Hello Cornerites!
I searched this blog and did not find another entry from Angela Kinsella Olson, so this may be her LAT debut. If that is the case, congratulations to Angela!!
Our theme: 
Today Angela has given us 3 themed answers. They are:
17 Across. *"She Don't Use Jelly" band, with "The": FLAMING LIPS.
The FLAMING Lips She Don't Use Jelly (1993)
They have 3 Grammy Awards but none for this song.
26 Across. *Mel Brooks Western starring Cleavon Little: BLAZING SADDLES.
Angela, you have made Anonymous T very happy because now I have a reason to link these "Top 10 Scenes".
Blazing Saddles (1974) 6:43 min.
46 Across. *Enthusiastic praise: GLOWING TRIBUTE.
High praise, indeed!
What do these 3 answers have in common? Let's look at the reveal:
63 Across. 1980 Stephen King novel, and what the answer to each starred clue literally has?: FIRESTARTER.
The book, Firestarter, was made into a movie in 1984 starring Drew Barrymore and again in 2022 starring Ryan Kiera Armstrong.
It's probably best to not overthink this one. FLAMING, BLAZING, AND GLOWING are all FIRE-related words and are the STARTing words to the themed clues. Full stop.
Overthink it #1. You can START a (bigger) FIRE if you have a FLAMING torch, BLAZING campfire, or GLOWING ember. I do not think this is what Angela meant because there is no mention of anything along the lines of a torch, campfire, or ember.
Overthink it #2. All three can be the START word in a FIRE phrase of the form "____ FIRE". So, we would have FLAMING FIRE, BLAZING FIRE, and GLOWING FIRE. To me, "FLAMING" feels the weakest of those three but perhaps it is a regional thing.
Am I missing something??? Your thoughts?
1. Some rodent pets: MICE.
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| You can buy this teeny beanie for your pet mouse on Etsy. |
5. Nancy in the National Women's Hall of Fame: PELOSI. Ranker's list of famous Nancys
11. Reno's st.: NEV. "State" is abbreviated, so is "Nevada".
How do you pronounce "Nevada"? Do you pronounce it (nuh-vad-uh) or (nuh-vah-duh) ?
In this clip, the campaign advisor is trying to correct the politician's pronunciation. It turns out, locals like it when you know how to pronounce the name of their state.
14. Water or elec.: UTIL. "Electricity" is shortened, so is "UTILities".
15. Buildings in the Pueblo Revival style, e.g.: ADOBES. Here is an HGTV article on Pueblo Revival Architecture. Also, Monterey was California's first capital city so it is home to many historical ADOBES. This webpage has a list of several of them with photos and a short description of each. The Cooper-Molera ADOBE (11th on the list) is one of my favorite lunch spots.
16. Hockey surface: ICE.
19. "Not happy!": GRR.
20. One of the Bobbsey Twins: FLOSSIE.
Veep starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus. "Nevada or Nevaaaada" (17 sec.)
14. Water or elec.: UTIL. "Electricity" is shortened, so is "UTILities".
15. Buildings in the Pueblo Revival style, e.g.: ADOBES. Here is an HGTV article on Pueblo Revival Architecture. Also, Monterey was California's first capital city so it is home to many historical ADOBES. This webpage has a list of several of them with photos and a short description of each. The Cooper-Molera ADOBE (11th on the list) is one of my favorite lunch spots.
16. Hockey surface: ICE.
19. "Not happy!": GRR.
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| Remember this from the end of Buffy the Vampire Slayer episodes? Definitely "not happy"! |
20. One of the Bobbsey Twins: FLOSSIE.
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| The older pair were Bert & Nan. The younger pair were Freddie & FLOSSIE. |
21. Ticket marketplace with a rhyming name: STUBHUB. StubHub is an American ticket exchange and resale company. It provides services for buyers and sellers of tickets for sports, concerts, theater, and other live entertainment events. By 2015, it was the world's largest ticket marketplace.
23. Self-storage rental: UNIT.
25. "Dig in!": EAT.
33. Brand in the eye care aisle: RE-NU.
34. Charged particle: ION.
35. Ailing: ILL.
36. __ Roll: TOOTSIE.
