Theme: "THREE'S COMPANY" - Each common phrase is reimagined as the names of three well-known people, two of whom share the same given or last name.
22. Ron + (Kristen + Alexander Graham): SILVER BELLS. Ron Silver. Kristen Bell. Alexander Graham Bell.
24. Clint + (Francis Scott + Keegan-Michael): BLACK KEYS. Clint Black. Francis Scott Key. Keegan-Michael Key.
30. Sally + (Julia + Philip): FIELD GLASSES. Sally Field. Julia Glass. Philip Glass.
48. Barry + (Elliot + Jimmy): WHITE PAGES. Barry White. Elliott Page. Jimmy Page.
51. Nia + (Elton + Tommy): LONG JOHNS. Nia Long. Elton John. Tommy John.
63. Grover + (Alton + Helen Gurley): CLEVELAND BROWNS. Grover Cleveland. Alton Brown. Helen Gurley Brown.
81. (Adam + Minnie) + Helms: DRIVER'S ED. Adam Driver. Minnie Driver. Ed Helms.
83. Fiona + (Lemmon + London): APPLE JACKS. Fiona Apple. Jack Lemmon. Jack London.
98. Cleary + (Faith + Jonah): BEVERLY HILLS. Beverly Cleary. Faith Hill. Jonah Hill.
109. Keith + (Garfunkel + Carney): URBAN ARTS. Keith Urban. Art Garfunkel. Art Carney.
111. (Underwood + Fisher) + Johnny: CARRIES CASH. Carrie Underwood. Carrie Fisher. Johnny Cash.
It
may look like an overwhelming number of names at first glance, but
nearly all of them are confined to the theme clues as a natural
consequence of the concept. The fill is so clean.
I think this Rich is our constructor.
Across:
1. Best of the best: A-ONE.
5. Syrup source: MAPLE. I don't think sugar maples grow naturally in China. Maple syrup wasn't part of my childhood.
10. That partner: THIS.
14. Fistfuls of dollars: WADS.
18. Authorize: ALLOW.
19. Cookies with a "You asked for it" collaboration with 29-Across: OREOS. 29. Peanut butter cup brand: REESE'S.
I think this Rich is our constructor.
Across:
1. Best of the best: A-ONE.
5. Syrup source: MAPLE. I don't think sugar maples grow naturally in China. Maple syrup wasn't part of my childhood.
10. That partner: THIS.
14. Fistfuls of dollars: WADS.
18. Authorize: ALLOW.
19. Cookies with a "You asked for it" collaboration with 29-Across: OREOS. 29. Peanut butter cup brand: REESE'S.
20. Surrounding glow: AURA.
21. La Scala solo: ARIA.
26. NYC drama award: OBIE.
27. Slangy contraction: AIN'T.
28. Land between Can. and Mex.: USA.
34. Like stress balls and fidget spinners: SENSORY.
35. End of term?: ITES. Termites.
36. "Knock yourself out!": PLEASE DO. 43. Knocked out: LAID LOW.
39. Suzuki who won nine batting titles in two countries: ICHIRO. Coolest player ever.
44. Some reservoir residents: FOWL.
54. Othello's betrayer: IAGO.
55. Bulgarian, e.g.: SLAV.
56. Endow with, as authority: VEST.
58. Autonomous vacuum: ROOMBA.
59. Utmost degree: NTH.
60. Aligned: EVENED.
62. Labors mightily to accomplish: TOILS AT.
68. Term of endearment?: IT'S LOVE. This clue doesn't quite click for me.
71. Leveraged __: corporate acquisition: BUYOUT.
72. "Print to" option: PDF.
75. Really sad: MOROSE.
76. Sound from a kettle or a snake: HISS.
78. Actor Epps: OMAR.
80. Island home of the Hana Highway: MAUI.
85. Speaker brand: BOSE.
86. Theater reviewers: CRITICS.
89. Plug's place: SOCKET.
90. Channel that rarely fails to make one cry: TEAR DUCT. Fun clue.
92. Matinee hrs.: AFTS.
94. "The Return of the King" king: ARAGORN. Played by Viggo Mortensen.
104. Small donkeys: BURROS.
105. Ballerina's turning point: TOE.
107. Ancient France: GAUL.
108. "So Sick" R&B singer: NEYO.
114. New Mexico art hub: TAOS.
115. Santa's specialty: TOYS.
116. Leading: AHEAD.
117. Nikon rival: CANON. 118. Nikon products: SLRS.
119. Novelist mile: ZOLA.
120. Baking gloves: MITTS.
121. Pt. of IMF: INTL.
Down:
1. Defense witness, often: ALIBI.
2. Basic skateboard trick: OLLIE.
3. Many a Seanan McGuire work: NOVEL. New name to me. Seanan McGuire received five Hugo Award nominations in 2013.
4. Sheepish sort?: EWE.
5. Crib accessory: MOBILE.
6. Venues that often have corporate names: ARENAS.
7. Nails, as with snowballs: PELTS.
8. "U r 2 funny!": LOL.
