Wednesday, October 23, 2019, Gary Larson

Theme: CANDY COAT. A timely Halloween theme, these are all candies that might be found in a trick-or-treat bag. Clueing for this had to have been chewy. (See what I did there?)

17. Treats for a comedian?: SNICKERS. Favorite theme clue, and favorite candy bar.

26. Treats for a teacher?: SMARTIES. This is where the theme appeared for me. Remember Horshack, the penultimate smarty-pants?

40. Treats for an oil tycoon?: GUSHERS. Here's an impressive one. But not near as impressive as the Lakeview Gusher Number One in Kern County, California, in 1910. It created the largest accidental oil spill in history, lasting 18 months and releasing 9 million barrels (1.4×10⁶ m³) of crude oil.

50. Treats for a submarine pilot?: WARHEADS. From Wikipedia: A ballistic missile submarine ("Boomer") is a submarine capable of deploying submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs) with nuclear warheads.

64. Treats for a fisher?: WHOPPERS. Definition: a thing that is extremely or unusually large.

Across:

1. Victoria's Secret purchase: BRA.

4. US Open stadium named for a US Open winner: ASHE. Arthur. Saw him here just yesterday. His widow is the celebrated photographer Jeanne Moutoussamy-Ashe. They adopted a daughter in 1986. She was named Camera, after her mother's profession.

8. Calm: SEDATE.

14. Couple's word: OUR.

15. Ostrich relative: RHEA.

16. Swaps: TRADES.

19. Scold harshly: RAIL AT.

20. Blacken on the outside: SEAR.

21. Name in the makeup aisle: ESTEE. Lauder.

23. Mars rover org.: NASA.

24. Young newt: EFT.

28. Headboard pole: BEDPOST. Fitting question for this sweet theme, does your chewing gum lose its flavor on the bedpost overnight?

32. "I'm down with that": OKAY.

33. More likely to cause skidding: ICIER.

34. Santa's reindeer, e.g.: OCTET. Plus Rudolph makes it nine, or a nonad. How Santa's reindeer got their names.

36. Family game room: DEN.

39. Semicircle, e.g.: ARC.

42. Wild way to go: APE.

43. Lawyer's advice: SUE.

44. Prefix with personal: INTER.

45. Blender maker: OSTER.

47. "True Detective" rating: TVMA. Mature audiences only (18 or older).

48. Browned in butter: SAUTEED. That works, but it could be any oil.

54. Pontiac muscle car: GTO.

55. Way out there: AFAR.

56. Bel __: creamy cheese: PAESE. Was not familiar with this cheese.

58. Miranda __ of "Homeland": OTTO.

62. Destroyed, as documents: TORE UP.

66. Clothes line: CREASE. Nice.

67. Snakelike fish: EELS. The plural was tricky.

68. Feel crummy: AIL. Aw.

69. Drove on the trail: HERDED.

70. Some stay at home: DADS.

71. Pooh pal: ROO.

Down:

1. Supervisor: BOSS.

2. Old character: RUNE. Another good clue.

3. Bizet's "Habanera," e.g.: ARIA. From Carmen.

4. Genesis vessel: ARK.

5. Units in a ream: SHEETS.

6. "His," to Bierce: HERS. The Devil's Dictionary is a satirical dictionary written by American Civil War soldier, journalist, and writer Ambrose Bierce consisting of common words followed by humorous and satirical definitions. Other entries include: Love (n.) A temporary insanity curable by marriage; Marriage (n.) A household consisting of a master, a mistress, and two slaves, making in all, two; and Positive (a.) Mistaken at the top of one's voice.

7. Bridge seats: EASTS. Card game.

8. Runner in the raw: STREAKER. Don't look, Ethel!

9. Victorian __: ERA.

10. Like porcelain teacups: DAINTY.

11. Estes' ticket-mate: ADLAI. 1956 DNC, Adlai Stevenson was the nominee, with running mate for VP Senator Estes Kefauver of Tennessee. Stevenson and Kefauver lost the election to incumbent President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Vice President Richard M. Nixon 57.4% to 42%.

12. Give body to, as hair: TEASE.

13. "¿Cómo __?": ESTÁS. Spanish for "How are you?"

18. __ de chine: light fabric: CREPE.

