Sunday July 12, 2025 Rebecca Goldstein

Theme:  "Sultans of Swing" - The last word of each theme entry is Major League Baseball team player. The first word are all synonyms of "great".

22. Massive, luminous body larger than the sun: SUPER GIANT.

28. Mighty Morphin figure of 1990s television: POWER RANGER.

42. Senior position at a taproom: MASTER BREWER.

68. Pickpocket in "Oliver Twist": THE ARTFUL DODGER.

96. Easy charge for a babysitter: PERFECT ANGEL.

112. High-voltage fish: ELECTRIC RAY.

122. Athlete in the Midsummer Classic, or what can be found six times in this puzzle?: MLB ALL- STAR.

We've seen many baseball themes in the past. None with such tightness, hallmark of Rebecca's puzzles. Three from each league, nicely balanced.

The fill are also outstanding. We don't often see pair of 13s as fill. 

Across:

1. Call back?: ECHO.

5. Fake gems: PASTE. It's a type of glass used to imitate gemstones, especially diamonds. Learning moment for me.

10. Sorts: ILKS.

14. __ white: espresso bar order: FLAT.

18. Lose: DROP.

19. Ramadan faith: ISLAM.

20. Hi-fi sound: MONO.

21. Turn red in the face: BLUSH.

24. Futurist: SEER.

25. Salary bump: RAISE.

26. Eat by candlelight, maybe: DINE.

27. Show that celebrated 50 seasons in 2025, for short: SNL.

30. __ Geo Wild: NAT.

32. Nepal neighbor: TIBET. Momos are popular there. Steamed dumplings.

34. Chemical in pretzel-making: LYE.

35. Evening, in ads: NITE.

36. Colorful pattern: TIE DYE.

39. Tuna roll seaweed: NORI.

40. Wasting time: IDLE.

44. Final stretches of a race: LAST LEGS. Also loved: 94. "Love that!": VERY COOL. 10. Words said with a yawn: I'M SO TIRED. 13. "Well, excu-use me!": SORRY I ASKED 14. Warm button-ups with checkered patterns: FLANNEL SHIRTS. 43. Source of some dirt: RUMOR MILL. 44. Big wheel on the Thames: LONDON EYE. 54. Lucky numbers, maybe: LOTTERY TICKET. 

48. Reddit Q&A: AMA.

49. __ Dhabi: ABU.

50. Six in a million?: ZEROS. 1,000,000.

52. Makeup mogul Lauder: ESTEE.

53. Area: REALM.

56. Urban haze: SMOG.

59. Musty: DANK.

60. Maui's __ Highway: HANA.

61. Selling points?: AD COPY. Ah, OK, selling points of a product.

63. Cincinnati's state: OHIO. 

65. Thought: IDEA.

67. Article: ITEM.

72. Hoist: HEFT.

75. Sneaker brand named for a big cat: PUMA. Loving my Asics Versablast. Light and comfy. 

76. Typical college applicant: TEEN.

77. Groups of eight: OCTETS.

81. Merriness: GLEE.

82. Force: DINT.

84. Double Stuf cookie: OREO.

86. Actor Davis: OSSIE.

87. Princess topper: TIARA.

89. Homeric epic: ILIAD.

91. Decade's 10: Abbr.: YRS.

93. St. known for spuds: IDA.

101. Oven setting, briefly: TEMP.

102. Airline whose name comes from the Book of Hosea: EL AL. Didn't know this trivia. 

103. New York PWHL team: SIRENS. Professional Women's Hockey League. Our team is Minnesota Frost, the champion last year. 

104. __-glace: rich sauce: DEMI.

107. Clicking sound?: AHA. 129. Class struggle?: TEST. Won't mislead our regulars. 

109. Grannies: NANAS.

111. Lip: RIM.

115. Sir McKellen: IAN.

117. Ages and ages: AEON.

120. Common sound at Oktoberfest: POLKA.

121. Main role: LEAD.

125. Decided: OPTED.

126. "You are something __!": ELSE.

127. "__ beaucoup": MERCI.

128. Sports commentator Andrews: ERIN.

130. Depletes: SAPS.

131. "25" and "30" singer: ADELE.

