VANNA B's
You would wannabe her if you got paid $10mil to turn letters
"G" ( gee ), I vonder vhere LA Times Crossvord editor Patti VVVarol got the idea for this theme . . . and a packed theme it is, too - six, count 'em, SIX, themers today, for a total of 66 squares, or 35% of the total puzzle - I have not tracked this info, but I am curious about it in future puzzles. "V" replaces "W" in common phrases, a sort of German accent-type of sound which results in some humorous changes. Standard 15x15 grid, the triple-sixes and double-eights in the corners giving us a whopping 28 3LWs, no circles, too many names, four( ish ) Twurds, two stray "V"s, but overall, a typical Friday-level solve. The 6 themers;
17. Encouragement to a writer who shows an early penchant for rhyme?:
"YOU COULD DO VERSE~!" - "You could do WORSE", an additional spelling change with the "O" going to "E"
24. Carefully evaluate pasta?: VET NOODLES - Wet Noodles
31. Gardener who only plants the most exquisite ivy?: VINE SNOB - Wine Snob - too similar, less humorous
41. Anthem for a Colorado ski resort?: VAIL SONG - Whale Song; a bigger alteration, with the "H" dropped and the synonymous spelling
47. Weapon wielded by a particularly dangerous snake?: VIPER BLADE - Wiper Blade
Far Side snakes at "Vail"
54. Safes made in the Volunteer State?: TENNESSEE VAULTS - the biggest spelling change, Tennessee WALTZ. Learn more from this blue-highlighted web link and hear the song from another Patti, ( Page ) - lately, there seems to be some confusion from anon types in their comments indicating a lack of info regarding the clues & answers, and their connections - may I suggest checking the phrases and/or words highlighted in π blue π for web links to more; a ( PSA ) Public Service Announcement from your Friday fact-finding blogger π
But Vait, There's More~!
ACROSS:
1. Unaccounted-for period: GAP
4. Six-time WNBA All-Star Thomas: ALYSSA - name #1
10. Textspeak qualifier: IMHO - Text-speak, In My Humble Opinion
14. Timetable abbr.: ARRival
15. Talked up: TOUTED - think sales/advertising
16. Lion's "I'm going to eat you!": ROAR - at least it wasn't "RAWR"
20. Singer Jason with the album "Love Is a Four Letter Word": MRAZ - name #2 - the Wiki
21. Core muscles: ABs
Medieval workouts
22. Ga. capital: ATLanta, Georgia
23. Shadow: TAIL - think spies, cops & P.I.s
28. Quartz suffix: ITE - quartzite - I bought grey Kraftmaid cabinets to upgrade the original 1955 kitchen in my home; now I am looking for a purple-toned countertop to compliment my dishes, pots, pans and utensils - I like the look of this, called "tempest"
29. Much sitar music: RAGAS
Spinal Tap - "you don't wanna go raga . . . "
30. Actress Russo: RENE - name #3
33. Pop duo __ & Him: SHE - I have heard of them; Zooey Deschanel is "she"
She played Trillian in "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", too
35. Scale intervals: OCTAVES - stray "V" #1
36. Cry of frustration: "BLAST IT~!"
Biggs had a larger, but edited, role in the first Star Wars movie
40. Waze tech: GPS - Waze, the app for getting you there . . .
42. Taylor, to Swifties: IDOL - Taylor Swift's fanatics are called Swifties
45. Actor Vaughn: VINCE - stray "V" #2, name #4
46. Compass dir.: ESE - I had ENE, couldn't parse the crossing Down; Inniston~? see 38D.
About as good as TV Weather reporters . . .
