Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword, The Tortured Poets Department

There are spoilers ahead. You might want to solve today's puzzle before reading further! The Tortured Poets Department

Constructor: Amanda Rafkin

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

What I Learned from Today’s Puzzle

• HUGO (65A: Health inspector on "Bob's Burgers") Bob's Burgers is an animated sitcom centered on Bob and Linda Belcher and their children. As the name of the show suggests, the Belchers own a burger restaurant. Although I've seen a few episodes of Bob's Burgers, I'm not familiar enough with the show to remember that HUGO is the name of the health inspector, so I needed the help of crossing answers here. HUGO (voiced by Sam Seder) holds a grudge against Bob, and frequently schemes to close down the restaurant.

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• LSU (20A: "Geaux Tigers!" univ.) The athletic teams of Louisiana State University (LSU) are known as the Fighting Tigers and the Lady Tigers. A common cheer for the sports teams is "Geaux Tigers!" (pronounced "Go Tigers!"). The spelling is a nod to "-eaux" being a common ending in French Cajun names.
• PUNNY (23A: Like the name of many pho restaurants) Pho (pronounced FUH) is a soup originating from Vietnam, and consisting of broth, rice noodles, meat, and herbs. This soup's name lends itself especially well to PUNNY restaurant names, such as Good Pho You, Pho Real, Pho King Delicious, What the Pho, and Pho-nomenal, just to name a few.
• SEE (33A: "I'm having his baby / No I'm not, but you should ___ your faces") "I'm having his baby / No I'm not, but you should SEE your faces," is a line from the song, "But Daddy I Love Him." This song is from Taylor Swift's album, THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT, which was released in April of this year. This is the first of three clues in this puzzle featuring lyrics from Taylor Swift's most recent album.
• LANAI (46A: Hawaiian porch) A LANAI is a type of roofed porch or veranda with open sides. LANAI is also the name of one of the Hawaiian islands, the third-smallest of the eight main islands.
• GIS (52A: Karate uniforms) GIS are the traditional uniform for karate practice and competition. GIS are similar to judo uniforms, but made of lighter material and with a looser fit.
• SPINE (54A: "My ___ split from carrying us up the hill") Here's are second lyric clue. "My SPINE split from carrying us up the hill," is from Taylor Swift's song, "So Long, London."
• IDOL (64A: Highly admired person) and ICON (56A: Highly admired person) This is a lovely clue echo. Also, of course, ICON and IDOL are appropriate answers to be found in this Taylor Swift-themed puzzle.
• GINS (67A: Herbal liquors) GINS are flavored with juniper berries and other herbal ingredients. GINS were originally produced for medicinal purposes – as long ago as the 11th century – thus the addition of the medicinal herb juniper. GIN has come a long way since the 11th century, and there are hundreds of varieties of GIN.
• EVS (4D: Cars that need to be plugged in (Abbr.)) I like seeing the mention of electric vehicles, or EVS, in the grid. Even though my husband and I have had our EV for nearly two years now, it still makes me smile to see our car plugged in to an outlet in the garage.
• STERNO (6D: Camper's fuel source) STERNO is a brand of fuel that is designed to be burned directly in the can it comes in. STERNO is used by campers as a portable fuel source for cooking. STERNO is also used by caterers underneath serving dishes on buffets, to keep food warm. A seven-ounce can of STERNO will burn for up to two hours.
• PLETHORA (40D: Abundance) PLETHORA is a fun word. I like the way it sounds. I have a brainstorming spreadsheet I use to jot down ideas for future crossword puzzles. One of the tabs on the sheet is labeled "Fun Words," and PLETHORA is one of the words on that list. I don't know if I'll ever do anything with these "fun words," but I enjoy collecting them!
• EAST (51D: L.A.-Phoenix direction) North-south-EAST-west directions and geography are not my strong suit. Often when I encounter clues such as this, I skip over them until I get a hint from crossing answers. However, this one was gettable even for directionally-challenged me. L.A. (Los Angeles) is in California, and Phoenix is in Arizona. Arizona is EAST of California.
• THE (62D: "Now I'm down bad, crying at ___ gym") Here's our third lyric clue from THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT. "Now I'm down bad, crying at THE gym," is a lyric from Taylor Swift's song, "Down Bad."
• PET (63D: Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson or Benjamin Button, to Taylor Swift) Meredith Gray, Olivia Benson, and Benjamin Button are Taylor Swift's PET cats. It's true, Taylor Swift and I are both cat people. We're so much alike! (Other than her being an extremely talented singer-songwriter, an ICON, and an IDOL.)

Crossword Puzzle Theme Synopsis

• LET'S STEP OUTSIDE (17A: "We shouldn't have this conversation in front of people")
• IF ALL GOES TO PLAN (25A: "Assuming everything works out the way I'm hoping...")
• SPOILER-FREE POST (48A: Social media update that doesn't give away a plot twist, say)
• WE CAN'T BE STOPPED (61D: "Nothing will get in our way now!")

Each theme answer contains a TORTURED (that is, anagrammed) version of the word POETS: LET'S STEP OUTSIDE, IF ALL GOES TO PLAN, SPOILER-FREE POST, and WE CAN'T BE STOPPED.

This is a hidden anagram-themed puzzle based on the word POETS. Who am I kidding? The theme of this puzzle is actually Taylor Swift! Tribute puzzles sometimes get a bad rap. I don't mind them, but some folks consider them boring. This puzzle is a master class on how to do a tribute puzzle well. The title of Taylor Swift's most recent album, THE TORTURED POETS SOCIETY, lends itself to a hidden anagram theme. All four of the theme answers are enjoyable, grid-spanning phrases. Then we have the bonus content of clues that incorporate lyrics from the album, the words ICON and IDOL, and even the names of Taylor Swift's PETs. Well done! Thank you, Amanda, for this excellent puzzle.

For more on USA TODAY’s Crossword Puzzles

• USA TODAY’s Daily Crossword Puzzles
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