Show meta (solution)

by Patrick Blindauer and Scott Handelman, with computer assistance from Andrew Lin

Answers, in arbitrary order:

ADOBO
COLON
DEPOT
EBOOK
OKAPI
RACED
SLITS
YOKEL

The answers can be arranged to form two overlapping word squares, in a windmill shape:

RACED
ADOBO
COLON
EBOOK
DONKEYODS
    YOKEL
    OKAPI
    DEPOT
    SLITS

Reading the central axis reveals the disaster which befalls Shrek’s friend in this terrible musical: DONKEY ODS. (The pun is pretty terrible too—read it out loud if you need to.)