51. Individual: ONE
52. Small battery: AAA
53. Experts: PROS
60. Lake into which the Cuyahoga empties: ERIE - the most poular lake in crosswordom, geo name #6
61. "A Real Pain" Oscar winner Culkin: KIERAN - half a WAG on my part; name #7 - his Wiki
62. Mama deer: DOE
63. Heap affection (on): DOTE
64. Has disdain for: SCORNS - "feet hath no fury like a woman's corns" π
65. 1975 TV debut, familiarly: SNL - Saturday Night Live
Star Wars casting spoof
1. Writer/editor Roxane who co-owns the online literary magazine The Rumpus: GAY - name #8
2. Like basmati rice: AROMATIC - I have not had this rice, so I have not smelled it . . .
3. Appealing to one's baser nature: PRURIENT - $2 eight-letter fill
4. Encyclopedic in range: A TO Z - Amazon's logo, implied by the arrow
Everything from A to Z
5. Reed of the Velvet Underground: LOU - I knew who this was, name #9
Venus in Furs, a cover of the Velvet Underground by Monster Magnet
6. Actor Brynner: YUL - #10
7. Time zone wd.: STD - meh. An abbr in an abbr clue/answer; from November 2nd (ish) through March 8th (ish), I live in EST, or "Eastern Standard Time"
8. Some cars: SEDANS
9. Vinegary marinade: ADOBO - EspaΓ±ol for 'marinade' - more here
10. Choler: IRE
11. Spirits: MORALE - LIQUOR fit, too - so you know where my mind is . . .
12. Hurry: HASTEN
13. "... if you know what's good for you!": "OR ELSE~!"
18. Berkeley, familiarly: CAL - As I said @ 7D, I am an East coaster; I tried USC
19. Brandy letters: VSO - meh. Very Special/Superior Old ( Pale ) - I couldn't find a link to just V.S.O.
23. DVR option: TiVo
24. Wind instruments?: VANES - Now this is clever clue/answer
25. Big personalities: EGOS
26. Word often seen under a tilde?: TAB - TAB is beneath the keyboard [~ `] key
27. __ code: DRESS - Dah~! Not MORSE
29. Say "I'll be there," say: RSVP - meh - IMHO, you don't SAY an RSVP, you WRITE an RSVP
Old Quarterback
33. Cake serving: SLICE - I eat nothing less than a SLAB in my house
34. In fine fettle: HALE
36. Kansas or Alabama: BAND - name(s) #11; "band" was my first guess; I know KANSAS ( and HuskerG linked Dust in the Wind last Saturday ); I am not familiar with the music of Alabama - their website
37. Climbers' supports: TOEHOLDS
38. Demand: INSIST ON - Ah - not the town of Inniston, UK
39. Neutrogena shampoo: T-GEL - name(ish)
41. Passing through: VIA - meh. "I got to my brother's house via I-495" does not mean I was 'passing through' the asphalt π
42. November sticker: I VOTED - Twurd; did you hear that Apple has come out with a new device for finding leprechauns~? It's called the "iRish"
Hi Irish Miss~!
43. Bread: DINERO - I figured this was slang for 'money', waited on perps; the Wiki for US words
44. "I can't wait to see what's inside!": "OPEN IT~!" - Twurd
45. Pickle brand: VLASIC
48. "Hair Love" voice actress Issa: RAE - name #12, a crossword staple
49. Soaks up the sun: BASKS - TANS was a bit "light"
50. Newark-based insurer, on stock tickers: PRU - I shoulda known this - the NJ Devils of the National Hockey League play at the "Prudential Center"
Their logo can almost be seen on the sign
53. Kitchen array: PANS
55. Once called: NΓE
56. Job listing letters: EEO - Equal Employment Opportunity - I always make the mistake of filling in EOE ( thinking employeR ), and mess up that section of the puzzle
57. Make a blunder: ERR
58. Many an airport shuttle: VAN
59. Salt, in French: SEL - and our last 3-Letter Word
Splynter
Grid Flow a Wery Low 18.4
I had some trouble
ReplyDeletespelling “prurient.” But one thing that helped me solve this Friday-worthy puzzle was figuring out the gimmick early on.
Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.
Good morning!
ReplyDeleteCouldn't figure out WAIL SONG -- I pronounce wail and whale differently. Inked in PENAL before DRESS perped in. After coming here, I learned that I'd screwed up right out of the gate. With _AP crossing _AY, my unaccounted period was a NAP and the woman's last name was NAY. Bzzzzzzt. Thanx, Patti and Splynter. (Your "Irish" comment reminded me that if Apple had purchased Dollar Tree, it'd be I-Dollar Tree.)
Regional pronunciation is always the downfall of this type of homophone puzzle.
DeleteI saw this one the other day: If Ina Garten married Danny DeVito, she's be Ina Garten DeVito (baby).
