Theme: Biased magazine movie reviews.
Today's theme clues from constructor Wendy L. Brandes involve real magazines and their supposed picks for the best movie of all time. Each magazine chooses a movie whose title reflects the name of the magazine.
The theme clues and answers, all Across are:
18. Mad's pick for the best movie of all time?: RAGING BULL.
Mad is an American satire magazine, launched in 1952 and currently published by DC Comics. Raging Bull is a 1980 film adaptation of middleweight boxing champion Jake LaMotta's 1970 memoir Raging Bull: My Story. "Mad" is a synonym for "raging," so of course Mad magazine would have an affinity for the film.
24. The Atlantic's pick for the best movie of all time?: OCEAN'S ELEVEN.
Founded in 1857, The Atlantic is an American magazine featuring articles on politics, business, the arts, technology, and science. Ocean's Eleven is a 2001 comedy film which is a remake of a 1960 Rat Pack film, and stars George Clooney as professional thief Danny Ocean. Since "Atlantic" is the name of an ocean, naturally the magazine would favor a movie with "ocean" in the title.
39. Shape's pick for the best movie of all time?: CIRCLE OF FRIENDS.
Shape is an American monthly fitness magazine for women started by Weider Publications in 1981. Circle of Friends is a 1995 film based on the 1990 novel of the same name by Maeve Binchy. A circle is a shape, so the magazine might favor that movie.
53. Rolling Stone's pick for the best movie of all time?: SCHOOL OF ROCK.
Rolling Stone is an American monthly magazine, founded in 1967, that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. School of Rock is a 2003 comedy film starring Jack Black. Because Rolling Stone is concerned with popular music, especially rock 'n' roll, it would of course favor a movie about rock music. And a "stone" is a "rock," so there's another connection.
63. The New Yorker's pick for the best movie of all time?: A BRONX TALE.
The New Yorker is an American magazine, founded in 1925, that features journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. A Bronx Tale is a 1993 film directed by and starring Robert De Niro, adapted from Chazz Palminteri's 1989 one-man show of the same name. The New Yorker might look favorably upon a movie whose title features a borough of New York City, like The Bronx.
Are you with me? Time to move on? OK, People!
Across:
5. Thread: FIBER.
10. Eye woe: STYE.
14. Ace in the __: HOLE. In poker, this refers to an ace card which is dealt and kept face down until the deal is over. Figuratively, it is any advantage held in reserve until needed.
15. "Rolling in the Deep" singer: ADELE.
16. Eurasian river: URAL.
17. "Leave that to me!": ON IT. Blog the puzzle while Chairman Moe recovers from surgery? I'm ON IT!
18. [Theme clue]
20. Lab's dish?: PETRI. Laboratory's dish -- not Labrador Retriever's dish.
22. Meat-grading org.: USDA. United States Department of Agriculture.
23. Get even with?: TIE.
24. [Theme clue]
28. "Bet you __ to doughnuts ... ": DOLLARS. A favorite expression expressing certainty, but dollars were worth more than doughnuts when it originated. At this point, it makes little sense, since doughnuts cost more than a dollar. A "Krispy Kreme" original glazed doughnut goes for $2.69 at our nearest location.
 |
| Maybe a dollar will get you a doughnut hole. |
32. Smug cry: OHO!
33. Diet branding word: LITE.
35. Big name in sporting goods: VOIT.
39. [Theme clue]
44. Coke, e.g.: SODA.
45. Overflow (with): TEEM.
46. Animal featured on the Olympic National Park quarter: ELK.
51. Stockpiles: AMASSES.
53. [Theme clue]
57. Small digit?: TOE. Digit can mean any of the numerals from 0 to 9, or a finger or toe. Is that because we count on them?