132. Den fixture: SOFA.

Down:

1. MS reviewers: EDS.

2. Gunk: CRUD.

3. Arizona Natives: HOPI.

4. Opportunity to score: OPEN NET.

5. "Some __": message in "Charlotte's Web": PIG. From Wikipedia: When Wilbur is in danger of being slaughtered, Charlotte writes messages in her web praising him, such as "Some Pig", "Terrific", "Radiant", and "Humble", to persuade the farmer to spare his life. Some Pig, Splynter!

6. "Take it or leave it" warning: AS IS.

7. Tilt: SLANT.

8. Beach body feature?: TAN LINE. Another great clue.

9. AED user: EMT.

11. Cinematic surname: LOEW.

12. Use a prayer mat, e.g.: KNEEL.

15. Mario's brother: LUIGI.

16. Plus: ASSET.

17. Word after a final touch: THERE.

21. Wireless support, maybe: BRA.

23. Apt surname for a librarian: READE.

28. Rosie of "The Flight Attendant": PEREZ.

29. Wine menu heading: REDS.

31. Supermodel Banks: TYRA.

33. Acknowledge a standing ovation, maybe: BOW.

36. Under control: TAMED.

37. Designer Mizrahi: ISAAC. He had some great collections with Target for a few years.

38. Falls back: EBBS.

41. Wireless std.: LTE.

42. Rooney of "Carol": MARA.

45. Coup d'__: ETAT.

46. Chromosome unit: GENE.

47. Jeans line: SEAM.

51. Las Vegas athlete: RAIDER.

55. Highway letters: MPH.

57. Two-way player nicknamed "Shotime": OHTANI. Boomer had his rookie card.

58. Many a moving meme: GIF.

62. "Mm-hmm": YEP.

64. One of six in an inning: OUT.

66. A long time __: AGO.

69. Good listeners?: AUDIOPHILES. Great fill/clue also.

70. Virgo preceder: LEO.

71. Prefix with tourism: ECO.

72. "Property Brothers" network: HGTV.

73. Nobelist Wiesel: ELIE.

74. Dread: FEAR.

78. Endorse digitally: E-SIGN.

79. Water ways?: TIDES.

80. Shut tight: SEAL.

83. Some tapas spreads: TAPENADES. Never had this. 

85. Middle-earth monsters: ORCS.

88. King topper: ACE.

90. Hold up: DELAY.

92. Mix: STIR.

95. Actor Epps: OMAR.

97. Took off: RAN.

98. Moved like an inflatable air dancer: FLAILED.

99. Standard font: ARIAL.

100. Sworn rivals: NEMESES.

104. Bus base: DEPOT.

105. Complete a private merger?: ELOPE.

106. Cheesy sandwiches: MELTS.

108. Amtrak option: ACELA.

110. Buffalo skater: SABRE.

113. Skosh: TAD.

114. Croak: RASP.

116. Chemist's salt: NACL.

118. Other, in Spanish: OTRO.

119. Inexperienced sort: NAIF.

122. UFC sport: MMA.

123. Tell tales: LIE.

124. Molecule in some vaccines: RNA.

C.C.

 

Sunday July 6, 2025 Gary Larson & Katie Hale

Theme: "Make a Long Story Short" - The last letter of each movie title is cut.  

23. Proposed network television schedule?: AIRPLANE.

25. Title for a tell-all about Cinderella's early social life?: OF MICE AND MEN.

39. Wise men bearing gifts of formula, onesies, and diapers?: PRACTICAL MAGIC.

71. "That guy prefers more formal greetings"?: HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU.

103. Horse-drawn carriages delivering Christmas trees?: CHARIOTS OF FIRE.

119. Norm for the dinosaur era?: JURASSIC PARK.

123. Edited version seen in theaters, and what six long answers in this puzzle need to match their clues?: FINAL CUT.

Super tight set. All well-known movies with the last letters deleted. Love the title.

I think this is first Sunday collab between Gary and Katie. Or maybe the very first between them. I've shown Gary's photo before. Below is a picture of Katie from Xword Info. She's based in London. 