DeleteFunny!
DeleteFIR, but alyson->ALYSSA, aioli->ADOBO, and vsp=>VSO. I've only heard "VSOP," and erred while guessing which letter to drop.
ReplyDeletePatti accidentally allowed three A&E entries that I actually knew - RENE, LOU and YUL. I know RAE from crossword recursion, but I couldn't pick him/her out of a lineup, and thought VINCE Vaughn was a country music star. We could have had a couple of more my-era A&E fills with Billy IDOL, PHIL Collins, and VAN Halen (or Morrison.)
I always put my I VOTED sticker on ZoΡ's collar. Even though we pass about a hundred people a day, few notice (or at least few comment on) the sticker.
Thanks to Patti for the puzzle that was Friday-tough but sans Naticks. And thanks to Splynter for another fun review.
Right in the trash, nothing but names
ReplyDeleteI give up. What does twurd mean?
ReplyDeleteI believe it means "two-word" as the answer consists of two words
Delete
DeleteNope. Answer is piece of excrement
Greetings, Anonymi. Splynter invented TWURD to mean TWO WORD. Admittedly, it looks like a criticism. Not sure if that's how he means it!
DeleteYou sure about that NaomiZ? I thought his quip was for "two-word-turd."
DeleteFIR. I took a WAG at Mraz, being almost certain I was wrong only to be surprised at being right.
ReplyDeleteOnce again we've had a plethora of unknown proper names. I expect Friday puzzles to be difficult but with all those proper names it makes it a pot shot.
Fortunately I figured out the theme and that greatly helped with the solve.
But overall not an enjoyable puzzle.
Good Morning:
ReplyDeleteI was almost halfway through the solve before I noticed Patti as the author. I was a little surprised because I remember liking Patti’s early work which was clever and exhibited true word play. Changing letters/sounds may be a form of talent, but it’s one of the least interesting type of themes, IMO. I wish Patti would return to her early roots, theme wise.
Thanks, Patti, and thanks, Splynter, for your honest and fair review. You point out a lot of pluses, but you’re just as honest about the shortcomings, the hallmark of a good critic. Thanks for the CSO. The mention of Leprechauns prompts me to retell this cute story. My niece (maybe 6 or 7 at the time) and her fellow classmates were asked what nationality they were, by a nun on St. Patrick’s Day. Her immediate reply was “I’m half Lebanese and half Leprechaun.” π
Have a great day.
Indeed, quite a theme. I figured it out pretty quickly. I didn’t even get caught filling a V at the beginning of all of them when I got to the last one. I had fun with it.
ReplyDeleteHowever I didn’t have fun with all the names of people I’ve never heard of including ALYSSA, MRZ, SHE (as clued), KIEREN, GAY, LOU, RAE. I did know RENE, VINCE, and YUL. That’s too many names IMHO.
I VOTED and EAGLE were clever. Patti’s efforts for cleverness all went to the gimmick, since as Splynter pointed, there were quite a few to come up,with.
Thank you Splynter for your fair and informative review.
Took 7:50 today to finish this crossvord puzzle.
ReplyDeleteI knew the Actresses of the Day (Rae & Rene) and the Actors of the Day (Yul, Kieran, & Vince), but had no idea of the WNBA player or the writer Roxanne and her publication.
Kieran was amusing in "Succession," which is a great series.
I will take the CSO of "Cuyahoga," which is very near to me.
FIR, but this one took time. First run through the horizontals was intimidating but perseverance paid off. It was fun for me!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the theme, which really helped with the solve. Clever but fair clueing for a Friday, as expected from a pro like Patti.
Thanks to Patti for the challenge, and to Splynter for the entertaining recap!
Got off to a slow start and skipped around until I got VIPER BLADES, then everything fell into place. Okay, I had to spend $2 to get PRURIENT, but otherwise, Patty, YOU COULD DO VERSE.
ReplyDeleteMy problem with RSVP isn't saying it so much as it being an unidentified abbrev.
T/GEL has been discontinued, but you can still buy old stock at a premium. On ebay or Amazon, it's $66 per bottle! I don't like it THAT much.
Hey Splynter, I like the movement in your countertop. We have something similar, but in brown/tan call Desert Storm.
