Body Double: The word Body can be placed before each of the two words in the theme answers to give a new concept. Body Double is also a 1984 Brian De Palma film about young actor's obsession with spying on a beautiful woman who lives nearby.
17-Across. Intimate conversation in bed: PILLOW TALK. Body Pillow / Body Talk. Pillow Talk is a 1959 movie starring Rock Hudson and Doris Day. A Body Pillow is usually a long, narrow pillow that you cradle while you sleep. The benefit of a body pillow is that it gives extra support to side sleepers, especially those suffering from back issues or sleep apnea. Body Talk, also known as Body Language, "is the means by which people convey information through physical behaviors rather than words."
25-Across. Laundry apparatus used as a percussion instrument: WASHBOARD. Body Wash / Body Board. Body Wash is a liquid soap. A Body Board is used in the sport of bodyboarding in which the surfer rides a bodyboard on the crest, face, and curl of a wave. A Washboard is frequently used in Zydeco music.
35-Across. Aerosolized popcorn condiment: SPRAY BUTTER. Body Spray / Body Butter. Body Spray is similar to perfume, however, body sprays have a lower level of concentrated oil and more alcohol, while perfume have a higher level of oil and less water or alcohol. Body Butter is similar to a body lotion, however, body butter is better for rougher skin and is thicker than a lotion.
48-Across. Timepiece innards: CLOCKWORK. Body Clock / Body Work. Your Body Clock defines your daily rhythms. I think of Body Work as something that your car might need after an accident.
And the unifier:
57-Across. Actor's stand-in, or a hint to what can precede both parts of 17-, 25-, 35-, and 48-Across: BODY DOUBLE. Everything you wanted to know about a Body Double but didn't think to ask.
Brad Pitt and his Body Double.
Across:
1. Gentle touches: PATS.
5. Raise, as morale: BOOST.
10. Harvest: REAP.
14. Baker's appliance: OVEN.
15. One of the Three Musketeers: ATHOS. The Three Musketeers is a French historical adventure novel written in 1844 by Alexandre Dumas (1802 ~ 1870). The novel takes place in the 1620s and recounts the adventures of a young man named d'Artagnan (a character based on Charles de Batz-Castelmore d'Artagnan) after he leaves home to travel to Paris He had hoped to join the Musketeers of the Guard, but was ineligible. He was, however, befriended by three musketeers: – Athos, Porthos and Aramis, "the three musketeers". [Name # 1, fictional.]
16. Penne __ vodka: ALLA. Yummers! Penne alla vodka is a pasta dish made with (Surprise!) vodka and penne. There are a few other ingredients as well, including heavy cream, crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce, onions. The alcohol is said to intensify and accentuate flavors in the dish.
19. "The Rabbit Hutch" National Book Award winner Gunty: TESS. The Rabbit Hutch is a Tess Gunty's first novel, that was published in 2022. It is about 4 teenager who recently aged out of the state foster-care system and are now living together in a run-down town in the mid-West. [Name # 2.]
20. Pizzeria owner in "Do the Right Thing": SAL. Do the Right Thing is a 1989 film by Spike Lee (b. 1957) about race relations in a Brooklyn. Salvatore "Sal" Fragione, portrayed by Danny Aiello (1933 ~ 2019), is the Italian owner of a pizzeria in the neighborhood. [Name # 3, fictional]
21. Prepare ahead of time: PLAN.
22. Make a quick policy change: PIVOT.
23. Coming in handy: UTILE.
28. Funnel-shaped flower: PETUNIA.
30. Apple platform: IOS. // Not to be confused with 41-Across: Bit of positivity?: ION.
31. Greek letter before upsilon: TAU.
32. Fellows: MEN.
33. CPR pro: EMT. An Emergency Medical Technician better be able to perform CardioPulmonary Resuscitation.
34. "Been there, __ that": DONE.
38. Yes votes: AYES.
40. Key __: car remote: FOB.
42. Bad review: PAN.
43. Poivre partner: SEL. Today's French lesson gives us Pepper and Salt.
44. Ideal: OPTIMUM.
51. Muscat resident: OMANI.
52. "NCIS" protagonist __ Jethro Gibbs: LEROY. Leroy Jethro Gibbs the main character in NCIS and is portrayed by Mark Harmon (b. 1951). [Name # 4, fictional.]
