C.C. has taken the names of famous people and added a word between their first and last name. The added word satisfies the silly clue when used after the first name and then serves as the first word of a common phrase when paired with the last name. Six of her entries were horizontal and two were vertical. Ya gotta love it!
Theme entries:
23. Doris during a workout? : TRAINING DAY - America's sweetheart Doris Day in the gym or a 2001 American neo-noir crime thriller
29. Director Oliver working on pizza dough? : ROLLING STONE - Gainful employment for Oliver Stone at Pizza Hut or the free wheeling print or digital magazine that focuses on pop culture
59. Comical Samantha busy stitching? : QUILTING BEE - Dextrous work for comedian Samantha Bee or a product that might wind up in the Lincoln, NE International Quilt Study Center & Museum
78. Nicolas taking a swing? : BATTING CAGE - Nicholas Cage's turn at bat or where Billy Crystal and Bruno Kirby might take some swings
106. Singer Al making a strike? : BOWLING GREEN - Al Green in the alleys or an Ohio university where the Falcons play
3. Sally having fun? : PLAYING FIELD - Sally Field with some Legos or where the Bowling Green Falcons play
65. Lucille on a trampoline? : BOUNCING BALL - The Lucy we all love doing back flips or each of these
Now let's see what C.C. has for us in our logophilic Easter Basket
Across
1. Quaker in the wind : ASPEN - Populus Tremuloides. First cousin of the cottonwood, Nebraska's state tree - Populus Deltoides
6. Little bite : TASTE
11. "House" actor Omar : EPPS
15. Full house, e.g. : HAND - Fourth best hand
19. Pond flower : CALLA - Lily
20. Navel type : OUTIE
21. Selectively remove : CULL
25. Maker of Regenerist skin care products : OLAY
26. 'Vette roof option : T-TOP
27. Claims : SAYS
28. Greenwich Village sch. : NYU
34. Tire for emergencies : SPARE
36. Perfect Sleepers, e.g. : SERTAS
37. Yoga class greeting : NAMASTE
39. Place for a bud? : EAR
41. Deepest, as feelings : INMOST - or INNER MOST
44. Tiny bit : FIG - Bing sang, "If you don't care a feather or a FIG, You may grow up to be a pig!"
46. Many a pizza slice : OCTANT - Oliver, don't cut that pizza into 8 pieces, my family can only eat 6.
48. Subj. for Janet Yellen : ECON(omy)- The Dismal Science
51. Diaper cream additive : ALOE - Also Zinc Oxide and Vitamin E
54. Quisling's crime : TREASON - Vidkun lectured about "The Jewish Problem In Norway" and sent Hitler a 50th birthday card
57. 1688 coffeehouse founder Edward better known in the insurance world : LLOYD - Lloyd's of London famously insured Betty Grable's legs for $1M. Dolly Parton got a $4M policy there on her, uh, best features as well.
58. Cause of some lines : AGING
61. Look for : SEEK
62. Masterful move : COUP
64. Ski resort sight : GONDOLA
65. Avoid, as an issue : BEG - After three years of emceeing the all-school reunion, I BEGGED off for another encore
68. Some battered rings : CALAMARI - Calamari seems to be a little chewy for me
70. Mumbai mister : SRI - Ravi gets two SRI's
71. Baker's gluten-free choice : OAT FLOUR
73. JFK : New York :: __ : Chicago : ORD - ORcharD field in Chicago retained its 3-letter designation even when it was renamed for WWII hero Navy pilot Edward O'Hare
74. Singer Laine : FRANKIE - Jezebel is his most requested song on iTunes. I'd pick Rawhide or High Noon
76. Troubles : ILLS
77. Lara's love : YURI - Dr. YURI Zhivago
80. Big 112-Down : FINAL 112. See 80-Across : TEST
81. Painter of dancers : DEGAS
84. Lacking variety : ONE NOTE - Regardless of the party, they can sing that ONE NOTE forever
85. Silkscreen aid : STENCIL - You can get some to help carve your pumpkins too
87. Computer with a Magic Keyboard : IMAC
88. Disc golf obstacle : TREE and 96. One of 18 on a disc golf course : TEE PAD - This looks like a "hole in one" from the TEE PAD to me.