58. Surrealist Magritte: RENE.
59. Scott of NPR: SIMON.
63. [Theme clue]
67. Cordon (off): ROPE.
68. Blossomed: GREW.
69. Unsuccessful Ford: EDSEL.
70. Orange or pear: TREE.
71. Move very slowly: EASE.
72. Minuscule amounts: IOTAS.
73. Delight: SEND.
Down:
1. Browse: SHOP.
2. Fewer than few: NONE.
3. Landed: ALIT.
4. Gas, to an Aussie: PETROL.
5. A ways away: FAR.
6. Mont. neighbor: IDA. Montana and Idaho.
7. Kicked off: BEGUN.
8. Senator Slotkin of Michigan: ELISSA.
 |
| Elissa Slotkin |
10. Temp: SUB. Shout out to Husker Gary, our Saturday blogger and substitute teacher extraordinaire.
11. Cable channel with reruns of sitcoms and reality shows: TRUTV. TruTV is an American cable channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It broadcasts reruns of comedy and reality shows, with a recent primetime focus on live sports.
12. Connecticut Ivy Leaguer: YALIE. Another nickname for a Yale student that we frequently encounter here is "Eli."
13. Sigourney's "Alien" role: ELLEN.
 |
| Good on you if you remembered the character's name! |
21. "Let's see your hand": I CALL. Is this where your ACE IN THE HOLE comes in handy?
25. Lake that surrounds Kelleys Island: ERIE.
 |
| Kelleys Island is flagged, due east of Toledo, Ohio. |
27. Roof trim: EAVE.
28. Ob-gyns, e.g.: DOCS. An OB/GYN, meaning obstetrician gynecologist, is a medical DOCtor.
29. Home of Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks: OHIO. Ohio again! Holy Toledo! Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks is a World Heritage Site preserving eight monumental earthworks constructed by the Hopewell Culture between approximately 0 and 400 AD along tributaries of the Ohio River.
30. "Bridgerton" title: LORD. Bridgerton is an fantasized historical television drama set in the early 1800s in England. It is based on a book series by Julia Quinn and appears on Netflix.
 |
| A scene from Bridgerton |
36. Tip jar wad: ONES.
37. Collecting dust: IDLE.
38. Judgy clucks: TSKS.
40. "The Censor" of ancient Rome: CATO. Marcus Porcius Cato (234–149 BC) was a Roman soldier, senator, and historian known for his conservatism. Among other government positions, Cato served as censor, responsible for the census, for public morality, and for government finances.
 |
| Cato the Censor, AKA Cato the Wise, and Cato the Elder. |
42. San __, Italy: REMO.
43. Safari runners: IMACs. Safari is a web browser used on Apple devices.
48. ESPN's "Around the __": HORN. Around the Horn is an ESPN sports roundtable discussion show, conducted in the style of a panel game.
49. Russian political dissident Navalny: ALEXEI.
50. Is inadequate: WON'T DO.
52. Parts of some suits: SKIRTS.
53. Ride out of town, in a Western: STAGE. In this case, "ride" is a noun -- a "vehicle" to get out of town.
 |
| Stagecoach -- or "stage." |
54. Hooded snake: COBRA.
55. "__ to you": HERE'S. Congratulations! You've almost finished the puzzle.
56. Repast: FEAST.
60. Greedy cry: MORE!
61. Unbox: OPEN. Unboxing is the act of taking a product out of its packaging, especially when it's recorded on video and shared online. Strangely, it's a popular trend that allows people to watch others unpack new products.
64. Buy on credit, say: OWE.
65. Perrins's partner in steak sauce: LEA. Lea & Perrins is a United Kingdom-based subsidiary of Kraft Heinz, originating in Worcester, England, where it manufactures Worcestershire sauce.
66. Couple of locals?: ELS. There are a couple of ELS ("L"s) in the word LOCALS.
32 comments:
Not too hard, I thought, especially for a Friday. I knew all the movies, with the possible exception of “Circle of Friends,” but that was easy to figure out. Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
Gotta love a themed puzzle with no reveal for d-o miss. Zipped right through it with nary a misstep. I lilsten to Scott SIMON every Saturday on NPR's Weekend Edition. EFT used to be a frequent cw visitor -- not so much, lately. Have you heard of the San REMO Strings? Their home base is, naturally, ...Detroit. Thanx for the outing, Wendy, and for the expo, NaomiZ.