Maybe you can buy it “used” on Amazon π
DeleteSAY used to express surprise or to draw attention to a remark or question.
ReplyDelete"say, did you notice any blood?"
RSVP stands for "Repondez, s'il vous plait," which essentially translates to "Please reply." As to why Patti didn't signal in the clue that the answer was an abbreviation, I'm guessing that RSVP is so common--like, say, US or FBI--that it's considered part of the language now.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the W-to-V theme switches. My favorite was The Tennessee Waltz. Patti Page made the song famous in 1950 with her rendition. And I can still hear my mother singing or humming it around the house.
I loved the theme, especially VINE SNOB and TENNESSEE VAULTS. Patti does have a sense of humor.
ReplyDeleteI’m big on Algerian ivy, but only because it’s more durable and heat-resistant than English ivy. You can’t buy Algerian ivy in California anymore, because it’s invasive, but it is an excellent groundcover.
It was good to see my California Golden Bears in the puzzle, although some people still don’t know that CAL is the original University of California, which has become synonymous with Berkeley. By the way, Splynter, did you know Aaron Rodgers starred at CAL?
Lots of familiar names provided TOEHOLDs for me, including YUL Brynner, LOU Reed, RENE Russo, and Jason MRAZ. The fill included a clever clue, the VANE as a “wind instrument,” and also gave us fresh answers like PRURIENT and BASK.
I didn’t know the inevitable WNBA name, but then the league’s best players are often overshadowed by the influx of Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu, Paige Bueckers, Breanna Stewart, and, well, I think you get my drift.
The puzzle may have been too easy for a Friday, but it was satisfying.
FIR, hoping that A TO Z was correct, and that MRAZ was an actual surname. Enjoyed the theme, but hated all the proper nouns it took to get a TOE HOLD. Not my favorite puzzle this week, but it seems that many persevered and succeeded, so there's that. Thanks, Patti and Splynter!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Patti on a clever, challenging Friday puzzle! Don’t let the nit-pickers get you down.
ReplyDeleteFriday Fail. Thanks for the fun, Patti and Splynter.
ReplyDeleteOfficially a FIW for me today. I had A TON instead of parsing A TO Z, and picked the wrong vowel (O) for CAL (Canadian disadvantage?).
But I got the V to W theme with VINE SNOB, which helped the solve.
I noticed the stray V at VINCE (could have been an Easter Egg if clue had been “involuntary tightening of facial muscles”). I missed the stray RSVP.
At least all of the unknown-to-me names permed, except MRAZ.
We have Wiarton Willie; it took a minute for me to remember PHIL.
I overcame a lot of Canadian disadvantage today with EAGLE ( we have had a Caribou on old and new quarters), VOLUNTEER state, I VOTED (we vote in other months than November and don’t get a sticker!), VAIL and ATL I knew.
INSIST ON required proper parsing to give the verb; I was thinking of the noun Demand and trying to finish IN (need, request?).
Hand up for letting perps decide EEO or EOE.
Same for Pots or PANS.
Wishing you all a great day.
Actually the unknown names perped. Darn autocorrect.
ReplyDeleteBut I see that Mr MRAZ does have curly hair. LOL
I struggled through the top half of the puzzle and was ready to come here and rant about it. But the bottom half solved easily, and as I worked my way back upstairs, perps filled in here and there and I started to have several "aha" moments.
ReplyDeleteWhat began as an exercise in futility ended with a tip of the cap to Patti for such a well-constructed, clever puzzle.
Musings
ReplyDelete-Patti’s puzzle had just enough wit and learning to make this a fun solve
-MRAZ today goes along with recent use of SZA
-Roy Orbison’s range was four OCTAVES – G2 – B5
-Taylor Swift’s range is listed at 3.2 OCTAVES
-Some athletic teams are full of big time 5-Star recruits who don’t win because of big EGOS
-RSVP – We have been invited to 10 graduation parties so far.
-I spent all winter trying to get rid of my golf SLICE and have had some real success
-Barcelona bread might be more appropriate cluing for DINERO. I wonder if Spain calls money “pan”? :-)
-The WNBA is not attracting viewers with their games and so they are counting on drama and suggestive clothing.
-Nice job, RB!
The only problem with this puzzle, was that it was so puzzling...
