Theme: Not Meme - Four two word entries that end in ME.
17A. AABBA, in limericks : RHYME SCHEME
33A. Evening TV viewing period : PRIME TIME
41A. Pass-the-buck accusations : BLAME GAME
61A. Words on a banner for returning soldiers : WELCOME HOME
59D. Kid's response to "Who wants some?" ... and a hint to what's hidden in 17-, 33-, 41- and 61-Across : "ME, ME!"
Argyle here. After 33- and 41-Across, I wondered if 17-Across was the theme reveal but that was just me.
Across:
1. Bandage often signed by friends : CAST
5. Top NFL player : ALL PRO
11. Piercing spot : EAR
14. Bjorn Borg's org. : USTA. (United States Tennis Association)
15. Like tall wedding cakes : TIERED
16. Reason for overtime : TIE
19. TV buying channel : HSN. (Home Shopping Network)
20. Crude from a well, slangily : TEXAS TEA. Black gold, oil, that is.
21. Coat with a precious metal : GILD
22. Baton Rouge sch. : LSU. (Louisiana State University)
23. Love stories : ROMANCES
27. Butter and cream cheese, e.g. : SPREADS
31. Type size : PICA
32. Like jackhammers : NOISY
38. Alley in comics : OOP
39. Rice-__ : A-RONI
40. Neighbor of Arg. : BOL. Argentina and Bolivia.
44. Little League precursor : T-BALL. Such potential.
46. "Son of __!" : A GUN
47. Resort with trails : SKI AREA
49. Becomes foolishly passionate (over) : GOES GAGA
53. Hosp. personnel : RNs
54. Isn't feeling up to snuff : AILS
55. Parent in the wings : STAGE MOM. In the performing arts, a stage mother is the mother of a child actor. The mother will often drive her child to auditions, make sure he or she is on the set on time, etc.
60. Winter bug : FLU
64. Nourished : FED. “Feed a cold, starve a flu”?
65. Fly : AVIATE
66. Newsy bit : ITEM
67. Lyrical "before" : ERE
68. Shrill barker : YELPER. Watch your ankles around them.
69. "If you want to leave a message, please wait for the __" : TONE
Down:
1. Rudely abrupt : CURT
2. 1975 Wimbledon winner Arthur : ASHE
3. River of Hades : STYX
4. Cantina fare : TAMALES
5. Ready to sire, as a retired racehorse : AT STUD
6. Scalp parasites : LICE
7. "The Merry Widow" composer Franz : LEHÁR. Have a Listen(5:41)
8. Lead-in for school or season : PRE
9. Sleep phase initials : REM. (rapid eye movement)
10. "__ on a Grecian Urn" : ODE
11. Value system : ETHIC
12. Theater divider : AISLE
13. Tears apart : RENDS
18. Writing assignment : ESSAY
21. Itty-bitty biter : GNAT. Bad but not as bad as "out for blood" black flies.
24. Speaks one's mind : OPINEs
25. Actress Rogers : MIMI
26. Unreturnable serve : ACE
27. Snooty sort : SNOB
28. "No lifeguard on duty" site, perhaps : POOL. There was a problem during the 2013 sequestration.
29. TV host Kelly : RIPA
30. Leapt : SPRANG
34. CD-__ : ROM. compact disk - read only memory
35. Letter-shaped beam : I-BAR
36. Lawn burrower : MOLE
37. Jazzy Fitzgerald : ELLA
39. Water, to Juan : AGUA
42. Sunday rite : MASS
43. One may be sunnyside up : EGG
44. Hint of color : TINGE
45. Batter's success : BASE HIT
48. "Seinfeld" character who dreams up a coffee table book about coffee tables : KRAMER
49. Social blunder : GAFFE
50. Crude carrier : OILER. From Edmonton or Houston.
51. Slip away from : ELUDE
52. Music licensing fee-collecting org. : ASCAP. (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers)
56. Handy bag : TOTE
57. Fictional sleuth Mr. __ : MOTO. These include eight motion pictures starring Peter Lorre between 1937 and 1939. You can find the full length movies on YouTube and a lot more information on Wikipedia.
58. Broken mirror, to some : OMEN
61. Method : WAY
62. Anticipatory night : EVE
63. "__ Abner" : LI'L
Argyle
Morning, all!
ReplyDeleteSmooth Monday solve for me with no speed bumps along the way. Like Argyle, I thought the theme was simply about rhyming words until I got to WELCOME HOME and saw the actual theme reveal soon after.
Did the big family BBQ yesterday, so today I get to relax and attend somebody else's BBQ...
