Thursday February 5, 2026 Rich Katz

Rich Katz is relatively new to the crossword game, but has been coming on strong and has built a reputation of being inventive and humorous. Today, he has something shady going on.

Rich Katz (maybe)

Here are the themers. Don't scratch your head too hard trying to figure out how the answers are related, because they're not. It's clues that are BLUE.

18. "Aquaman" star: JASON MOMOA. Aqua blue. 

23. Cocktail that may be made with Bombay Sapphire: GIN AND TONIC. Sapphire blue.

36. Band with the hit "In the Navy": VILLAGE PEOPLE. Navy blue. 

52. Microsoft Azure competitor: GOOGLE CLOUD. Azure blue. 

57. Children's show whose title character leaves paw-print hints, and what 18-, 23-, 36-, and 52-Across have in common: BLUE'S CLUES. BLUE is an animated puppy who leaves a trail of paw print CLUES that her human co-host (and viewers) must follow to solve riddles.

So, the theme refers to the CLUES and not the answers on the grid. This seems tangent to what a crossword is supposed to be and falls in the gray are between themed and themeless. Shades of blue in the clues can be fun, but their associated answers are obvious, except for knowing Microsoft Azure is akin to GOOGLE CLOUD if you're not a techie. All in all, a pretty easy Thursday. In fact, I blew right through it!

Double your pleasure, double your fun! Note all the doubled letters!

Across:

1. Title said with a hat tip, perhaps: MA'AM.

5. Daddy: PAPA. Who's your PAPA?

9. "__ out!": PEACE. 

14. Photographer Geddes: ANNE. The "Queen of Baby Photography."

15. Wasn't colorfast: BLED.

16. Complete: UTTER.

17. Sign gas: NEON. Gas sign: NEON.

18. [theme]

20. Out of order: AMISS.

22. "Hey, Soul Sister" rock band: TRAIN. This smash hit has sold over 10 million units in the U.S.  Released in 2009, it was the top-selling single of 2010, reached the top 10 in multiple countries, and has surpassed 1 billion streams...which means I probably should've heard of it.

23. [theme]

26. PC pioneer: IBM. The usual M.O. (modus operandi) of us contributors is to spell out abbreviations in case someone doesn't understand the clue or answer. Informal poll - should I spell out ultra-common abbreviations like these? Personal Computers and International Business Machines?

29. Chow down: EAT. Chew up: EAT.

30. Small battery, or an org. that may help with a car battery: AAA. American Automobile Association.

31. Iditarod racer: SLED DOG.

33. Suomi speakers: FINNS. Suomi means Finland in Finnish, but can also mean the language.

35. Ages and ages: EONS. Many, many, ERAS.

36. [theme]

41. Gyro bread: PITA.

42. Give a bit more: TOP UP. Brit-speak for adding more to an existing level of something. We usually TOP off here in the States.

43. Accounts with round numbers?: BAR TABS. As in a round of drinks that may need TOPPING UP.

47. Spy-fi novelist Deighton: LEN.

48. Visitor in a knock-knock joke that ends, "It's nothing to cry about!": BOO. 
        Knock, knock. 
        Who's there? 
        BOO. 
        BOO who? And hilarity ensues...

51. Tricky: SLY.

52. [theme]

55. Herb in caprese salad: BASIL. I love caprese salads with the bright colors of the Italian flag. So simple to make yet so fancy on the table.

56. Upper crust: ELITE.

57. [theme]

62. "Sad to say ... ": ALAS. 

63. Goodyear products: TIRES. One of the three Goodyear blimp bases is right here in nearby Pompano Beach, FL. 

64. Legendary rebuke: ET TU.

65. Memory units, for short: MEGS. MEGAbyteS.

66. Branch of Islam: SUNNI.

67. Leader whose address ends with .edu: DEAN.

68. Bailiwick: AREA. A bailiwick is one's sphere of operations or particular AREA of interest.

Down:

1. Run: MANAGE. 

2. Condition often treated with iron supplements: ANEMIA.

3. Tap, as one's successor: ANOINT.

4. High-IQ society: MENSA. I had to drop out when my brain got rusty.

5. Many a school sammie: PBJ. The classic Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich. I looked up "sammie" and found most people hate the term, unless they are in grade school. Here's the gourmet version. It's cut on a diagonal. Ooh la la. 