Across:

1. Parking spot: LOT.

4. Curved paths: ARCS.

8. Visual multiplication tool: ARRAY.

13. Finishing touches on a letter?: SERIFS. The alphabet character. Not your sign-off.

19. Be in arrears: OWE.

20. Biblical sister of Rachel: LEAH.

21. Pinkish-purple: MAUVE. So many shades of mauve. We also have 111. Brownish-purple: PUCE.

22. Sweet liqueurs: CREMES.

27. Moore of "The Substance": DEMI.

28. Actor Michael: CERA.

30. Taj __: MAHAL.

31. Strong attraction, with "the": HOTS.

32. Wetland layer: PEAT.

34. Not so good in: POOR AT.

37. Genghis Khan follower: TATAR. Genghis Khan and the Mongol Empire are romanticized in this popular TV series.  

43. "Something To Talk About" singer: RAITT.

45. Want: HOPE FOR.

46. Align properly: EVEN UP.

48. Beach, in Portuguese: PRAIA. I only know PLAYA.

50. Project ending?: ILE. Projectile. 

51. Hershey rival: NESTLE.

54. Gaggle members: GEESE.

56. Filmmaker Spike: LEE.

57. Some nobles: LORDS.

60. Blunted blade: EPEE.

61. RR connection: STA.

62. Skirt that shows off ankle boots: MIDI.

63. Draft choice: IPA.

65. Monkeyshines: ANTICS.

69. Dish made with Arborio rice: RISOTTO. Creamy seafood risotto. 

76. Ships abroad: EXPORTS.

77. Hit the hay: RETIRE.

78. Office no.: TEL.

79. Front or spot: LOAN. Verb "Front".

80. Estadio "Rah!": OLE.

82. Lass: MISS.

84. Argentine prairie: PAMPA.

88. Succinct "I could go on": ETC.

89. Saw logs: SNORE.

91. Chaste: VESTAL. Learning moment for me.

93. Bit of static buildup: ION.

94. Sister's daughter: NIECE. And 117. Grandma's daughter: AUNT.

96. Gave faithfully?: TITHED. From the faithful.

98. Oil used in some hair products: COCONUT. And 109. Like butter ready for whipping: SOFT.

101. Actor Haim: COREY.

106. Metamorphosis stage: PUPAL.

108. More ridiculous: INANER.

110. Impersonates: APES.

112. River near Roswell: PECOS. 

114. Agitate: RILE.

116. Inserts for some noisy toys: AAAS.

125. National park in Maine: ACADIA. We have Voyageurs National Park. We also have 64 state parks.

126. Madeline Miller novel featuring Odysseus: CIRCE. 

127. Member of the onion family: LEEK.

128. Artist Yoko: ONO.

129. Begrudge: RESENT.

130. Custard apple kin: PAPAW. The big seeds have medicinal benefits.

131. Icelandic epic: EDDA.

132. Racing initials: STP.

Down:

1. Cargo: LOAD.

2. Toddler's scrape: OWIE.

3. Major essay: TERM PAPER.

4. __ in a day's work: ALL.

5. Spit take, e.g.: REACTION.

6. Riddler accessory: CANE.

7. Tenzing Norgay, for one: SHERPA. For Edmund Hillary. Sherpa Tenzing was born in Tibet.

8. Latin lover's verb: AMO.

9. WWII fliers: RAF.

10. Search haphazardly (through): RUMMAGE.

11. Taking to the skies: AVIATING.

12. "Blech": YECH.

13. Graduated, in math: SCALAR. Not SCALED. 

14. Directional ending: ERN.

15. Poison Ivy feature: RED HAIR. Capitalized Ivy. DC Comics character.

16. Vampire's power: IMMORTALITY. How can you kill it with a stake then?

17. Stocking stuffers: FEET.

18. Tax form IDs: SSNS.

24. Jigsaw unit: PIECE.

26. "Mangia!": EAT.