There once was an internet MEME
ReplyDeleteThat had a five line RHYME SCHEME
No this isn't it
It was better than this,
But to write one some day is my dream!
(I'm running late today, so may have another lim or two later -- can't pass up a puzzle having limerick in a clue!)
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteWould you believe I never saw the theme? Of course you would. By the time I would have gotten to the reveal, it was already filled in, so I didn't see it.
On our morning marches around the 'hood we often encounter Ambrose with one or the other of his little YELPER chihuahuas. As they strain at the leash you can almost hear, "Lemme at 'em! I'm gonna kill 'em!" Fortunately for us, Ambrose is stronger than they are.
Did anyone else wonder why that cake was TIE RED and it was immediately followed by TIE?
We don't get black flies around here. But we do get deer flies -- viciouos and fearless. Hate 'em.
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteEasy peasy Monday puzzle. I hope the later part of the week treats me better than last week!
I did see the theme after 2 theme answers, but didn’t need it to solve the other two.
I had FONT before PICA but the perps fixed it. I wanted BEEP before TONE but it didn’t work with the perps.
SKI AREA just wouldn’t dawn on me. Needed perps for that one.
Of course, TEXAS TEA reminds me of the theme song for The Beverly Hillbillies.
The Beverly Hillbillies Theme Song
Hello Puzzlers -
ReplyDeleteBroken Cruciverb today, so that meant having to use the miserable Arkadium interface at LAT. If that were the only thing available, I'd still be soving on paper.
Easy enough solve today. Hand up for failing to notice the theme until the unifier. Of course, Texas Tea does remind me of Jed Clampitt.
Morning, Argyle, Happy Memorial Day.
Musings
ReplyDelete-Many thoughts today of family and friends who served in the armed forces
-ME, ME, ME is the perfect title for an autobiography of a narcissistic soprano (mi, mi, mi)
-JFK didn’t play the BLAME GAME. He manned up and took the hit for the Bay of Pigs disaster.
-PICA and ELITE were our only choices with our old typewriters, weren’t they?
-Grandson’s league last year refused to get out the T-ball tee even with 10 walks per inning
-My good friend, for whom I sub, has a TENNIS MOM. She is not impressed by Steve’s many state championships and kibitzes on his coaching.
-Many funny answering machine messages
-I’d have written better ESSAY’s if I could have used Word for editing
-Women’s tennis is more fun to watch without so many ACES. And oh yeah, because of this.
-It’s gotta be a big noise if, “I SPRANG from my bed to see what was the matter”
-If your golf ball lands on a MOLE hill, you can move it one club length not nearer the hole
-What TV character used a jackhammer to try to retrieve his Phil Rizzuto key chain?
Good Morning to my Corner friends!
ReplyDeleteI must say that a vacation with NO cell service and NO Internet can make time seem to pass slowly. My b-i-l (CA) and s-i-l(TX) rented a remote mountain cabin in SW MT. They invited me to visit. We ended up snowed in a couple days but catching up on family news was great.
Today’s puzzle was a good one to get started solving again. I have a new iPad Air, but when Cruciverb doesn’t work, getting the puzzle another way isn’t easy. I struggled through the puzzle site CC has linked, but if I had to use that format very often, I would quit.
My CT grandson just started T-Ball. He thinks it is a bit boring—too much sitting (waiting for his turn.) I forgot to look for a crossword puzzle theme, but it was right there in front of me.
Have a great Memorial Day everyone. We have a parade ending at the military section of our cemetery followed by a BBQ at the local VFW this afternoon.
Montana
I just had an interesting experience as I tried to Publish my comment. I got a popup that said there is a conflict. It may be that someone else is trying to post at the same time and it kicked me out.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the time stamp, it looks like Husker was clicking the Publish button exactly at the same time as I was.
First time that has ever happened.
Montana
Good morning, folks. Thank you, Gail and Bruce, for a fine puzzle. Thank you, Argyle, for a fine review.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Trevose, PA, north of Philadelphia.
Tried cruciverb, and no cigar. Tried Mensa and could not get in. Went to Chicago Tribune site and got in. First time I ever played on line at that site. Usually I print it.
Puzzle was fine. Pretty easy and I got it done in 45 minutes, according to the site. Not bad for me.
Had to think about CAST for a minute. I never thought of a CAST as a bandage, but in a way it can be, I guess. I would think the actual bandage would be under the cast. Of course I have never had a broken bone, except for a toe once.
KRAMER is a funny character. Never watched that show much, however. Or, any show.
Had to think about Mr. MOTO. That really goes back.
Off to my day. See you tomorrow. Hope cruciverb is working then.