22. Actors, often: EMOTERS.

25. Let bygones be bygones: FORGIVE.

27. Informs on: RATS OUT.

28. Media critic's concern: BIAS.

29. Linen hue: ECRU.

30. They're spotted in casinos: DICE. Awesome.

31. Taqueria order: TOSTADA.

35. Michael of "SNL": CHE.

36. "It's a __!": DATE.

37. Weapon with two accents: EPEE.

38. Unlikely candidate for prom king: NERD. 

41. Not charted: UNMAPPED.

46. Brownstone porch: STOOP. Brownstone is a building material. Inside A $15M Brooklyn Brownstone.

47. Fine line: THREAD.

49. Antediluvian: AGE OLD.

50. Item on a wrist: WATCH.

51. Earlier than, to poets: AFORE.

52. Not as common: RARER. Hard to pronounce.

53. Put in stitches: SEWED.

57. Miracle Mets' stadium: SHEA.

59. Drop from an eye: TEAR.

60. Jazz __: TRIO.

61. Sonja Henie's birthplace: OSLO.

63. Play for a sap: USE.

65. Message afterthoughts: Abbr.: PSS. Post scripts.

Sunday, October 20, 2019 Gary Larson

Theme: "Off to a Good Start" - The first words of all the theme entries are synonyms of "good".

22A. Awesome product component?: CHILL FACTOR.

24A. Awesome mattress covering?: DOPE SHEET.

43A. Awesome plumbing connector?: TIGHT FITTING.
 
68A. Awesome hobby?: HOT PURSUIT.

70A. Awesome hunting dog?: HIP POINTER.

88A. Awesome entitlement?: RADICAL RIGHT.

113A. Awesome suit fabric?: BOSS TWEED.

115A. Awesome predicament?: SWEET PICKLE.

Each first word has a totally different meaning than "good", awesome!

I'm not familiar with "tight" and "radical" as "good". Is it common or new slang?
 
Across:

1. Dojo maneuver: CHOP.

5. Guitarist Joe of The Eagles: WALSH.

10. Wilts: SAGS.

14. Start of an incantation: ABRA. Do you have Abra auto repair shop in your area? 

18. The last Mrs. Chaplin: OONA.

19. Slow down: BRAKE.

20. Shiraz's land: IRAN.

21. Trickle: SEEP.

26. Step on it: INSOLE. Nice clue.

27. Stuck a fork in: STABBED.

29. Glenn Miller Orchestra singer Ray: EBERLE. Unknown to me. The guy on the left.

30. Immortal name in dance: ASTAIRE.

32. Ultimatum word: ELSE.

33. Staring-into-space experiences: TRANCES.

34. DEA agent: NARCO.

36. Court game word: ALAI. Jai alai.

39. Routine: ACT.

40. Stubborn critter: ASS.

48. Tiny toiler: ANT.

49. Fall collection?: LEAVES. We have quite a collection in our yard.

51. More consequence?: MERRIER. The more, the merrier.

52. Poetic adverb: OFT.

54. "__ & Basie": 1963 jazz collaboration: ELLA.

55. "True Detective" actor McNairy: SCOOT.

56. Bump from the schedule: PREEMPT.

60. Peacock's pride: PLUMAGE. I'll be proud too if I have plumage like this.

64. QVC sister channel: HSN.

65. Shot in the arm: BOOST.

66. Wall St. trader: ARB. Arbitrator. (Correction: It's arbitrager. Thanks, Sandyanon.)

72. Bit of legal advice: SUE.

73. Lose control: GO APE.

74. Chicken dinner choice: LEG. Roasted pigeons are very popular in Guangzhou.

75. Support: ENDORSE.

76. Gallivant: TRAIPSE.

78. Sound: NOISE.

80. Wine choice: ROSE.

81. Originally called: NEE. Wang for me.

82. Tool in a kit: NAIL GUN.

84. Shadowed: TAILED.

86. Low-tech note-taking aid: PAD. Scored a few cute pads during my last Marshalls' trip.

91. Snake's sound: SSS.

92. Zodiac animal: RAM.

93. Vacation spot: ISLE.

94. "Truly, the souls of men are full of __": Shak.: DREAD.

96. "We the Living" novelist: AYN RAND. Never heard of the book.