ReplyDelete(So why am I complaining?).
I'm not, I'm glad we have returned to "gimmicky" Friday, because it sure helps with the sussing.
Lots of white until Viper Blades exposed what was going on. From there it was a huge backtrack to suss out things I couldn't spell. i wanted to comment on "prurient," but I just can't seem to put it into a sentence...
Splynter, thank you for Splainin', I was totally lost at Tennessee Vaults! Waltz never occurred to me! And thank you for the YouTube Patti Page Song! Lovely!(although I have these guilt feelings that I am way too old if I like that song...)
Hmm, I should go listen to some Yes, or Allman Bros. Hmm, Aw Nuts! That doesn't make me any younger does it...
And Star Wars deleted scenes! Great find!
(Although, I always think they stole the name from "where the hell was Biggles!")
Wait a sec, it's not Mr. Az? (Like Dr. Oz?) I had to look/listen it up...
Lastly, I only know about She and Him from previous crosswords. intriguing video...
CE:D--Your reluctance to put "prurient" into a sentence reminds me of Justice Stewart's comments in a Supreme Court obscenity case: "I may not be able to define it, but I know it when I see it."
DeleteAnd by the way, you're never too old to like The Tennessee Waltz.
If you're singing Tennessee Waltz in public, be sure to start low. The song has the same wide range as The Star-Spangled Banner.
DeleteThey each have a range of around an octave and a half.
DeleteI printed this CW then, as always, counted and circled in red the clues of names: 19, 11 DNKs among them. I decided, "Ya know what? I'm just gonna look up those 11 names and fill them into the CW, THEN proceed with the solve!" So....a big cheat. But it's also a big cheat to include so many names, especially obscure names like MRAZ, ALYSSA, VINCE, KIERAN.... So there's that.
ReplyDeleteOnce I filled in all the obscure names and the ones I did know, I started the clock and filled the rest in 8 minutes. I saw the theme immediately with 17A which helped.
PV, what's up with so many names? A fun CW other than that. Thanx for the parts other than names. Your creation was fun once all the names were in place. If I hadn't looked 'em up I doubt I coulda completed this CW.
Thanx Splynter, your write-up was more interesting and more fun than the name-fest pretending to be a CW. That Tempest Quartz looks good. When I remodeled my kitchen way back in the '80s, I chose cream colored Corian, and have been thrilled with it. You can set most hot things on it without a trivet. NOT a fry pan right off the stove though, as my GF did many years ago. Giant "CRACK!!" sound and a huge crack appeared, I was horrified. I found a craftsman who repaired it almost perfectly. You gotta look for the repair. Also, bad scratches can be sanded out. Stains disappear with bleach. It looks as good today as when installed in 1989.
That cover of the Lou Reed's Velvet Underground song "Venus in Furs" is terrible compared to the original.
I was sure "VLASIC" had two "S"s, but obviously not. My favorite pickles are Ba-Tampte Half-Sour. Next is Mt. Olive Bread and Butter Chips.
The PRU logo is clear on each side of the windows. After sailing into Gibraltar and walking all over the Rock of Gibraltar I can tell you the logo "Solid as the Rock of Gibraltar" is laughable. That rock is more like Swiss cheese, with all the caves and holes in it. Then there's the monkeys. The woman I was with totally freaked out when one jumped on her shoulder.
I do have a complaint, but it's not about the puzzle, it's about the YouTube comments these days...
ReplyDeleteI went back to the She and Him video above, because when I first looked at it, there was a commenter that said he wished he could the the unedited version with the guy in the green suit holding her up, and now the comment is gone, replaced with some A.I. nonsense i don't understand. It took some clicking, but I final got the original comments back, and it turns out that this version is a cover of Dusty Springfield all the way from the early 60's!
No contest on who has the better pipes!
And, if you read the comments, it says you know it wasn't lip synced because you can see the boom mic over her head in some shots...
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete“You could do worse” and I did, DNF , didn’t realize the above was a spoken statement and kept “Elyssa thus epic instead of AtoZ.
ReplyDeleteV words crossing V word plus the V-W substitution (where’s the VolksWagon SEDAN? π ).