Abejo
(9528424 68)
A Memorial Day good morning to all.
ReplyDeleteThank you Gail and Bruce and Argyle.
Desper-otto, you missed the rhyming theme? Oh wait, I guess I did too.
The only error I had was a momentary entry of Mr MONK rather than MOTO. Monk is a favorite around here.
Hello everyone,
ReplyDeleteNot a lot to say about today, solved it using only the across clues. Never knew the down clues until I read Argyles blog.
This should not come as a surprise to those who bother to read my dribble, but I never sussed the theme.
I coached Little League for 15 years, but never T Ball. Had plenty of STAGE MOMS (Baseball moms) . Many of them could not understand why their son was not either pitching or playing Short Stop. My replies became more CURT as the years went by.
Good morning puzzle pals!
ReplyDeleteA quick Gail & Bruce Monday with only 3 write overs (I put ELLA in at 27d - oops; ate before FED, and my machine beeps an odd TONE). Other wise, easy fun!
TEXAS TEA is what we do - unsweet crude.
OILERS left Houston years ago and went to another state that doesn't have OIL. Shouldn't they have to change their name? Like Utah shouldn't have NOLA's Jazz.
KRAMER always makes an entrance.
I was PREmature Friday. All Vets here, hands up with branch & years.
Salute!
My brother is still Army (after 1 Iraq & 2 Afghanistan tours) - he'll be state-side by Christmas!
Cheers, -T
Army '87-'93 Dessert Shield/Storm
Abejo:
ReplyDeleteHad a girlfriend in Trevose back in the early '50s. Butch's Auction, Highway Pool, Lincoln Drive-in, many happy memories.
Don
Good Morning:
ReplyDeleteA smooth, easy-peasy Monday offering from Gail and Bruce. Needed the reveal to catch the theme. Nice expo, Argyle.
A salute and thank you to all service members, past and present, for your dedication and sacrifices.
Have a peaceful Memorial Day.
A smooth Monday solve. Only one write-over. Thanks, Gail and Bruce.
ReplyDeleteI found the theme with the unifier, for a change. Thanks for the review, Argyle.
I waited for perps to decide if it was TONE or beep. Either one works for me.
No celebrations here. DH has reports to mail in that have to be postmarked no later than May 31st, so may is a busy month for him.
Thank you to all the men and women who have served our country.
We appreciate your dedication.
Happy Memorial Day!
Pat
The Oilers became the Tennessee titans.. We the got the houston texans...they did not have a good season last year..maybe this year
ReplyDeleteGood day, all! Happy Memorial Day!
ReplyDeleteA salute to all our service men and women, present and past. You have my deepest gratitude.
Thanks to Gail and Bruce for a quick sashay today. Only write over was STYX when stikh didn't work and who knows why that appeared.
TIERED TIE amused me but I didn't see the theme until the reveal at 59D.
Yesterday I bought tickets for my sisters and me to AVIATE to Seattle in August for our annual sister trip.
Have a stupendous day today, hopefully celebrating with family, everyone!
Kliliy - you're right they did change the name. I recant my rant. Saying "did not have a good season" is kinda kind. We stunk this year.
ReplyDeleteI first heard of the famed river from these Chicago boys (STYX).. It wasn't until later I learned about the poor kid who's mom didn't fully dip him.
Tin - Wrong AILS, eh?
Cheers, -T
A Memorial Day speed run--wonderful! What a relief after my Saturday disaster! Thank you so much, Gail and Bruce. I loved the shout out to the veterans with WELCOME HOME. And fun expo, as always, Argyle.
ReplyDeleteNever heard of MIMI Rogers, but thought it was cute to have her name in a puzzle whose theme was ME ME.
Ah, the Beverly Hillbillies! What a fun show that was!
Have a wonderful Memorial Day, everybody!
Good morning everyone (just barely!)
ReplyDeleteFun puzzle from Gail and Bruce today. WEES: "speed run," "didn't see a lot of the down clues," loved the reveal!
Here's an interstellar MEME.
With appreciation for all those who gave their lives for our freedom on this Memorial Day!
Happy Monday everybody!
ReplyDeleteSo technically it's not a clecho, but I still enjoyed seeing MIMI in the midst of all the ME MEs....
Did anyone else want a six letter answer to Son of...?
Never did care too much for STYX (the band)....
HG I agree that the look of women's tennis has come a long way (baby!) since the days of Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova....
Speaking of which, I thought Borg was Swedish, so why would he be in the USTA...?
Finally, Happy Memorial Day and a big Thank You to all our vets...!