100. Big drink of water: SWIG.

104. Retail outlets: EMPORIA.

108. Low wind: BREEZE.

109. Like some receptions: CATERED.

112. In a showily pretentious manner: ARTILY.

117. Tennis great Nastase: ILIE.

118. Villain named Julius: DR NO.

119. Points at the dinner table: TINES.

120. Pepsi rival: COKE. Only Pepsi in our home.

121. Picnic staple: SLAW.

122. Cereal grain: OATS. I finally tried oat milk for the first time. It's a bit thin but pretty good with cocoa powder.

123. Mocking sarcasm: SNARK.

124. Arab leader: EMIR.

Down:

1. Movie mogul Harry and sportscaster Linda: COHNS. Wiki said Harry Cohn co-founded Columbia Pictures.

2. Lift: HOIST.

3. Checked out at the library: ON LOAN.

4. Ease, as symptoms: PALLIATE.

5. Ring org.: WBA. Boxing ring.

6. Scythe blade shapes: ARCS.

7. Starbucks serving: LATTE.

8. Bar word meaning "cup" in Danish: SKOAL. The fight song for Vikings is "Skol,Vikings".

9. Sage and thyme: HERBS.

10. Pro or con: SIDE.

11. 2000s Yankee nickname: A-ROD.

12. Sign of something missing: GAP.

13. Unkind look: SNEER.

14. Whitish: ASHEN.

15. Tailgate party recyclable: BEER CAN.

16. Campaign poster word: REELECT.

17. Most pertinent: APTEST.

22. Org. in Clancy novels: CIA.

23. Wheel inventor: FERRIS.

25. Govt. agency that aids entrepreneurs: SBA. Small Business Administration.

28. "Get lost!": BEAT IT.

31. Hosp. readout: ECG. All too familiar to Dennis.

33. Bolivian export: TIN.

35. Units of resistance: OHMS.

37. '80s-'90s Compaq laptop model: LTE. No idea.

38. Prepare sans oil, as a movie treat: AIR POP.

40. Israeli leaders?: ALEPHS. First letter in Hebrew.

41. Betray: SELL OUT.

42. Soldier, at times: SALUTER.

44. Electronics whiz: TECHIE. A few T's on our blog. Tony, TTP and the Hainan Tom (a la Carmen, D-Otto), all vets.

45. "Mending Wall" poet: FROST.

46. Wrinkle remover: IRON.

47. Continues: GOES ON.

48. Supplier of bills: ATM.

50. Seductress: VAMP.

53. Far from fragrant: FETID.

57. It may be skipped: ROPE.

58. Security rounds: PATROLS.

59. Locks: TRESSES.

61. Bellow title hero March: AUGIE. Also unknown to me.

62. One looking for a switch, maybe: GROPER.

63. Those, in Tijuana: ESAS.

65. Coastal California scenic attraction: BIG SUR.

67. Basenji and Borzoi: BREEDS.

69. Flips: UPENDS.

70. Katherine of "Suits": HEIGL.

71. Edible seaweed: NORI.

74. 1970 Kinks hit: LOLA.

77. What's more: AND.

78. Like Miss Congeniality: NICEST.

79. Writer Bagnold: ENID.

83. Trouble: AIL.

84. Prominent, after "on": THE MAP. Took me forever to identify this song. Has anyone heard of Mindme or Ebba? The song is amazing. 

85. "... but it'll cost you": AT A PRICE.

86. __ tax: PAYROLL.

87. "The Bourne Identity" malady: AMNESIA.

89. Assist: AID.

90. Test for M.A. seekers: GRE.

92. Yeshiva leaders: RABBIS.

95. One involved in a speculative "bubble": DOTCOM.

97. Fix, as a hem: RESEW.

98. AIDS-fighting drug: AZT.

99. Salon overhaul: NEW DO.

101. Bridge positions: WESTS.

102. Novelist Shaw: IRWIN.

103. Actress Davis: GEENA.

105. Kipling's "__-Tikki-Tavi": RIKKI.

106. Less well: ILLER. Ill is good too.

107. Word of support: AYE.

109. Small change: CENT.

110. Bothers: ADOS.

111. Critter on XING signs: DEER.

114. Notable time: ERA.

116. Word of reproof: TSK.

 C.C.

Sunday September 22, 2019 Gary Larson

Theme: - "Film Openings" - Each familiar phrase is re-phrased as if the first word is a film.

22A. Review of a 2013 Disney musical?: FROZEN ACCOUNT.

