Sunday, December 18, 2022, Brad Wiegmann

 "It's a Mouse!"

CC's had a bit of a busy week, so she asked me if I would step up and take this chore off her to-do list. TTP ​had the tougher task -- trying to put my mess into publishable shape.   Super job, TTP, you pulled the wool over their eyes, making me look like I knew what I was doing.

Brad Wiegmann is no stranger to crosswords, though he shows up more frequently at "that other newspaper" than in the L.A.T.   From what I can tell, he last showed up here on September 5th, 2021.

It's a mouse! (Eek!) The theme entries end in different spellings, but each has a distinctive "EEK" sound. Your task is to strip the K sound away to discover the in-the-language seed phrases.

22. One who's a really big fan of promos and trailers?: COMMERCIAL FREAK. Commercial-free

39. Go along with harsh criticism of an ancient Athenian?: AGREE TO DIS A GREEK. Agree to Disgree -- my favorite themer.

46. Annual stint at a Buckingham Palace timeshare?: THE ROYAL WEEK. The Royal We

66. Story about a Disney girl who climbs Mount Everest?: THE PRINCESS AND THE PEAK. The Princess and the Pea

86. Expensive block for a woodworking apprentice?: PRACTICE TEAK.

 

93. Poultry dish served in a Punjabi restaurant?: CHICKEN OF THE SIKH. Chicken of the Sea. Second favorite themer. 

117. Shop selling gold earrings and bandanas?: PIRATE'S BOUTIQUE. Pirate's Booty

The long themers didn't leave a lot of room for lengthy non-theme answers. Still, there's some nice stuff here.  

Across:

1. Unwelcome omens: BAD SIGNS.

9. Sussed (out): DOPED.

14. WWII sea threat: U-BOAT.

19. Pollution legislation goal: CLEAN AIR.

20. NutraSweet developer: SEARLE. 

              There was quite a controversy about Searle's Aspartame (NutraSweet) product

21. Bankrolls: FUNDS.

22. [Theme answer]

24. Store employee: CLERK.  My first gainful employment was CLERKing at the only drug store in our small town.

25. Walk heavily: STOMP.  Reminds me of this old New Christy Minstrels song.  STOMP appears at the one-minute mark.

26. Untruth: LIE.

27. "Your guide to a better future" site: CNET.

29. Best of the best, initially: GOAT. Greatest of all time.

30. Balance sheet abbr.: YTD. Year-to-Date

32. Styling aid: POMADE. Did you also think of George Clooney in O Brother, Where Art Thou? Warning: Strong language.

34. Weighs on: HAUNTS.

36. Main squeeze: BAE. I was surprised to find that this entry has made it into Merriam-Webster. "US Slang: Sweetheart, baby."

39. [Theme answer]

43. Like granita and 42-Down: ICY. Or Icee

44. Plum kin: SLOE.

  Because the berries are added prior to distilling, Sloe Gin can be a perfectly clear liquid.

45. Completely overhauled: REDONE.

46. [Theme answer]

51. Attributed: CREDITED.

56. Leaf under a petal: SEPAL. If you say so. D-o only attended one day of H.S. Biology class.

57. Fat used in baking: LARD.

58. Lyft alternative: CAB.

59. Lyft offer: RIDE.

60. Apple device that might have a Smart Cover: IPAD.

62. Mauna __: LOA. Still erupting. It's the largest active volcano on earth.

63. Minecraft resources: ORES.

65. Sea eagles: ERNS. Hello again, old cw friend.

66. [Theme answer]

72. Brazos River city: WACO. Made famous by David Koresh as well as Chip and Joanna Gaines.

73. Fellows: GUYS.

74. Trail mix morsel: NUT. Was thinking OAT.

75. Harbor, perhaps: ABET. Verb, not noun.

76. Hardly __: rarely: EVER.

77. Lily of France garment: BRA. Was not familiar with this brand, but Wal-Mart sells 'em.

78. Periods often named for leaders: ERAS.

80. Seal sounds: BARKS. Not root beer.

83. "1984" superstate: EAST ASIA.