FIR, but scan->SHOP and mine->MORE. DNK CIRCLE OF FRIENDS or SCHOOL OF ROCK.
I've heard of the spring thaw, but since I've spent my life south of the Mason-Dixon line, I haven't seen ice last until spring.
If you are interested in the history of meteorology, I highly recommend Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson. I knew the Beaufort scale from sailing, but learned the origins of it from that book. Back in the day before wind instruments there was a need to have a standard reference for use by ships at sea to report the weather they encountered. (If a book is by Erik Larson, it will be fantastic. The used bookstore I frequent told me that whenever they get one, it is sold within a day or two.)
Thanks to Wendy for the fun Friday challenge. The favorite of this Windoze user was "Safari runners" for IMACS. And thanks to NaomiZ for another fine pinch-hit appearance.
Need an explanation for send meaning delight. Don’t get it
Judging by my FIR time 12:18, this CW was not as difficult as most Friday puzzles. Minimal names, ELLEN and ALEXI which I didn’t know. Being from Michigan, ELISSA was a gimme for me, was pleased to cast my vote for her in the last election, impressive resume and well qualified for her seat in the Senate. I could find no definition from Miriam Webster that says SNAP is a pic, SNAPshot, yes. I solve on an iPad using Safari, but still didn’t make the connection till IMACS perped, duh. Thank you Wendy for the smooth Friday solve, and to NaomiZ for your detailed expo, I liked the MAD magazine cover 😂, and of course Shape.
Listen to the Sam Cooke song.
Took 6:31 today for me to roll credits.
I've camped on Kellys Island, but I've not yet been to Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks mounds though I have visited Serpent Mound in Southern Ohio. The Lake Erie islands can make you feel like you're thousands of miles away from where you really are.
I knew "Ripley" as the Alien role, but they clued her first name, so that wasn't it. I didn't know "Ellen." I don't think I've ever heard the name "Elissa" before. I'm not sure how "big" of a name Voit is, and it sure didn't come to my mind easily. I haven't heard/seen "send" for "delight" in a very long time.
FIR. Did I miss the weekend and it's Monday again? For a Friday puzzle this was super easy.
I did not know most of the proper names, but perps saw me through. Also unfamiliar with Voit (?).
But i knew all the movies even though
I haven't seen them all.
Overall this was an enjoyable puzzle.
Well, for a Friday puzzle, Wendy's challenge today seemed almost underwhelming to me. The theme was cute, I guess, but rather lame and farfetched.
Some of the cluing was peculiar, such as "Browse" (SHOP). For everyone I have ever known, SHOP is defined not by passive browsing, but active spending of money. And "Delight" (SEND) seemed a bit of an overreach. For "Safari runners" I was picturing those locals who guide you through the jungle on an African safari. Oops; foiled by Imacs again.
There were a few obscure names, most of which were scattered harmlessly around the grid. But three were bunched together in a Natick on the left side. Two of these answers were common, but awkwardly clued (OHIO and LORD). The third was CATO. As Will Shortz says in his submission guide for the NY Times crossword, "Never let two or more obscure words or names cross or be side-by-side."
To Wendy's credit, she largely avoided our annoying ubiquitous vowel-rich staples, except for ERIE and IOTA. But the rock-star culprits, like OREO and ACAI, were happily missing.
I was pleased to see in the puzzle an NPR journalist/host for the second day running. Yesterday it was Ira Flatow; today, Scott Simon. I'm with desper-otto: I try to never miss NPR's Morning Edition Saturday, hosted by Scott Simon. His erudite discussions with Ron Elving, NPR's senior political editor and correspondent, remind me of Scott's similar weekly talks with the late Daniel Schorr.
