"Wordplay" DVD Release Set For November 7

Genius Products, Inc. has announced the DVD release of "Wordplay". It will be in stores on Tuesday, November 7. The DVD, retailing for $24.95, will feature a commentary track with Will Shortz, interview footage, and "The Five Greatest Puzzles Ever Made" featurette.

How much wrong stuff can fit in one movie review?

Thirty some odd years ago, when Joe Adamson wrote one of the seminal texts of animation history, "Tex Avery: King of Cartoons", Mr. Adamson coined a phrase that just about summed up the sloppiness of documenting animation history up to that point: he said the writer might as well have been writing about the Myrna Loy Westerns of Alfred Hitchcock.

Reading this very funny compilation of "Wordplay" review errors gave me that same Myrna Loy Western vibe.

Thanks to Trip Payne for compiling it.... and gee, you didn't even include our favorite from the Star-Ledger review about Shortz hosting the Stamford tournament every weekend.

Sajak's Puzzle Empire Grows Thanks To Atari

Pat Sajak Games, the "Wheel of Fortune" host's thriving puzzle and game enterprise, will seek out new territory this holiday season. The company has partnered with Atari to begin publishing PC and console versions of its winning online word and puzzle games.

First up this fall will be "Pat Sajak's Lucky Letters", the exceptional crossword/game-show crossover which will feature Sajak's voice offering encouragement to players. There will be three play variants and game enhancements not available online. Sajak said in a press statement that he is proud to be affiliated with Atari due to their high level of quality over the years.

Sajak's company now produces many online games (such as "Blackjack Bowling"), as well as three distinct Penny Press titles: "Get-A-Letter Crosswords", "Get-A-Letter Variety Puzzles", and the new "Get-A-Clue Sudoku".

Gridbusters: Humans vs. Computers!

The Slate has reprinted one of the best parts of Matt Gaffney's new book, "Gridlock". He basically teams up with Byron Walden to see if their team or the team of Peter Gordon and Frank Longo can do a better and more imaginative fill of a grid. Judges include some fair-to-middling X-worders like Tyler Hinman, Trip Payne, yada yada. Interesting stuff and required reading for those who construct, or someday want to.