Bop It!

Where my 90’s kids at? Where my parents with kids who grew up in the 90’s at? Where am I? Where is everyone? Hello??

1996 was a great year for many things. Hotmail launched (hit me up at [email protected]), Mr. Dressup aired his 4,000th and final episode, and Bop It, the game that yells at you, debuted.

While it might be hard to get your hands on a Bop It today, what you can do is relive some of that fun (and adrenaline) with today’s crossword.

Discussion (and spoilers!) below the break.

Play

Discussion

My heart gets racing every time I hear that thing shout out commands - reminds me of Perfection but that’s for another time.

Today’s Theme

Four of the Across clues are commands from Bop It (and Bop It Extreme): BOP IT!, PULL IT!, FLICK IT!, and TWIST IT!. The answers are things you bop (a PUNCHING BAG), pull (an ESPRESSO shot), flick (a WET TOWEL), and things you twist (a HOT WATER TAP).

Tricky Clues

14A. No, NEO wasn’t what the internet calls a red-piller today… or was he? God I hope not, I like that movie (and the directors are trans, so…)

21A. [Essential things?] might make you think of food or water, maybe… but essential OILS is the sneaky answer.

40A. [What one might hear after "Hello?"] is a hello back - in the form of an ECHO.

2D. Do you remember learning about the ecosystem in school? Maybe you’re an avid bird watcher. Either way, now you remember that [The upper layer of a forest] is the CANOPY.

13D. [Bar examinations?] isn’t referring to the LSAT or any law things - things examined at the bar are IDS.

22D. IWATCH - I mean, missed opportunity right? The worst thing Apple ever did for their brand is stop naming all their products “i-device”. At least they haven’t made the Apple Phone 17 a thing (if they do, remember I called it here first).

I hope you enjoyed this puzzle! I love feedback - was it too difficult? Was it fun? Do you want to make a crossword? I want to hear from you. Shoot me a message at [email protected] and let’s chat.

Until next Friday,

Brandon