Thanks, Wendy, for a mostly pleasant and diverting challenge; and Naomi, for another very helpful and colorful recap.
Musings
-A very eclectic combination of movies and magazines using proper and common nouns
-BEGAN/BEGUN error is shameful because the USDA employs a lot of people in the this meat packing AREA
-ADELE and her beautiful vowels are now a firm staple in Crosswordland
-Is any donut worth $2.69?
-A THAW on AREA rivers has caused a flood alert to be issued in this end of the state
-PETROL in Australia is 1.14 USD/litre which converts to $4.48/gallon.
-When I show up to SUB for 6 periods but am asked to do 9, I just say, “I’m ON IT!”
-Our 30-year-old stereo gave out and so I had to OPEN and set up a new mini-shelf one for Joann yesterday so she can still play her dozens of CD’s. I discovered some DUST and abandoned cords and wires in the process.
-Safari is my default browser on my MacBook
Good Morning:
I thought the theme was clever and well-executed, plus it was playful and a little tongue-in-cheek comical. I would have preferred a more challenging Friday level offering, but ‘twas not to be. Elissa, Voit, and Simon were unknowns but fair perps did their job. Mine/More was the only w/o. All of the movies were known but I saw only two of them: Circle of Friends and A Bronx Tale.
Thanks, Wendy, for a fun solve and thanks, Naomi, for your excellent explication of the theme and your informative commentary. The only thing missing is a Naomi-ku! Thanks for pinch hitting so often and so entertainingly.
Have a great day.
I was thinking that these movies were not the all time greatest. Then I realized they were based on the magazines. I found the movies easily, but have seen none of them.
I was zipping along like this was a Wednesday puzzle until I hit the extreme SE. I didn't know SIMON and didn't think of tree, need and more. Tree should have been obvious and would have given me enough perps to finish. Drat! I should have looked for second tier synonyms for need and more. These synonyms don't take into account nuances and are often found in crosswords. So no nits about them. More can be greedy, but not always. I'd like more coffee, please. Need is often less than the sine qua non. I need to buy milk, but I can exist without it. I claim brain freeze.
Simon was not know to me, but he is known to thousands, so he is not obscure. Likewise, Cato is famous, not obscure. (He is more famous than Simon.) "Cato was and remains famous as an author as well. He was a historian, the first Latin prose writer of any importance, and the first author of a history of Italy in Latin.[2] Some have argued that if it were not for the impact of Cato's writing, Latin might have been supplanted by Greek as the literary language of Rome. "
I knew SEND from my teens "Back in the '50s, to send someone was to delight, thrill, or excite. So you could say “you excite me” in place of “you send me”. It was common slang back in those days." Finally slang for us elders. BAE for the younger ones.
When I go shopping on line or in person I browse and browse, often not buying anything. After browsing for weeks I just bought shoes on line today, shoes that I looked at weeks ago. Shopping can mean searching for or buying. It can mean searching for and buying,
Cruised right through until I hit an unforced error: LEe instead of LEA & Perrins. That gave me _OTES which could only be motes for miniscule amounts. Didn't know how to spell Alexei, but I knew it didn't end with an M, so I TITT :(
l liked all the themers except SCHOOL OF ROCK which is reversed from all the others with the magazine parallel coming at the end instead of the beginning. My OCD balks at inconsistencies.
Is it Monday already? A nice, quick, romp in the park with some clever misdirection and an enjoyable recap from NaomiZ made for an enjoyable outing this morning. The unknowns perped nicely, and there was a minimum of dreck. Not the usual Friday fare, but you won't hear me complainin'!
The idea for today’s theme was a lot more inspired than the execution. With two or three of my favorite magazines involved, I expected something more intellectual than synonyms for one of the words in the clued magazine’s name.
