Monday, January 12, 2026, Patti Varol

Theme:  Multitasking.

Constructor Patti Varol has been editing and creating puzzles for more than twenty years, and is the editor of the Los Angeles Times crossword, so she knows the rules!  Today Patti has hidden the various functions of an "all-in-one" multifunction printer in four long grid entries.  This puzzle is perfect for those of you who hate circles; you'll have to find those printer functions yourself!  Luckily, they appear at the end of the long entries, so they're not too hard to see.

The theme clues and answers are:

17-Across. 1980s Atari racing game: SUPER SPRINT.  Super Sprint was a 1986 racing video game developed and published by Atari Games for arcades.  I watched my son play racing games at arcades, but have no specific memory of this title.  You can see from the illustration that it was a multiplayer game.  The last five letters spell out our first printer function:  PRINT.

29-Across. Minimally invasive surgical procedure: ARTHROSCOPY.  Arthroscopy involves inserting a tiny camera (arthroscope) into a small incision on a joint in order to examine and sometimes treat damage to the joint.  The procedure has multiple possible targets:  knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle, hip, and wrist.  The last four letters spell out our second printer function:  COPY.

Ouch.

45-Across. Hall of Fame pitcher who threw four no-hitters for the Dodgers: SANDY KOUFAX.  Sandy Koufax is an American former baseball player. Widely regarded as one of the greatest pitchers in baseball history, he played twelve seasons in Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers from 1955 to 1966. Mr. Koufax is the last living member of the 1955 World Series-winning team.  His autograph appears on multi-signed memorabilia alongside other baseball legends.  And conveniently, his last name ends in three letters that spell out our third printer function:  FAX.

Sandy Koufax

60-Across. Cylinder in the snack aisle: PRINGLES CAN.  Pringles is brand of stackable potato-based snacks invented by Procter & Gamble in 1968. It is considered an "extruded" snack because of the manufacturing process.  The tubular can was designed to address customer complaints about broken chips and empty air in potato chip bags.  Kellogg's acquired Pringles in a multibillion dollar deal in 2012.  The last four letters of this answer spell out our fourth printer function:  SCAN.

Pringles can

A multifunction printer is suitable for most homes, but in my office, I find I get better functionality from a dedicated printer and a separate scanner.  Scanning and printing can substitute for copying in most cases.  And fax?  You can use an online fax if you need one.  That said, my mom is pretty amazing using her all-in-one for everything.

Let's see how the rest of the clues and answers function.

Across:

1. Awards such as Best Upset and Best Game: ESPYS.  The ESPY Awards, produced annually by ESPN since 1993, recognize athletic achievement during the preceding calendar year.  "Best Upset" and "Best Game" have been awarded in the past, but those specific awards do not occur every year. 

6. Have a spoonful, say: TASTE.

11. "Tsk!" kin: TUT.  Tsk! Tsk! (American) and Tut-tut! (British) are dental clicks used to express disapproval.

14. Fleece source: SHEEP.

15. Astronaut Ellen who was the first Latina director of the Johnson Space Center: OCHOA.  Ellen Ochoa is an inventor, former NASA astronaut, and former director of the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. In 1993, she went to space on a nine-day mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery.

Ellen Ochoa, first Hispanic woman in space

16. Activist Yoko: ONO.  I wonder if Yoko knows how often she shows up in crossword puzzles.  It's not a bad thing!

17. [Theme clue]

19. Air passenger screening org.: TSA.  An abbreviation in the clue suggests an abbreviation in the answer.  TSA = Transportation Security Administration.

20. Future counselor's maj.: PSYCH.  Another abbreviated clue calling for an abbreviated answer.  To become a licensed counselor, you may need to major in psychology.

21. Hallucinations: VISIONS.

23. Salt Lake state: UTAH.

25. Black dialect, for short: AAVE.  African American Vernacular English.  Developed over centuries through the experiences of enslaved Africans and their descendants, AAVE is a distinct variety of English with its own grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.

27. "Doggone it!": DRAT.

28. Tree goo: SAP.

29. [Theme clue]

32. Mop target: SPILL.

34. Old photo hue: SEPIA.  Sepia ink comes from a cuttlefish called Sepia.  Old black and white photos were treated with sepia toner to make them last longer, resulting in a warm brown hue.