29. Letters in "You've Got Mail": AOL.

33. DOJ branch: ATF.

35. Brunch staple: OMELETTE. And 85. Bite-size Tex-Mex snacks: MINI TACOS.

36. Party with glow sticks: RAVE.

38. Gift wrapper's need: TAPE.

39. Punxsutawney weather forecaster: PHIL.

40. Foil-wrapped candy: ROLO.

41. Manitoba people: CREE.

42. Prompts to act now?: CUES. On a stage.

44. Connected with: TIED TO.

47. __ dish: PETRI.

49. Vowel quintet: A E I O U.

52. Attention __: SPAN.

53. Gist: TENOR.

55. Goody-goody: SAINT.

58. Pastrami on rye spread, perhaps: DIJON.

59. Goad: SPUR.

62. Simoleons: MOOLA.

64. __ Martin: British automaker: ASTON.

66. Wednesday's kin: ITT. Wednesday Addams. 

67. Added one's two cents: CHIMED IN.

68. Attire at Hindi weddings: SARIS.

70. Dance instruction: STEP.

71. Honorary Oscar winner Keller: HELEN. Didn't known this. Google shows that Helen Keller was given an honorary Oscar as inspiration for the movie "Helen Keller in Her Story",  a documentary about her life.

72. "The Best __ Marigold Hotel": EXOTIC.

73. Films like "Star Wars": SPACE OPERAS.

74. Letter-shaped track: T SLOT.

75. __ drive: TEST.

81. Actor Stonestreet: ERIC.

83. Biodegradable egg containers: SACS.

86. Do a sommelier's job: POUR.

87. Upfront stake: ANTE.

89. Ooze: SEEP.

90. Horn of Africa nation: ETHIOPIA.

91. Aloe __: VERA.

92. Turned left, maybe: LOOSENED. Love the clue. 

95. Tireless campaign: CRUSADE.

97. Dada pioneer: HANS ARP.

99. Fiscal VIP: CFO.

100. Ingredient in some raw dog food: OFFAL.

102. Tries to intimidate, as a Chihuahua might: YAPS AT.

104. Poetic preposition: O'ER.

105. Rum-soaked British dessert: TRIFLE.

107. Lahaina loop: LEI. Maui town. 

110. Open a bit: AJAR.

113. USSR, in Russia: CCCP. 

115. Committed perjury: LIED.

118. "Halt!": STOP.

120. __ bin: penalty box: SIN.

121. Classic TV brand: RCA.

122. London's __ Gardens: KEW.

124. Letters between names: AKA.

Happy 78th birthday to dear waseeley (Bill), our faithful Thursday Sherpa for many years.  So happy to see both him and Lemonade on the blog these days. 

 

 

 

Thank you for the sweet birthday messages and cards. I had a lovely day. I've been making progress. The swollen right ankle continues to bother me though. Will see the doctor in 2 weeks. Hope there's a solution to it.  

C.C.

Sunday June 29, 2025 Zhou Zhang & Mallory Montgomery

Theme: "News Splash!" - One word in each common phrase is replaced by its nautical homophone.

23. Weather: "Warning to Surfers During Storm Surge": TIDE UP IN KNOTS. Tied-up in knots.

38. Classifieds: "Isolated Waterfront Property Now Available": SEA FOR YOURSELF. See for yourself.

49. Op-ed: "Archipelago Expansion Has No Place in Our Waters": ISLE BE DARNED. I'll be darned.

68. Style: "World's Largest Jib Now Complete": SAIL OF A LIFETIME. Sale of a lifetime.

89. Culture: "Five Stars for the New Jetty": PIER-REVIEWED. Peer-reviewed.

97. Front page: "Waterway Corruption Exposed": THE STRAIT TRUTH. The straight truth.

Reveal: 

120. Component of some social studies classes, or the name of the newspaper sporting the headlines in this puzzle?: CURRENT EVENTS. 

I always like homophone theme, but this puzzle is more than just homophone replacement. The extra clue layer makes the puzzle so much more interesting. Great title also. 

Congrats to Zhou Zhang on her first LAT Sunday. And Mallory on her LAT debut. Zhou is also a common surname in China, as in Zhou Enlai. 

Across:

1. Activist Yoko: ONO.

4. Lose, as fur: SHED.

8. Sell: VEND.

12. "You've had enough of my antics": I'LL STOP. 

