Monday, November 2, 2026, Amanda Cook

Theme:  What's My Line?

Today marks Amanda Cook's fifth crossword constructor credit in the Los Angeles Times.  What a great way to begin the week!

The theme clues and answers are:

16-Across. Minute Maid juice box option: FRUIT PUNCH.  

24-Across. Catchphrase associated with hippies: FLOWER POWER.

34-Across. Occasion to wear a little black dress, perhaps: COCKTAIL PARTY.

50-Across. Tennis server's infraction: DOUBLE FAULT.  A double fault occurs when the server makes two consecutive errors, and the point goes to the opponent.  The errors might be hitting the net, hitting outside the service box, or stepping onto the court before contacting the ball.

58-Across. End of a race, or what's found at the end of 16-, 24-, 34-, and 50-Across?: FINISH LINE.  I had to reach this FINISH LINE to see the theme:  each of the listed entries finishes with a type of line!  PUNCH LINE, POWER LINE, PARTY LINE, FAULT LINE.  Bottom line:  well done!

We have not come to the end of the line, though.  Here come the rest of the clues and answers.

Across:

1. Earth tremor: SEISM.

6. Quarterback Darnold who won the Super Bowl with the Seahawks in 2026: SAM.  As you might have guessed, Sam Darnold's line of work is playing quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks in the NFL.

9. Tom or drake: MALE.  A tom is a male turkey; a drake is a male duck.

13. Japanese breadcrumbs: PANKO.  Have you ever purchased white bread or pastries in a Japanese grocery?  The texture is incredibly light and fluffy!  No wonder Japanese breadcrumbs are prized for coating fried foods.

14. Lose steam: TIRE.

15. 20-Down highlight: ARIA.  An aria is an elaborate solo song with instrumental accompaniment featured in an opera.

16. [Theme clue]

18. Dressage gait: TROT.

19. The "D" of LED: DIODE.  An LED (light-emitting diode) is a semiconductor device that emits light when an electric current flows through it.

20. Atmospheric layer with holes: OZONE.  The ozone layer has a big seasonal hole over Antarctica, largely due to chemicals released from refrigerators, air conditioners, and aerosol sprays.  The hole allows harmful ultraviolet radiation to reach the Earth's surface, which raises the risk of skin cancer, cataracts, and immune system damage for humans and other creatures, and harms plants, including crops.  Thanks to an international treaty (The Montreal Protocol) signed in 1987, which phased out chlorofluorocarbons, the hole in the ozone layer is gradually shrinking.  Sadly, recent extreme weather due to human caused climate change appears to be slowing the recovery of the ozone layer.

The ozone hole over Antarctica

21. Knee pt. studied in an MRI, perhaps: ACL.  The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the main stabilizing ligaments in the knee.

24. [Theme clue]

27. Bedroom piece: DRESSER.  You know ... bed frame, dresser, nightstand, mirror.  Typical bedroom furniture.

29. Migrating geese formation: VEE.  Each goose generates a wake of air behind and beneath its wings.  A following bird gains upward lift from the air currents created by the bird in front.  The goose at the front of the line doesn’t get any aerodynamic benefit and works the hardest. That’s why, when the first goose gets tired, it drops back into a trailing position, and another goose takes the lead. 

Geese in V formation

30. Crafty: SLY.

31. Thoroughly cooked: DONE.  Stick a fork in me, Jerry -- I'm done!

32. Pageant crown: TIARA.

34. [Theme clue]

40. Maid of honor speech, typically: TOAST.

41. Field of expertise: AREA.

43. PC key near the space bar: ALT.  I went into a veterinary clinic today to pick up meds for darling daughter's dog, and saw these keyboards at the front desk PCs.  I may need one.

Candy colored keyboard!

46. "What __ missing?": AM I.

47. Flagging down, as a cab: HAILING.

50. [Theme clue]

53. Bear, in Spanish: OSO.

54. Utterly confused: AT SEA.

55. Loud kiss: SMACK.

57. Leaning Tower city: PISA.

58. [Theme clue]

63. Notified: TOLD.

64. Opinion column: OP-ED.  "Op-ed" is short for "opposite the editorial page."  The essays that appear there are short opinion pieces that represent the views of outside contributors rather than the publication's editorial board.

65. Conger catcher: EELER.

66. Classic game console, for short: SNES.  Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

67. Prohibit: BAR.

68. Airline based in Atlanta: DELTA.

Down:

1. Coppertone initials: SPF.  Sun Protection Factor (SPF) measures how well a sunscreen protects your skin from ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, which cause sunburn and contribute to skin cancer.

2. Unit of corn: EAR.

3. Shiba __: dog breed: INU.  An ancient Japanese breed of hunting dog, the Shiba Inu is small:  just 17-22 pounds.  If you want an adorable, fox-like little dog that is independent, stubborn, and can't be trusted off-leash, here's your next pet!

Shiba Inu

4. Lose traction, as on an icy road: SKID.

5. Recurring themes: MOTIFS.

6. Connective tissue: SINEW.  Also called a tendon, a sinew connects muscle to bone.

7. Curved path: ARC.

8. "Not my fave": MEH.

9. __ ball soup: MATZO.  DH looks forward to my vegetarian matzo ball soup every year.

Here is Martha Stewart's vegetarian version.