89. Dürer, e.g. : ETCHER
91. They, in Cognac : ILS and 99. French sponge cake : GATEAU - ILS ont servi de GATEAU éponge (They served sponge cake)
92. One typing a's and z's : PINKIE - Wonderful clue
94. Used a bench, say : SAT
97. Certain triathlete : IRONMAN - Don't look for me in these pix!
102. Linguine sauce : PESTO - Sauce that originated in Genoa, Italy
104. Squalid : DINGY
109. Spanish pronoun : ESO - Hit song ESO Besso (That Kiss) by 53. Ottawa-born songwriter Paul : ANKA - We had the entire title last week
111. Provide a bank floor plan for, say : ABET which will make you run 120. Clashing with, with "of" : AFOUL of the law
113. Eurasian border river : URAL
114. Alpha __ : MALE
118. Inconsequential : MERE
119. Exiled Roman poet : OVID - OVID was banned and Jesus was born during the time of Augustus Caesar
121. Sheds : MOLTS
122. Florist's creation : POSY
123. State of disarray : MESS
125. Shoelace protector : AGLET - Like zarf, rowel, etc.
HUGH DOWNS
1. Accomplishments : ACTS
2. 2002 skating gold medalist Hughes : SARAH
4. Cuthbert of "24" : ELISHA
5. Editor Talese with her own Doubleday imprint : NAN - A triple play - three unknown names in a row for me
6. Stylish : TONY
7. Amen Corner golf course, familiarly : AUGUSTA - Of those three holes, the 12th is my favorite and the signature hole of the course
8. Benchmark: Abbr. : STD
9. Pageant sparkler : TIARA
10. Pooh's mopey pal : EEYORE
11. "Silent Spring" subj. : ECOL
12. Canines with corded coats : PULIS - Only the tongue tells me which end is which
13. Flier : PLANE - Many fly into and out of ORD
14. Con man's expression : SLY GRIN
15. Spicy steamed Mexican food : HOT TAMALE
16. "He Was Despised," in Handel's "Messiah" : ALTO SOLO - An Air not a Chorus
18. Suss (out) : DOPE
24. In one piece : INTACT - Otzi is an INTACT, 5,000 year old mummy found in the Otztal Alps in 1991
30. Grassy expanse : LEA
31. Amtrak stop: Abbr. : STN
33. "__ Schoolchildren": Tracy Kidder book : AMONG
35. Unreleased : PENT-UP - Should we all vent occasionally?
38. Google Maps lines: Abbr. : STS - Fords Theater was a brisk 8 minute walk from our Hotel via 10th ST
40. Varnish component : RESIN
42. Tofurky protein source : SOY
43. Newsman Koppel : TED - His show Nightline started as an update on the Iran Hostage crisis in November, 1979
44. Debacle : FIASCO
45. Engaged : IN GEAR
47. Hexa- halved : TRI
49. Express sympathy (with) : CONDOLE - I'm more familiar offering my CONDOLENCES
50. Needing to be saved? : ON GOAL - In the 1980 Miracle On Ice, the USSR got 39 shots ON GOAL and we only managed 16 but got one more in the net than the Soviets
56. Yours, in Cognac : ATOI
57. Romaine bit : LEAF
59. Tonic ingredient : QUININE - U.S. - kwai' nine U.K - kwi' neen
60. Layered lunches : BLTS
63. Soapbox user : ORATOR
66. Pass good in 28 countries : EURAIL
67. Tailgating fixtures : GRILLS
69. Degs. for writers : MFAS - Sigourney Weaver got her MFA from Yale in 1974
70. Something flashed by a catcher : SIGN - Some catchers even wear nail polish so the sign can be easier to see
72. The Eagles' "__ Eyes" : LYIN'
75. Prayer supports : KNEES
76. Following remark? : I GET IT
78. Place for shady transactions : BACK ALLEY
79. Had Subway fare : ATE - Subway has 3,000 more shops than McDonalds
80. Physics Nobelist of 1938 : FERMI - Creator of the first nuclear reactor
81. Tango move : DIP
82. London's Virgin __ Records : EMI
83. Turf disputes : GANG WARS - The bane of many cities
85. "Billions" network, briefly : SHO
86. Muscle-bone connector : TENDON - One good and one ruptured
88. "16 and Pregnant" spin-off : TEEN MOM - An MTV production
90. King known for his wealth : CROESUS - Do you know the only two letters in his name that are not 1-point scrabble tiles?