56. Actress Shawkat: ALIA. Alia Shawkat (b. 1989) makes occasional appearances in the puzzles. She portrayed Maeby Fünke on Arrested Development. [Name # 5]
60. Exams for srs.: SATs. The Scholastic Aptitude Tests make frequent appearances in the puzzles.
61. Foe: ENEMY.
62. Wax alternative: NAIR. Hair removal products.
63. Whack: SWAT.
64. Like grainy graphics: LO-RES. Oh, as in Low Resolution. I kept looking at LORES and wondered what that meant, then the light bulb went on.
65. Best Female Athlete, e.g.: ESPY.
Down:
1. Comes as a surprise, maybe: POPS UP.
2. Fly a plane: AVIATE.
3. "Preach!": TELL IT!
4. NBC sketch show, familiarly: SNL. As in Saturday Night Live.
The original Not-Ready-For-Primetime Players
5. Weep loudly: BAWL.
6. Capital of Canada: OTTAWA. Hi, CanadianEh!
7. Hawaiian word for "family": OHANA.
8. Pine-__: cleaning brand: SOL. It now comes in all sorts of flavors, er, scents.
9. Disapproving sound: TSK!
10. Math comparison: RATIO.
11. Stairs alternative: ELEVATOR.
12. Concession speech giver: ALSO RAN.
13. Late, as a library book: PAST DUE. My public library has done away with late fees.
18. First game of the season: OPENER.
22. "All Creatures Great and Small" airer: PBS. As in Public Broadcasting Service.
24. Sugar cubes: LUMPS.
26. "Atlas" actor Liu: SIMU. Simu Liu (b. 1989) is a Canadian actor. He was born in Harban, China, but his family moved to Canada when he was a small child. In 2022, he was named one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world. ([Name # 6.]
27. Good intel: HOT TIP.
29. Shortly: IN A FEW.
33. Flow out: EBB.
34. Jeans material: DENIM.
35. Miss, in Mexico: SENORITA. Today's Spanish lesson.
36. "Carpe diem" acronym: YOLO. You Only Live Once.
37. "My Neighbor __": 1988 Miyazaki film: TOTORO. This seems to be a bit obscure for a Tuesday. My Neighbor Totoro is a Japanese animated film that focuses on two young sisters their interactions with friendly wood spirits in postwar rural Japan. I had not heard of this film, nor had I heard of its director Hayao Miyazaki (b. Jan. 5, 1941). [Name # 7.]
38. Sr.'s course for college credit: AP CLASS. As in Advanced Placement Class.
39. Sonia Sotomayor's alma mater: YALE LAW. Sonia Sotomayor (b. 1954) has served on the Supreme Court since August 2009. I wouldn't want her job. [Name # 8.]
43. Pie in the __: SKY.
44. "I'm cool with that": OK BY ME.
45. Deadly African snakes: MAMBAS. Everything you wanted to know about the Mamba but didn't know to ask.
46. Release, as a carabiner: UNCLIP.
47. "__ loves company": MISERY.
49. Seashore: COAST. Here I am at Diamond Beach, also known as Breiðamerkursandur. It is a beach located on the south coast of Iceland. Its name comes from the "diamond" pieces of ice from the nearby glacier. I didn't go swimming there.
50. More impolite: RUDER.
54. Dreyer's ice cream, east of the Rockies: EDY'S. This ice cream brand makes frequent guest appearances in the puzzles.
57. "The Fresh Prince of __-Air": BEL. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was a television show from the 1990s and starred Will Smith (b. 1968).
58. Artist Yoko: ONO. Yoko Ono (b. Feb. 18, 1933) makes frequent guest appearances in the puzzles. I can't believe she is 91 years old! [Name # 9.]
59. French article: UNE. More of today's French lesson.
Here's the Grid:
חתולה
Many thanks to Anonymous T who filled in for me while Hubby and I explored the Land of the Midnight Sun.
The caption reads: I'm sorry, sir, you're overdrawn.
Notes from C.C.:
1) Welcome back, Susan!
2) Happy
54th birthday to dear Tony (Anon-T), our faithful Tuesday guide the
past few weeks. Every time I need a blog sub, Tony is there. Thank you
so much for being so generous with your time and help, Tony!
Tony At Wit's End near Carmel on Father's Day 2017
Give 'em the old Razzle-Dazzle! Today's theme is exemplified in 4-Down: Really wowed: DAZZLED.
I've highlighted how the clue and answer are paired. Be prepared to be DAZZLED by the creativity of Beth Rubin, today's puzzle creator.
17-Across. Thelma's "Wow!"?: GEEZ LOUISE! A reference to the 1991 movie Thelma and Louise.
24-Across. Astronomer's "Wow!"?: OH, MY STARS!