NaomiZ's grandparents in a Sepia toned photograph

35. Amuses, as with anecdotes: REGALES.

38. Elementary school shoebox project: DIORAMA.  Every fourth grade public school student in California has to construct a diorama of one of the early California missions as homework.  This was true for me six decades ago, true for my children, and continues today.  The 21 missions were built by indigenous slaves under the control of Spanish priests.  Approximately 62,000 indigenous Californians died through the mistreatment they experienced in the mission system.  No one told us that in school.  Today, kids in California can go to local craft stores and purchase pre-made kits to build their dioramas.

mission in a shoebox

42. Actor Nick: NOLTE.  Nick Nolte is an American actor with many movie and television credits, a Golden Globe Award, and three Academy Award nominations.

Nick Nolte

44. Calf's suckling spot: UDDER.

udderly adorable

45. [Theme clue]

50. Industrial tank: VAT.

51. __ vera gel: ALOE.

52. Front of a ship: PROW.

53. Like some high-fiber breakfast bars: OATY.  DH has been baking oatmeal applesauce bread, which makes a lovely breakfast for me, and a nice foundation for lunchtime peanut butter for him.

54. Snug apartments: STUDIOS.  A studio apartment is one room with a separate bathroom.  Same thing as a bachelor apartment.  It's like living in a hotel room.

57. Times New __: ROMAN.  Times New Roman is a font (or typeface) designed for the British newspaper The Times in 1931.  It is one of the most popular typefaces of all time.

59. Give in to gravity: SAG.

60. [Theme clue]

64. Notable time: ERA.

65. Texas A&M athlete: AGGIE.  Texas A&M University is a public research university in College Station, Texas, founded in 1876 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas.  The Texas A&M Aggies are the students, graduates, and sports teams of Texas A&M University.

66. Cathedral city in Tuscany: SIENA.

NaomiZ dwarfed by family members in Siena, January 2014

67. Summer hrs.: DST.  Daylight Saving Time.

68. Frowned-upon acts: DON'TS.  Younger son eats lots of DONuTS.  His daddy DOZEN't.

69. Analyze, as ore: ASSAY.  Investigate to assess presence of a target entity.  One thinks of gold rush propectors visiting the assayer's office to find out whether they'd found something of real value.

Down:

1. Start to sneeze?: ESS.  The letter "s" (spelled out as ESS) is the start to the word "sneeze."

2. Moo __ pork: SHU.  Stir-fried pork, eggs, and veggies, served in a thin pancake.

moo shu pork

3. British cartoon character who loves muddy puddles: PEPPA PIG.  Peppa Pig is an animated British preschool television series.  I am aware of it because my 11-year-old twin grandchildren were fans.

4. "Oof, that's not good": YEESH.  Used to express diselief or exasperation.

5. Quick and nimble: SPRY.

6. Monopoly token sported by the game's mascot: TOP HAT.  The tokens, or playing pieces, of this popular board game have changed over the years, but the top hat has survived as a token since the first Parker Brothers edition in 1935.

7. Crossword dir.: ACR.  Crossword direction:  Across.

8. Shook with cold: SHIVERED.

9. Novelist Morrison: TONI.  Toni Morrison (1931-2019) was an African-American novelist and editor.  In 1988, she won the Pulitzer Prize for Beloved, and in 1993, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature. 

10. Breaks bread: EATS.

11. Miyazaki's "My Neighbor __": TOTORO.  My Neighbor Totoro is a 1988 Japanese animated fantasy film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki.  Looks amazing -- now I have to watch it.

My Neighbor Totoro

12. Open, as a onesie: UNSNAP.  We have been snapping and unsnapping onesies since the newest grandson appeared four months ago.

13. Nice and warm: TOASTY.  Our daughter-in-law explained to us that blankets pose a suffocation risk to babies, and our grandson should rely on onesies or sleep sacks to stay TOASTY.

18. Emotional wound: SCAR.

22. 19-Across request: ID CARD.  Remember 19-Across, TSA?  These folks ask for your ID CARD as you go through the airport security checkpoint.

23. Spy-fi side: USSR.  Spy fiction sides included the USA versus the USSR.

24. See 26-Down: TAPE.  Next clue, please!

26. With 24-Down, outmoded media format: VHS.  The dominant format for home recording of video and audio from the 1980s through the 1990s, VHS tapes were replaced by DVDs, then by Blu-ray discs, and finally by digital files.

