Who better than “Weird Al” Yankovic to help compose the cheesiest crossword puzzle in New York Times history? No, literally, it’s filled with cheese puns.
The parody legend co-wrote the puzzle with established constructor Eric Berlin, and in true “Weird Al” fashion, its theme is cheese. Yankovic posted a photo of the blank puzzle on his Instagram Wednesday (Apr. 4) announcing the collaboration. The caption insists “if you’re REALLY good, you don’t NEED the clues!”
If you’re hungry for a sample of what to expect of the puzzle, clue 20A reads “Cheesy military drama?” The answer — obviously — would be “A Few Gouda Men.”
Yankovic is well-deserving of an opportunity to expand his passion for wordplay, having racked up a fairly extensive catalog of satirical covers, including classics like “White & Nerdy” and “Eat It.” “Word Crimes” — his comedic interpretation of Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” — would tickle any newspaper editor’s fancy, so it’s no wonder Yankovic got to contribute to one of the most popular portions of the Times.
Although Yankovic hasn’t released an album since 2014’s Mandatory Fun, he’s currently embarking on his Ridiculously Self-Indulgent, Ill-Advised Vanity Tour. According to his website, the “set list will be comprised almost entirely of his original (non-parody) songs.”