6. In the style of: ALA. Borrowed from French, à la, means “according to” or “in the manner of.” As in a PBJ ALA Cordon Bleu. 

7. 55-Across sauce: PESTO.

8. Decorates: ADORNS.

9. Pedicure stone: PUMICE. 

10. Harry and William's alma mater: ETON.

11. Convenience in a cash-only venue: ATM. Automated Teller Machine.

12. Corp. leader: CEO. A Chief Executive Officer is the highest-ranking executive in a corporation.

13. Shaded section of a timeline: ERA. Here's the famous ERAs Tour:

19. Execute perfectly: NAIL. Perfectly executed NAILs:

21. Slug kin: SNAIL.

24. Comedian Carvey: DANA. Meet Garth, one of  DANA's most famous characters from Wayne's World, originally an SNL skit.

25. Punchy flavor: TANG. 

26. Pop sensation: IDOL.

27. Barbecue discard: BONE. 

28. Booker T.'s band: M.G.'S. Sadly, Steve Cropper, songwriter and their original guitarist, died this past December (thanks for reminding me, MalMan!). I dabble on the keyboards, and one of my favorite songs to play is Green Onions, written by Cropper, with its distinctive Hammond B3 organ sound.
 

32. "Nosferatu" actress Lily-Rose: DEPP. You guessed it, Lily-Rose is Johnny DEPP's daughter.

33. No longer fizzy: FLAT. 

34. Game, __, match: SET. Tennis’s notoriously bizarre scoring system (using love, 15, 30, 40, and “deuce” instead of 0-1-2-3-4) likely stems from medieval clock-based scoring, where quarters (15, 30, 45) marked points.

36. Lab container: VIAL.

37. "It was nothing": I TRY.

38. Exit __: POLL.

39. Fencing blade: EPEE. Whee! It's EPEE...again.

40. Light weight: OUNCE. Actually, light has no weight. It consists of photons, which are massless particles. However, because light possesses energy and momentum, it behaves as if it has a relativistic mass and is affected by gravity. I watch NOVA!

41. "Nova" network: PBS. For over 50 years, NOVA has the most popular prime-time science series on American television.

44. Tennis star Andre: AGASSI. Tennis players often place a small silicone dampener in their strings to reduce vibration. RightBrain has a bunch that look like anything from ladybugs to smiley faces, but I use a simple rubber band because AGASSI does. 

45. Anjou alternative: BOSC. Members of your pear group:

46. Dirtied: SOILED.

48. Tank in a basement: BOILER. Tanks in a basement: AQUARIUMS.

49. Service interruption: OUTAGE. I hope none of you had a power OUTAGE during the winter storms last week.

50. Black Sea port: ODESSA.

53. Posterior muscle, informally: GLUTE. Know your GLUTEs:

54. Many a denizen of Machu Picchu: LLAMA.

55. "It's __ a minute!": BEEN. 

57. "Mic Drop" K-pop septet: BTS. This South Korean sensation is known to me only by xwords.

58. Actor Simu: LIU. He's kicked Lucy LIU out of the xword rotation, but it seems like they're still friends!

59. Samovar: URN. Universal Remains Niche. (This might not be an abbreviation!)

60. Due-in hr.: ETA. Estimated Time of Arrival.

61. Phoenix NBAer: SUN. National Basketball Association is abbreviated, but the team is still just the SUNs.

I hope this chased some of your BLUES away!
Be Good. RB

Sunday September 21, 2025 Katy Steinmetz & Rich Katz

Theme: "CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?" - Each phrase you might hear during a bad cell connection is humorously reinterpreted in a non-call context.

22. "There's not enough chocolate for the both of us!": I ONLY HAVE ONE BAR.

30. "Our waiter's wearing leopard-print pants!": THE SERVICE IS SPOTTY.

43. "Stop switching lanes so aggressively!": YOU'RE CUTTING IN AND OUT.

65. "We could get separated in this crowd!": I MIGHT LOSE YOU.

83. "Our next flight leaves 10 minutes after we land!": WE HAVE A BAD CONNECTION.

