Independent 9216 / Math

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This is the first Math puzzle in the Indy for more than three years, and the first one that we have ever blogged. We’re sorry to say that, during the solve, we didn’t really enjoy it much, as several of the clues seemed very ‘clunky’ with references to seemingly random names.

We should have realised of course, that the names were not random, but all relate to this long-standing American TV series (referred to in the clue to 6d) about which we knew nothing whatsoever (until we googled the names!!). We now realise that Math has managed to get at least thirteen thematic references into the clues for the puzzle – as we have no knowledge of the series, it’s quite possible that we’ve missed some!

We love themed puzzles, so we are grateful to Math for introducing us to a theme that is completely new. However, it was the seemingly random nature of the names in the clues that led us to discover that there is a theme but the awkwardness appeared to spoil the solving process. Having said that, we appreciate that it was not necessary to have any knowledge of the theme to solve the puzzle, which has to be an advantage!

Across
8   Hot girl is to live next door to bachelor (4)
BABE BE (live) ‘next to’ BA (bachelor)
9   Bill, named in show’s titles, gets recognised … (10)
ACCREDITED AC (bill) CREDITED (named in show’s titles)
10   … at university, during his break (6)
HIATUS AT U (university) in HIS
11   He follows Indian teaching his friend & Penny to go ahead getting to 3rd in date (8)
BUDDHIST HIS with BUD (friend) D (penny) ‘going ahead’ + T (third letter in ‘date’). This one took a bit of parsing as we had the H in the wrong position to start with.
12   Sound Raj can make stops temporarily (8)
ADJOURNS An anagram of SOUND RAJ – anagrind is ‘can make’
14   Couple from Pasadena, California, follow almost all this material (6)
ALPACA PA (first two or ‘couple’ of letters of Pasadena) CA (ditto of California) after ALl (‘almost’ all)
16   Fellows at university have to act, with new series … (4)
DONS DO (act) N (new) S (series)
17   … made perfect by broadcasting the finale in high definition (5)
HONED ON (broadcasting) E (the last letter or ‘finale’ of ‘the’) in HD (high definition)
18   Head of department at uni meeting doctor is lost for words (4)
DUMB D (first letter or ‘head’ of ‘department’) U (uni) MB (doctor)
19   Tequila, for example, found in academe’s Caltech (6)
MESCAL Hidden in ‘acadeME’S CALtech’
21   Physicist is one that’s taken against convert or God about origin of atoms (8)
AVOGADRO A (one) V (against) + an anagram of OR GOD and A (first letter or ‘origin’ of ‘atoms’) – anagrind is ‘convert’
23   I park on the street behind Sheldon: Leonard heads for exit (4,4)
SLIP ROAD I P (park) ROAD (street) behind S and L (first letters or ‘heads’ of Sheldon and Leonard)
26   Bernadette’s beginning to go through US graduate’s records (6)
ALBUMS B (first letter or ‘beginning’ of ‘Bernadette’) in or ‘going through’ ALUMS (US graduates) – this isn’t in Chambers, but is included as an informal version of ‘alumnus’ or ‘alumna’ at Dictionary.com
27   I’ve a degree from Californian city that invested $0.01 I note (10)
LICENTIATE LA (California city) round or ‘investing’ 1 CENT ($0.01) I + TE (note)
28   In the beginning Chuck has a way to get actors (4)
CAST C (first letter or ‘beginning’ of ‘Chuck’) A ST (street – way)
Down
1   “Penny, Leonard, I’m working with: NASA, Dr A Noel … and DNA Leonard!” as an example (10)
PALINDROME P (penny) + an anagram of LEONARD I’M – anagrind is ‘working’ – the remainder of the clue ‘NASA, Dr A Noel … and DNA Leonard as an’ is an example. Just like IPSWICH is a palindrome for BOLTON. Watch THIS if you are confused.
2   One turns elements into sub-atomic particles (8)
NEUTRONS An anagram of ONE TURNS – anagrind is ‘elements’
3   Bit of a laugh with first half of series on cable (6)
HAWSER HA (bit of a laugh) W (with) SER (first half of ‘series’)
4   What you might pick as odd bits of social behaviour initially (4)
SCAB Alternative letters (‘odd bits’) of SoCiAl + B (first or ‘initial’ letter of ‘behaviour’)
5   Howard is disheartened, imbibing ale and getting drunk to make a point (8)
HEADLAND HowarD (with middle letters removed, or ‘disheartened’) round or ‘imbibing’ an anagram of ALE AND – anagrind is ‘getting drunk’
6   Hey! It’s not really a Big Bang Theory‘s second parts that might interest Professor Green (3,3)
HIP HOP HI (‘Hey’) POP (‘not really a big bang’) round or ‘parted by’ H (second letter of ‘theory’). We learn something new again! Apparently Professor Green is a rap artist. Rap is an alternative term for Hip Hop as a music genre
7   Degree covering energy and Newton’s studies (4)
DENS D (degree) E (energy) N’S (Newton’s)
13   It has been given National Television Award by Monica and Barbara in California? (5)
SANTA SA (sex appeal – ‘it’) NTA (National Television Award)
15   Doctor S Cooper: “I’m accepting money for accommodation” (10)
COMPROMISE An anagram of S COOPER I’M (anagrind is ‘doctor’) round or ‘accepting’ M (money)
17   Part Sheldon took and kept (4,2,2)
HELD ON TO Hidden in or ‘part’ of ‘SHELDON TOok’
18   Ditching loose woman, Howard has this problem (figuratively) (8)
DRAWBACK HoWARD without or ‘ditching’ ‘ho’ (US slang for prostitute or ‘loose woman’) reversed or BACK
20   Co-worker knocked his heart out for “Penny! Penny! Penny!” for example (6)
COPPER CO–workER with the middle letters or ‘heart’ removed or ‘knocked out’ and replaced with PP (penny, penny)
22   Lectured from reference book about lab animal … (6)
ORATED OED (Oxford English Dictionary – reference book) around RAT (lab animal)
24   … to get help with line on set (4)
LAID AID (help) with L (line) on top
25   Doctor Amy nearly got shot (4)
DRAM DR (doctor) AMy with the last letter removed, or ‘nearly’

