Sunday December 29, 2019 Gary Larson

Theme:  "Electronic Games" - E is added to the start of each familiar phrase.

22. Unlikely getaway car alternative?: ESCAPE GOAT. Scapegoat.

24. Time left in an online auction?: EBAY WINDOW. Bay window. ORIEL.
 
36. Civil rights legislation?: EQUALITY CONTROL. Quality control.

52. Serengeti stampede?: ELAND RUSH. Land Rush.

67. Three-hanky films?: EMOTION PICTURES. Motion pictures.

83. Bong for special occasions?: EVENT PIPE. Vent pipe.

97. Big place to fool around in?: ESTATE OF AFFAIRS. State of affairs.

112. Eve?: EDEN MOTHER. Den mother.

115. Midnight sail?: EBON VOYAGE. Bon voyage.

It'd be cool if every theme entry is indeed a game. We've seen an E adding to the end with "E-tail" as a title.

Bold upper left/lower right design from Gary. Hard to pull off cleanly.

Across:

1. Immense: WHOPPING.

9. Spurred (on): EGGED.

14. Starts of many names: CAPS. Capital letters, right?

18. Procedure enforced locally: HOUSE RULE. Great fill.

20. Magician's cry: VOILA.

21. Certain something: AURA.

26. Utmost degree: NTH.

27. River-to-sea connection: ESTUARY.

29. Policy that includes higher menu prices: NO TIPS. Tipping is not a common practice in China and Japan.

30. Stitches: DARNS.

33. Meadow mom: DOE. EWE too.

34. Zest: GUSTO.

41. Many a Middle East native: ARAB.

44. Craved: LUSTED.

45. Bowling ball material: URETHANE. TTP and Boomer can tell you more.

47. Hood's weapon: GAT.

49. Where to get down: EIDER.

50. World view, perhaps: MAP.

55. Multidisciplinary strength-training program: CROSSFIT.

57. Guitarist Paul: LES.

60. Tell a thing or two: EDUCATE.

61. B'way need: TKT.

62. Under pressure: ON THE SPOT.

66. "The Plough and the Stars" playwright: O'CASEY.

70. Red choice: CLARET.

73. Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb, e.g.: CO-ANCHORS. Hoda's name is very grid-friendly.

74. Single circuit: LAP.

77. Supremely spooky: EERIEST.

79. Bit of legal advice: SUE.

80. Promise that one will: PLEDGE TO.

86. Beast of burden: ASS.

87. Shower: AIRER.

88. Certain house mem.: SEN.

89. Emmy-winning creator of "Six Feet Under": ALAN BALL. Wiki says he also created "True Blood".

93. Solvent: AFLOAT.

94. Thames academy: ETON.

100. "Take Me Home, Country __": John Denver hit: ROADS.

102. Simple sack: COT.

103. Court figs.: ATTYS.

104. Take the heat off?: DISARM.

107. Early Yankee nickname: BAMBINO. Boomer told me he was enjoying "Babe". I said "The pig?". "What pig?". Turns out he was watching "The Babe".

109. "Rhoda" production co.: MTM.

119. Auto race signal: FLAG.

120. Pried (into): NOSED.

121. Glues: MUCILAGES. New word to me.

122. Daly of "Judging Amy": TYNE.

123. "The Teflon Don": GOTTI.

124. Climbing plant features: TENDRILS.

Down:

1. Word spoken during pouring: WHEN.

2. Throng: HOST.

3. Bad pun response: OUCH.

4. Ad about being green, briefly: PSA.

5. Zip: PEP.

6. Wrath: IRE.

7. "Cat Scratch Fever" musician: NUGENT (Ted). Not familiar with the song.

8. Shiny print: GLOSSY.

9. Boston suburb: EVERETT. What's it famous for?

10. Elapse: GO BY.

11. Supermodel Carangi: GIA.

12. Nevada copper town: ELY. Also new to me.

13. "The light __!": DAWNS.

14. Synagogue singer: CANTOR.

15. Quattro maker: AUDI.

16. Support, with "up": PROP.

17. Words of wisdom: SAWS.

19. Down: EAT.

23. 16th-century English architectural style: TUDOR.

25. Whit: IOTA.

28. Top of the line: A ONE.

30. Takes out: DATES.

31. A and O, but not E, I or U: ALERS. American Leaguers. A's and O's. We also have 40. MLB scoreboard letters: RHE. Runs, Hits, Errors.

32. Relieve (of): RID.

34. Soccer game highlight: GOAL.

35. Long bones: ULNAE.

36. Campaign sign word: ELECT.

37. Idiosyncrasy: QUIRK.

38. FAA overseer: USDOT. US Department of Transportation.

39. Stanley of the NHL?: CUP.

42. Mexican waters: AGUAS.

43. Sew with temporary stitches: BASTE.

46. Sign on the back: ENDORSE.

48. Nonbinary gender pronoun: THEY.

50. Perfect, as a collectible coin: MINT.

51. Web site: ATTIC.

53. Il __: Mussolini: DUCE.

54. Some appliances: RCAS.

56. Place to soothe the sole?: FOOT SPA. Very popular in China.

57. Horne and Dunham: LENAS.

58. "College Football Live" channel: ESPNU.