9. Start at the beginning?: ESS. The starting letter in Start.
10. Guitar player's aid: TABS.
11. Hawaiian dance: HULA.
12. Nest egg letters: IRA.
13. Holy: SACRED.
14. Boat trailers?: WAKES. Powerful wakes.
15. Schoolyard retort: ARE SO.
16. Certain hardware store patron, casually: DIYER.
17. Smart-alecky: SASSY.
18. Lead-up to a date?: AS OF.
23. Convertibles: RAGTOPS.
25. Lotto game: KENO.
28. Thrifted, perhaps: USED. Anyone here use Poshmark?
31. Bleak: DIRE.
32. Spots for scrubs: SPAS.
33. "ManningCast" brother: ELI.
34. In stitches: SEWN.
37. "__ well that ends well": ALL'S.
38. Smokestack dust: SOOT.
39. "Game, set, match": I WIN.
40. Puss, in Paris: CHAT.
41. Top temperature: HIGH. Beautiful weather here in Minnesota the past few days.
42. Skater Midori: ITO.
43. 101, for one: LEVEL. Biology 101, e.g.
44. Tricks: FOOLS.
45. Measures of resistance: OHMS.
46. Liberty org.: WNBA. The New York Liberty.
47. Hurdle for a DA-to-be: LSAT.
49. Pain relief brand: ALEVE. Can you believe I hurt my lower back picking up an empty watering can?
50. Donated: GAVE.
52. "Oh, __ up!": GROW.
53. Connect: JOIN.
56. Williams with five Wimbledon singles titles: VENUS. 97. Wimbledon surface: GRASS.
57. Whirlpool: EDDY.
61. Captures: NABS.
62. Completely wreck: TOTAL.
63. Eggnog spice: CLOVE.
64. Concede a golden goal, say: LOSE. A golden goal immediately ends overtime in some soccer and hockey competitions.
65. Of all time: EVER.
66. Nose-tapping sounds: BOOPS.
67. Kind of roast: RUMP.
68. Site for film fans: IMDB.
69. Lawnmower brand: TORO. Based here in Minnesota.
70. Sanskrit honorifics: SRIS.
72. Rat or Brat follower: PACK.
73. Team led by Mike Krzyzewski for 42 seasons: DUKE.
74. Clenched hand: FIST.
76. Munich mister: HERR.
77. Terse affirmative: I DID.
79. Provide a new look: RESTYLE.
80. Prefix in many a Scottish surname: MAC.
82. Printer function: SCAN.
83. Closer at the Globe: ACT V. The Globe refers to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Many of his plays end with Act V.
84. Kid: JOSH.
87. __ sock: TUBE.
88. Winter puddle topper: ICE.
90. Many a "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" character: TOON.
91. Fake: ERSATZ.
92. Landing spot of Noah's Ark: ARARAT. Noah was 601 years old then!
93. Liquids: FLUIDS.
94. Borders: ABUTS.
95. Like most farmland: RURAL.
96. Shady spot: ARBOR.
99. Everglades wader: EGRET.
100. Like Machu Picchu: INCAN.
101. Listed, to a Brit: LEANT. We leaned.
102. Antibacterial brand: LYSOL.
103. Kind of Kind, in Köln: SOHN. Tricky bilingual clue. The second Kind is the German word for "child." Sohn means "son."
105. Texter's "Bye for now": TTYL.
106. Peak near Olympus: OSSA.
110. Aussie hopper: ROO.
111. Vid taker: CAM.
112. Sashimi choice: AHI.
113. Ecol. or geol.: SCI.
21. La Scala solo: ARIA.
26. NYC drama award: OBIE.
27. Slangy contraction: AIN'T.
28. Land between Can. and Mex.: USA.
34. Like stress balls and fidget spinners: SENSORY.
35. End of term?: ITES. Termites.
36. "Knock yourself out!": PLEASE DO. 43. Knocked out: LAID LOW.
39. Suzuki who won nine batting titles in two countries: ICHIRO. Coolest player ever.
54. Othello's betrayer: IAGO.
55. Bulgarian, e.g.: SLAV.
56. Endow with, as authority: VEST.
58. Autonomous vacuum: ROOMBA.
59. Utmost degree: NTH.
60. Aligned: EVENED.
62. Labors mightily to accomplish: TOILS AT.
68. Term of endearment?: IT'S LOVE. This clue doesn't quite click for me.
71. Leveraged __: corporate acquisition: BUYOUT.
72. "Print to" option: PDF.
75. Really sad: MOROSE.
76. Sound from a kettle or a snake: HISS.
78. Actor Epps: OMAR.
80. Island home of the Hana Highway: MAUI.
85. Speaker brand: BOSE.
86. Theater reviewers: CRITICS.
89. Plug's place: SOCKET.
90. Channel that rarely fails to make one cry: TEAR DUCT. Fun clue.
92. Matinee hrs.: AFTS.
94. "The Return of the King" king: ARAGORN. Played by Viggo Mortensen.