39A. 1:58 for the duration of a 2016 Amy Adams sci-fi flick?: ARRIVAL TIME.
 
70A. Author of a 1990 Swayze/Moore fantasy romance?: GHOST WRITER.

101A. Box-office receipts for a 1988 Tom Hanks comedy?: BIG BUSINESS.
 
117A. First draft of a 1995 De Niro/Pacino thriller?: HEAT TREATMENT.

16D TV commercial for a 1983 Chevy Chase comedy?: VACATION SPOT.

62D. Pretentious chatter about a 1960 Hitchcock thriller?: PSYCHO BABBLE.

Lots of one-named films. Many are not workable as they can't be put in phrases. Argo, Goodfellas, etc.

Upper left and lower right have triple-stacks of 8s. Very themeless-like. Amazing.

Across:

1. DSL provider: ISP. Ours is CenturyLink.

4. MSNBC rival: CNN.

7. Living room piece: DIVAN.

12. Tennyson poem that begins, "I waited for the train at Coventry": GODIVA.

18. Extreme degree: NTH.

19. Sushi topping: ROE.

20. Saudi neighbor: OMANI.

21. Turkey's highest peak: ARARAT. Noah's Ark landed there.


25. Small shooter: MINICAM. Pic-shooter.

27. Green-winged night flier: LUNA MOTH.

28. Sudden air movement: GUST.

30. Olympic skater Baiul: OKSANA. 70. Medal for 30-Across: GOLD. She won a gold medal in the 1994 Winter Olympics.

31. Singer with numerically named albums: ADELE. "19," "21" and "25".

32. Vocalist Kitt: EARTHA.

35. Job for an actor: ROLE.

37. Hanoi holiday: TET.

38. Place for a béret: TETE. 63. Leader in a beret: CHE. Guevara.


41. QB's stat: INT.

42. Inventor Otis: ELISHA.

44. Macho guy: MAN'S MAN. Great fill.

45. Reduce bit by bit: ERODE.

47. U.S. Army medal: DSC.

48. Spoke at length: ORATED.

51. George who was VP for both Jefferson and Madison: CLINTON. Wiki says "Along with John C. Calhoun, he is one of two vice presidents to hold office under two presidents". Our local Lake Calhoun, where constructor Andrea Carla Michaels grew up,  is now named Bde Maka Ska. Hard to remember. Calhoun was pro-slavery.

Boomer, Lori, Andrea and Tom Pepper

53. Three-time Oscar-winning director: CAPRA.

54. Stand-in: SUB.

57. Closes securely: SEALS UP.

60. How some stock is sold: AT PAR.

65. Hammock rests: NAPS.

68. Star NFL player: ALL-PRO. And 99. West Coast NFLer: LA RAM.

69. Great, in slang: BOSS. Unfamiliar to me.

73. Many ages: EONS.

74. Prefix with currency or zoology: CRYPTO. Cryptocurrency is such a complex concept.

76. Tool for a duel: EPEE.

77. Pretentious talk: GAS. 78. Pretentious: ARTSY.

79. Events with tea, perhaps: SOCIALS. Cantonese love "Yum Cha", literally "Drink tea". Retired people often go to afternoon tea every day. Chitchat and eat dim sum.

81. Word on a dipstick: ADD.

83. Book IDs: ISBNS.

85. Not easily able: HARD PUT.

88. Expired: RAN OUT.

90. Cassis aperitif: KIR.

93. Performed with brilliance: SHONE.

95. High-spirited horse: ARABIAN.

98. Diva Dion: CELINE.

100. __ mentality: MOB.

104. Sugar bowl marchers: ANTS.

105. Professional org. since 1847: AMA.

106. Sans accomplice: LONE.

107. California wine valley: SONOMA. Also a Kohl's brand.

108. Titled rapper: DR DRE.

109. Immortal NBA first name: LEBRON.

111. Go yachting: SAIL.

113. By birth, what Professor Jones wasn't, surprisingly: INDIANAN. OK, I just found out he was born in Princeton, New Jersey.

