"This is a 'lllove llletter' to MELL LAZARUS, brilliant cartoonist of 'Miss Peach' and 'Momma'..."

"... who has always dreamed of being in a Times puzzle. His ambition was more modest, thinking the unusual double L of MELL would be enough...."

MORE: Here.

ELSEWHERE: "... based on the overwhelming soul-crushing awfulness of having Momma as her mother-in-law, she�s decided to go full-on goth. The filthy house is not so much a lifestyle choice as a side effect of the overwhelming depression."