19. Stateroom window: PORTHOLE. Never been on a cruise. Stunning view.

21. Brazilian berry: ACAI. Tart and a bit bitter.

22. Flat-bottomed glassware: BEAKERS.

25. Items that often hang above cribs: MOBILES.

26. User profiles: IDENTITIES. 

27. IRA options: CDS.

29. Secret plan: PLOT.

30. Key contraction?: O'ER. Francis Scott Key.

31. Hide-and-__: SEEK.

32. That girl: HER.

33. Inbox clogger: SPAM.

35. Like a twangy voice: NASAL.

44. Map showing elevation, for short: TOPO. Topography.

47. Proper part of speech?: NOUN. Proper noun.

48. "¡Ay, caramba!": DIOS MIO. "My God!"

54. Penny: CENT.

55. "Srsly?": OMG.

56. Whole pizza: PIE.

57. Fern bump: SPORE.

58. Ore. neighbor: IDA.

60. Romantasy and dramedy, for two: GENRES.

62. Side squared, for a square: AREA.

64. __ the web: SURF.

65. Monogram pts.: INITS.

67. "The __ have it": AYES.

72. Get exactly right: NAIL.

74. Greta Thunberg, for one: SWEDE.

75. Disney's "The Princess and the __": FROG.

76. Warm up: THAW.

80. 2022 Beyoncé hit that won a Grammy for Best R&B Song: CUFF IT.

82. Paper cutters, for short: EDS.

83. Spooky: EERIE.

85. Lamb's maa-maa: EWE. Ha.

86. "What have we here?": OHO.

87. Brace (oneself): GIRD.

93. Stumbled: LURCHED.

95. Slugger Sammy: SOSA. Boomer once pulled an autographed card of Sosa. 

96. Philosopher Descartes: RENE.

101. Is aware of: KNOWS.

105. Commotion: FUSS.

106. Director Anderson: WES.

107. Clif Bar ingredient: OATS.

110. Architect born in Guangzhou: PEI. His family left for Hong Kong when he was one. He designed the Bank of China Tower in HK.

111. In-flight convenience: WI-FI.

113. Practically forever: EON.

114. All-powerful: OMNIPOTENT.

117. "My brother from __ mother": ANOTHER.

123. Broadcasts on Twitch, e.g.: STREAMS.

124. Wading bird: IBIS.

125. Suggest: ALLUDE TO.

126. Superstar with swagger: HOTSHOT.

127. Toy brick brand: LEGO.

128. Command post: HELM.

129. Put on: DON.

Down:

1. Possibility: OPTION.

2. "Beats me!": NO IDEA.

3. Waiting list?: ORDERS. Great clue.

4. Like a just-finished book: SHUT.

5. Native Arizonans: HOPIS.

6. First-class: ELITE.

7. Rejects as untrue: DENIES.

8. Sneakers with a checkerboard design: VANS.

9. Green prefix: ECO.

10. D.C. player: NAT.

11. Make out: DISCERN.

12. Early ThinkPads, e.g.: IBMS.

13. Summer sign: LEO.

14. Chocolate __: LAB.

15. Ticket for someone who needs a lift?: SKI PASS. Ski lift.

16. "Keep talking": TELL ME MORE.

17. Cookie with a Space Dunk flavor: OREO.

18. Start of a secret exchange, perhaps: PSST.

20. Top __ list: TEN.

24. Actress Palmer: KEKE. "Nope".

28. Parched: DRY.

32. Escape artist born in Budapest: HOUDINI.

33. Taking to court: SUING.

34. Jets, Mets, or Nets: PRO TEAM. Patti is a Mets fan.

36. Munched: ATE.

37. Soft tosses: LOBS.

39. Journalist Curry: ANN.

40. Rival: FOE.

41. Celebratory poem: ODE.

42. Mojito fruit: LIMES.

43. Obscures: FOGS.

45. Cola brand: PEPSI.

46. Brand of near beer: O'DOUL'S.

49. Craft beer letters: IPA.

50. 108-Down for a knight: SIR. 108. Honorific: TITLE.

51. "To Kill a Mockingbird" novelist: LEE.