93. "Lord, is __?": Matthew : IT I - Read from some pulpits this past week
95. Big primate : APE
100. __ nectar: sugar substitute : AGAVE - Other than used for tequila it's nectar is known as honey water
101. Wrinkly fruits : UGLIS
103. Major snag : SNAFU
105. Broadway matchmaker : YENTE - "For me, well, I wouldn't holler, If he were as handsome as anything"
106. Speed deterrent : BUMP
107. Sister brand of Nilla : OREO - Have we had OREO as fill before?
108. Wine list heading : REDS
110. Bank deposit : SILT
116. Scott Eastwood, to Clint : SON
117. "Today" alternative, for short : GMA
Now it's time for you to William Tell us what you think.
The Grid:
Hi everyone!
ReplyDeleteThanks to C. C. and Gary!
Really enjoyed the theme.
No problems. However, scratched head at condole.
Russian friend and family brought over fantastic grilled chicken breast dinner.
Trying not to cough too much.
Have a great day!
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteManaged to get 'em all, but not without some missteps along the way. Thought "lacking variety" would be SAME OLD. That "speed deterrent" was a HUMP which resulted in HOWLING GREEN. Oops! Learned NAMASTE from Stargate SG1, but didn't realize it was yoga-related. Frankie LAINE had lots of hits, but I remember him best for Moonlight Gambler from 1956. Enjoyed the outing, C.C. and Husker.
QUILT: My SIL is an accomplished quilter. She's won some awards.
Husker, are you sure that catcher is making a SIGN, and not just scratchin' somethin'?
Now that spring is sprung, we're back to our weekend bike rides. Time for that 10-mile pedal around the 'hood...
Happy Easter, everyone!
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter and it's time for the South LA Easter tradition- CRAWFISH BOIL. Well C.C., the theme was obvious from the start with the celebrity preceded by the 'ING' activity. Nathan LANE, I've never heard of but you probably have not heard of QB Bobby LAYNE, which I would have solved immediately. And Frankie LAINE was a clue. Just missing the verb form- LAIN- to have four spellings of the same word.
ReplyDeleteI almost solved it all but in the end it was a DNF. I didn't know the correct spelling of CROESUS and my Spanish is limited to HOT TAMALEs and CERVEZA, so ASO and CROASUS did me in. Bad WAG on my part.
Perfect sleeper? Not me. Wake up too much.But SERTA fit. I filled CONSOLE before GONDOLA changed it to CONDOLE, which is a word I have never heard before ( and probably only be seen in a X-Word puzzle. And speaking of unknowns:
NAMASTE? ALTO SOLO? really? 100% perps.
IN MOST- never heard anything other than INNER most.
DUNST- never heard of her until they shot a movie scene at my house, where she played the mother of some kid with special powers. "Midnight Special" She wasn't in the scene but many neighbors came in anticipation of her arrival.
I always thought BOWLING GREEN college was in KY; live and learn.
Good Morning:
ReplyDeleteI absolutely loved this theme and execution by CC. I think my favorite visual would be Nathan Lane at quarterback, with Lucy bouncing on a trampoline a close second. Nathan Lane was hilarious in "The Bird Cage" as was Hank Azeria. And who could ever forget Lucy shoveling the chocolates in her mouth or stomping on the grapes? Didn't know Namaste but perps took care of that and several other crunchy areas. Only families with condolences so condole was a new word to me. Big, big CSO to Lucina at Hot Tomale!
