Theme: "STUCK IN THE MIDDLE WITH YOU" - U is inserted in the very middle of each common phrase.
27A. Complete text of "Prefixes for Dummies"?: THAT'S A NOUN STARTER. That's a non-starter.
40A. Fancy hotel rooms overrun with spiders?: WEB SUITES. Web sites.
65A. Negotiating with Mephistopheles?: ON THE FAUST TRACK. On the fast track.
78A. Tariff on marble sculptures?: STATUE TAX. State tax.
110A. Snap selfies in a sulky pose?: TAKE POUT SHOTS. Take potshots.
71D. Candlelit dinner at the Geek Squad counter?: BEST BUY DATE. Best by date.
74D. Sotheby's event featuring a Shakespeare original?: PLAY AUCTION. Play action.
97D. #marinara, e.g.?: RAGU TAG. Ragtag.
This is how constructors elevate a common letter addition/deletion/replacement. Katie and Rich insert a U exactly in the middle of each familiar phrase, adding an extra layer of precision.
As a result, all the theme entries have an odd number of letters. We also get a rare left-right mirror grid. Lovely gridwork.
Across:
1. Fill one's ride: TANK UP.
7. Telly channel: BBC.
10. In fine form: FIT.
13. Invent: CREATE.
19. Julia's "Seinfeld" role: ELAINE. Elaine Benes.
20. Notable period: ERA.
21. Messenger __: RNA.
22. "Memo" on a memo, maybe: HEADER.
23. Cosmetics sample: TESTER. These little testers leak easily.
24. Give adequate reason for: WARRANT.
26. Pick up, as a call: ANSWER.
30. Six-time Oscar nominee Adams: AMY.
32. Avenger with a hammer: THOR.
33. Mixed martial arts org.: UFC. The Ultimate Fighting Championship.
34. Young fellows: LADS.
35. Texter's "I think": IMO.
38. Make like whales and icebergs: CALVE. Calve also means "to break off a large chunk". Learning moment for me.
43. Tennessee NFLer: TITAN.
45. Some children's party performers: CLOWNS.
47. Argentine soccer star Lionel: MESSI. With Inter Miami now.
48. Wild cards, maybe: JOKERS.
49. Some antique cars: REOS.
50. Grub: CHOW.
53. Valley where it's easy to get a cab?: NAPA. Cabernet.
56. Part of the HOMES mnemonic: ERIE.
57. Inquire: ASK.
58. Satisfactory: GOOD.
59. Taxpayer's rep: CPA.
62. Nike rival: PUMA.
64. Took a chair: SAT.
69. Trembling violin tone: VIBRATO.
72. Scotts Miracle-Gro brand: ORTHO.
73. Orbital shape: ELLIPSE.
77. Build: ERECT.
81. Place for a trim: SALON.
82. "Don't __ me!": SASS.
83. Passes, as time: ELAPSES.
84. "The Sweetest Taboo" singer: SADE. Sweet, soothing voice.
85. Stone fruit's stone: PIT.
86. Some Italian sports cars, familiarly: ALFAS.
89. Glee: MIRTH.
93. "That hurts!": YOW.
94. Thumbnails in a music collection: ALBUM ART.
96. "The Mole" host Shapiro: ARI.
99. Pup's front feet: FOREPAWS.
101. Surgical stitch: SUTURE.
102. Sought office: RAN.
103. "A __ of Their Own": LEAGUE.
104. "Can't deny it!": YES I AM.
106. Booker T.'s band: MGS.
107. Pacific Northwest hub, familiarly: SEA-TAC. Seattle–Tacoma
108. "Deets coming soon": TBD.
113. Airport safety gp.: TSA.
116. Esquire publisher: HEARST.
118. Largest of the British Virgin Islands: TORTOLA. Lots of offshore companies there.
119. More spooky: EERIER.
121. Laces up again: RE-TIES.
122. Floor covering: AREA RUG.
123. First words in a journal, maybe: DAY ONE.
124. Offer of assistance: USE ME.
125. Financial records: LEDGERS.
126. Gives for a while: LENDS.
Down:
1. Lunar holiday in Vietnam: TET.
2. Drink served in a yard?: ALE. Yard of ale. Yard-tall beer glass.
3. Angry glare: NASTY LOOK. And 16. TV spot scribes: AD WRITERS. Symmetrical partners.
4. __ and kin: KITH.