99. "I've been to more enjoyable weddings!": THE RECEPTION IS WEAK.

110. "It sounds like that relationship is over!": YOU'RE BREAKING UP.

This is a fun set. The static is replaced with humor. Super tight theme. 

This marks the fourth collaboration from Katy and Rich, the third Sunday. Both of them seem to be fond of this type of rephrasing theme.

Across:

1. Facing the pitcher: AT BAT.

6. Closely guarded areas in soccer: SHINS.

11. Korean-style __: BBQ. I just call it Korean BBQ. They often use lettuces and perilla leaves as wraps.

14. Brunch side: HASH.

18. Sunday singers: CHOIR. 

19. Window parts: PANES.

20. __ deco: ART.

21. Alexander of "Rizzoli & Isles": SASHA.

25. Up to: UNTIL.

26. Failure: DUD.

27. __ firma: TERRA.

28. Not trans: CIS.

29. Give heart to: ASSURE.

34. Former NPR host Norris: MICHELE. Soothing voice. She's born in Minneapolis.

37. Frosts: ICES.

38. Main ideas: THEMES.

39. Workout reminders?: ACHES.

40. Opera set in Egypt: AIDA.

42. Viewed: SEEN.

51. "My treat!": ON ME.

52. Elderly: AGED.

53. Wax-coated cheese: EDAM.

54. Sandwich choice: WRAP.

56. Spot for a pot: SILL.

58. Following: AFTER.

60. Big batteries: D CELLS.

62. Moody genre: EMO.

69. Board alternative: SKI. OK, snowboard. 

70. Coco Gauff's sport: TENNIS.

72. MeTV fare: RE-RUN.

73. German auto: AUDI.

75. __-Cola: COCA.

76. Singer Halliwell: GERI. Ginger Spice.

77. Gentlemen: SIRS.

79. __ terrier: SKYE.

89. Nearly all: MOST.

90. Bygone GM line: OLDS.

91. Drummer Starr: RINGO.
 
92. Portmanteau pastry: CRONUT. Croissant & donut.

95. Swit co-star: ALDA.

97. Steering committee's output: AGENDAS.

103. Salad slice: RADISH. Have any of you tried watermelon radishes? Very pretty. They taste like daikon radishes.

104. Due-in hr.: ETA.

105. Gets bogged down: MIRES.

106. "__ Twist, Scientist": kid-lit bestseller: ADA.

109. Start: ONSET.

114. Rather wee: TEENY.

115. Spot for the night: INN.

116. Intended: MEANT.

117. Standards flouted by rebels: NORMS.

118. Blind part: SLAT.

119. TV's "Science Guy": NYE.

120. Arm bones: ULNAS.

121. Purple flavor: GRAPE.

Down:

1. Low-pH stuff: ACID.

2. The old you?: THOU.The Ten Commandments are part of my classes.

3. No fighter: BOND.

4. Suffer: AIL.

5. "Have a few samples": TRY THESE. These go well with your Korean BBQ. Banchan.

6. Few and far between: SPARSE.

7. Le __: French port: HAVRE.

8. Like some headsets: IN EAR.

9. Keanu role: NEO.

10. W-2 fig.: SSN.

11. Some pediatric patients: BABIES.

12. Luca of "The Godfather": BRASI. Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.

13. NBA div.: QTR. Quarter.

14. Horse-drawn carriage: HANSOM.

15. Insightful: ASTUTE.

16. Skins' opponents: SHIRTS.

17. Jay and Gloria's oldest grandchild on "Modern Family": HALEY.

21. Leave dangling: SUSPEND.

23. Stiletto, for one: HEEL.

24. Latin "behold": ECCE.

29. Wan: ASHEN.

30. "__ no easy way to say this ... ": THERE'S.

31. Center of a historic boast: VIDI.

32. Declaration of ability: I CAN.

33. Cook dim sum, say: STEAM. Any of you are Costco members? Their Prawn Hacao are amazing.

34. Subway spread: MAYO.

35. Touchscreen image: ICON.

36. Fish used to fish for other fish: CHUM.

40. Chowed down: ATE.

41. "__ be my pleasure": IT'D.

42. Trap: SNARE.

44. Soothes: CALMS.

45. Fruit that sounds unattractive: UGLI.

46. "All aboard!": GET ON.