115. West African country: LIBERIA.

120. Bordeaux wine: CLARET.

121. Houston player: ASTRO.

122. Host's invitation: SIT.

123. Perceive: SEE.

124. Conger catchers: EELERS.

125. Second-stringers: B TEAM.

126. General on a menu: TSO.

127. Benchmark: Abbr.: STD.

Down:

1. Blew up: INFLATED.

2. Pastries from the German for "whirlpool": STRUDELS. Fixtures at the annual Graybar Christmas luncheon.

3. Like the spelling "kuh-zin" for "cousin," e.g.: PHONETIC.

4. Oreo filling: CREME.

5. Laying-down-the-law item: NO NO.

6. More orderly: NEATER.

7. Holliday title: DOC.

8. Texting qualifier: IMO.

9. Jazz singer Sarah: VAUGHAN. For Wendy and Jack. We just had SARAH clued as "Vaughan of Jazz" two weeks ago.

10. Yearbooks, say: ANNUALS.

11. Tiny complaints: NITS.

12. School of whales: GAM. I only know POD.

13. Brightly plumed songbird: ORIOLE.

14. German thanks: DANKE.

15. Tennessee state flower: IRIS. Our delicate state flowers.

17. Finished: AT AN END.

23. "The Diamond Store": ZALES.

24. Blacken: CHAR.

26. Not a shiny finish: MATTE.

29. Courtroom event: TRIAL.

33. Winter coat: RIME. And 43. Winter coat: HOAR.

34. Super Bowl highlights?: TV ADS.  Sure in our household.

36. Old Dodges: OMNIS.

39. Group lobbying for lower drug prices: AARP.

40. HBO competitor: TMC.

45. Series-ending abbr.: ET AL.

46. Painting aids: ROLLERS.

49. St. Louis landmark: ARCH.

50. Western resort: TAHOE.

52. Within reach: NEAR.

53. Sea in two continents: CASPIAN. Asian & Europe.

55. Single: UNWED.

56. Tavern: BAR.

58. Footed vases: URNS.

59. Ring-around-the-rosy bouquet: POSY.

60. Beginner's class material: ABCS.

61. Corrida opponent: TORO.

64. Debatable ability: ESP.

66. Orwell's Napoleon, for one: PIG. "Animal Farm".

67. Unwanted spot: STAIN. D-Otto uses Spray 'n Wash. Mango stains are not easy to remove.

71. Wonderland drink: TEA.

72. Canadian tank filler: ESSO.

75. Container weight: TARE. A regular in our old Tribute Daily days.

78. Chip in chips: ANTE.

80. New World colonizer: SPAIN.

82. Exhaust: DRAIN.

84. Pittsburgh Pirates nickname: BUCS.

86. Prods: URGES.

87. Keyboard key: TAB.

89. __ Domini: ANNO.

90. Subject of some random acts: KINDNESS. Blessed to have so many kind souls on our blog.

91. Private info-sharing system: INTRANET.

92. Begrudged: RESENTED.

93. Wee: SMALL.

94. Hockey advantage: HOME ICE.

96. Most hectic: BUSIEST. And 103. Least out there: SANEST.

97. Quarantine: ISOLATE.

101. More scrawny: BONIER.

102. Qatari leader: EMIR.

106. Mr. Moto portrayer: LORRE.

108. "Same here": DITTO.

110. Honest-to-goodness: REAL.

112. Queequeg's captain: AHAB.

114. Speaker's spot: DAIS.

116. @ signs: ATS.

118. Musical syllable: TRA.

119. Cruise, for one: TOM. The best Toms are on our blog.

Here are a few photos from Hahtoolah's Capri trip. She said "The water here is crystal clear. Alas, no beaches, but it is great for boating."

Thursday, August 15th, 2019 Gary Larson

Theme:

39A. Come to a compromise ... and a homophonic hint to what each of four long answers contains: MEET IN THE MIDDLE

17A. E-cig user's package: VAPOR KIT. Food! Funny, I just made a Mexican pork dish last night, pork pibil. it was dee-lish, great tacos. A friend suggested I swap out the tomatillos in the sauce for cumquat, I like that idea for the acid element. I'll report back.

24A. Place for an apian colony: HONEY BEE FARM

51A. Self-arming protection system: PASSIVE ALARM

64A. Beach party with shellfish: CLAMBAKE

Plain and straightforward theme from Gary. Nothing to complain about - except maybe "VAPOR KIT". I'd never heard of that, and Google seems to agree with me. It seems a little contrived. "VAPE" yes, otherwise - not so much.