29. Mixture of metals: ALLOY.

30. Nail salon brand: OPI.

31. __ City, Iowa: SIOUX.

33. Terse text sent while taxiing to the terminal: LANDED.  DH and I text each other when we land, assuming we are not flying together.

36. Large ruminant in the Rockies: ELK.  A ruminant is an herbivorous mammal whose digestive system requires it to regurgitate and re-chew tough plant matter as "cud."  Here are 59 seconds of an elk chewing its cud:

37. Octagon at an intersection: STOP SIGN.

39. Prepayments in some big book deals: ADVANCES.

40. Ravioli filling, sometimes: MEAT.

41. Highbrow: ARTY.  Highbrow means highly cultured and sophisticated.  An arty person is very interested in the arts.  The latter term is more often used to suggest that such a person is pretentious.

43. Benelux continent: EUR.  Benelux is a politico-economic union of three neighbouring countries in Western Europe: Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg.  Since Benelux is sort of an abbreviation -- a portmaneau, really -- for BElgium, NEtherlands, and LUXembourg, I suppose it's OK for the continent of EURope to be abbreviated in the answer.

45. Got smart with: SASSED.

46. Sites for some rites: ALTARS.

47. Chewy candy: NOUGAT.

48. Blacksmiths' workplaces: FORGES.  This word takes me back to "The Village Blacksmith," a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, which I committed to memory as an elementary school assignment.  

And children coming home from school

    Look in at the open door;

They love to see the flaming forge,

    And hear the bellows roar,

And catch the burning sparks that fly

    Like chaff from a threshing-floor.

49. Mil. truant: AWOL.  Military truant = AWOL = Absent WithOut Leave.

53. Desert watering hole: OASIS.

55. AirPlay and AirDrop tablet: IPAD.

56. Challenging chem course: ORGO.  Recent crossword puzzles insist that Organic Chemistry courses are called ORGO, but our crossword solvers insist that this is nonsense.  Google likes it, though.

58. Phoenix suburb: MESA.

61. Petty peeve: NIT.  Nits are the eggs of parasitic insects like lice.  People pick nits out of their childrens' hair.  This sort of concern with tiny things has translated into picking on other folks over small matters:  "I have a nit to pick with you."  "Stop nitpicking me!"

62. Actress de Armas: ANA.  Ana de Armas grew up in Cuba, moved to Spain, and then moved to Los Angeles, playing leading film and TV roles along the way.  She was the holographic AI Joi in Blade Runner 2049 (2017), Paloma in the James Bond film No Time to Die (2021) and Marilyn Monroe in Blonde (2022), for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress.  

Ana de Armas

63. Yea's opposite: NAY.  Voice votes.

Here's the grid:

Solvers, what did you think of Patti's puzzle?

Did it SAP your strength?  Did it SCAR you for life?  Did you have a NIT to pick with it?

Or perhaps you LANDED this one, and found it to your TASTE.

C'mon, SPILL in the comments!

-- NaomiZ

Monday, January 5, 2026, Morton J. Mendelson

Theme: After life.

Morton J. Mendelson at McGill University Convocation

Morton J. Mendelson joined the faculty of McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada as an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology in 1977.  He served as the University’s first Deputy Provost of Student Life and Learning from 2005 until 2013.  When he retired, he devoted himself to family, good works, and crossword puzzle constuction.  Dr. Mendelson was very successful in this last endeavor, with many puzzles published in these pages, in The New York Times, and elsewhere.  It is my sad duty to report that Dr. Mendelson passed away suddenly in July 2025.  May his memory be a blessing to all who knew him.

Sigh ... I thought we'd be off to a sad start this morning, as I take over the Monday spot held for so many years by the incomparable Sumdaze.  But I didn't know how sad, until I looked into the biography of today's constructor.  Let's honor Dr. Mendelson by enjoying the crossword puzzle he made for our pleasure.

Best to start with the big reveal:  

39-Across. Time for extracurricular activities, or where the ends of 17-, 26-, 52-, and 62-Across literally are: AFTER SCHOOL.  All sorts of extracurricular activities are scheduled after school, but in today's puzzle, the second word in each theme answer comes AFTER the name of a well-known SCHOOL.  Together, the first and second words form a familiar English phrase.