52. Flew in a direct, fast line: ARROWED. Didn't know "arrow" can be a verb.

53. Officiated a game: REFFED.

54. One who serves a function?: CATERER. Social function.

59. Clash (with): DIFFER.

61. Russian "no": NYET.

63. "In your dreams!": AS IF.

65. Suffix with percent: ILE.

66. Stockpiling sort: STORER.

69. Lands: ALIGHTS.

70. Super Bowl breaks: AD SPOTS.

71. "Mercy!": I GIVE.
 
72. Childish disagreement: NU HUH.

73. "You did your best!": A FOR EFFORT.

77. Chop down: HEW.

78. Wonderment: AWE. My pretty Asiatic lilies survived again and are thriving.

79. Join: WED.

80. Young stallion: COLT.

81. Levels: TIERS.

84. Kindle tech: E INK.

88. Fig. on an OTC bottle: RDA.

90. Syr. neighbor: ISR.

91. __ de parfum: EAU.

92. Poetic dusk: EEN.

94. Highest corporate levels: C SUITES.

95. Precut pattern: STENCIL.

98. __ Jima: IWO.

99. Heavy book: TOME.

100. Waddingham of "Ted Lasso": HANNAH. She was born in London.

102. Was on first: OPENED.

103. Visited: WENT TO.

104. Doesn't release: SITS ON.

109. Go letter by letter: SPELL.

111. Scrub: WASH.

112. Gaga over: INTO. 

113. Formerly, once: ERST.

114. Roughly: OR SO.

115. Egg cell: OVUM.

116. Bill's partner in time travel: TED. "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure".

118. "Pshaw!": HAH.

119. Punk offshoot: EMO.

121. Yam in purple ice cream: UBE. Our local farmers markets have purple yams. 

122. 18-wheeler: RIG.

Happy 59th birthday to Barry G, who gave me invaluable feedback when I just started making crosswords. Hope all's well in your world, Barry!  

C.C.

Sunday, Jun 22nd, 2025 ~ Christina Iverson

 GENRE FUSION
OR
"I WANNA ROCK GARDEN"

Twisted Sister, "I wanna rock" garden

Splynter here, subbing for our unhappy hostess, who had her infusion done this past week, and was not feeling well.  This is my first time blogging a Sunday grid, but not my first Christina Iverson puzzle - her last LA Times contribution was Memorial Day this year; I blogged her Wednesday crossword back in Nov 2024.  Since I have no reference to any previous Sunday statistics, I can say that we have no circles, a few names, 50 four- but not foul- letter words, and not only are all the theme answers unique, but two of the 9-letter Downs are unique* as well.  I thought this was a well-made, clever crossword - the theme answers are a playful 'expansion' that ties an in-the-language phrase to a musical genre; 

23. Title of a memoir written by Madonna's daughter?: MOM AND POP MUSIC

39. Young and adorable Twisted Sister enthusiast?: PRECIOUS METAL HEAD

56. Exclamation upon finding "Honky Tonkin'" in the dumpster?: IT'S A FREE COUNTRY ALBUM

75. Spend every waking moment in one's Rolling Stones-themed bedroom?: 

LIVE UNDER A ROCK POSTER - I grew up with Iron Maiden, who had the best merchandising

The Trooper & Aces High, two of their coolest "Eddie" posters

89. Accidentally books the hip-hopper with no rhythm?: GETS A BAD RAP ARTIST

111. Go-to for Pete Seeger or Woody Guthrie?: COMMON FOLK SONG

 My favorite was not the METAL or ROCK reference, but the one genre I probably like the least - 

IT'S A FREE COUNTRY ALBUM~!

And Away We Go~!