Thanks, CC, for a truly enjoyable solve and thanks, HG, for your outstanding explication and visual presentations. You always do a bang-up job but you really outdid yourself today! Kudos and Bravos and Beaucoup Mercis!
Ferm, glad you had a nice dinner with your friends.
Bill G from yesterday ~ So happy to hear that Barbara is coming along so well. I'm sure your TLC has meant a lot to her.
Happy Easter to all.
Sorry ~ "Only familiar with condolences...."
ReplyDeleteThank you sincerely, C.C. This was really fun! Knowing all the names certainly helped and like IM, I could visualize them in action! And my favorite role for NATHAN Lane is also in "The Bird Cage" but "The Producers" is a close second. He and Matthew Broderick were spectacular on Broadway.
ReplyDeleteNAMASTE, said with a bow, ends a yoga session. I've learned GATEAU from CWS as well as any golf related terms. My only doubt is CALLA lily as a pond flower. I've only seen them in gardens. Are water lilies CALLAs?
And thank you, Gary; I agree, today you were in top form.
Happy Easter, everyone!
Thank you for the CSO, Irish Miss. No TAMALES for Easter, but lots of other food.
ReplyDeleteCONDOLE is new to me also but since condolences is the root, it makes sense.
Sorry - BEG does not mean AVOID without an "OFF"
ReplyDeleteIf Bing Crosby had written "Gone With The Wind",
Frankly, my dear, I don't care a fig.
Good day to all!
ReplyDeleteClever puzzle today. Many thanks, C.C.. I was familiar with all the names except Samantha BEE and Nathan LANE. Favorite clue/answer was "Had Subway fare" for ATE. Thank you perps for NAMASTE and PULI. Such a strange looking dog. Great write-up and links, Husker Gary. Thank you for filling in at the helm today.
Enjoy the day!
Sigh. I miss Merl.
ReplyDeleteI second the kudos for CC and Gary. Another QOD methinks for Madame Defarge a quilter of renown, n'est-ce pas?
ReplyDeleteYep three Naticks in a row with Sally someone even I could SUSS. I FIWed on HIHAT and spelled YENTE with an A.
Speaking of Naticks... Doug Flutie did one of those pharma ads during GOLF(So many golf clues lately we can CAP it*)
I thought of our old friend BEGging the question as Avoiding.
AGLET another old chestnut.
Everybody is at Easter festivities I see.
WC
* Wilbur rule #38
Frankie Laine's best song was Blazing Saddles in the funniest movie ever made (if you can get an uncensored version)
ReplyDeleteLurk say...
ReplyDeleteWell, golly C.C., no one's every called me 'stylish' (6d). 'The WOP'*, 'Tony the Knee', 'Dago', sure. Stylish?... not so much.
Q. Why are so many Italians named Tony?
A. Their papers read - To: N.Y.
Bill G. Good to hear about Barbara's progress.
Bunny M - sorry to hear about your aunt.
Fermat - keep getting better.
Following remark? Brilliant c/a!
For my fellow Geeks - If you have Netflix, MST3K is baaack.... I've watched two episodes so far and it's the same campy fun.
Cheers, -T
*With Out Papers - therefore, those named Tony did have papers :-)
"Puzzling Thoughts":
ReplyDeleteTook me quite awhile to solve today, but "knowing" CC's "style" helped me with several answers - but still, there were several write-overs, too. Had LILLY > CALLA, MICAH > SARAH ( clearly guessing there; not into figure skating! ) YENTA > YENTE; PUTTING GREEN > BOWLING GREEN (just figured it HAD to be another golf clue!)