39. Mensch: NICE GUY.
42. Trivial criticism: NIT. See 8D.
43. __ of Reason: AGE. The AGE of reason is generally used as a synonym for the Enlightenment Period (17th & 18th centuries Europe). It is also the title of a book by Thomas Paine, published in 3 parts (1794, 1795, & 1807). Nowadays, the term can be used to describe the time in life when one begins to be able to distinguish right from wrong.
45. Med. condition treated by Ritalin: ADHD. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
51. "Hamilton" creator __-Manuel Miranda: LIN.
52. Ward of "FBI": SELA.
53. Blunder: MISTAKE. and 61 Down. Prints the wrong tickets, say: ERRS.
57. The U.S., in México: EL NORTE. The accent mark in the clue is a hint that the answer will be in Spanish.
62. Ballpark fig.: EST. "Figure" is abbreviated, so is "ESTimate".
65. "The __ of Pooh": TAO. goodreads link
66. Cousin of the Bradys: OLIVER. This clue refers to the 1969-74 TV show, The Brady Bunch. The addition of younger children to sitcoms that seem to have run their course, in an attempt to improve declining ratings, is known as "Cousin OLIVER Syndrome". These attempts generally fail.
23. Self-storage rental: UNIT.
25. "Dig in!": EAT.
33. Brand in the eye care aisle: RE-NU.
34. Charged particle: ION.
35. Ailing: ILL.
36. __ Roll: TOOTSIE.
39. Mensch: NICE GUY.
42. Trivial criticism: NIT. See 8D.
43. __ of Reason: AGE. The AGE of reason is generally used as a synonym for the Enlightenment Period (17th & 18th centuries Europe). It is also the title of a book by Thomas Paine, published in 3 parts (1794, 1795, & 1807). Nowadays, the term can be used to describe the time in life when one begins to be able to distinguish right from wrong.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) "a veritable AGE of reason" (1:48 min.)
45. Med. condition treated by Ritalin: ADHD. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
51. "Hamilton" creator __-Manuel Miranda: LIN.
52. Ward of "FBI": SELA.
53. Blunder: MISTAKE. and 61 Down. Prints the wrong tickets, say: ERRS.
57. The U.S., in México: EL NORTE. The accent mark in the clue is a hint that the answer will be in Spanish.
62. Ballpark fig.: EST. "Figure" is abbreviated, so is "ESTimate".
65. "The __ of Pooh": TAO. goodreads link
66. Cousin of the Bradys: OLIVER. This clue refers to the 1969-74 TV show, The Brady Bunch. The addition of younger children to sitcoms that seem to have run their course, in an attempt to improve declining ratings, is known as "Cousin OLIVER Syndrome". These attempts generally fail.
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| Cousin OLIVER appeared in the last 6 episodes of the 5th and final season of The Brady Bunch. Coincidence??? If you do not remember OLIVER, it could be because of the Cousin OLIVER Syndrome. |
67. Brewery output: BEER.
69. "__ on me": "I'm delicate": GO EASY.
70. IRS form figures: SSNS.
Down:
1. Play awkwardly, as a ground ball: MUFF. A MUFF is when a player touches the ball without successfully holding it.
In fashion, a MUFF is an elegant accessory designed to keep both hands warm. I was surprised to learn that in the 1600s they were worn by both men and women. Here is a short history of the hand MUFF.
2. "'__ be fun,' they said ... ": IT'LL. 
3. "Adieu," across the Alps: CIAO.
4. Stately trees: ELMS.
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| The Smithsonian Witness Elm has seen 33 U.S. presidents. |
5. Sandwich made with a press: PANINI.
6. Enter unobtrusively: EDGE IN.
7. "haha! ur a riot!": LOL. The "ur" is a hint that the answer will be textspeak.
8. Japanese sashes: OBIS. "OBI" is a Japanese word but in Japanese you do not create a plural by adding an S. Although I do not like to see this done, I can accept that it is common practice.
9. Mo. many Virgos are born: SEPT. birthdates Aug. 23 - Sept. 22
10. Sent out: ISSUED. like a magazine or a decree
11. Device for one who's afraid of the dark: NIGHT LIGHT.
12. Beige shade: ECRU. I've always been a sucker for an ECRU cable knit sweater.
13. Action word: VERB.
18. Old Rodeos, e.g.: ISUZUS. That capital R was a hint. (Yes, ugh, another English pluralization of a Japanese word....)