ACROSS:

1. Card game also called contract whist: OH HELL - new one to me; more here

7. Jerks: SPASMS

13. Southwestern people: APACHE

19. Affectionate knuckle rub: NOOGIE

20. Many a social media opinion: HOT TAKE - Essentially, statements that play Devil's Advocate by raising people's ire - e.g., anything political posted here on the Corner

22. Comedy series starring Bob Odenkirk and David Cross: MR. SHOW - never heard of this; I do know David Cross, as he appeared in Men in Black 1 & 2

25. Trig function: COSINE

26. Scraped (by): EKED

27. Gawk: GAPE

28. Clarinet kin: OBOE

30. Antlered deer: BUCKS - STAGS didn't work

31. Plus: ASSET - AND - 119A. Column on a record: LOSSES - this second clue stumped me because with the musical references of the theme, I was thinking of "record" as "LP"

33. Premier League team, to fans: MAN U - Manchester United - English soccer/football

35. Taken __: startled: ABACK

37. FD employee: EMT - a change-up on the typical clue for this abbr answer

45. Like fuzzy fruit: MOLDY - ah, not PEACH or KIWIS, but the ones gone bad . . . .

47. Recipe nos.: AMTS

48. Dowser's objective: WELL - WATER was too many letters

49. Confidentiality doc: NDA - Non-Disclosure Agreement; I will need this for my board games

50. Actor Rickman: ALAN - He made a compelling villain in "Die Hard"

"Die Hard" IS a Christmas movie in my home

51. Brought forth: BEGAT - there was a lot of Biblical begatting

53. Some nonalcoholic pours: BEERS - Years ago, I drank a half-dozen O'Doul's at a gentlemens' club; all you get are trips to the bathroom and a nagging headache

55. Sound from an enthusiastic diner: MOAN - I guess; I personally don't usually associate a moan with something good - or - food

60. "Thanks a __!": "LOT~!"

61. Count (on): RELY

62. Thakhek locale: LAOS - More like Saturday cluing, filled via perps

63. __ bran: OAT

64. Amazes: WOWS

65. Be a cast member of: ACT IN

67. Scribbles (down): JOTS

69. Hat with a tassel: FEZ - everything you ever wanted to know about "The Fez"

Steely Dan from the album "The Royal Scam"

70. Inventor Sikorsky: IGOR - no, EYE-gor . . . .

71. Smudge on Santa's suit: SOOT

72. Letters on some protective lip balm: SPF - Sun Protection Factor

81. All the __: RAGE

82. Thick-__ boots: SOLED

83. Foil alternatives: ÉPÉES

84. Storybook bear: PAPA

85. German cry: ACH

86. French bean?: TETE - Frawnche for "head"

87. Transparent: OPEN

88. Colorful relative of a violet: PANSY

95. Knock: DIS - as in disrespect

96. Actress Hannah: DARYL - I know her from Blade Runner, Splash and Roxanne - her IMDb

97. Site with a Fashion Finds section: ETSY - the website here

98. Informal attempts: STABS

100. Like a Brit's proverbial milk: SPILT - as opposed to "Spilled"

102. Fashionably __: LATE

104. Prefix with fill or complete: AUTO - curses, Autocorrect~!

There were so many to choose from, but mostly NSFW

106. Italian musical phrase often abbreviated as "a2": A DUE - two players, in unison

109. Immature, in a way: LARVAL - $2 word

115. Playful aquatic mammals: OTTERS

116. One might end on a high note: SOPRANO

117. Bug with pincers and a flat body: EARWIG

118. Gym: PHYS. ED. - semi-meh; gym may be an abbr for gymnasium, but gym class - better

120. Biases: SLANTS

DOWN:

1. "I'll treat": "ON ME."

2. Bit of fishing gear: HOOK

3. "Finally, I can sleep in my own bed!": "HOME AT LAST~!" - appeared one other time in the NYT

4. "Golly!": "EGADS~!"

5. Maya who designed the Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery: LIN - her Webpage

6. Actor Heath: LEDGER - I liked him in "A Knight's Tale", and as the Joker in "The Dark Knight" - died at 28yrs old from a prescription drug overdose in NYC - his Wiki