An upside of that complaint is that the puzzle turned out to be easy for a Friday, despite more names unknown to me than usual – ELLEN, ALEXEI Navalny, ELISSA Slotkin, Scott SIMON. In fact, the at least somewhat obscure choice among the many Simons out there was the second-worst entry in the puzzle, the worst being the convoluted clue for OHIO. I had Oslo first. Hand up for “mine!” before MORE, and “began” before BEGUN. I also was thrown by the implication that VOIT is still a major player in sporting goods. I had “Dick” first. I agree with Yellowrocks that shopping is more goal-oriented than browsing.
I did like the “lab dish” clue. Far more often, the science lab turns into a dog instead of vice-versa. The clue for THAW may strike others as being more clever than it struck me.
“Around the Horn” bugs me because it supposedly is a competition for pithiness among four sportswriters opining about events of the day, but the scoring is SO subjective. I’ve known one of the regular “contestants” (not pictured in NaomiZ’s outtake) for more than 40 years. He does win once in a while.
Getting back to the theme, I must confess to having seen and liked only one of those five pictures, “School of Rock.” I’m sure “Oceans Eleven” is delightful, and I probably ought to seek out “Circle of Friends,” although Shape is a bit too obscure for the theme. As for “Raging Bull,” it has the same fault as nearly every other boxing movie – it’s way more violent than the actual sport, because nobody ever defends him- or herself in boxing movies. It’s always rock-‘em, sock-‘em. No wonder I have a hard time explaining why I like boxing.
More like an early week challenge. Easy long theme answers helped.
Agree with Yoop, SNAP as a “pic”? And T-Ken: SHOP is a purchase.
MAD is not BULL but RAGING satire. Not a “shape” in general but a magazine I’ve never heard off. Same with “Rolling Stone”, the mag not the group (I read the clue to quickly)
Inkovers: I fold/ICALL, mine/MORE. Got hung up for a bit on around the town for HORN and always forget that “Magritte” guy’s name.
Familiar with NPR gang names from car radio. We usually have a Feb-you-ary THAW. Not this year!! Sometimes the trees would even have BEGUN to “blossom”
“Give a verdict” reach or deliverer won’t work. “Safari runner”, quickly filled impala without checking (hey where did the p go?) Great misdirection. VOIT is new to me
Liked “ride out of town” I was thinking more like forced “out of town by sundown Brown” .. ROPE = “cordon” en français
ALEXEI Navalny was a martyr for his country while we cozy up to his murderer. Same with our friends the Saudis who chopped up the Washington Post journalist. American short term memory loss.
Hanging around Boston area a couple more days to see our GD in her HS play “Anything Goes”
Have a great day
Not too difficult but a fun puzzle. The theme definitely helped in solving. I guess delight is you "send" me. Is that 50s or 60s? Nice job Wendy and I always enjoy your recaps Naomi.
Honest, it does explain it.
Loved that Mad Magazine cover. Thanks, NaomiZ !
Wendy , I liked your puzzle,and the informative review, NaomiZ. Like others, mine/MORE, began/BEGUN and forgot thr “A” in —-BRONX TALE- for a second.
I disagree with some about shop/ BROWSE. Going shopping with a friend who could BROUSE for 4 hours and buy nothing was common. When questioned about it she said “Oh, it’s just a day out.” One night she got locked in a mall after it cad closed and her husband called the police.
Anyone remember or act in the play “January THAW”?
It is generally believed that “Uncle Sam” (Samuel Wilson of Troy, NY) was so named and became the image of our country when he delivered meat in barrels stamped U.S., indicating government approved, to the army in the War of 1812. Lincoln established the USDA that year.
Did you see that singer Sheryl Crow sold her Tesla and donated the money to NPR?
Happy day, all!
Faster than usual Friday solve- The theme answers were all in my wheelhouse but I have only read Maeve Binchy's book "Circle of Friends" but have not seen the movie. She is a favorite author.