10. Quiver contents: ARROWS.  A quiver is a container used by archers to hold arrows.

A classic back quiver

11. "Hello" singer Richie: LIONEL.  Lionel Richie is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer.  In the 1970s, he was a songwriter and co-lead singer of the Motown group The Commodores.  In 1982, he launched his solo career with the album Lionel Richie.  His second album, Can't Slow Down (1983), became one of the best-selling albums of all time, and included the number one singles "All Night Long (All Night)" and "Hello."  He co-wrote the 1985 charity single "We Are the World" with Michael Jackson.  His third album, Dancing on the Ceiling (1986), contained the number one single "Say You, Say Me" and the No. 2 hit title track.  Wow.  Strange video, though.

12. Dining establishment: EATERY.

14. Royal house of Elizabeth I: TUDOR.  Henry VII was the first Tudor king of England, seizing the crown by force during a civil war.  His son Henry VIII is remembered for separating the Church of England from the Catholic church to facilitate the dissolution of his first five marriages; his sixth wife outlived him.  Henry VIII's son Edward VI reigned from age nine until his death at age 15.  Next up, Mary I ("Bloody Mary"), a daughter of Henry VII, reigned for five years, during which she restored Catholicism and persecuted Protestants.  And then came Elizabeth I, daughter of Henry VIII and his second wife, Anne Boleyn, who had been beheaded for supposed treason.  Elizabeth ruled for an amazing 70 years, restored the protestant church in England, and was the last of the Tudor monarchs.  Merry Olde England.

Elizabeth I

17. Bit of trekking gear: POLE.  These collapsible poles are lightweight and fit in your suitcase.  Totally worth bringing if you're planning to hike on uneven terrain.

Trekking poles

20. La Scala production: OPERA.  La Scala is an historic opera house in Milan, Italy.

21. Append: ADD.

22. Colorful clog with holes: CROC.

Croc with Croc

23. Longtime late-night host Jay: LENO.  Jay Leno is a stand-up comedian who was chosen in 1992 to replace Johnny Carson as the host of NBC's The Tonight Show, which he did until 2009 when Conan O'Brien took over for a year.  Leno returned to hosting The Tonight Show from 2010 to 2014, then hosted Jay Leno's Garage, and then the revival of You Bet Your Life.  He currently writes a regular column in Popular Mechanics giving automotive advice.

Jay Leno

25. Nefarious: EVIL.

26. Gather, as crops: REAP.

28. Religious faction: SECT.

32. __ for tat: TIT.

33. North __ Sea: Kazakh lake: ARAL.  The Aral Sea was once the world’s third largest lake.  It started shrinking in the 1960s when the Soviet government diverted two of its main inlet rivers, the Syr Darya and the Amu Darya, to irrigate the surrounding desert region. The North Aral Sea was separated from the South Aral Sea in 1987-88 as water levels dropped.  Independent Kazakhstan has addressed environmental degradation by again allowing the Syr Darya River to flow into the lake.

The Aral Sea is circled.

35. Eucalyptus lover: KOALA.  The koala is native to Australia and eats little besides Eucalyptus, which is poisonous to most other animals.  The low nutritional value of this diet leads koalas to sleep up to twenty hours a day.  Hmm ... good life?

36. Like household pets: TAME.

37. "You wish!": AS IF.

38. Threesome: TRIO.

39. Cravings: YENS.

42. Long, long __: AGO.

43. Modifies to fit: ADAPTS.

44. Soothing cosmetic: LOTION.

45. Minor dustup: TUSSLE.

47. Muggy: HUMID.  Like this past summer in Los Angeles.  Brutal!

48. "What a shame": ALAS.

49. Irritated, in a way: ITCHED.  Like the bites of the invasive Aedes mosquitoes (commonly known as "ankle biters") which have recently infested Los Angeles, thanks to the aforesaid humidity.

51. Common elements in Native American jewelry: BEADS.

52. Ed of "Elf": ASNER.  Ed Asner (1929-2021) was an American actor, best known for playing Lou Grant on The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970-1977) and the same character on the drama Lou Grant (1977-1982).  He won seven Primetime Emmy Awards -- the most of any male actor -- and acted in a number of films as well.  He played Santa Claus in New Line Cinema's Elf (2003) and voiced Carl Fredricksen in the Pixar animated film Up (2009).

Ed Asner is on the far right, with other cast members of
The Mary Tyler Moore Show

56. "Twittering Machine" painter Paul: KLEE.  Twittering Machine is a 1922 watercolor with gouache, pen-and-ink, and oil transfer on paper by Swiss-German painter Paul Klee. It depicts a loosely sketched group of birds on a wire or branch connected to a hand-crank.

Klee's Twittering Machine

58. Keyless key: FOB.  A key fob is a remote control device that uses radio waves to communicate with a car's computer, allowing drivers to lock, unlock, or start their vehicles with the press of a button.

59. Bitter beer letters: IPA.  India Pale Ale was created when English brewers increased the amount of hops in beer, and increased the alcohol level, to preserve the brew for the hot, six-month sea journey to India, during the time that India was under the control of the British East India Company.  

60. Unwell: ILL.

61. Take-home pay: NET.

62. Pitching ace's stat: ERA.  Earned Run Average.

Here's the grid:

Solvers,

Did Amanda's puzzle SMACK you in the face with the POWER of its brilliance?

Or did you find FAULT with it?

LINE up below to share your comments!

-- NaomiZ