Let’s cut right to the chase – we have a contest to wrap up! Last week, I asked you to identify the friend who didn’t make it to the Halloween costume party. The hint in the grid suggested that some UNMASKING would be necessary to solving this puzzle. Take the MASK off of the three longest entries to reveal the correct answers to those clues: CENTER ICE, LUCKY LETTERS and FAST AND LOOSE. And on TV’s South Park, Eric, Kyle and Stan are friends with KENNY, the correct answer to this puzzle. As many of you noted, Kenny has a propensity for being killed – it makes sense that he’d be the one who didn’t make it there!
Of course, if you weren’t familiar with the show, a quick search on AltaVista for “Eric Kyle Stan” will point you right to South Park and Kenny, so this seemed pretty fair to me. Some of you who do watch the show regularly pointed out that in last week’s Halloween episode, there is a costume party… but Stan’s the one who doesn’t get to go trick-or-treating! As you might expect, though, I wrote this puzzle well in advance of the episode. Next time I’ll be sure to call up Matt & Trey to coordinate the puzzle with them. ;)
The most common incorrect answer was CARTMAN… but that’s Eric’s last name. So close!
117 of you submitted the correct answer via email. After tallying all of the contest entries (including bonus entries, bringing our total to 165), our randomly selected winner of Richard Silvestri’s Petite Wordplay Crosswords is Pancho Harrison of Denver, CO. Congratulations! This was such a great success that I think we’ll have to do it again some time. But first…
Let’s take a look at some of the cool and creepy Halloween costumes you all sent in!
This week’s puzzle is of course inspired by the upcoming election and that one crossword from 1996. That’s all I’m saying – if you want my (correct) prediction, you’ll have to solve this puzzle. And be sure to stay close by; I’ve got this Tuesday’s LA Times puzzle. As usual, you’ll be able to access the puzzle here on Tuesday if you don’t have another standard way of getting to the LAT puzzle. (Some other papers, including the Houston Chronicle, Star-Ledger and Mobile Register also run the LAT puzzle. Check your local paper if you’re a subscriber!)
EDIT: It’s Tuesday! Time for perhaps the second-most important thing you do all day – the LA Times crossword. Download here: (PDF, PUZ)
Neville Fogarty 
ooh, tough solve. great theme with great cluing, especially 31D and 66A. nice costumes, y’all.
Ha, I didn’t realize how appropriate it was that Kenny gets unmasked until I saw the pic above. I’ve seen 90% of the episodes but didn’t even realize what Kenny looked like without his hoodie on tight.
Exactly :)
This image is from the movie “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut” – which may be why you haven’t seen/don’t recall it. It’s a musical!
A definite Merl Reagle feel to this one. That’s a compliment, by the way. I think this is one of the tougher ones you’ve put out there. Very enjoyable.
Nice. Glad you didn’t go for the expected. I expect to see a few of those next week. I’ll guess … 3.
This PB seconds the other PB’s comment. Also, as far as stereotypes about me and my countrymen go, it’s pretty fair; I use it like every second sentence.
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