My favorite clue/solve was 92a (typing a's and z's = PINKIE. Although the Gen X and Millenials don't type with all their fingers (see limerick below)
Happy Easter to those who are celebrating today
Two 'licks:
When the yoga instructor did say
That she had two more classes that day,
She told first group, "Good-bye",
And a student asked, "Why
That remark? Aren't you done?" "Nah, must stay."
When the iPhone was launched, one succumbs
To the keyboard; and then it becomes
Rather nimble and free
Not to use their PINKIE
When they type. Can they say, "I'm all thumbs?"
Wow, what an amazing puzzle! Such imagination! C.C.'s ability to see connections between things is so highly developed! I'm simply in awe of this puzzle. It's right up there in the top 10. Oh yeah, I liked it. Favorite clue is "Following remark?". As Tony said, it is brilliant. And "Subway fare" is outstanding. Man oh man.
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciation to you, too, Gary, for such an interesting and entertaining write-up.
There are so many good Frankie Laine songs. He also did "Ghost Riders in the Sky" very well, but I like Vaughn Monroe's version better.
My lovely wife does yoga, so I knew NAMASTE.
I'm glad you had a lovely dinner, fermatprime, and I hope that cough clears up soon.
Happy Easter to you all.
An Easter morning C.C. puzzle!!!! Woohoo! Woohoo! It doesn't get any better than this. Thank you, C.C. for this delightful theme and so many great items! I did have to cheat a little, but not until after I'd already gotten a huge chunk of the puzzle. And, of course, thank you too, Husker Gary.
ReplyDeleteTalked to Dad in the hospital this morning. He's doing okay, just bored because there's no therapy on the weekends. Wish he could be having a great Easter dinner with his niece, as he'd planned. But the important thing is that he's okay, and I'm praying he'll be home again before too long.
I'm having a few friends over for appetizers and dinner (not my cooking, ordered it from Bristol Farms). So I have to go. But thank you again, C.C., and have a wonderful and beautiful Easter Sunday, everybody!
Close to a TADA as most sundays. Got the clever theme quickly but it didn't help when a flower crossed with an obscure Olympian skater of 15 years ago. Sport theme and terms are my strength, ( how would a non baseball fan ever get "sign" ??) I don't follow figure skating even though I skated myself until I was 60. The typing clue also got me until the end. I describe my typing as "educated multi fingered hunt and peck"...no pinkies involved.
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter all... please explain how a Christian holiday became egg hunts and bunny rabbits"???
BTW everyone...finish your taxes !
ReplyDeleteHi Y'all! Amazing and amusing puzzle, C.C.! Really great expo, Gary!
ReplyDeleteThe NW was a hang up until almost the end. Got ASPEN immediately and knew SARAH, WAGd NAN but didn't know ELISHA. Had _R__NING DAY. Couldn't come up with ACTS. Duh!
AUGUSTA, a gimmee after last week's Masters. Got ROLLING STONE at once and had an "Aha moment" about the theme. Went along filling in the "INGs" when they seemed apt.
Last to fill: final "T" in OCTANT. I tried about every other letter first.
Never heard of Samantha BEE, only Melissa.
PULIS is a dog breed? Who knew? Need to watch more Westminster Dog Shows.
Big loud chuckle imagining Nathan LANE PASSING a football!
Didn't know CALLA lilies were a pond flower. Tried "lotus." Three times. Yes, I know the definition for insanity. After Lucina didn't know either, I went to Google and read that there is a "semi-aquatic" CALLA lily that needs constant water. There are also CALLA lilies varieties which need drained soil. Also learned they aren't hardy enough to withstand freezing weather. This explains why my attempt at growing one CALLA failed so dismally.
Happy Easter or what's left of it. Mucho moisture falling here. Chuck, I think Easter eggs and bunnies represent the resurrection of new life each spring after the dead of winter.
Now comes the pan. REALLY disliked the silly defs. Though the theme was clever, too many defs were "stretches" ( i.e. inane). In other words, it wasn't eggsactly my basket of goodies today!
ReplyDeleteFavorite today was BOUNCING BALL. Also enjoyed HG's writeup (as usual). Happy Easter, all!
