Theme: "Small" Names. I have trouble summarize the theme. Can anyone help?
17A: Bedtime figure of rhyme: Wee Willie Winkie
25A: Nicely-Nicely Johnson: Stubby Kaye
44A: One of Robin's Merry Men: Little John
57A: "A Christmas Carol" role: Tiny Tim Cratchit
Does anyone know how Tubby Smith get his nickname? This guy is just so cool. (Update: The Tubby in Tubby Smith does not mean small/short as I originally thought. He likes to stay in the washtub when his siblings were bathed. He is the sixth of 17 children.)
Had to google 41A: "Leaving Las Vegas" co-star: SHUE. I mixed it up with another Nicolas Cage movie Honeymoon in Vegas. Did not know Stubby Kaye (25A: Nicely-Nicely Johnson Portrayer). Did not know Norse Evil God (11D: LOKI). Getable from across clues though.
Overall, no choppy water for me today. Easier than Tuesday's mythical crier Niobe puzzle.
Across entry:
1A: "Common Sense" writer: PAINE (Thomas)
2A: Give up: CEDE
14A: Surpass: EXCEL
15A: Haley or Trebek: ALEX. Jeopardy!
16A: Implement: TOOL
17A: Bedtime figure of rhyme: Wee Willie Winkie. I got this from the down clues. Nobody read this to me when I was a kid.
21A: Black-tie affair: GALA
22A: Texas Hold 'em phrase: I RAISE
24A: "All about ___": EVE. Bette Davis film.
25A: Nicely-Nicely Johnson portrayer?: Stubby Kaye. Guys & Dolls fame. Did not know him.
30A: Zip: NADA
34A: Actor Flynn: ERROL. He was in the 1938 version of The Adventures of Robin Hood.
36A: Word of Woe: ALAS (sometimes it's Ah Me)
37A: Indistinct: VAGUE
38A: __ Aviv-Jaffa: TEL
39A: Plain to see: OVERT
41A: "Leaving Las Vegas" co-star: SHUE (Elisabeth). She is also in The Karate Kid.
42A: Start of a long story: PART I
43A: Comic Foxx: REDD
44A: One of Robin Merry Men: LITTLE JOHN (Robin Hood's second-in-command)
47A: El Dorado's treasure: ORO (Spanish for gold)
48A: Ranked at a tournament: SEEDED
52A: Actress Ward: SELA. She is in The Fugitive. I love her in Once and Again.
57A: "A Christmas Carol" role: Tiny Tim Cratchit.
60A: HOMES part: ERIE (Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, Superior)
61A: Cool: NEAT
62A: Maureen of "The Quiet Man": O'HARA. I tend to confuse her with Mia Farrow's mother Maureen O'Sullivan.
64A: Box-office receipts: GATE
65A: Young Turk: REBEL. Would not have filled in if not for the down clues. See here for more information.
Down Entry:
3D: "Rhyme Pays" Rapper: ICE T. Law & Order SVU. Can't stand his music, or any Rap. Besides, I like my tea to be hot.
5D: Qualified to pay: ELIGIBLE
6D: Texas Hold 'em phrase: CALL
8D: Aberdeen's river: DEE (Scotland)
9D: Some alimony recipients: EX-WIVES. And K-Fed.
10D: Sicilian volcano: ETNA
11D: Evil Norse god: LOKI. Awful looking. Trolls are ugly too.
12D: Kent's Lane: LOIS
13D: To shelter: ALEE
18D: Knight's wife: LADY
23D: Teem: ABOUND
24D: Button slot: EYELET
25D: Break off: SEVER
26D: Inter-team action: TRADE. Look at what we have traded away: Randy Moss, David Ortiz, Kevin Garnett & Johan Santana. Incredible, that's all I can say.
27D: Egged on: URGED
28D: __ Lee Gifford: KATHIE. I don't watch the Insider.
29D: Native Alaskan: ALEUT
30D: Hogan dweller: NAVAJO. Hogan is "a Navajo Indian dwelling constructed of earth and branches and covered with mud or sod."
31D: Olds model: ALERO
32D: Mr. Vader: DARTH. Hillary's said it's Dick Cheney.
33D: Sean or father John: ASTIN
39D: Switchboard overseer: OPERATOR. Our local Rainbow Foods often plays Sade's Smooth Operator. I like it.
41D: On the skids: SLIDING
45D: "Damn Yankees" role: LOLA
48D: Meal dish: STEW
49D: Dublin's land: EIRE. Always hesitate between EIRE or ERIN.
50D: Oklahoma city: ENID
53D: Art Deco designer: ERTE. Well, his real name is Romain de Tirtoff, Erte is the French pronunciation of his initials R. T.
54D: Captain of the Peguod: AHAB
56D: List ender: ET AL
59D: Guerrilla Guevara: CHE. It was clued as Fidel's friend 10 days ago.
I think this constructor Hartman loves pop culture. Have another look at his Feb 5 puzzle, peppered with movies, TV series, singers, actresses, personalities/hosts. If you don't like this, you might be in trouble.
C. C.
I jsut stumbled on your site this week, I enjoy your comments. Did pretty well today myself. I only was missing 8 clues before I had to resort to the net.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I am glad you like my blog.
ReplyDeleteSomehow today's down clues are very friendly, rendering the across entries gettable. I would have to google STUBBY KAYE if not for the down clues.
C.C.