The other theme clues and answers are:

17-Across. Sweetener used on a Providence campus?: BROWN SUGAR.  BROWN University is a private Ivy League research university in Providence, Rhode Island.  SUGAR is a sweet-tasting, soluble carbohydrate.  BROWN SUGAR contains a little molasses, a byproduct from the refining of sugarcane or sugar beet juice.

26-Across. Horse that's saddled up for a tour of a Philadelphia campus?: TEMPLE MOUNT.  TEMPLE University is a public "state-related" research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  MOUNT (as a noun) is another word for horse, or other animal that is ridden.  TEMPLE MOUNT is a hill in the Old City of Jerusalem, once the site of two successive Jewish temples, and now home to the al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock.

52-Across. Quad found on a Portland campus?: REED SECTION.  REED College is a private liberal arts college in Portland, Oregon.  A quad is a SECTION of campus enclosed by buildings.  A REED SECTION is the group of musicians in a band or orchestra who play instruments that use a vibrating reed to produce sound, such as saxophones, clarinets, oboes, and bassoons.

62-Across. Kitchen appliance used at a Houston campus?: RICE COOKER.  RICE University is a private research university in Houston, Texas.  COOKER is an appliance used for cooking food.  A RICE COOKER is specifically for cooking rice.  Cooking rice is easy, but sometimes the appliance makes it easier.

Here's the grid, with its lovely symmetry:

Let's learn a little more from Dr. Mendelson's clues and answers.

Across:

1. Insurance company with a gecko mascot: GEICO.

6. "What __ is new?": ELSE.

10. Freeway exit: RAMP.

14. Heavy coat?: ARMOR.  

15th century coat of armor

15. WhatsApp's parent company: META.  Meta Platforms owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

16. Gumbo pod: OKRA.

17. [Theme clue]

19. See 12-Down: DASH.  (The answer to 12-Down is MRS.)  In 2020, the product was rebranded as "Dash," dropping the "Mrs." from its name.  Too dowdy, I suppose.  The original blend includes "Onion, Spices (Black Pepper, Parsley, Celery Seed, Basil, Bay Marjoram, Oregano, Savory, Thyme, Cayenne Pepper, Coriander, Cumin, Mustard, Rosemary), Garlic, Carrot, Orange Peel, Tomato, Lemon Juice Powder, Citric Acid, Oil of Lemon."

20. Restroom, to a Brit: LAV.  Short for lavatory, as Brit is short for British.

21. Forearm bones: ULNAE.  The long bones in your forearm are the ulna and radius.

Not humerus at all.

23. "__ dreaming?": AM I.

26. [Theme clue]

31. Hybrid orange fruit: TANGELO.  A tangelo can be a hybrid of a Citrus reticulata variety, such as mandarin orange or tangerine, and a Citrus maxima variety, such as a pomelo or grapefruit. The name is a portmanteau of "tangerine" and "pomelo."

Cushman honeybells -- a type of tangelo

33. Physician: DOCTOR.

34. Oft-grilled fish, on menus: MAHI.

35. Flirts (with): TOYS.

38. Adventure novelist Cussler: CLIVE.  Clive Cussler (1931-2020) was an American novelist and underwater explorer. His thriller novels have been listed on The New York Times fiction best-seller list more than 20 times. Cussler was the founder and chairman of the National Underwater and Marine Agency which has discovered more than 60 shipwrecks. He was the sole or main author of more than 80 books.  And yet I Did Not Know.

Clive Cussler

39. [Theme clue]

42. Basil-based sauce: PESTO.  DH is not a fan of pesto -- or of green herbs in general -- so we don't have it at home, and I like to order it when we eat out.

pesto pasta

44. Author Wiesel: ELIE.  Eliezer "Elie" Wiesel (1928-2016) was a Romanian-born American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor. He authored 57 books, including Night, which is based on his experiences as a Jewish prisoner at Auschwitz and Buchenwald during the Holocaust.  I read the book half a century ago, and parts of it are still burned into my brain.

45. Hot spot service: WI-FI.  Wi-Fi is a family of wireless network protocols which are commonly used for local area networking of devices and Internet access, allowing nearby digital devices to exchange data by radio waves.  Free at Starbucks!

48. Toward the back of a boat: ASTERN.

50. Supplied, as funds: FRONTED.

52. [Theme clue]

55. "Totally!": YES.