47. March day for a historic coup: IDES.

48. Face late charges, maybe: OWE.

49. Browser links: URLS.

50. "__ is cheap": TALK.

55. Tire meas.: PSI.

57. Junior's junior: III.

58. Heart parts: ATRIA.

59. Winter bug: FLU. So relieved that my cough is almost gone. Almost a repeat of my ordeal last summer.

60. Drench: DOUSE.

61. Meadow mouthful: CUD.

62. "Yada yada" abbr.: ETC.

63. Copy cats?: MEOW. The clue is 66. Awesome: GREAT.

64. Frost's "__ by the Pacific": ONCE.

67. Sage, for one: HERB. 

68. Raw material for some bees: YARN.

71. "Hard pass": NAH.

74. Self-critical remark: I STINK.

76. Noble deed of yore: GESTE.

77. Supply that might be ready to roll: SOD.

78. __ and outs: INS.

80. Ilk: KIND.

81. Lenovo laptop whose screen bends over backward: YOGA. Not famliar with this.

82. Actress Mireille: ENOS.

84. Blanket forgiveness: AMNESTY. Margaret said all my sins will be forgiven when I'm baptized. Sounds like the ultimate Control + Alt + Delete for the soul.

85. __ for: attest to: VOUCH.

86. "Ice Age" bird: DODO.

87. Family: CLAN.

88. Folding: CREASING.

92. French fashion house: CHANEL.

93. Biblical site of long division?: RED SEA. Parting the Red Sea.

94. Get one's bearings: ORIENT.

95. Unify, in a way: ATTUNE.

96. Perjurer: LIAR.

97. "That's a shame": AW RATS.

98. Nerd (out): GEEK.

99. Unlikely gaits out of the starting gate: TROTS. Ha.

100. Garden flower: PEONY.

101. Former Pakistan prime minister __ Khan: IMRAN.  He was a pro cricketer.

102. Tuscan city that's home to the oldest bank in the world: SIENA. Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena. Founded in 1472. Learning moment for me.

106. Taj Mahal site: AGRA.

107. Garbage truck destination: DUMP.

108. Sanctuary area: APSE.

110. Yang counterpart: YIN.

111. Big bird: EMU.

112. __ canto: BEL.

113. Scand. kingdom: NOR.

C.C.

Sunday June 16, 2024 Katy Steinmetz & Rich Katz

Theme "Get Cooking" - Cooking phrases are rephrased as non-cooking.

22. Instruction for the host of a comedic takedown?: ROAST UNTIL TENDER.

37. Meditate ahead of a big tennis match?: CHILL BEFORE SERVING.

56. An icy winter?: SEASON WITH SALT.

65. Open a joint savings account?: MIX THE DOUGH.

77. Toss and turn all night?: STIR FREQUENTLY.

96. Defect to the prosecution midtrial?: FLIP HALFWAY THROUGH.

115. What the best mystery writers know how to do?: FINISH WITH A TWIST.

I like that the FINISH entry is the last of the set. Super consistent, all verb phrases, though 56A is re-phrased as a noun.

I just checked our blog Labels, this is the third collaboration from Katy and Rich.

Across:

1. Secret repository: CACHE.

6. Speed-of-sound ratio: MACH. Named after physicist Ernst Mach.

10. Overactors: HAMS.

14. More than a stone's throw: AFAR.

18. Buenos __: AIRES.

19. Nueve menos uno: OCHO. 113. Roman 19-Across: VIII.

20. Tyler Perry character: MADEA. Nice tweed jacket.

21. Wolfe of "Three at Wolfe's Door": NERO.

25. "Gimme a break!": C'MON.

26. 1980s sitcom ET: ALF.

27. __ board: SOUNDING.

28. Whole-grain cereal brand: KASHI. Boomer had to have Grape-Nuts on Monday mornings.

30. Andes lake: TITICACA.

33. Ballet __: FLAT.

35. Ford Field team: LIONS.

42. Washington's "Lilac City": SPOKANE.

45. Singers Green and Yankovic: ALS.

46. "I'm off": BYE.

47. "Leaping lizards!": I SAY.