39-Across. Saint's "Wow!"?: GOOD ONE!
48-Across. Safari guide's "Wow!"?: THAT'S WILD!
60-Across. Chameleon's "Wow!"?: OUT OF SIGHT!
How else are we dazzled today?
Across:
1. Gave money to: PAID.
5. Shawkat of "Being the Ricardos": ALIA. Alia Shawkat (née Alia Martine Shawkat; b. 1989) also portrayed Maeby Fünke in Arrested Development. She has made occasional guest appearances in the puzzles. [Name # 1]
9. Bygone Swedish automaker: SAAB. Saab Automobile was founded 1945 and ceased operations in 2016. The name comes from Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (Swedish for "Swedish aeroplane corporation"), a Swedish aerospace and defense company.
13. Icelandic saga: EDDA. Everything you wanted to know about the Icelandic saga, but didn't know to ask. // Not to be confused with 67-Across. Whirlpool: EDDY.
14. Code creator: MORSE. Samuel Morse (né Samuel Finley Breese Morse; Apr. 27, 1791 ~ Apr. 2, 1872) was known as a portrait painter before delving into creating the eponymous code that was the social media of his time. [Name #2.]
16. Canyon comeback: ECHO.
19. Site with handmade goods: ETSY.
20. Ilana of "Broad City": GLAZER. Ilana Glazer (b. Apr. 12, 1987) is also a stand-up comedian. [Name # 3.]
21. "__ Lot": Stephen King novel: SALEM'S. Salem's Lot is a horror story about a little town in Maine where the residents become vampires. Not a fan of Stephen King's writings, but he is a graduate of my alma mater, albeit, he attended several years earlier. A Stephen King novel also appeared in last Tuesday's puzzle. [Name adjacent.]
23. Raises one's voice: YELLS.
27. British prep school: ETON. This school appeared in last Tuesday's puzzle. Prince William (b. June 21, 1982) and Eddy Redmayne (b. Jan. 6, 1982) were classmates there.
29. Property manager's sign: TO LET.
30. Like memories to smile about: FOND.
33. Badminton target: BIRDIE. Also known as a shuttlecock.
37. Fertility clinic cells: OVA.
38. Smog watchdog org.: EPA. As in the Environmental Protection Agency.
40. Religious sister: NUN. Hi, Lucina!
41. Bolivia neighbor: Abbr.: ARG. Both countries in South America.
42. File manager menu option: RENAME.
43. Requirement: NEED.
44. Stark daughter played by Sophie Turner on "Game of Thrones": SANSA. Sophie Turner (née Sophie Belinda Jonas; b. Feb. 21, 1996) made her acting debut as Sansa Stark on Game of Thrones. [Name # 4.]
46. Canadian gas brand: ESSO. Hi, CanadianEh! This gas brand has become a crossword staple.
52. Scarecrow innards: STRAW.
56. "Jinkies! That's out of the question!": GOSH, NO!
57. Loosen, as a corset: UNLACE.
58. "Lip __ Battle": SYNC. Hand up if you knew that Lip Sync Battle is a television musical reality competition.
62. Enjoy a bath: SOAK.
63. "Me too": DITTO.
64. Change direction suddenly: VEER.
65. Pulls (at), as heartstrings: TUGS.
66. Gentle throw: TOSS.
Down:
1. "__ Sue Got Married": PEGGY. Peggy Sue Got Married is a 1986 film that starred Kathleen Turner (née Mary Kathleen Turner; b. June 19, 1954) and Nicholas Cage (né Nicolas Kim Coppola; b. Jan. 7, 1964). [Name Adjacent]
2. "Rolling in the Deep" singer: ADELE. Adele, whose given name is Adele Laurie Blue Adkins (b. May 5, 1988), appeared in last Tuesday's puzzle. [Name # 5.]
32. "I heard you the first dozen times!": NAG! NAG! NAG!
34. Dietary guideline letters: RDA. As in Recommended Daily Allowance. A brief history on the RDA.
35. Like some all-weather stadiums: DOMED. The Superdome in New Orleans is now known as the Caesar's Superdome. A few years ago, it was the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. It's all about the money.
36. Trésor spokesmodel Sastre: INÉS. Inés Sastre Moratón (b. Nov. 21, 1973) is a Spanish model. She was the face of one of Lancôme's signature perfume, Trésor, back in the 1990s. She succeeded Isabella Rossellini as the perfume's spokesperson. A pretty obscure clue for a Tuesday. [Name # 9.]
39. Wimbledon playing surface: GRASS. Why Wimbledon uses a grass court.