56. Australian marsupial: KOALA.  Marsupials are mammals whose young are born in a relatively undeveloped state and then nurtured in a pouch on their mother's abdomen.  We're all familiar with kangaroos, but the tree-dwelling koala is also a marsupial.

Koalas

57. Provisos: IFS.  Provisos are conditions attached to agreements.  Your rental agreement might guarantee you a certain rate for one year, with the proviso that the property be kept in good repair.  IF the condition is met, THEN your rent won't rise.

59. With 27-Down, "The Substance" Oscar nominee: DEMI.  (The answer to 27-Down is MOORE.)  The Substance is a 2024 horror movie starring DEMI MOORE as a fading celebrity who uses a black market drug to create a younger version of herself.  Critically acclaimed.

Demi Moore in The Substance

62. [Theme clue]

67. Wowed: AWED.

68. Genesis grandson: ENOS.  Enos, or Enosh, was the son of Seth, and grandson of Adam and Eve.  According to the Bible, he lived to be 905 years old!

69. Mediterranean oil source: OLIVE.

70. Beseeches: BEGS.

71. Take a break: REST.

72. Sacred carving: TOTEM.  A totem is a spirit being, sacred object, or symbol that serves as an emblem of a group of people.  In North America, we are familiar with totem poles, the monumental carvings found in western Canada and the northwestern United States.  The carvings may represent ancestors, legends, or historic events.

I took this photo of a totem pole in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, a dozen years ago. 

Down:

1. Chitchat: GAB.

2. Make a wrong turn, say: ERR.

3. "Seems to me" shorthand: IMO. In My Opinion.  A texting abbreviation.

4. Monastic hood: COWL.  A cowl is an item of clothing consisting of a long, hooded garment with wide sleeves, often worn by monks.  It can refer just to the hood, but usually means the entire robe.  Outside of religious contexts, a cowl is a loose, draping neckline or circular scarf.

Carthusian Monk wearing a cowl

5. Elaborately decorated: ORNATE.  Unlike the outfit pictured above.

6. Australian bird: EMU.

7. Boost: LEG UP.

8. Horse stable unit: STALL.

9. Brought home, as a salary: EARNED.

10. Performer in bull riding competitions: RODEO CLOWN.  All I know about rodeo clowns, I learned from watching Zach Galifianakis in Baskets, which ran on FX from 2016 to 2019.  It was weird.

Zach Galifianakis as Chip Baskets

11. Letters between names: AKA.  Also Known As.

12. With 19-Across, salt-free seasoning brand: MRS.  Ah yes, the late, great Mrs. Dash.  You won't find this label in stores any more:

13. Dismissive sound: PAH.  I don't think I've ever encountered this puff of air, conveying contempt or annoyance, but my Google search suggests that it is often clued this way in crossword puzzles.

18. Gracefully slim: SVELTE.

22. Gas brand with a torch logo: AMOCO.  Amoco has a long history selling gasoline in the United States.  The American Oil Company introduced both the gasoline tanker truck and the drive-through filling station.  Now owned by British conglomerate BP, it is part of a huge multinational company.  The closest one to my home in Los Angeles is in Lincoln, Nebraska ... but it appears they are spreading.

23. Spot for short people?: ATM.  If you are short on cash, head to an Automated Teller Machine.

24. Barnyard bleat: MAA.  Goat speak!

25. Without bothering to be careful: IN HASTE.

27. See 59-Across: MOORE.  We've already talked about Demi Moore in The Substance.

28. __ knife: handy kitchen tool: UTILITY.  A utility knife is smaller than a chef's knife and often serrated.

29. Thanksgiving mo.: NOV.  An abbreviation in the clue (mo. for month) calls for an abbreviation in the answer.

30. Italian three: TRE.  Uno, due, tre ...

32. Naturally talented youngsters: GIFTED KIDS.

36. French fashion monogram: YSL.  Yves Saint Laurent.

37. Futuristic genre: SCI-FI.  Science fiction.

40. Upper body: TORSO.

41. Brave and noble: HEROIC.

42. __ for the course: PAR.  "Par for the course" means what is normal or expected in any given circumstances.  It comes from golf, where par is the standard number of strokes a skilled player is expected to take to complete a hole or an entire course.  

43. Opposite of WNW: ESE.

46. Extra charge: FEE.

47. Docs with DOBs, often: IDS.  Documents with Dates Of Birth are often IDs (identification cards).

49. Not as far: NEARER.

51. By walking: ON FOOT.

53. Country singer Patsy: CLINE.  Patsy Cline (1932-1963) was one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century, and one of the first country music artists to successfully cross over into pop music.