48. Head, as a meeting: CHAIR.

49. Prestreaming devices, for short: DVRS.

51. __ House: "Jane Eyre" setting: MOOR.

53. Take effect: SET IN.

54. Gory, perhaps: RATED R.

59. Applies: USES.

60. Reuters peer: UPI. United Press International. Feels like it has faded away.

62. Sweltering: HOT.

63. Opposing vote: NAY.

64. The "B" of BFF: BEST.

69. Elemental unit: ATOM.

73. "Am __ the right track?": I ON.

74. Perch output: ROE.

75. Antidiscrimination inits.: EEO.

76. Used a snowboard: RODE.

84. Pleases no end: ELATES.

86. Furniture designer Charles: EAMES. The chair man.

87. Took legal action: SUED.

88. NBA star Westbrook, to fans: RUSS.

90. Australian mine finds: OPALS. 1. Measure for 90-Across: CARAT.

91. Singer Dua __: LIPA.

92. Feathery accessory: BOA.

93. Emer. message: SOS.

94. One way to analyze music: TONALLY.

101. Petal support: SEPAL.

102. Twain character: FINN.

103. Not mandatory: OPTIONAL.

107. Terrycloth wrap: TOWEL.

109. Compliment on the green: NICE PUTT. I love watching those pitch-ins from a greenside bunker.

112. "Sorry, it's __ from me": A NO.

119. Grace period?: AMEN.

120. East Coast rd.: US ONE.

121. Not on land: ASEA.

122. Barn nestling: OWLET.

123. Confused: LOST.

124. Sp. or Ital.: LANG.

125. Condé __: NAST.

126. Cybertruck maker: TESLA.

Down:

2. Garlicky emulsion: AIOLI.

3. Make paper bag puppets, perhaps: CRAFT. So cute.

4. Toms and drakes: HES.

5. Parts and labor fig.: EST.

6. Like Mr. Peanut: MONOCLED.

7. Honest-to-goodness: ACTUAL.

8. Facial feature unique to humans: CHIN. Really? Other animals don't have chins?

9. Callback alternative: HOLD.

10. Building with wings?: HANGAR. 29. Title of a medieval tale?: SIR. Great clues.

11. Join together: ADD.

12. Spineless: MEEK.

13. Big name in baked goods: SARA LEE.

14. Divisive pizza topping: ANCHOVIES. If you don't like anchovies, then you won't like fish sauce, then you won't like green papaya salad. Too bad.

15. Advocate para las mujeres: FEMINISTA. Spanish for "feminist".

16. One not into amorous love, briefly: ARO. Aromantic.

17. "Parks and Rec" character Swanson: RON.

20. __ Park: Meta site: MENLO.

23. Olympian Bolt: USAIN.

24. Small disputes: TIFFS.

31. Most foul: ICKIEST.

32. Leafy green also known as silver beet: CHARD. I never had chard before. Does it have edible root?

34. 2007 Heisman winner Tim: TEBOW.

36. Slug cousin: SNAIL.

38. Uncover: BARE.

39. Disney queen who says, "You can't marry a man you just met": ELSA. "You can if it's true love."

40. Vaccine tool: SYRINGE.

41. Ibsen's "Peer __": GYNT.

42. Go after grime: SCRUB.

43. Developmental period: PHASE.

44. Musical Hall partner: OATES.

50. Powerful engine: V SIX.

51. "I can relate," online: MOOD. What do you think this song is about?

52. Not bamboozled by: ONTO.

53. Prone to shrinking?: SHY. Shrinking violet.

55. A bit of tea, in a way: RUMOR.

57. Gloss: SHEEN.

58. Sierra Nevada lake: TAHOE.

61. Clorox brand: PINE-SOL.

66. HBO's "__ Detective: Night Country": TRUE.

67. Got into the weeds?: HOED. Garden weeds.

68. Turnarounds: UEYS.

69. Great Plains people: ARAPAHO.

70. Come to: TOTAL.

71. NFL star __ Beckham Jr.: ODELL. Dating Kim Kardashian now.

72. Like a toddler with finger paints: MESSY.

73. Uncertainties: IFS.

77. "Solitude is the richness of __": May Sarton: SELF.

