If you're a faithful TV Barn reader and are looking for a break from the T-and-V this weekend, may I make a movie suggestion: "Wordplay," the documentary about competitive crossword solving that opens in wider release this week in better cities across the country.
Even if you're not a faithful TV Barn reader, I'm still recommending that you go see "Wordplay."
As is typical of the genre, the film follows around several contestants, including one seen here in the theatrical trailer and known as "The Maestro." He is Jon Delfin, who has won more American Crossword Puzzle Tournaments than any other person: seven over three decades.
He is also an accomplished musical director and arranger. And I have been privileged to have him serve as the editor of the most complete daily television column (I wrote, modestly) to be found anywhere: TV Barn's TV Picks, which are conjured up by Tom Heald in South Dakota, then emailed to Jon at his apartment in New York City, where they are streamlined and then posted on the Web and an email list (that you can join).
With the passing of Knight Ridder Digital, our paper is taking full control of KansasCity.com, and as part of that, I am adding TV Barn's TV Picks back to the home page of TV Barn ... where, frankly, it belonged all along. Welcome back, Jon and Tom.
Speaking of TV and crosswords, "Jeopardy!" runnerup Ken Jennings is making "Wordplay" a weekend pick as well. As do Ebert, Butler and the Baltimore reviewer who had the common decency to mention Jon.

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