Nice troop greeting for Memorial Day. With this anniversary, we put another year of strife and sacrifice behind us, with heartfelt thanks to those who have given the most.
ReplyDeleteI heard about this on the radio this morning, so I looked it up. I had never heard about it. Maybe others haven't heard of it so I thought I'd share.
ReplyDelete"Moment Of Remembrance
In 1996, a humanitarian organization based in Washington, D.C., known as 'No Greater Love' conducted a survey on children and asked them why do they think there is a holiday on Memorial Day. It was agonizing to hear their remarks that were all associated with barbecues and extended weekend parties and celebration, while they hadn't the vaguest idea about the sacrifices of the soldiers in whose honor it is celebrated. One of the children was even quoted as saying that this was the day when swimming pools open!
Thus, the organization came up with the idea of 'National Moment of Remembrance' to remind and especially, let the future generations know about the real meaning of the holiday. The idea clicked with the President and Congress and since 1997, it became a standard American tradition. National Moment of Remembrance requires everybody to keep silent for a minute, exactly at 3.00 pm (local time) when 'Taps' is played and reflect on the glory of those who have shed blood for us. The federal government hopes to raise public awareness about the heroes and their valor by introducing this moment."
Pat
From seven to eleven is the TIME
ReplyDeleteWhen TV watching is PRIME.
But who do I BLAME,
They make ROMANCES a GAME,
And reality shows are a crime?
Nice Monday puzzle, I enjoyed the theme. Thanks for the write-up, Argyle.
ReplyDeleteIf teams were required to name-change, LA would only be allowed the Kings NHL francise.
The Lakers came from Minnesota (lots of lakes there). The Clippers came from San Diego(lots of sails there). The Dodgers came from Brooklyn (lots of dodgy-looking people there!!!). We stole the Angels from Anaheim without even moving the team - it's easier to just change the city name!
Oakland shouldn't be allowed the Raiders nor St. Louis the Rams.
It's somewhat complicated!
Misty @ 10:59 - Mimi Rogers was the first Mrs. Tom Cruise. I wonder if there will be a fourth! :-)
ReplyDeleteHi Y'all! My time on this was 11:11 which I thought was fitting for Memorial Day since the armistice of WWI (?) was on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
ReplyDeleteHand up for dashing through so fast I didn't read the clue for either MIMI or ME ME. I usually try to read through them all. I studied the long answers and couldn't find a theme.
Thanks, Gail, Bruce, & Argyle and all of ye who participate in this great group epistle.
As a child I learned genealogy decorating graves in various cemeteries. Now it is too far for me to go. My son went back and decorated his father's grave and sent his siblings & I a picture from his smart phone. I'm trying not to feel guilty for not going. I had to think his dad would have loved playing with the phone. He always enjoyed a new "toy". He went out with the CB era. Oh well, I decorated his life when he lived.
IrishMiss:
ReplyDeleteSo that's why MIMI Rogers sounded familiar! Thanks.
RiverDoc:
I had the same question about Bjorn Borg. Why the USTA? Maybe he became a U.S. citizen.
I think athletes can join the US organizations without being born here. I know there was some mention a couple years ago when Rory McElroy didn't re-join the U.S. PGA even though he was playing on the tour in this country.
ReplyDeleteDave can't come to the Blog right now, he is still reading HG's answering machine messages....
ReplyDeleteWe had Deion Sanders yesterday and Primetime today.
ReplyDeleteRory dumps fiance, then finally wins first tournament since getting engaged? Hmmmm.
ReplyDeleteTiger hasn't been the same since he was married? Hmmmm.
If I was a golfer I would stay away from any serious relationship. :)
Lovely Monday puzzle and write up. Hope you all have a wonderful cook out and honor the MEMoriEss of all who have served.
ReplyDeleteDave can't come to the Blog right now, he is still watching Kramers entrances...
ReplyDeleteAnother easy Monday puzzle. I don't really have anything to say about it.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading the answering machine messages HG.
Dave can't come to the Blog right now, he's lost in YouTube LinkLand...
ReplyDeleteDave's not home Man...
ReplyDeleteIrish Miss, 12:38--many thanks for the clarification about MIMI. My memory of Tom Cruise exes only goes back as far as Nicole Kidman. I guess I didn't get "People" magazine before that time!
ReplyDeleteHi all,
ReplyDeleteThis was a fun puzzle but I had a few problems. I was trying to find a name for 5A but it never came and I finally saw it was a description for players.
Husker, I loved those answering machine comments.
I always that Keat's poem was Ode TO a Grecian Urn but I looked it up and it is showed both ways.
Nice weather we are having. We hope it lasts.
I'm BaaACk!