78. Formal affair wear: TAILS.

79. Blasphemy and sacrilege: IMPIETIES.

80. Tap again, in a way: RE-APPOINT.

81. Big drink: QUAFF.

82. Dressage pace: TROT.

83. Like much of Hawaii: LUSH.

85. Sound heard twice in a lifetime?: LONG I. The sound in lifetime.

89. "Cut it out!": STOP THAT.

92. Sinister: BALEFUL.I did not know this meaning. Looks like baleful of hay to me.

93. Harmonize: SYNCH.

95. "I'm __ here": OUTTA.

97. Follower of hee and yee: HAW.

98. Schmoozing by boozing: WINING.

99. Ouzo flavor: ANISE.

100. Ways to go: ROUTES.

104. Aces: NAILS. Verb. Like I nailed it.

105. "Moon and Half Dome" photographer Adams: ANSEL.

106. Whole host o': LOTTA.

108. "Lady Tan's Circle of Women" novelist See: LISA.

110. Actor McGregor: EWAN.

111. Tuscan setting for novelty photos: PISA.

113. Actor Kilmer: VAL.

114. "FWIW" kin: IMO.

116. Part of enby: NON. Enby (NB) = Non-Binary.

117. Tater __: TOT.

118. Org. that maintains kayfabe during shows: WWE. OK, here's the definition of kayfabe: the fact or convention of presenting staged performances as genuine or authentic.

C.C.

Sunday May 5, 2024 Katy Steinmetz & Rich Katz

Theme:  "Name That Tune" - Each song is rephrased fitting the "what line" in the clue.

23. Power line?: WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS.

33. Life line?: I WILL SURVIVE.

49. Party line?: LET'S GET IT STARTED.

68. Opening line?: I'VE GOT A BLANK SPACE BABY.

91. Time line?: YOU CAN'T HURRY LOVE.

107. Dividing line?: GO YOUR OWN WAY.

119. Shore line?: UNDER THE BOARDWALK.

Not sure about 68A. Is it a song title? I only know it's a line from Taylor Swift's "Blank Space". 

Otherwise, I really like this theme set. We've seen "... line" rephrase theme before, but not with the extra song layer. Congrats on your Sunday debut, Katy and Rich!

Across:

1. "Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet" novelist Jamie: FORD. His debut novel. He's half Chinese.

 

5. Low-end speaker: BASS. And 18. One throwing out the first pitch?: OBOE.

9. Emulate successfully: PASS AS.

15. Cooling units, for short: ACS.

19. __ research: some dirt-digging: OPPO. Opposition research.

20. Baseball level just below the Majors: TRIPLE A. And 22. Hall of Fame slugger Mel: OTT. 86. One of Nolan Ryan's record seven: NO-HIT GAME.

26. Parched: DRY.

27. Two-time Best Female Golfer ESPY winner Ko: LYDIA. Kiwi. She was born in Korea.

28. Leaf wrangler: RAKE.

29. Bewitch: ENTHRALL.

31. Fright: TERROR.

37. Like some candles: SCENTED.

39. Home of many Goyas and El Grecos: PRADO.

40. "Fire" gemstone: OPAL.

41. Unlikely duo?: ELS. The two L's in "Unlikely"

42. "The Boy and the Heron" genre: ANIME.

44. Gifts at some Honolulu hotels: LEIS.

46. The blue in blue cheese, e.g.: MOLD.

54. Follower of up, down, and mid: TOWN.

56. Shake: LOSE.

57. Ireland, to the Irish: EIRE.

58. Like some adoption records: SEALED.

60. "The Matrix" hero: NEO.

61. Train cos.: RRS.

64. Prehistoric: OLD.

66. Data on dashboards: MILEAGES.

75. Yoga asana that requires balance: TREE POSE.

76. MSNBC journalist Cabrera: ANA.

77. Like this clue's number: ODD.

78. "Am __ time?": I ON.

79. Require: ENTAIL.

82. High point of the "Odyssey"?: OSSA. Mount Ossa.

85. Meter or liter: UNIT.

89. Dirty: SOIL.

95. Swap __: MEET.

97. Room in una casa: SALA.

98. HS course covering the facts of life: AP BIO.

99. Curse: HEX.

100. Guides with keys: MAPS.

103. __-panky: HANKY.