54. Food truck fare: TACOS.  Common sight here in Los Angeles.

58. Without backup: SOLO.

59. Pat gently: DAB.

60. Female sheep: EWE.  And what do EWE say?

61. Actress Ryan: MEG.  Meg Ryan is a successful actress who is probably best known for her role in the Rob Reiner-directed romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally (1989).

Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal

63. Ballpark fig.: EST.  A "ballpark figure" is an estimate.  It's somewhere in the ballpark ...

64. Baby beaver: KIT.  Baby beavers are called kits.  They are born with fur and open eyes, and can swim shortly after birth.  And they are cute as buttons.

baby beaver AKA kit

65. Genesis matriarch: EVE.  You may recall from 68-Across that Eve was the grandmother of Enos -- and more famously, the first human female, according to the Biblical account.

66. Sleep cycle letters: REM.  Rapid Eye Movement sleep is marked by vivid dreams and muscle paralysis.  If not for that paralysis, we might act out our crazy dreams.

Our blog mistress, C.C., has explained that Monday puzzles are the hardest to create, because the clues and answers have to be simple and straightforward.  I would say that Dr. Mendelson's puzzle is very suitable.  I certainly didn't have to illustrate the long list of minor celebrities that we often encounter later in the week.  Well done, I'd say.

What about you?

Did you solve the puzzle IN HASTE and ERR along the way?

Did you have a LEG UP because of your particular expertise?

Did you make a HEROIC effort to Finish It Right?

Let us know in the comments!

-- NaomiZ

Thursday, December 25, 2025, Katie Hale

Theme:  $omething extra in your stocking.

Today's crossword puzzle comes to us from Katie Hale, assistant crossword editor of the Los Angeles Times, who lives in London, England.  Thanks, Katie, for spreading Christmas cheer from across the pond!  We have some lovely, long theme answers today, and four circled letters.  The circled letters are added to English phrases, transforming the meaning of those phrases so that they match the clues.

16-Across. Produces apian-themed bedroom decor?: MAKES A BEE LINE[N].  Original phrase:  Makes a beeline, that is, goes quickly and directly toward a specific goal.  Adding N gives us MAKES A BEE LINEN, which is apian (bee related) sheets, pillowcases, and other fabric items that decorate a bed.

23-Across. Brand stylization such as camel case?: BUMP ON A LOG[O].  Original phrase:  Bump on a log, that is, someone who sits idle.  Adding O gives us BUMP ON A LOGO.  The reference is to "camel case," a writing format that eliminates spaces between words and indicates separation with capital letters:  PowerPoint, iPhone, FedEx, eBay.  The capital letter sticks up like the hump on a camel, and is often used in brand names.

40-Across. Creates cabernet with mallets?: HAMMERS OUT A WIN[E].  Original phrase:  Hammers out a win, that is, achieves a successful outcome through intense effort.  Adding E gives us HAMMERS OUT A WINE.  Imagine using mallets, which are hammers with large heads, to beat grapes into wine.

51-Across. English noble with an eyebrow ring?: PIERCED EAR[L].  Original phrase:  Pierced ear, that is, an ear in which a hole has been made to allow an earring to pass through.  Adding L gives us PIERCED EARL, a nobleman with additional body piercings.

61-Across. End-of-year perk, and what this puzzle's circled letters form: CHRISTMAS BONUS.  The circled letters spell NOEL, which means Christmas, and comes from the Latin natalis meaning birth or birthday.  A Christmas bonus usually connotes extra money added to one's paycheck at the end of the year, but in this case, we get some extra meanings thanks to NOEL.  The extra Christmas is a bonus!

What other Christmas treats does Katie have in store for us?  Let's open all the gifts.

Across:

1. Extract in some dog treats, briefly: CBD.  Cannabidiol (CBD) is an extract of Cannabis, and has been used to treat anxiety and pain, without much clinical evidence to support that usage.  Still, anything to help Fido feel better.

4. Fare ways?: CABS.  One way to get where you're going?  Pay a fare to ride in a cab.

8. Blue Ribbon beer: PABST.  Pabst claims that its beer was renamed Pabst Blue Ribbon following its win as "America's Best" at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. Whether the brand actually won an award in 1893 is unclear, but the beer had won many other awards at other fairs, and Pabst had already started tying blue ribbons around every bottle.  It was such a great marketing ploy that this was an easy answer for you today.

