Hmmm

[cazique]

As people in some syndicated markets get the NYT 6 weeks late, there are a couple of further blog comments on my 10/31 puzzle today.

If you haven't done the puzzle and don't want to be spoiled,

Comments

[jeffurrynpl]

If I remember correctly I asked that question in the New York Times Crossword Forum a year or two ago and was told that, while it isn't ideal, it isn't a total no-no.

It certainly didn't spoil my enjoyment of your puzzle.

[crossword_fiend]

It doesn't appear to be a dealbreaker for Will if he notices such dupes. Even in the grid-today's Times puzzle has both EAR and TINEAR, and the former isn't clued as a thingum of corn. I don't much care, but the people who do care are thrown into a tizzy when they shy away from putting a dupe letter sequence into the grid. In the case of your puzzle, Fonda needed a first name to avoid Henry confusion.