57 Down

NYT Daily • July 31, 2025

Jay in the Television Hall of Fame

Answer:

LENO

Hint:

["Here’s a helpful hint for your crossword clue:\n\n*\"Late-night host known for his chin and classic cars.\"*\n\nThis hint:\n- References Jay Leno’s distinctive physical feature (his chin) and his well-known passion for cars.\n- Narrows the focus to a famous late-night TV personality without directly naming him.\n- Avoids repeating the original clue while making the answer more accessible."]

Explanation:

The clue **"Jay in the Television Hall of Fame"** leads to the answer **"LENO"** through the following breakdown: 1. **"Jay"** – This is a direct reference to **Jay Leno**, the well-known comedian and former host of *The Tonight Show*. 2. **"Television Hall of Fame"** – Jay Leno was inducted into the **Television Academy Hall of Fame** in 2014, reinforcing his association with television fame. The wordplay here is straightforward: "Jay" refers to his first name, and "Television Hall of Fame" hints at his last name, **Leno**, as he is a prominent figure in TV history. Thus, the answer is **"LENO"**.

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