86. [Theme answer]

89. Gershwin classic: SWANEE. Seems like a good excuse to link another Gershwin classic: Rhapsody in Blue performed by Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic.

91. "Sunday Night Baseball" analyst, familiarly: A-ROD. Alex Rodriguez, so I'm told.

92. Oscar winner Mahershala: ALI.    According to Britannica.com, "American actor who rose to prominence in the 2010s and won an Academy Award for his moving and nuanced performance as the fatherly drug dealer Juan in the film Moonlight (2016)." 

93. [Theme answer]

100. Study: DEN.

101. State of rest: REPOSE. Immediately evoked this track from the Chad Mitchell Trio.  REPOSE appears at about the 40 second mark.

102. Didn't work out: FAILED.

103. "Not buying it": NAH.

106. Aloha Tower island: OAHU. With 4 letters, it's gotta be either MAUI or OAHU.

107. Dog who visits Oz: TOTO.
 

110. NFL scores: TDs.

111. Springs: LEAPS. Verb, not noun.

115. Embellish: ADORN. When the truth is embellished, it becomes a 26a.

117. [Theme answer]

122. Mozart's "Così fan __": TUTTE. Opera. According to classicfm.com, "Two soldiers, Ferrando and Guglielmo, bet that their girlfriends will always be faithful; philosopher Don Alfonso persuades them he can prove otherwise. So, in ridiculous disguises, the military men seek to trick Fiordiligi and Dorabella..."

123. Buck horn: ANTLER. Yes, deer.

124. Words said with an eyeroll: I'M SO SURE. Got it, but don't understand it.

125. Informal "What if ... ": S'POSE. D-o's speech tends to be informal. You've probably never noticed.

126. Surgical beam: LASER.

127. Jazz headliners?: NBA STARS. Utah Jazz.

Down:

1. Confidentially informs: BCCS. Blind carbon copy -- archaic, but still used for email.

2. Often: A LOT.

3. Trial version: DEMO. Could'a been BETA.

4. Hagar of Van Halen: SAMMY.
 

5. Bumbling: INEPT.

6. Needlefish: GAR. Old-timey cw c/a.

7. Actor Cage, informally: NIC.  

            It's spelled Nicolas. He's the nephew of movie director Francis Ford Coppola.

8. __ Lanka: SRI. Formerly Ceylon.

9. Take down: DEFEAT. Not to write.

10. Lock insert: OAR.  Had to Wite-Out my KEY.

11. Pave the way for: PRECEDE.

12. Panache: ELAN. Another cw oldie goldie.

13. Feint on the ice: DEKE.

14. Mixed martial arts org.: UFC.  Ultimate Fighting Championship.

15. Tabbouleh wheat: BULGUR.  I would've bet it was spelled with an A.  D'oh.

16. Low tie: ONE-ONE.  About as low as you can get.

17. Cost for an online pop-up, e.g.: AD RATE.

18. "Shame on you!": TSK, TSK.

20. Goo made at home with glue, food coloring, and saline solution: SLIME.
 

23. Lotion additive: ALOE.

28. Scottish feudal lord: THANE.  That was the middle name of one of my college roomies.   His last name was Scottish, too.

31. "The Voice" host Carson: DALY. I've never imbibed.

32. Green shampoo: PRELL.
 

33. Nerdy sort: DORK.  Raj of TBBT comes to mind. Howard, too.   Also, Leonard. And Sheldon.  Not Penny.

35. Like much brandy: AGED. Have you ever heard of un-aged brandy?

36. Routine parts: BITS.

37. Tylenol target: ACHE.

38. See-through devices?: EYEPIECES.

40. Smallest state in India: GOA.
 

                                                 And there's 8d at the bottom of the map.