13. Mine material: ORE.

14. Tech gift-guide site: CNET.  Check it out.  

15. Uneasy feeling: AGITA.  Agitation or anxiety.

16. [Theme clue]

19. Jessica of "The Better Sister": BIEL.  Jessica Biel is an American movie and television actress. She co-starred with Elizabeth Banks in "The Better Sister," a 2025 Amazon limited series TV thriller.  The premise:  two estranged sisters, one married to and the other divorced from the same man, are forced together after he is murdered.

Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks

20. London's prov.: ONT.  London is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada.  Not the same London where our crossword constructor resides.

21. Step up from amateur night: GIG.  A gig is a paid performance.

22. Cal. column: MON.  Calendar column:  Monday.

23. [Theme clue]

28. "R u 4 real!?": OMG.  Are you for real?  Oh my god!  (Text abbreviations.)

29. 1860s prez: ABE.

30. Before now: AGO.

31. PG Tips and Barry's: TEAS.

British and Irish tea brands

33. Odds partner: ENDS.

36. Contradict in court: REBUT.

40. [Theme clue]

43. Slumber: SLEEP.

44. Tip-top: ACME.

45. Element of cooled pudding: SKIN.  Pudding skin is a rubbery film that forms on the surface of cooked puddings as they cool.  In one episode of Seinfeld, George proposed to cut the skin off of puddings, wrap them in plastic, and sell them as "pudding skin singles," akin to Kraft Singles American cheese.

46. Objective: AIM.

48. "Tinker Bell" voice actress Whitman: MAE.  Mae Whitman has been acting since she was six years old.  She has a long list of movie and TV credits; you may remember her from Parenthood (2010-2015).

Mae Whitman, Lauren Graham, and Miles Heizer in Parenthood

50. Actress Mendes: EVA.  Eva Mendes acted in a lot of movies before calling it quits in 2022, citing a lack of good roles that weren't specifically Latina.  She has two daughters with Ryan Gosling.

Eva Mendez and Ryan Gosling

51. [Theme clue]

56. 43-Across letters: REM.  SLEEP letters?  REM is a stage of sleep marked by -- you guessed it -- Rapid Eye Movement and vivid dreaming.

57. One point in gin rummy: ACE.  Gin Rummy, or simply Gin, is a two player card game in which aces are always valued at one point.

58. DC villain Luthor: LEX.  In DC comics, Lex Luthor is a supervillain with no superpowers.  He's just a wealthy, evil genius, and he's the archenemy of Superman.

Even a supervillain can grow up to be President.

59. Tie to a dock: MOOR.

61. [Theme clue]

66. Actor/director Waititi: TAIKA.  Taika Waititi is a New Zealnd filmmaker, actor, and comedian.  He co-wrote, co-directed, and starred in the horror comedy film What We Do in the Shadows (2014) and more recently directed Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and Thor: Love and Thunder (2022).

Taika Waititi

67. Beauty aisle brand: OLAY.

68. Unreliable stat from the chronically late: ETA.  Adorable youngest daughter is not to be trusted regarding her Estimated Time of Arrival.

69. Like an intimidating climb: STEEP.

70. Eyelid issue: STYE.

71. Set: GEL.  Gel as a verb is to change from a liquid into a thick, soft solid.  Set is another way of saying the same thing.  Are you thinking of 45-Across, pudding skin?

Down:

1. Burger, fries, and a drink, perhaps: COMBO MEAL.

2. Cognitive ability improver: BRAIN GAME.  You're playing one!

3. Hockey feint: DEKE.  A deceptive movement or feint that induces an opponent to move out of position.  This seems to be an ice hockey specific term, and can be used as a noun or verb.

4. Includes, in a way: CCS.  We used to do this with carbon copies!  I still sometimes spell out the CCs at the end of an email when I want to the recipients to be aware of whose eyes will see a "reply all."

5. "Ballerina" actress de Armas: ANA.  Ana de Armas grew up in Cuba, moved to Spain, and then moved to Los Angeles, playing leading film and TV roles along the way.  She was the holographic AI Joi in Blade Runner 2049 (2017), Paloma in the James Bond film No Time to Die (2021) and Marilyn Monroe in Blonde (2022), for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress.  Ballerina was a 2025 thriller.