So moving on:

Across:

1. "Cheers" cheer: NORM!

5. Lyft or Uber: APP

8. Makes fun of: MOCKS

13. Melville's "Typee" sequel: OMOO. Has anyone actually read this? It crops up in many crosswords - and has anyone actually read "Typee"? "Moby Dick" was a slog.

14. Seafood delicacy: ROE

15. "Oh, darn!": AW, RATS! Charlie Brown's favorite exclamation.

19. Dollhouse accessory: TEA SET. TEA POT slowed me down.

20. Playground retort: ARE SO!

21. ER "Now!": STAT!

23. "What fun!": WHEE!. There's a lot of exclamations today. I used to work for a Dubliner in London who called the exclamation point a "shriek". I got to like it. I asked him for the password to a computer account once when I was new, and he told me "shriek or shriek ..." I was thoroughly confused ... until I discovered he was saying "!R!". So if you want to know the password to the database administrator account at [redacted], it's "Shriek or Shriek password"

27. Married person: SPOUSE

30. "Furthermore ... ": ALSO ...

31. Keats' "Sylvan historian": URN.

Thou still unravish'd bride of quietness,

       Thou foster-child of silence and slow time,

Sylvan historian, who canst thus express

       A flowery tale more sweetly than our rhyme:

32. Actor McShane and novelist McEwan: IANS. I'm fans of both.

35. Fields of study: AREAS

43. Offspring: SPAWN. Usually "hell-spawn" for some reason.

44. Merrie __ England: OLDE. The Renaissance Fair doesn't really do justice to how pretty nasty conditions were in "Merry Old England".

45. Alumna bio word: NÉE

46. "Argo" setting: IRAN

48. One of the four Evangelists: ST. MARK. Matthew, Luke and John were his Evangelist compadres.

56. May, to Peter Parker: AUNT

57. North-of-the-border brand: ESSO. Across-the-Atlantic brand too.

58. Kick to the next level: AMP UP

62. Scribe: WRITER

66. Inhumane one: SADIST. Actually, the Marquis de Sade gets a little bum rap for this, so I've read.

67. The whole lot: ALL.

68. Frank: OPEN

69. Flows slowly: SEEPS

70. Chi follower: PSI

71. Gridiron play: PASS

Down:

1. Super star: NOVA. So here's a little musical interlude to a "supernova" band who apparently predicted their explosion to fame and implosion in an omnishambles quite accurately. Damn, they were good.

2. "Rubáiyát" poet Khayyám: OMAR. I'm glad I didn't have to go look for the diacriticals in the clue, I'd have been busy all day.

3. One may be tied around a saddle horn: ROPE

4. Chinese dish with pancakes: MOO SHU. Food!

5. Torah holder: ARK

6. Composure: POISE

7. Picayune: PETTY

8. Fisher-Price parent: MATTEL. They have a "Hot Wheels" branded bus that ferries folk between their two campuses in El Segundo her in LA. It's pretty cool. When you are waiting in the lobby they have a "bus cam" so you can see where it is.

9. Need to pay: OWE

10. "Mommie Dearest" mommie: CRAWFORD

11. Buckwheat dish: KASHA. I had never heard of this before, so, obviously, I'm going to make it at the weekend and see what's what.

12. Ranch critter: STEER. Critter? Terrible clue.

16. Goblet part: STEM

18. Outback hoppers: ROOS

22. Cut down to size: ABASED

25. Teutonic turndown: NEIN

26. Morales of "La Bamba": ESAI

27. Basic math homework: SUMS

28. Help the chef: PREP. You're welcome to join me in my kitchen. I'll prep for you if you'll return the favor.

29. Draft card designation: ONE-A

33. More than apologizes: ATONES

34. Org. with Canadiens and Canucks: NHL

36. Poet St. Vincent Millay: EDNA

37. Astro or Angel: AL'ER. Baseball, ask C.C.

38. Car radio button: SEEK

40. Drawstring alternative: TWIST TIE. Creative clue.

41. Crucifix letters: INRI

42. Painted Desert landform: MESA

47. Heads off: AVERTS

49. Airport conveyance: TRAM. The longest and most aggravating tram contest is a three-way playoff between San Franscisco, Atlanta and Newark.