7. Mart: SHOP

8. Catholic leader: POPE

9. Bread box?: ATM - another alternative clue for an over-used fill

10. "The Simpsons" disco guy: STU

11. Workers who may use concrete saws: MASONS - I tried PAVERS

12. Slopes habitué: SKI BUM

13. Regal competitor: AMC - Movie theatres

14. The big leagues: PRO BALL

15. Given that: AS SUCH

16. Get cold feet: CHICKEN OUT

17. Beep: HONK - I tried "TOOT"

18. Some flock members: EWES - AND - 42D. Fancy jugs: EWERS

21. System starter: ECO - ECOsystem

24. Party spread: PÂTÉ - "What am I, chopped liver~?"

29. Spot to get a bite: EATERY - can I get some PATE~?

32. Mole: SPY

33. Words to live by: MOTTO - Dah~! Not CREDO

34. Swimming powerhouse in the Olympics, for short: AUStralia - I was not sure where this clue was going; even after it filled via perps, I had to check online; here's a medal count by country

36. Model material: BALSA

37. Drafts folder filler: E-MAIL

38. Very, to Vivaldi: MOLTO - Italian 

40. Not forthcoming: CAGEY

41. Big Apple product: iMAC - I tried iPAD

43. Savage of "MythBusters": ADAM - I know him....

44. Savage of "Savage Love": DAN - I do NOT know him

46. Genetic material: DNA

51. Cold __ coffee: BREW

52. Slithering swimmers: EELS

53. "Children of," in temple names: B'NAI - Hebrew

54. Berkshire school: ETON - I was thinking Berkeley, and tried UCLA - hey, I am EAST coast....

55. Degs. for entrepreneurs: MBAs

57. Panicked, perhaps: FROZE - Fight, Flight or Freeze~?

58. Super: ULTRA

59. Game of luck: LOTTO

64. "I don't believe __ met": "WE'VE"

65. Posthumous Pulitzer winner James: AGEE - good WAG on my part

66. Firewood quantity: CORD 

67. One might start with a knock: JOKE - As in, "Knock Knock, who's there~?"

68. "My bad!": "OOPS~!"

69. Hit below the belt: FIGHT DIRTY *- I tried SUCKER PUNC, ran out of spaces

70. Ran in place, maybe: IDLED

71. Trademarked element of Play-Doh: SCENT - HA~!  I tried "TASTE" first

72. Gives up: STANDS DOWN *- neat contradictory clue/answer

73. "Is __ OK?": response to a request for Coke: PEPSI - in the South, the question is always "What kind of Coke do you want~?" "I'll have a Diet Pepsi."

74. Becomes ragged: FRAYS

75. Weblike fabric: LACE

Ballerina Black Secret Scarlet Lace Tights

76. Milk carton phrase: USE BY

77. Some: NOT ALL - that would be the definition....

78. "How can I ever __ you?": REPAY

79. Abbr. on old phones: OPERator; here's a funny Millennial video

Four minutes to dial a number....

80. Place for a couples retreat: SPA

81. Joplin work: RAG - SCOTT Joplin - The Entertainer kind of rag

86. Steak __: TARTARE - Basically, raw beef - a recipe

87. Batter's stat: OPS - Baseball lingo for On-Base Plus Slugging

88. Gp. that might plan a readathon: PTA

90. Soothing balms: SALVES - ALOES was too short

91. Make more suitable: RETOOL

92. "Resume speed," to a musician: A TEMPO - definition

93. Colon, at times: IS TO - analogy; see 35A.

94. Wraps: STOLES

99. Iraqi port city: BASRA

100. Piggie's favorite dish in the "Elephant and Piggie" books: SLOP - makes sense

101. Line on a trail map: PATH - I followed the advice of two Cornerites, desper-otto & TTP, ordered me a pair of New Balance 608 V5s

The brown ones were $10 less - I'm not picky, and they match my sweatpants~!

103. Bldg. coolers: A/Cs - gotta put my big window unit in; we are going to get close to 100° this week here in Connecticut 😝

104. Green Gables girl: ANNE

105. Blurry craft in tabloid pics: UFOs

107. Storage __: UNIT

108. Quiche need: EGGS

110. Acid letters: LSD

112. Peacock title: MRS. - Definitely Saturday cluing, and a reference to the board game Clue; I had an inkling this was what we were looking for; I also considered "MRT", as Mr. T was in the NBC "Peacock" show "The A-Team"

113. Western treaty gp.: OAS - Organziation of American States - the Wiki

114. Actor Penn: KAL - His IMDb; I knew of him from "House, M.D."

Splynter