Thought MRAZ was wrong or meant Mr. AZ as well then remembered I know a family named MROZ (Polish)
KIERAN got the supporting actor Oscar in “A Real Pain” (laid back story, great film). Got “Best Actor”Emmy for “Succession”
Roxane, “The Rumpus” singer “Jason” ?? pots or PANS?
This time it’s NOToboe. Scale intervals , pounds too short. ADOBO only know from these here puzzles
WHALESONG π³ is an “anthem”?
Liked “Old quarter back”. π¦
SNL debut in 1975. (October). 1975 (August) was also our Matrimonial debut. Some reception antics could have provided fodder for a skit π
Our 80° high yesterday will plunge to a nighttime low of 26 Tuesday. Punishment for daring to bring out the patio furniture last evening π
Well I liked the puzzle. I’m shocked too.
ReplyDeleteI found ONE V.S.O. Brandy, here
https://www.whiskyhammer.com/item/189984/Suntory/Suntory---VSO-Brandy-Extra-Special-72cl.html
It was an auction. I couldn’t find another.
Hola! Late to the party because I had to go for my obligatory blood draw while fasting. But I finished in good time and really chuckled at VINE SNOB and all the other V/W substitutions. Cleverly done, Patti Varol!
ReplyDeleteI did have to consult ALEXA for MRAZ; no way would I have known it otherwise. I'm sorry to see DINERO listed as slang because it is a genuine Spanish word that means "money".
I had to check my keyboard to see if TAB really is under the tilde.
Thank you, splynter; I enjoyed your review and was surprised not to see any legs! Or does that one with the black hose count?
Have a great day, everyone!
I loved this puzzle. Caught onto theme early on. Very clever. Only one name that stumped me. Northwest corner. One cell I couldn’t get. “G”. The very first one down! Thanks Patti and Splynter!
ReplyDeleteI read your post last night...
DeleteMe too. I always check late entries from the previous night after I finish (or throw in the towel,) then I go to the current morning's Corner offerings.
DeleteI liked this puzzle.
ReplyDeleteDoing today’s crossword, my first note was “too many proper names again! What’s up with the editor, is she asleep??”…and then I happened to see…our Editor DID this puzzle. C’mon, luv, by now you have to know most solvers disdain a ton of proper names in a crossword puzzle — especially if they’re pop-culture references. A good example is “Actress Russo”, which we’ve only seen, what, 50 times? There are plenty of other RENEs in the book: surrealist Magritte, philosopher Descartes (just to “name” two), which are so much more relevant than yet another Hollywood celeb, if you must use a name, yeah? Sorry to sound like a VETNOODLE, but obviously I’m not alone (see above)…
ReplyDeleteOkay, now on to the good stuff: the V-W switch theme was quite entertaining, so big props on that part, Ms. V — VIPERBLADE gave me the biggest grin πππ½. Most of the clues were nicely done, just off-kilter enough to keep me on my TOEs, great job there. Props also to our man Splynter for your very straightforward review and all the cheap entertainment (loved the Spinal Tap clip!).
====> Darren / L.A.
How exciting to get a Patti Varol puzzle--a wonderful treat. Many thanks, Patti! And thanks too for your helpful commentary and pictures, Splynter.
ReplyDeleteWell, I had to laugh at YOU COULD DO VERSE! I could always do WORSE, and often do. And I'm also not crazy about eating VET NOODLES--I prefer them dry and warm with a bit of flavoring. And although I enjoy drinking a glass of wine on visits with friends, that doesn't make me a VINE SNOB. Also, I love songs, and can't think of one that ever made me VAIL. Still, a delightful puzzle, all in all, and a neat beginning to our weekend. Thank you again, Patti and Splynter.
Oh vell. Vish I could have finished this one, but it vasn’t meant to be! I vent hayvire. Oh vey!
ReplyDeleteL OVell!
DeletePuzzling thoughts:
ReplyDeleteAlmost forgot that today is National Haiku Day. Will a Moe-ku count?
Man is embarrassed
From job as toilet tester.
He gets really flushed
Ojai Guy. Quite a name game, but fortunately I knew most of them. I pretty quickly abandoned the North, and worked it from the bottom up which eventually got me the FIR. Some clever cluing and a useful theme reveal which made it a fun Friday.
ReplyDelete