50. 1997 chart-topper for Hanson: MMMBOP. I looked it up on YouTube. The chorus was vaguely familiar. What I was stunned about was the ads for the current tour. I assumed they all retired when their voices broke.

51. Bear hands: PAWS

52. Mysterious glows: AURAS

53. Like some remarks: SNIDE

54. Music licensing fee-collecting org.: ASCAP

55. Takes it easy: LOLLS.

59. Nickname for Haydn: PAPA

60. Hawaiian strings: UKES.

61. Rollerball items: PENS I was trying to fit rollerskate-related items in here, then I looked at what I was holding in my hand.

63. Ability to pick things up?: ESP

65. Boxing legend: ALI. I know I've said before, I "met" Muhammad once in an elevator at Warner Bros. We had an understanding not to approach anyone you ran into on the lot, but I couldn't resist shaking his hand and calling him "Champ". He was an amazing man.

With that, here's the grid.

Steve

Notes from C.C.:

Good luck to Picard (Robert), who's having a major surgery today. Please send positive thoughts to his way.

Picard and his Wife, Tahoe, 2016

Sunday July 28, 2019 Gary Larson

Theme: "End Game" - The end of each theme entry is a type of game. Each theme entry is punnily clued.

 

22. Card game for students?: CLASS WAR.

24. Card game for the lovelorn?: LONELY HEARTS.

43. Board game for spies?: COVERT OPERATION. Unaware of the game. Wiki says "is a battery-operated game of physical skill that tests players' hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills."

66. Card game for plumbers?: BATHTUB GIN.

68. Playground game for bellhops?: LUGGAGE TAG.

86. Card game for office temps?: SHORT-TERM MEMORY. No memory of this game at all.

110. Card game for auto mechanics?: GREASY SPOONS.

113. Board game for tightrope walkers?: HIGH RISK.
  
It would be super tight if Gary limited all theme entries to all games. I bet he tried but could not find enough theme entries. Reminds me a bit of James Sajdak "card game" a few years ago.

Across:

1. "Welcome" site: MAT.

4. Word clarified by the minute hand: PAST. Oh, like "ten past six".

8. Rainbows, e.g.: ARCS.

12. __-Trinity National Forest, California's largest: SHASTA. Any of you been there?

18. Bullring bravo: OLE.

19. In __: as found: SITU.

20. Haul contents: LOOT.

21. Seafood sauce: TARTAR. Boomer likes it with his Aldi fish sticks

27. Waffling: HESITANT.

28. Donnybrook: MELEE.

29. Easy __: AS PIE.

30. Roll call calls: AYES.

31. Hungers (for): LUSTS.

34. __ Gherardini, memorable portrait subject: LISA. D'oh! Mona Lisa. I never knew her surname.

36. Cub with dingers: SOSA.

37. Abbr. on old maps: SSR.

38. Quad minus two?: STEREO. OK, four speakers minus two.

40. Hang (around) as friends: PAL.

41. Medical implants: STENTS.

46. Paid military group, briefly: MERCS.  Mercenaries.

48. Herr Schindler: OSKAR.

49. Stable serving: HAY. Horse's stable.

50. Cpl.'s superior: SGT.

53. Spock's father: SAREK. No idea.

54. ... with __ organized crime: TIES TO.

57. Catch: SNARE.

59. "For every child" rights group: UNICEF. Lots of celebrity goodwill ambassadors.

61. Lyft rival: UBER.

63. Place for a dip: POND.

65. Morlock victims: ELOI.

70. Hideous folklore figure: OGRE.

71. Bull, say: MALE.

72. Youngsters: KIDS.

73. Literature Nobelist Gordimer: NADINE. South African.

74. Big name at The Hershey Company: REESE.

76. Shade tree: LINDEN. Has any you seen these flowers? It's called 洋槐花 in Chinese and we eat the flowers. This article says it's popular in North America. But I've never seen one in person.

78. Flax fabric: LINEN.

79. Supporter of arms, for short: NRA. Nice clue.

80. Hispanic leader in a beret: CHE.

82. Sandwiches for dessert: OREOS.

85. Meted (out): DOLED.

90. Taylor's on-again, off-again romance: BURTON (Richard)

93. Unseld of the NBA: WES.

94. Make bubbly: AERATE.

95. Fairy queen: MAB.

98. Manual reader: USER.

99. Excited about, with "on": KEEN.

101. Year's record: ANNAL.

102. Taiwanese tea drink: BOBA. More commonly "Bubble tea". The chewy balls at the bottom are made of tapioca flour. 

103. Skin flick: NUDIE.

105. Caribbean cruise stop: ARUBA.

107. Man of letters?: PAT SAJAK. Another great clue.

114. Boyd who was married to Clapton: PATTIE. George Harrison too.

115. Nullify: UNDO.

116. "Of course": I SEE.