ReplyDeleteFun puzzle. Thanks Gail, Bruce and Argyle. WEES.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to all of our veterans and their families. Thanks for your sacrifices.
Fun answering machine messages.
Seinfeld was funny but in real life, I can't imagine keeping such annoying people around as friends such as Kramer and Newman.
Pje - I'd love nothing more for today to mean just pools, parties, & a BBQ SPREAD. Maybe 100 years after all war ends and today is just a memorial to family & friends and not the fallen.*
ReplyDeleteSteve - LOL team names. Nice!
CED - Loved the movie scenes and your approach to todays blog. Now, let Dave in.
Bill G. - Without wackos in your life, where's the fun?
Cheers, -T
*you can't see me sign the cross
HG: I liked #10 and #86.
ReplyDeleteSteve: Why change the name of any team?
Anonymous (Don): I will keep an eye out for your old girlfriend in Trevose.
Abejo
A "Crude Carrier" is a TANKER. The puzzle answer OILER does not carry crude. It carries refined petroleum products to smaller ports or to ships at sea.
ReplyDeleteSorry to say, this clue/answer combination appears regularly. And I've never seen a correct pairing.
Greetings!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nice offering, Gail and Bruce, and swell expo, Argyle!
Theme was easy to see after the fact.
Thanks to all of our brave soldiers!
Saw Oblivion with Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman with Harvey the other night. It was TERRIBLE.
Lonely today. No one to visit or call. Caregiver away.
Cheers!
It's back....the original PK didn't post at 1:50 about Tiger.
ReplyDeleteAs for marriage being bad for golfers, Dufner had a major win the week he got married and almost won the next week or did win, I've forgotten. Now a year later he had a very impressive tournament ending Sunday.
I was watching an old Huell Howser show about aircraft carriers. Barbara and I went on a tour of the USS Midway anchored in San Diego. Wow! Is it huge!
ReplyDeleteWackos are OK, sometimes fun. It's the seriously annoying wackos I can do without.
"The ships hung in the sky in much the same way that bricks don’t."
“You know,” said Arthur, “it’s at times like this, when I’m trapped in a Vogon airlock with a man from Betelgeuse, and about to die of asphyxiation in deep space that I really wish I’d listened to what my mother told me when I was young.”
“Why, what did she tell you?”
“I don’t know, I didn’t listen.”
Bill G. - HHGTTG - "it was somewhat, but not quite, very much unlike tea" :-) Douglas Adams is #1 in my book with Terry Pratchett close behind (ever read Good Omen?).
ReplyDeleteI just made the kids watch Airplane for our Memorial Day time since it rained out the BBQ (3" today - the tornadoes stayed to the west of the freeway). There were too many pop-culture references they just didn't get. I guess it is a period piece. They certainly didn't GO(es)GAGA over it.
Fermatprime - we're always here for you. I know its not a lot, but here we are.
Cheers, -T
Very late today after gardening all day. Beautiful sunny warm day to plant flowers!!
ReplyDeleteDid this puzzle in the newspaper sitting on the patio after supper. It didn't take long. Just right for a Monday.
Like Argyle, I thought RHYME SCHEME was the theme at first.
Fermatprime, the reason I like to Blog is because it reminds me of the old days when I wanted to be a Ham Radio operator, but could not afford the equipment...
ReplyDeleteNow, if only I could talk to you in real time...
BillG:
ReplyDeleteI had a "wacko" cousin who died young and I feel bad for calling him that. The fact is, he was bi-polar and would call me at very inconvenient hours, ranting or elated, depending on what was happening. It was annoying, but I knew he wasn't completely in control and he refused to take medication. He died of a heart attack before he was 50. In a way, I miss him, but not the phone calls.
Then, there are the drama queens . . .
Lucina, I'm sorry about your cousin. He had an understandable reason for his behavior.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever watched Seinfeld? I don't know how to categorize Kramer and Newman other than wacko and annoying. I guess the show wouldn't have been as funny and popular without them. The guy who played Kramer tried his hand at standup comedy and had a bad run in with a heckler. He got angry at the guy and repeatedly shouted the 'N' word at him. He subsequently gave up stand up comedy. My impression of him was that he wasn't very funny but luckily landed a supporting gig as a wacko on a very popular show.
I used to watch Seinfeld regularly until I grew tired of it. Now I occasionally catch reruns of it, but not often. It seems more silly than funny.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me I'd heard about Kramer's (Michael Richards) rant but I'd forgotten about that. He was in a wonderful movie with Andie McDowell,several years ago, Unstrung Heroes. It's sad, but really good and it puts his talents to good use.