made for the short film anthology series Women's Tales, a series created by Miu Miu, an Italian high fashion clothing brand. Here's what AVA DuVernay says about The Door: "In the film, characters arrive at the door of a friend in need, bringing something of themselves. Eventually, we witness our heroine ready to walk through the door on her own. The door in the film represents a pathway to who we are."
• SHE (28D: "___-Hulk: Attorney at Law") SHE-Hulk: Attorney at Law is a Disney+ TV series that premiered in August 2022. The TV show is based on the Marvel comics character SHE-Hulk. Jennifer Susan Walters is a lawyer who receives an emergency blood transfusion from her cousin, Bruce Banner (Hulk). As a result, Walters acquires a mild version of Banner's Hulk condition. Unlike Hulk, SHE-Hulk largely retains her personality when SHE transforms into a large, powerful, green version of herself. On SHE-Hulk: Attorney at Law, SHE-Hulk (portrayed by Tatiana Maslany), is a lawyer specializing in cases involving superhumans. 
• HBO (40D: "Fantasmas" network) We have a bonus CHANNEL in this CHANNEL-themed puzzle. Fantasmas is a TV series that premiered in June of this year. The surrealist comedy series, set in New York City, stars Julio Torres as himself, and follows his search for a golden oyster earring.
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed:
  • TEA BAG (43A: Pouch that steeps in hot water)
  • ERAS (70A: Chapters of Taylor Swift's career)
  • TOY (31D: Fidget spinner or Hula-Hoop)

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

• AS EASY AS ABC (20A: "Not difficult at all!")
• PARTY IN THE USA (38A: Miley Cyrus hit with the lyric "I hopped off the plane at LAX")
• ANNE WITH AN E (55A: Drama series set in Avonlea)

BACK CHANNELS: A TV CHANNEL is found at the BACK (end) of each theme answer: ABC, USA, and E!

I am one of those people that Jay mentioned in his constructor's note who enjoys crosswords and doesn't own a TV. However, I still enjoyed this puzzle! This is a great set of theme answers. My favorite theme answer today is ANNE WITH AN E; though I haven't seen the TV series, I thoroughly enjoyed the books when I was a kid. Thank you, Jay, for this excellent puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles

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