117. Driver's helper: TEE. Golf club.

118. Gets some shuteye: SLEEPS.

119. Lentil, e.g.: SEED.

120. Pinochle combo: MELD.

121. Eight-time Norris Trophy winner: ORR. Here is the full list. He won it 8 consecutive times (1968–75).

Down:

1. McDonald's drink orders: MOCHAS.

2. They may be blind: ALLEYS.

3. Movie preview: TEASER.

4. Subtle "Check this out!": PSST.

5. Former Sony brand: AIWA.

6. Comic book legend: STAN LEE.

7. John of "Quiz Show": TURTURRO. Regular in Coen brothers' movies.

8. Apiece, in scores: ALL.

9. Shares a place (with): ROOMS.

10. Holiday garland item: CONE.

11. First-rate: STELLAR.

12. Eye sores: STYES.

13. "I told you so!": HAH.

14. Specialty: AREA.

15. Nine-time presidential contender Harold: STASSEN. He died shortly before I came to Minnesota.

16. Atlantic game fish: TARPON.

17. Con __: ARTIST.

23. Bro's counterpart: SIS.

25. Bizet opera priestess: LEILA.

26. High or heavy bodies: SEAS.

32. Jazz club units: SETS. And 33. Had a break between 32-Down: TOOK TEN.

35. Most populous continent: ASIA.

38. Certain wrench component: SOCKET.

39. Boob tubes: TVS.

40. German : Vater :: French : __: PERE. Vater, Father. We also have 43. French for "mangers": CRECHES. 62. "Très __": BIEN.

42. Santa's sackful: TOYS. Sure miss our Santa! So grateful dear Spitzboov was able to see Argyle and gave up an update before he passed away.

44. Strong "pocket" holding in Hold 'em: PAIR.

45. Flip-flop: THONG.

46. Le Carré's "The Night __": MANAGER.

47. Land on the Red Sea: ERITREA.

50. Soup cracker: SALTINE.

51. Reacted to corn, maybe: GROANED. Corny, but Agnes loves her sweet corn.

52. Model Chrissy: TEIGEN. Wife of John Legend. Very outspoken.

53. Induce, as perjury: SUBORN. New word to me.

55. Tater: SPUD.

56. Clothing: TOGS.

58. In an impoverished way: NEEDILY.

60. Big fairy tale character word: FUM.

61. Wrinkly fruit: UGLI. They are in every grocery store now.

64. Patrick with a simulcast sports show: DAN.

67. Farm machine: BALER.

68. Center, for one: LINEMAN.

69. In copious amounts: GALORE.

72. Golden State Warriors coach Steve: KERR.

75. Amazon speaker brand: ECHO. CrossEyedDave has this gadget.

77. Female antelopes: DOES.

81. Word before "if you like" on some stickers: HONK.

83. Eclipse, maybe: OMEN.

84. Sistine Chapel ceiling figures: SERAPHIM. Plural of "Seraph".

85. Period, e.g.: DOT.

86. Groove: STRIATE. This showed up when I googled.

87. Pipsqueak: TWERP.

88. Lacking a sound basis: TENUOUS.

89. Pre-head cold feeling: MALAISE.

90. Keg stopper: BUNG. Also a new term to me.

91. Takes by force: USURPS.

92. Start the hand over: RE-DEAL.

95. Cuban rum drink: MOJITO.

96. Bully, often: ABASER.

97. Either original "PTL Club" co-host: BAKKER. Jim or Tammy Faye Bakker.

 

100. Relieves: EASES.

101. "Storage Wars" network: A AND E.

102. Setting for many a joke: BAR.

104. One of four direcciones: ESTE. Directions.

106. Paleontologist's discovery: BONE.

108. Neutrogena shampoo brand: T GEL. Never used this shampoo.

109. Shake off: SHED.

111. Pup's cry: YIP.

112. Early Great Plains building material: SOD.

C.C.