Ana de Armas

6. "__-a-Lula": classic Gene Vincent hit: BE-BOP.  "Be-Bop-a-Lula" is a rockabilly song first recorded in 1956 by Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps.

7. Real-time record-keeper, for short: STENO.  A STENOgrapher's job is to transcribe speech, as it occurs, using shorthand writing or a stenographic machine, especially in courtroom settings.

8. Good bud: PAL.

9. Form 1040 amt.: AGI.  Adjusted Gross Income belongs on Line 11 of Form 1040.  It reflects your income from all sources, minus certain allowable expenses.

10. "That's exactly right!": BINGO.

11. "Doctor De Soto" writer/illustrator William: STEIG.  I know William Steig mostly for a little picture book called CDB! (1968).   Doctor De Soto (1982) won the National Book Award.  The plot features a mouse dentist who wants to help a fox with a toothache, and yet not be eaten by him.

12. Dance with figure-eight steps: TANGO.

17. Idris of "Hijack": ELBA.  Idris Elba appears frequently in the puzzle.  He's a hugely successful actor who gained fame through his role in the HBO series The Wire (2002–2004).  Hijack is an Apple TV+ thriller series that debuted in 2023; a second season is set to premiere in January 2026.

Idris Elba

18. Volcano where Bronte pistachios are grown: ETNA.  Bronte, Sicily, Italy, is on the slopes of Mount Etna, the active volcano.  The little pistachios grown there derive a sweet flavor from the volcanic soil.

Bronte, Sicily, with Mount Etna

22. Wool-loving pests: MOTHS.

24. __ Eats: UBER.

25. Society for smarties: MENSA.

26. Taj Mahal city: AGRA.

27. Luxury hotel chain: LOEWS.

32. Spread, as peanut butter: SMEAR.

34. Sleepy housemate: DOC.  From Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

35. __ cum laude: SUMMA.  I imagine that many cruciverbalists earned this distinction in college.

37. Trail for cyclists: BIKE ROUTE.

38. Covering everything: UNIVERSAL.

39. Brunch date hr.: TEN AM.  In L.A., people will invite you to brunch at 1 PM.  1 PM!!  Does the language mean nothing any more?  On the other hand, sure, I can be ready by 1 PM.

41. Extraordinary: EPIC.

42. Feature of some distressed jeans: TEAR.

47. Turn to liquid: MELT.

49. Furry red Muppet: ELMO.  The Tickle Me Elmo doll was a huge fad during the 1996 Christmas shopping season.

51. Promises between besties: PACTS.

52. Apple's old messaging app: iCHAT.  iDON'Tchat.  I'm not an Apple person.

53. Haunting: EERIE.

54. Short exhibitions: DEMOS.

55. Speak highly of: EXALT.

60. Pull felt on Earth: O NEG.  Here I need your help.  Are we dealing with gravity?  With weightlessness?  Is the first character a zero, that is, zero neg?  Help, I'm falling!  Or failing!

[The answer was ONE G -- the force of gravity on the surface of the earth, as pointed out by several commenters.  NaomiZ experienced a blind spot here!]

62. 1950s prez: IKE.

Eisenhower and Nixon

63. Sucker: SAP.

64. Go: SAY.  So I go, that movie is the best!, and Sharie goes, it was totally rad!

65. "Ta-ta": BYE.  Ciao for now.

Here's the grid:

Solvers, did this BRAIN GAME give you AGITA?  Did you survive by the SKIN of your teeth?

Or did your SUMMA cum laude and MENSA credentials earn you an EPIC win?

Your gift to the rest of us:  a comment below!

If you don't have a Blogger handle, consider being super cool like Darren in L.A. and signing your Anonymous comment. 

Merry Christmas!

-- NaomiZ

 

 

 

Notes from C.C.:

 

1) Happy birthday to dear Kathy (Yellowrocks)! I'm so happy to see you back on the blog. I hope you're having an extra-special day celebrating with your family.
 

Yellowrocks, Dec 10, 2020

2) Happy birthday to Lorraine (Fermatprime) as well! I hope you're doing well. And "Hello"  to Malcolm too - he reads our blog regularly and keeps me posted on how Lorraine is doing from time to time.

Fermatprime, Thanksgiving, 2015