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Our Cup of 'T' Runneth Over

NPR's Puzzlemaster Will Shortz quizzes one of our listeners, and has a challenge for everyone at home.

Challenge from Oct. 16:

From Mike Rice, a writer and producer for the TV show The Simpsons:

The phrase "baby barb" has the same cryptogram as Alan Alda; that is, the four Bs in "baby barb" are in the same position as the four As in Alan Alda; the two As in "baby barb" are in the same position as the "Ls" in Alan Alda, etc…

What is the name of a famous TV personality who has the same cryptogram pattern as "words work?"

Answer: Judge Judy

Winner: Jonathan Black from Brockport, New York.

Challenge from Oct. 23:

Take the name Eli and add three letters in front of it. Add the same three letters in reverse order after it to complete a familiar two-word phrase in nine letters. What is it?

Hint: The answer is something this puzzle has.

Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

NPR's Puzzlemaster Will Shortz has appeared on Weekend Edition Sunday since the program's start in 1987. He's also the crossword editor of The New York Times, the former editor of Games magazine, and the founder and director of the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament (since 1978).