"Shape" magazine is one of those that I don't know anyone who subscribes to it , but it is often on the magazine racks at my Y. Well at least before COVID - it took awhile for magazines to come back.
Took perps to figure out ALEXEI Navalny as many news articles just used his last name . So heartbreaking when he was first poisoned and later died.
Thanks Naomi for subbing and Wendy for the puzzle
Fun Friday puzzle, many thanks, Wendy. And your commentary is always a help and a pleasure, thank you for that too, NaomiZ.
Well, that RAGING BULL right at the beginning gave me a bit of FEAR, and made me worry that there was a storm or a GALE ahead. But the CIRCLE OF FRIENDS provided considerable comfort, and even offered me some SODA, and told me to take it easy and IDLE and just relax a bit. The area around Lake ERIE turned out to be pleasant, and it was nice to see an EDSEL drive by, something we haven't seen for a while. So I ended my morning at EASE, with promise of a good day ahead.
Have a good day ahead, too, everybody.
Yes, in the ‘50’s and probably beyond. ‘He sends me!” was slang parents hated as parents now hate Fomo (fear of missing out) and drip (cool things). I have grandchildren!
Hola! I recall that "CIRCLE OF FRIENDS" is where I first saw Minnie Driver but I have not seen any of the other movies mentioned in this puzzle, only heard of them. We never see a THAW around here, only bright sunshine.
If I remember correctly VOIT is also a brand of volleyball; I was terrible in sports but I recall seeing that brand. EDSEL might be a failed car, but it's successful in crossword fill.
I love Sam Cooke's voice and was sad when the CD of his songs was stolen from my car. Thank you, NamoiZ for great subbing and thanks to Wendy L Brandes for a doable Friday puzzle.
Have a fabulous Friday, everyone!
I prefer Edge on my iPad.
Well, I count 23 names, 10 DNKs. I did manage to FIR in 20. Several clever clues, 47A and 42D come to mind. Thanx WLB for the fun, doable Friday CW. All to often I TITT on a Friday. Other comments I could make others have already made. Thanx NaomiZ for the outstanding write-up, all your time and effort is appreciated.
When I taught the superintendent of schools held a monthly meeting with one representative from each school building. I was chosen to represent our school. After announcements or pronouncements from him we would go around the horn with each attendee voicing concerns from "their" school.
I prefer their instead of his or her when the gender is unknown. It is too bad there is not a genderless singular pronoun to use in place of his or her.
I enjoyed this puzzle and all your comments.
It
For a Friday this was sure an easy cruise — I ain’t grousing, I really liked Wendy’s offering! I’ll pleasantly disagree with T-Ken; no rule says you have to follow the ascension-of-difficulty mode to a T; it was fun today — just enough crunch and sly misdirection to keep ya on yer toes. A shorter clue for STAGE? “Ride outta Dodge” is fun!
Also, Tehachapi Ken, have you ever had to SHOP with a woman? It’s 99% browsing and 1% buying, especially if said gals are teens. It seems “Let’s go shopping” is more a social thing, an excuse to hang out at the outlets than actually spend money (sometimes…). In contrast, for us guys, shopping is a surgical-strike operation — we need some item, we go, buy, and get the hell outta Dodge in our ride 😎
Like Husker, BEGUN grated on my ear; maybe if the clue read “Had kicked off” the tense would have worked? And, as a shooter for nearly 50 years, I’ve heard the term SNAP (an axe-job on SNAPshot) many times…but its cutesy air grates on my ear!
(con’t…slipped and hit Publish)
AMF VOIT is still a big purveyor of sporting goods, from stick & ball stuff to diving gear; they’ve turned into more of a holding company for sports brands.
That MAD Magazine cover you posted was a gem, NaomiZ! I’d been an avid reader in “my yout”, as MalMan (?) likes to say, but I didn’t know it was still published by DC. After seeing the meeting between Zelensky and our prez in the White House today, it was obvious who was acting like the child…sorry.
====> Darren / L.A.
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