41. Security checkpoint request: ID CARD.

42. Granita kin: SORBET. When is it SORBET and when is it SHERBET?

44. Pool-heating option: SOLAR.

47. Bond that promotes easy communication: RAPPORT.  Not James.

48. Polish Solidarity hero Lech: WALESA.   Anyone else try to spell it with a V?

49. Mythical matchmaker: EROS.

50. Lou Grant player: ED ASNER.  Do you remember him as the morally conflicted ship captain in Roots?  He won an Emmy for the role

52. "To reiterate ... ": I REPEAT.  As I said...

53. Goodyear surface: TIRE TREAD.

54. Novelist O'Brien: EDNA.

55. Workstation: DESK.

58. Claritin rival: CONTAC  Didn't realize it was still around.

61. Archaeological site: DIG.

64. __ cha beef: stir-fry dish: SHA.  The only SHA d-o knows is Sha Na Na.

66. Oh-so-precious: TWEE. British.

67. "__ Nagila": HAVA. Hava Nagila. Have two nagilas, they're very small.

68. Africa's __ Desert: eastern region of the Sahara: NUBIAN.

69. 2021 title role for Peter Dinklage: CYRANO.  
 

                                                     
                                                       He played it without the nose.

70. Vibe: AURA.

71. Died down: EBBED.

79. Unflappable: STAID.   I wanted STOIC here.

81. Leaves in smoothies: KALE.  You're free to enjoy my share.

82. Hide: SKIN.  Noun, not verb.

84. Makes a request: ASKS.

85. Like dessert wines: SWEET.

86. Fur-protesting gp.: PETA.  People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.  Who could be opposed to that?

87. Irritate: IRK.

88. Sportscaster Linda: COHN.
  

90. Sincere attempts: EFFORTS.

93. Dalmatians, e.g.: CROATS.  Dalmatia is on the Adriatic coast of Croatia.

94. Be in charge of: HEAD UP.

95. Old Apple app for pics:  iPHOTO.

96. Woos: COURTS.

97. Player who doesn't mind making bloopers?: HITTER.  Baseball talk, methinks.

98. Church leader: ELDER.

99. Brief meeting?: SESS. Session.

104. Singers below mezzo-sopranos: ALTOS.

105. "Money __": Spanish TV drama: HEIST. 

108. Fall birthstone: OPAL.

109. Fey of "Mean Girls": TINA. 

112. Bluish hue: AQUA.

113. Copy cats?: PURR.  You need to think about this one.

114. Spots: SEES.

116. Once named: NEE.

118. Blonde __: ALE.

119. Recycling __: BIN.

120. Govt. fiscal monitor: OMB.  Office of Management and Budget

121. Mex. neighbor: USA.  Duh.

Here's the grid:

We're all missing Boomer. C.C. is undoubtedly exhausted after this week. Here's hoping she can get in some relax time this coming week and will be ready to emcee next week's Sunday puzzle.

Desper-otto out.

Sunday September 5, 2021 Brad Wiegmann

Theme:  "Parting Company" -  Characters in "Peter Pan" are split up. Circled letters spell out the author J. M. Barrie.

23A. Longtime ABC News anchor [Hero, 1]: PETER JENNINGS.

122A. One-hit wonder [Hero 2]: FLASH IN THE PAN. Peter Pan.

41A. Marvel supersoldier [Villain, 1]: CAPTAIN AMERICA.

98A. Ineffective pitcher's fate, in baseball lingo [Villain 2]: GETTING THE HOOK. Captain Hook.

82A. Kids' building materials [Sidekick 1]: TINKER TOYS.

58A. Santa signal [Sidekick 2]: SLEIGH BELL. Tinker Bell.

85A. Groups of problem-solving specialists [Princess 1]: TIGER TEAMS.

60A. Biblical bloomer [Princess 2]: EASTER LILY. Tiger Lily. 

Looks like this is a Brad Wiegmann's LAT debut. Congrats!  