5. Like leftovers: UNEATEN.
6. Western Australia city: PERTH. Capital of Western Australia
7. Word of caution: BEWARE.
8. Muffin fiber: BRAN.
9. Go on a bender: CAROUSE.
10. Saint of Assisi: FRANCIS.
11. Travelers' stopovers: INNS.
12. Tell (on): TATTLE.
13. Leafy green in the beet family: CHARD.
14. Signs a lease with: RENTS TO.
15. "At __, soldier!": EASE.
17. Golf ball prop: TEE.
18. Drop the ball: ERR.
25. Singer-songwriter Wainwright: RUFUS. Unknown to me.
28. Plant, as seeds: SOW.
29. Small batteries: AAS.
30. Capital of Ghana: ACCRA.
31. Drones, e.g.: MALES. Bees.
36. "The Sound of Music" governess: MARIA.
37. Get-go: ONSET.
39. Bugs on the road, briefly: VWS.
41. Automaker based in Munich: BMW.
42. Element with the shortest name: TIN.
44. 34th prez: IKE.
46. Joplin known as the "King of Ragtime": SCOTT.
48. Denver Nuggets point guard Murray: JAMAL. Canadian.
51. Hostess goodies: HO HOS.
52. Celebratory poem: ODE.
54. Suitable: APT.
55. Detergent brand: PUREX.
58. Tiny pest: GNAT.
59. Magna __: CARTA.
60. __ for the night: PUT UP.
61. Lenten symbol: ASHES.
63. Knee parts, for short: ACLS.
65. "The Lord of the Rings" monsters: ORCS.
66. Young horses: FOALS.
67. Spiritual carving: TOTEM.
68. Sportages and Rios: KIAS.
69. Italian scooter: VESPA.
70. Letter-shaped girders: I RAILS. I-shaped girders.
75. "Us too!": SO DO WE.
76. Online source of red carpet coverage: E NEWS.
79. Udder part: TEAT.
80. "You wish!": ASIF.
86. Travel blogger's succinct review: A MUST SEE.
87. Ranchers' ropes: LARIATS.
88. "Le __" : Chic song: FREAK.
90. Lumberjack contest that requires a lot of balance: ROLEO.
91. Paid the full tab: TREATED.
92. Make airtight using thermoplastics, say: HEAT SEAL.
95. Athlete who plays home games near the Great Salt Lake: UTE.
96. Like much battlefield equipment: ARMORED.
98. Like sales not made online: IN STORE.
100. McIlroy's org.: PGA. Rory.
105. Chain material: METAL.
107. Catches fly balls: SHAGS.
108. See-__: THRU.
109. Honey producers: BEES.
111. Perspiration outlet: PORE.
112. Miss a few letters when speaking: SLUR.
114. Email button: SEND.
115. Greek Mars: ARES.
117. Salted part of a margarita glass: RIM.
120. Pastrami sandwich bread: RYE.
C.C.
17 comments:
Not too difficult a puzzle,
and a lot of fun. I particularly liked “on the Faust track” among others.
FIR, so I’m happy.
The theme was clever and there a few interesting fill but this seemed like a rush job by the LAT assistant editor and her collaborator. I don’t think I have ever seen so many three and four letter words.in a puzzle. RUFUS as clued was a total unknown and I never heard of the alternate meaning for CALVE so it did solve quickly for a Sunday but I can’t put it in my Funday pile. Gridding has always been beyond me, so perhaps I am being overly critical. I hope the rest of you enjoyed it and thanks to Katie and Rich and as always to our blog mistress for the 20+ years of joy.
Have any of you watched the SCARPETTA series which airs on Prime?
Good morning! (And Beware the Ides of March.)
I noticed the way U crashed the party today. It would've been really clever if only the themers contained a U. Nope. There was nothing too weird in the fill. OK, IRAILS was a tad weird. Still, it was a quick solve. Thanx, Katie, Rich, and C.C.
Almost 70° this morning -- warm enough to pedal around the 'hood and enjoy the spring foliage. The azaleas are still blooming. The trees are back in leaf. It should be nice.
No! If it's from the JD Robb ...In Death whodunit series that'll be the thing that makes me sign up for Prime Video.
FIR, but cress->CHARD, colts->FOALS, and i beams->I RAILS. Think train tracks, I guess.
I love SADE's voice, but the only song by her that I know is Smooth Operator.
Remember the band on Fernwood 2Night? Here Happy Kyne and the MIRTH Makers cover Boogie Fever.