104. Small donkeys: BURROS.
105. Ballerina's turning point: TOE.
107. Ancient France: GAUL.
108. "So Sick" R&B singer: NEYO.
114. New Mexico art hub: TAOS.
115. Santa's specialty: TOYS.
116. Leading: AHEAD.
117. Nikon rival: CANON. 118. Nikon products: SLRS.
119. Novelist mile: ZOLA.
120. Baking gloves: MITTS.
121. Pt. of IMF: INTL.
Down:
1. Defense witness, often: ALIBI.
2. Basic skateboard trick: OLLIE.
3. Many a Seanan McGuire work: NOVEL. New name to me. Seanan McGuire received five Hugo Award nominations in 2013.
5. Crib accessory: MOBILE.
6. Venues that often have corporate names: ARENAS.
7. Nails, as with snowballs: PELTS.
8. "U r 2 funny!": LOL.
9. Start at the beginning?: ESS. The starting letter in Start.
10. Guitar player's aid: TABS.
11. Hawaiian dance: HULA.
12. Nest egg letters: IRA.
13. Holy: SACRED.
14. Boat trailers?: WAKES. Powerful wakes.
15. Schoolyard retort: ARE SO.
16. Certain hardware store patron, casually: DIYER.
17. Smart-alecky: SASSY.
18. Lead-up to a date?: AS OF.
23. Convertibles: RAGTOPS.
25. Lotto game: KENO.
28. Thrifted, perhaps: USED. Anyone here use Poshmark?
31. Bleak: DIRE.
32. Spots for scrubs: SPAS.
33. "ManningCast" brother: ELI.
34. In stitches: SEWN.
37. "__ well that ends well": ALL'S.
38. Smokestack dust: SOOT.
39. "Game, set, match": I WIN.
40. Puss, in Paris: CHAT.
41. Top temperature: HIGH. Beautiful weather here in Minnesota the past few days.
42. Skater Midori: ITO.
43. 101, for one: LEVEL. Biology 101, e.g.
44. Tricks: FOOLS.
45. Measures of resistance: OHMS.
46. Liberty org.: WNBA. The New York Liberty.
47. Hurdle for a DA-to-be: LSAT.
49. Pain relief brand: ALEVE. Can you believe I hurt my lower back picking up an empty watering can?
50. Donated: GAVE.
52. "Oh, __ up!": GROW.
53. Connect: JOIN.
56. Williams with five Wimbledon singles titles: VENUS. 97. Wimbledon surface: GRASS.
57. Whirlpool: EDDY.
61. Captures: NABS.
62. Completely wreck: TOTAL.
63. Eggnog spice: CLOVE.
64. Concede a golden goal, say: LOSE. A golden goal immediately ends overtime in some soccer and hockey competitions.
65. Of all time: EVER.
66. Nose-tapping sounds: BOOPS.
67. Kind of roast: RUMP.
68. Site for film fans: IMDB.
69. Lawnmower brand: TORO. Based here in Minnesota.
70. Sanskrit honorifics: SRIS.
72. Rat or Brat follower: PACK.
73. Team led by Mike Krzyzewski for 42 seasons: DUKE.
74. Clenched hand: FIST.
76. Munich mister: HERR.
77. Terse affirmative: I DID.
79. Provide a new look: RESTYLE.
80. Prefix in many a Scottish surname: MAC.
82. Printer function: SCAN.
83. Closer at the Globe: ACT V. The Globe refers to Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Many of his plays end with Act V.
84. Kid: JOSH.
87. __ sock: TUBE.
88. Winter puddle topper: ICE.
90. Many a "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" character: TOON.
91. Fake: ERSATZ.
92. Landing spot of Noah's Ark: ARARAT. Noah was 601 years old then!
93. Liquids: FLUIDS.
94. Borders: ABUTS.
95. Like most farmland: RURAL.
96. Shady spot: ARBOR.
99. Everglades wader: EGRET.
100. Like Machu Picchu: INCAN.
101. Listed, to a Brit: LEANT. We leaned.
102. Antibacterial brand: LYSOL.
103. Kind of Kind, in Köln: SOHN. Tricky bilingual clue. The second Kind is the German word for "child." Sohn means "son."
105. Texter's "Bye for now": TTYL.
106. Peak near Olympus: OSSA.
110. Aussie hopper: ROO.
111. Vid taker: CAM.
112. Sashimi choice: AHI.
113. Ecol. or geol.: SCI.
Chiang Rai, 2017
C.C.
Not too tough, although
ReplyDeleteAt first, I didn’t see what the title of the puzzle had to do with anything. But with C.C’s quick explanation- “D’oh!”
Anyway, FIR, so I’m happy.
And, Happy Birthday, MalMan!
I appreciate your sense of humor!