Peter Pan & Captain Cook are split up symmetrically.  Tinker Bell  & Tiger Lily are not, must be the  extra J. M. Barrie layer.

Brad Wiegmann, XWord Info image

 

Across:

1. Gadgets with teeth: COMBS. Not RAKES.

6. Most favorable: OPTIMAL.

13. Nuts seen in bars: CASHEWS. Often found in Kung Pao chicken. Super spicy.

20. Look forward to: AWAIT.

21. Direct approach: BEE LINE.

22. Theoretically: ON PAPER. Looks good.

25. "The Odd Couple" couple, e.g.: ROOMIES. Five girls in our tiny one-room college dorm the last year. 7 the first year. All bunk beds of course. No heating or air conditioner. Public restroom was at the other end of the floor. Public bathroom was at the other building. But no one was complaining then. We were too young to care.

 26. Menu selections: ENTREES.

27. Old Tokyo: EDO. I think sushi was developed during Edo period.

28. Per __: ANNUM.

29. One of eight Yankee World Series victories: SWEEP.  How many times were they swept in the World Series? Also 108. Yankee quipper?: BERRA.

32. P.O. box item: LTR.

34. Final Four game: SEMI.

37. "Ready Player One" hero Wade __: WATTS. Learning moment for me.

47. Asteroids producer: ATARI.

48. Byzantine architecture features: DOMES.

49. Mardi Gras city, informally: NOLA. So sorry for your ordeals, Susan, SwampCat and Big Easy!

50. Jaye's "The Crying Game" role: DIL. Jaye Davidson played the trans woman Dil. I saw the movie ages ago.

51. Novel category: ROMANCE.

53. Third of eight: EARTH. 56. 53-Across, to Merkel: ERDE.

55. Basic bruise treatment: ICE PACK. Poor Boomer had his right big toe caught in our carpet last Monday morning. The bandages we had just could not stop the bleeding. But you know Boomer. Nothing could stop him from bowling. He came back home with a bloody sock. Now he just has a swollen toe.

62. Physical exam letters: LDL. The bad cholesterol.

63. Mystiques: AURAS.

64. Org. for netmen: ATP.  Association of Tennis Professionals.

65. Had the nerve: DARED.

66. Regional flora and fauna: BIOTA.

68. Wanders about: ROVES.

71. Convenient, like some winter resorts: SKI IN. From Ski.com: "ski in ski out or slopeside access means the accommodations are situated just off the slopes. ... For example, you might have to walk to the chairlift to access the slopes, but then you can ski back to your hotel or condo."

74. Blowup aid: TNT.

77. Courage: SPINE.

79. Sch. with the mascot SuperFrog: TCU. Here he is.

88. Film noir plot device: AMNESIA.

89. Types: MODES.

91. Attribute: ASCRIBE.

92. Robin Roberts' show, initially: GMA. Also guest-hosted "Jeopardy!"

93. Take __: snooze: A NAP.

95. Up to: UNTIL.

97. Toast starter: HERE'S.

102. Nose wrinklers: ODORS.

103. Common stained glass element: LEAD.

104. Org. concerned with flight risks: TSA.

105. "... to say the __": LEAST.

111. Old AT&T rival: GTE.

114. Economic divisions: SECTORS.

119. Lost for now: MISLAID.

125. Pip's love interest in "Great Expectations": ESTELLA.

126. Put back: RESTORE.

127. Nancy Drew series author: KEENE.

128. Rice and wheat: GRASSES. Have you tried wheatgrass juice? Barley grass is popular in Japan.

129. Invite to one's home: ASK OVER.

130. Oscar winner Redmayne: EDDIE. Quite a few names in this grid. Let's see the rest:  2. John Irving's "A Prayer for __ Meany": OWEN. 3. "The Simpsons" creator Groening: MATT. 9. Nastase of tennis: ILIE. 12. Guitarist Paul: LES. 31. Violinist __ Frank: PAMELA. 52. Former Labor secretary Elaine: CHAO. 67. Model Sastre: INES. 69. NBAer-cum-rap star: ONEAL. 71. Immortal football coach Amos Alonzo __: STAGG. 72. Last Oscars host (2018): KIMMEL. 83. "Knives Out" filmmaker Johnson: RIAN. 106. Ed with Emmys: ASNER. 119. Eldest of the "Little Women": MEG. 122. Renaissance artist __ Angelico: FRA.