 

19 comments on “Independent 9216 / Math”

  1. I enjoyed this more than B&J but I’m familiar with the series and found it intriguing how many references Math had managed to squeeze in, without, as B&J say, needing any knowledge of the show.

    I struggle to fit 4d into the theme, but I think EVERY other clue is part of the theme, either directly relating to the show and its characters, or more loosely about TV, California,university or physics. And that, I think, is impressive.

    Very enjoyable, thanks to setter and bloggers.

  2. I suppose I had an advantage here as Mr CS and I do watch the TV programme – although as I said to him, I wonder how many of the solvers of the Independent crossword will know what Math is on about.

    Thanks to Math for a fun solve and to B&J for the blog.

  3. Thanks, Bert & Joyce. I think I’m with you on this one.
    The puzzle – rather like the show it references – is craftsmanlike but somewhat flawed by its aspirations to sophistication. A grinding solve, but with no unfairness. Marks out of ten for content and composition in the spirit of 21a, I’d put at (6.02214129 x10 to the 23) x 10 to the -23, which comes out as six-and-a-bit, I reckon. Not sure about the Math…

  4. Knowing nothing of the theme I nevertheless solved this fairly quickly. In that a good themed crossword can be solved without knowledge of the theme this should be rated as good, but it somehow lacked a smoothness that would have given it a rating of very good.

    But there were some very nice touches – I particularly liked AVOGADRO, PALINDROME and NEUTRONS.

    So thanks, Math – and B&J.

  5. Clunky? About as clunky as a gearbox on an Austin Allegro. Which was very clunky. A fifteen-word surface to clue a six-letter answer referencing a rap performer I’ve never heard of, for example.

    I really don’t see the point in all this: all it’s doing is saying ‘look how clever this is’ and inviting congratulations from fellow setters for ‘fitting in so much thematic material’. If, like me, you’d never heard of the ‘long-standing’ series, then it’s meaningless and not my idea of fun.

    Thanks to B&J for blogging and hope to see Math in another three years.

  6. Oh dear, K’sD – are you having a bad hair day?

    Given that the setters have to start with a blank grid we’re happy to accept that they may use a theme to populate it, even if we know nothing about it. As long as you don’t necessarily have to be an aficionado of it ……. and as long as it doesn’t involve football we don’t mind.

