Wednesday, September 23, 2026 — An OBOE's a "Sprightly Companion"? Um, Okaaaaay ... 🤔🧐

There were several quite intriguing clues in today's grid. Your cohosts found 62A, Instrument also called the "sprightly companion", OBOE, to be the intriguiest* of the lot. Mike's curiosity was piqued by 33D, Jay's reticent partner of filmdom, SILENTBOB, while Jean was at least mildly surprised by 3D, "Star Wars" series starring Diego Luna, ANDOR. Both found 4D, Music genre named for its voluminous dos, HAIRMETAL, to be Wednesday-worthy cluing. Indeed, the entire crossword was of a hig...