AREA RUG: Also known as "killer of senior citizens."
Thanks to Katie and Rich. Seems like Lemony and I have polar opposite taste in puzzles, and I really liked this one. If I had to pick a favorite c/a, it would be "get-go" for ONSET. And thanks to CC for another fun review.
Took 14:22 today, how about u?
Like SubG, I enjoyed the "Faust track" answer. Like Lemonade 714, I didn't know "Rufus", but I knew calving - saw it happen at Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska.
A Steeler's Wheel song as the theme today.
Super easy fill with only the usual proper name unknowns filled by perps. AMY, RUFUS, JAMAL, SADE. I caught the added U at the NOUN-STARTER.
I know what ALBUM ART is (or was; no albums these days) but don't see how it relates to 'thumbnails'.
TORTOLA- we were there for 10 days a few years back. Rented a 52' sailboat with another couple.
I've heard of I-Beams and H-Beams but I-RAILS is a new term for me.
Changed TBA to TBD, COLTS to FOALS, and had to fill A MUST SEE to decide whether to TAKE or MAKE POUT SHOTS.
“CLOWNS to the left of me, JOKERS to the right”, intentional Easter Eggs right there!
A very nice Sunday offering from a couple of pros! Creative theme, with lots of good clues and fill ie: ON THE FAUST TRACK, RAGU TAG. Only a few total unknowns, RUFUS, JAMAL, and TORTOLA. If TANK UP is a thing it must be regional, I would say “gas up”. Noted ELAPSES, and ELLIPSE. FIR in 24:27. Thanks to Katie and Rich, you certainly know how to CREATE a fun puzzle. Also thanks to C.C. for your take on it, always nice to know what a constructor thinks of their colleagues work.
Also just noticed CLOWNS is to the left of MEssi, genius!!
A pretty easy jaunt this morning, with a hiccup or two in the south. Not being an island visitor, I didn’t know TORTOLO (originally had Bermuda). Nor did I know the French song. I had forgotten about ROLEO, and agree with others on IRAILS. I actually found the theme helpful, although a bit cloying. It wasn’t too PUNishing, but SUTURE self.
RU_US kept me from a FIR this morning. The theme became obvious pretty quickly and, although it gave me a problem, I really liked BEST BUY DATE.
In the south I stumbled all over since I can’t ever remember that Shapiro’s name is ARI not IRA and TORTOLA required perps. Anyway it got sorted out.
I knew CALVE from trip to Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska. So all in all a fun enough CW.
Thank you CC for your input.
FIR. I'm not very fond of vertical puzzles but this one was tolerable. I got the theme early on but I must admit I failed to see a couple of the theme answers, particularly the down ones. The theme wasn't needed for the solve.
And there were several learning moments for me but the perps were there to help.
So overall an enjoyable puzzle.
Jinx, no, Patricia Cornwall is the author. Lemony, I haven’t watched it yet, but plan to, as I enjoyed the series of books.
12:26. Ugh. Not very enjoyable. Some of the cluing was tortured.
Musings
-I quickly put in TORTUGA for the island as I have never heard of TORTOLA
-THAT’S A NOUN STARTER was my fav
-Fill one’s ride made for an eventually clever start
-I did waste time at ALBUM ART trying to make that fit the gimmick
-As soon as my old golf shoes give out, I will get a pair of Skechers step-in golf shoes and never TIE or RETIE again
-I keep a journal (not a diary) and I know that it is nearly one year ago in March we got snow, ice and wind that knocked out our power for three days. Snow and 70mph winds are predicted for today
-Our LEDGERS are all Excel spreadsheets
-FWIW, I just noticed what happens when you add an “L” to CAROUSE
--Larry David has a hilarious difficulty opening a HEAT SEALED package. If you will look closely, you’ll see his knife even causes a spark on the countertop.
-Mariano Rivera tore his ACL while SHAGGING baseballs during warmups in Kansas City.
-Lemon, I have never watched SCARPETTA but am looking for my next series for bingeing. Any other ideas?
-Yes, some of the fill were “any port in a storm” items but waddaya gonna do?
-CLOWNS and JOKERS? Fabulous!
What started with a clunker (TANKUP) quickly turned into a sprint in the park. FIR in 14:49, about eight minutes faster than my typical Saturday time.
Tortola is famous for its Full Moon parties near Bomba’s Shack, and remains an unfulfilled Bucket List item from my semi-wild younger days.
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