Down:

1. Darth Vader accessory: CAPE.

4. Oktoberfest quaff: BIER. What kind of beer do you drink, D-Otto? Canned or bottled?

 5. Freaking out: STRESSING.

6. Too big for one's own good: OBESE. You don't find this word in Don G's grids.

7. Script writer: PEN.

8. Messi's uniform number: TEN. Lionel Messi left Barcelona last month, after Rich edited this puzzle. I'm sure. Now his jersey number is 30.

10. It's often made up in advance: MIND.

11. Luanda's land: ANGOLA.

13. Food wrapped in silk: CORN.

14. Soon, to a bard: ANON.

15. Union member?: SPOUSE. Fun clue.

16. Rapper Stanley Burrell, familiarly: HAMMER. MC Hammer. U Can't Touch This.

17. Prefix with Pen: EPI.

18. Like a few hours after midnight: WEE.

19. H.S. bigwigs: SRS.

24. Yeshiva grad: JEW.

28. Florence's river: ARNO.

30. Friendly opening?: ECO. Eco-friendly.

33. Soldier's helmet: TIN HAT.

35. Place for a slam dunk: MID-AIR.

36. Result of a drip, at times: ICICLE.

37. Cola __: WARS.

38. Reef formation: ATOLL.

39. Got under control: TAMED.

40. Off-road vehicle: TRAIL BIKE.

42. Sounds of thunder: PEALS.

43. Original Dungeons & Dragons co.: TSR. Tactical Studies Rules.

44. Touched down: ALIT.

45. Nutmeg spice: MACE.

46. Synthetic resin used in paint: ALKYD. Jazzbumpa knows this.

48. Budding star's big moment: DEBUT.

54. Something for two, in song: TEA.

57. Wasted: PLASTERED.

59. Terpsichore : dance :: __ : love poetry: ERATO.

61. Julep garnish: SPRIG.

70. __ libre: poetry form: VERS.  Free verse.

73. Like talent, many say: INNATE.

75. Lorelei et al.: NYMPHS.

76. Chinese culinary general: TSO. Mentioned before, I never had this in China. Chinese American food.

77. Note taker: STENO.

78. Energetic type: PISTOL.

80. Capital on the Nile: CAIRO.

81. Brown shade: UMBER.

84. Blue __: Dory's species: TANG. Dory is the Pixar fish voiced by Ellen DeGeneres.

86. Knickknack: TCHOTCHKE. What a unique word.

87. Cong. meeting: SESS. Session.

90. "Boy, am I dumb!": DUH.

94. Encouraging word?: ATTA.

96. '50s prez: IKE.

99. They may be reserved: TABLES.

100. Core values: IDEALS.

101. "Peaceful Easy Feeling" group, with "The": EAGLES.

107. Matching pair: SET. I've been helping Boomer with his eBay stuff. He mostly has "lots". "Beautiful lot of Joe Mauer cards". Always cracks me up. 

109. Infuriate: RILE.

110. Old cereal box stats: RDAS. Recommended Dietary Allowances.

112. Piece of work: TASK.

113. __ perpetua: Idaho motto: ESTO. Boomer's cousin Tom Burnikel lives in Twin Falls.

115. Ready to drive: TEED.

116. Slanted page: OP-ED.

117. Hindu princess: RANI. Opposite of RAJA.

118. Old dagger: SNEE.

120. El Al's home: Abbr.: ISR.

121. Metro stop: Abbr.: STA.

123. __ lane: HOV.

124. Wrath: IRE.

C.C.