105. Writer of pastoral poems: IDYLIST. Spell check does not like this word.

111. Didn't cook, but didn't order in: ATE OUT.

112. Totalitarianism, metaphorically: IRON RULE.

113. Villain's hangout: LAIR.

115. Rims: EDGES.

118. Relieved (of): RID.

124. Female deer: DOE.

125. Spring agricultural machines: SEEDERS.

126. Beauty spot?: ULTA. Mecca of beauty products.

127. "That could work for me": I MAY.

128. "Weekend Update" show, casually: SNL.

129. Restoration poet dubbed "Glorious John": DRYDEN.

130. Headed to overtime: TIED.

131. __ pool: GENE.

Down:

1. Duck or goose: FOWL.

2. Comply: OBEY.

3. Consumer Reports tasks: ROAD TESTS.

4. "Merci" response: DE RIEN.

5. Social media annoyance: BOT.

6. Goddess of love who had five children with the god of war: APHRODITE. One of the kids is Eros.

7. Fishing tool: SPEAR.

8. "__ it to me!": SOCK.

9. Old school crowdfunding org.?: PTA.

10. Branch: ARM.

11. Wee drink: SIP.

12. Pitch: SPIEL.

13. Mets slugger Pete nicknamed "Polar Bear": ALONSO. New York Mets. Patti's team.

14. Mocked: SENT UP.

15. Vietnamese tunic: AODAI. Pretty. China's qipao is pretty too.

16. PC paste shortcut: CTRL V.

17. Flair: STYLE.

21. Place for a spiritual retreat: ASHRAM.

24. Livestock marker: EAR TAG.

25. Successor: HEIR.

30. KOA option: RV LOT.

32. Actress Russo: RENE.

34. Mickey's co-creator: WALT.

35. Brainstorming output: IDEAS.

36. French wine valley: LOIRE.

37. Go like hotcakes: SELL.

38. Egyptian queen, familiarly: CLEO. Cleopatra.

39. Gas, across the pond: PETROL.

43. Nintendo avatar: MII.

45. Snail mail need: STAMP.

47. Piece of cake?: LONG A. The A in "cake".

48. Square peg in a social circle?: DWEEB. Ha.

50. Durable twill fabric: SERGE.

51. Ward with two Emmy Awards: SELA.

52. Director Kazan: ELIA.

53. Big name in car batteries: DELCO.

55. Snoopy: NOSY.

59. Heroic act, say: DEED.

62. Tug of war need: ROPE.

63. Full of rocks: STONY.

65. Genetic letters: DNA.

67. Pop star Paula who was once a Lakers cheerleader: ABDUL. I did not know this.

68. "Can confirm": IT IS.

69. Noise made while playing with a Matchbox car: VROOM.

70. "__ Meenie": 2010 pop single: EENIE.

71. Regarding: AS TO.

72. Quaint baes: BEAUS.

73. Two half hitches, maybe: KNOT.

74. Verb that comes from a corruption of the ballet term "chassé": SASHAY. Another fun trivia.

80. Mogul Carl: ICAHN.

81. Former TV drama about SoCal attorneys: LA LAW.

83. "How's it hangin'?": SUP.

84. Get in the middle of, in a way: ARBITRATE.

87. Currier and __: IVES.

88. Words on a page: TEXT.

90. __ juice: LEMON.

92. Gran: NANA.

93. Log flume, e.g.: RIDE.

94. Went up and down, say: YOYOED.

96. Many a spring birth: TAURUS.

101. Cut back: PRUNED.

102. Machine shop alloy: SOLDER.

104. Six-time NBA All-Star Lowry: KYLE.

106. __ van Beethoven: LUDWIG.

107. Supports: GIRDS.

108. Constellation with a belt: ORION.

109. Sound that comes from on high: YODEL.

110. Like some unkempt gardens: WEEDY.

111. Garlicky sauce: AIOLI. This one seems to have egg yolks.

114. Border: ABUT.

116. Flair: ELAN.

117. Ione of "La Brea": SKYE.

120. __ velvet: RED.

121. Green Day drummer __ Cool: TRE.

122. Channel for bargain hunters: HSN.

123. "Gnarly": RAD.