6. Enter unobtrusively: EDGE IN.
7. "haha! ur a riot!": LOL. The "ur" is a hint that the answer will be textspeak.
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| Get it? They're laughing hyenas. LOL! |
8. Japanese sashes: OBIS. "OBI" is a Japanese word but in Japanese you do not create a plural by adding an S. Although I do not like to see this done, I can accept that it is common practice.
9. Mo. many Virgos are born: SEPT. birthdates Aug. 23 - Sept. 22
10. Sent out: ISSUED. like a magazine or a decree
11. Device for one who's afraid of the dark: NIGHT LIGHT.
12. Beige shade: ECRU. I've always been a sucker for an ECRU cable knit sweater.
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| Don't they look cozy? |
18. Old Rodeos, e.g.: ISUZUS. That capital R was a hint. (Yes, ugh, another English pluralization of a Japanese word....)
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| They were sold in 1988 - 2004. |
22. Defective: BAD.
24. __ Fridays: TGI.
26. Oven setting: BROIL.
27. "Anna Karenina" writer: LEO TOLSTOY. Spoiler alert:
28. Picnic pest: ANT.
29. Male offspring: SON.
30. Singer DiFranco: ANI.
31. Dodge: ELUDE. Sometimes EvaDE works.
32. __ as a fox: SLY.
36. "Star Trek" series, familiarly: TNG. The Next Generation
37. "At Seventeen" singer Janis: IAN.
38. Cobb salad ingredient: EGG.
40. Poolside structure: CABANA.
41. College URL part: EDU.
44. Aliens, for short: ETS.
47. Wisdom partner: WIT. A good XWD puzzle has a bit of both.
48. Recovering from anesthesia, say: IN A FOG.
49. __ Pieces: REESES.
24. __ Fridays: TGI.
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| Never mind that it's only Monday. |
27. "Anna Karenina" writer: LEO TOLSTOY. Spoiler alert:
29. Male offspring: SON.
30. Singer DiFranco: ANI.
31. Dodge: ELUDE. Sometimes EvaDE works.
32. __ as a fox: SLY.
36. "Star Trek" series, familiarly: TNG. The Next Generation
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| CSO to Picard! |
At Seventeen (1975) was Janis Ian's most successful single on the American charts.
Perhaps a bit crunchy for a Monday...
38. Cobb salad ingredient: EGG.
40. Poolside structure: CABANA.
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| Looks like a lovely place to solve XWD puzzles! |
44. Aliens, for short: ETS.
47. Wisdom partner: WIT. A good XWD puzzle has a bit of both.
48. Recovering from anesthesia, say: IN A FOG.
49. __ Pieces: REESES.
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| They are like M&Ms ... but with peanut butter on the inside. |
50. Possible reply to "Will you be there?": I'LL TRY.
53. Max Scherzer's squad: METS. Born 7/27/84, Maxwell Martin Scherzer is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets. He previously played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, and Los Angeles Dodgers...but you probably already knew that.
54. "Out of Africa" writer Dinesen: ISAK.
55. Metric weight: KILO. I'm a fan because I weigh less in KILOs. 😉
56. Cleveland's lake: ERIE.
58. Heavenly bodies, poetically: ORBS.
59. GPS suggestions: RTES. RouTES
60. __ Choice Awards: TEEN. Here are some facts you might not (want to) know:
54. "Out of Africa" writer Dinesen: ISAK.
55. Metric weight: KILO. I'm a fan because I weigh less in KILOs. 😉
56. Cleveland's lake: ERIE.
58. Heavenly bodies, poetically: ORBS.
59. GPS suggestions: RTES. RouTES
60. __ Choice Awards: TEEN. Here are some facts you might not (want to) know:
The first TEEN Choice Awards were held in 1999.
The last TEEN Choice Awards were held in 2019.
Winners get a custom-made surfboard.
One Direction has the most wins at 28.
64. Actress Longoria: EVA.
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| Easy-on-the-eyes EVA was recently on the cover of Parade magazine. |
And now for the grid:
I hope this write-up answered any questions you might have had. I flame to please!
Notes from C.C.:
Here is a picture of our fun-loving Sumdaze and her dog. She lives near the ocean and loves getting into the water.
You can also click here and see all the pictures of our current and past bloggers and commenters. Email me (crosswordc@gmail.com) if you want to be included in the Blog Photos section.