ReplyDeleteHappy Easter to those who observe the holiday. I was going to quit about half-way through, but I came here to the grid for some help, saw who the constructor is and worked on it until I finished. Thank you, C.C. and H-G!
ReplyDeleteFav today is 97a: Certain triathlete/Ironman. One of my sisters has competed in several Ironman events. When she wasn't able to qualify for the Kona championship event, she quit. Hated the biking, didn't have easy access to a pool and loves running.
3d Sally having fun? I had Sally Ride, the astronaut. Perps corrected it to FIELD.
We drive past Bowling Green, OH on trips to Michigan and back.
Ferm, hope you feel better soon.
Bill G, it's good to hear that Barbara is improving.
Bunny M, I'm sorry to hear about your aunt.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
Pat
Big Easy, Western Kentucky University is in Bowling Green. They are the Hilltoppers. My grandson graduates from WKU next month. Very proud of him.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the puzzle very much.
I've stalked for a few years but have never posted. Hopefully I can add something to the group. I feel a little intimidated among you scholars. I almost posted when Lil E Tee was an answer for a Derby winner. Pat Day was the jockey. Most of you have probably heard his name. I live in Louisville so we are gearing up for the Derby. It's a two week festival prior to Derby Day.
Thanks for all the enjoyment you all have given me. I feel like I know some of you.
Mimi
Hi, Mimi.
ReplyDeleteGoing from quilts to fans and now back to quilts, gotta love this weather.
ReplyDeleteWelcome, Mimi. Don't be intimidated, this is a friendly and supportive group.
ReplyDeleteArgyle, I'm about to get under the covers and not surface until June! 87 degrees today and 62 or so tomorrow!
Misty, I forgot to send best wishes for your Dad's speedy recovery. Hope he's back home soon.
Chuck L., I think the egg hunts and the bunny rabbits came from the same place as the "Christmas" candy canes and red-nosed reindeer, not to mention the chubby chimney climber! 😇
"not to mention the chubby chimney climber" but you did anyway!
ReplyDeleteOh, Santa, forgive me.! To be honest, I never gave you a thought; I was just referring to the proverbial Jolly Old St. Nick! 🙃
ReplyDeleteMimi - Lemme second IM. Go Blue and play with us. We're not as scholarly as you think we are; we're just a group who loves wordplay, the crosswords and, in my case, cursing Saturday constructors. Cheers, -T
ReplyDeleteMimi was the name of my MiL. If one enjoys solving and enjoys talking about same you are right at home here.
ReplyDeleteOne thing that I suspect but can only speculate on is that constructors"lurk" our halls and and throw some of our words back with sexy clues.
Btw I just did the same. That usage of SEXY was clued awhile back, n'est-ce pas?
As noted, in that vein we had a lot of SEX today. Even without Owen- I'd better emojilize here 😂😂
Speaking of.. did I forget to PwD C-Moe gor his clever 'licks today.
Now I have to run NEMASTRE by Betsy; Yoga is right in her wheelhouse except I'll get 20 minutes of yoga talk.
WC
Ps. Can you believe I couldn't SUSS AUGUSTA for the life of me. CC throws one right in my WHEELHOUSE and I whiff.
Thanks everyone for the welcoming words. Yes, Anonymous T, GO BIG BLUE!
ReplyDeleteHand up for YENTA. Never have seen it spelled YENTE but I see it is a name, not a title.
ReplyDeleteI had a doctor who used to say NAMASTE. He ended up infecting some patients with hepatitis and worse by re-using needles and not properly sterilizing them. Glad to have dodged that.
Never heard of FRANKIE Laine, but I see he sang the soundtrack to Blazing Saddles, one of the greatest films of all time. Learning moment.
Never heard of ELISHA. The entire concept of 24 seems utterly wicked and implausible.
Never heard of DUNST, NAN, SARAH nor EPPS either. Made HIHAT hard to WAG. Learning moment about LLOYD.