  7. This felt as though it had a theme though I didn’t have any idea what it was. I still thought there were some good clues including the PALINDROME one and AVOGADRO – this brought back memories of high school chemistry and it’s a sad fact that, like Grant Baynham @3, I can still remember the value of the constant.

    Thank you to Math and B&J.

  8. Well, as a setter – and because K’sD’s grumpy comment frankly merits this response – let me say congratulations to Math (who we saw back in Jan as Hannah btw). This was great fun. Very clever and I loved the fact that there was so much thematic material.

    More please

  9. I’m afraid that the theme passed me by so completely I still don’t what it is, and don’t really care to tell you the truth. This probably puts me in Will Carling’s favourite group, but hey ho.
    The puzzle itself was, I found, a bit tough, and I needed a smidgeon of help, enough to score say a 4 on Round Britain Quiz, ( again betraying old fart tendencies I’m afraid). I did however give myself a pat on the head for having heard of AVOGADRO, and being able to spell it. And I knew a hot girl was a BABE, so not all hope is lost.
    Thanks for the excellent blog, and of course the puzzle.

  10. FWIW, though I’d never heard of the series, I solved the puzzle in about normal time while guessing from some references that there must be something thematic about it. I’d mention that the title of the series appears in one clue. Thanks, Math and B&J.

  12. Thanks Grandpapatee @11 – that certainly is a stretch !!

    If 4d is intended to fit the theme, I’d be more tempted to think it’s because Sheldon’s defining characteristic (also true of the other 3, to,lesser extents) is “odd bits of social behaviour”.

  13. My octogenarian parents seem to have Big Bang Theory on some sort of loop post 10pm (they also get most of the way through the Listener crossword) and they reliably inform me that the 200th episode recently came out so thanks to Math for a nice celebration. I soon realised I didn’t know half the characters. Not that it mattered for the clues and PALINDROME was ace. Talking anniversaries, Farnham where I live is having a Mayday bash on Sunday to ‘mark the centenary of the 1st 2-minute silence’. Complete with Maypole and ‘WW1 reenactment’. You couldn’t make it up.

  14. It amuses me and amazes me when people say they’ve never heard of something I thought Everybody Knows. I mean The Big Bang Theory is on about ten times a day, as far as I can see. I spotted the theme immediately and didn’t find this too hard.

    However, as it happens, I’ve never watched an episode. As I’m a bit of a geek with a physics degree, I thought it a bit close to home. My brother is a fan, though.

    Seems UK TV are showing the 200th episode tonight.

  15. Sorry to weigh in on the palindrome: the reasoning is beyond me! DOG AS A DEVIL DEIFIED DEIFIED LIVED AS A GOD – that is a palindrome, or simply MADAM.

  16. Leon.W @15 – Are you confused by Ipswich or the clue itself? If it’s Ipswich and Bolton, you’ll need to click the link to access the Monty Python sketch for an explanation. If it is the clue then “NASA, Dr A Noel … and DNA Leonard as an” reads the same back to front. Or maybe we’ve misunderstood your concern.

  17. Thanks, Bert and Joyce. Of course you are right. I got completely thrown by the Monty Python reference. I too have been aware of the Big Bang Theory, seeing others watching it with glee, but know nothing of the characters, so the theme escaped my aged brain. Being a Netflix addict, I will be able to connect with Breaking Bad, etc, so maybe my day will come.

  18. Stephen Hawking seems to be a fan of the show, he’s made several guest appearances.

    I enjoyed the puzzle.

  19. As a long time listener, first time caller (almost) sort of post I thought I’d offer my two pence worth…

    I’m somewhat aware of the theme without being much of a watcher (too much canned laughter for my taste anyway), but I’m certainly aware of it enough to recognise that in my eyes EVERY clue makes at least a passing reference to the show.

    I did instantly wonder whether it was a good theme to pick, given that a venn diagram of Indy and Big Bang fans must surely have an incredibly tiny overlapping section, but isn’t that beside the point?

    I’ve seen plenty of puzzles where I’m not fortunate enough to be in the middle of the venn diagram, so to speak, but in such a situation there’s the added bonus of even more to solve, neatening the otherwise clunky bits into what I would think is a far more complete package.

    I for one would be more than happy to see EVERY puzzle have some sort of theme or some sort of nina, regardless of what the resultant ven diagram looks like and where I might find myself on said diagram.

    More please :o)

    Thanks Math and B&J

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