59. Item on a rack: SPICE.

63. Sob syllable: HOO.

64. Scot's "Crikey!": OCH.

65. Features of some 'Vettes: T-TOPS.

67. 2000 title role for Julia: ERIN.

68. Happen upon: MEET.

69. Results of Googling: URLS.

70. Cuckoo clock quartet: CEES.Cuckoo clock.

71. Bank construction: LEVEE.

72. Ain't like it oughta be?: AREN'T.

74. "Vive __!": LE ROI.

75. "I did not think to shed __": "Henry VIII": A TEAR.

76. Freighters' destinations: PORTS.

78. Like some floors: TILED.

81. "Portrayer" of Duck Dodgers: DAFFY. Read more here. First time I heard of  Duck Dodgers.

82. Southwestern lizards: GILAS.

84. Screen or bomb: PASS.

85. Rhinitis-treating MD: ENT.

86. South American greeting: ALO. Have yet to see NI HAO in a LAT puzzle.

90. Owner of Grey Goose and Dewar's: BACARDI.

91. Speck: ATOM.

92. Leave alone: LET BE.

93. Time in a personal ad: AFT. Afternoon.

95. Anaheim's county: ORANGE.

96. Result that's expected: NORM.

98. Spread apart, as police during a search: FAN OUT.

99. Hospital stat?: AT ONCE.

101. Surrounded by: AMONG.

104. Slick: DEFT.

105. Without serious thought: IDLY.

106. Penn name: SEAN. Sean Penn.

107. Root often pickled: BEET. So good. I have a weakness for pickled food. 

108. Tech giant based in Armonk, N.Y.: IBM.

109. Star followers: MAGI.

110. Neutrogena shampoo brand: T GEL. Many YouTubers have raved about this shampoo.

111. Jumble: MESS.

113. Excessively: TOO.

114. V-J Day president: HST.

116. Beaujolais, par exemple: VIN.

117. From the past, as a story: OLD.

118. Pirate's cry: YAR.

C.C.

Sunday December 22, 2019 Peter Koetters

Theme:  "At the Helm" - The first word in each theme entry is a captain.

23A. *Without hesitation: HOOK LINE AND SINKER. Captain Hook.

32A *Opponent of the U.S. entry into WWII: AMERICA FIRSTER. Captain America. I only know Trump's "America First".

48A. *"Sheik of ... burning sand" in a Ray Stevens hit: AHAB THE ARAB. Captain Ahab.

67A. *Back-to-basics food regimen: CAVEMAN DIET. Captain Caveman. Also new to me.

84A. *Moments requiring decisive action: CRUNCH TIMES. Captain Crunch.

100A. *Groups that pervert justice: KANGAROO COURTS. Captain Kangaroo.

16D. *Food chain with a roundheaded spokesman: JACK IN THE BOX. Captain Jack.

61D. *1990 Paul Simon song, with "The": OBVIOUS CHILD. Captain Obvious.

112. 1865 classic not written for the characters that start the answers to starred clues: O CAPTAIN MY CAPTAIN.

Good to see Peter back for a Sunday puzzle. He gave us that fantastic "Smile" puzzle earlier this year.

This puzzle is very heavy in themage. Total 119 squares (Rich's minimum is 84). But the fill is still quite smooth.

Across:
 
1. Glimpse: ESPY.

5. Way up: ASCENT.

11. "Modern Family" network: ABC TV. We also have 26. "Young Sheldon" network: CBS.

16. Bush found in Florida: JEB.

19. Taiwanese superstar Jay: CHOU. He was Kato in "The Green Hornet". His Chou is the same as my Zhou.

20. Indiana Big Ten school: PURDUE.

21. Anne of comedy: MEARA.

22. Kerfuffle: ADO.

27. Big-eyed bird: OWL.

28. Johns in Scotland: IANS.

29. Thought of Monet: IDEE.

30. Farm team links: YOKES. Real farm team.

38. Poop out: TIRE.

39. Certain noble's domain: BARONY.

41. "Speed-the-Plow" playwright: MAMET (David)

42. Broadcasts: AIRINGS.

44. Underway, in a way: ASEA.

45. Upbraids: SCOLDS.

47. Bear witness: ATTEST.

51. Michelangelo work: PIETA.

52. Curable aliment: HAM. Looks like "Curable ailment".

55. "Death, be not proud" poet: DONNE.

56. Stylish Christian: DIOR.

57. Espresso foam: CREMA.

59. "Death Wish" star Charles: BRONSON.

63. Tire material: STEEL.

65. Unkempt: SHABBY.

66. Automation prefix: ROBO.

71. "J'Accuse...!" author: ZOLA.

72. Middle-earth tongue: ELVISH.

74. Modeling agent?: EPOXY. Plane/train model.

75. Rubber glove materials: LATEXES. Did not know this is plurable.

77. Kavanaugh colleague: ALITO.

78. Awestruck: AGOG.

79. Chile con __: cheesy Tex-Mex sauce: QUESO. I had my first bite of cheese at the age of 24. McDonald's.

81. Brit. medal: DSO. Distinguished Service Order.

82. Fountain choices: COLAS.

90. Wasatch dweller, perhaps: UTAHAN.

92. Believer: THEIST.

93. Zilch: NADA.

94. Greek letter that inspired the euro symbol: EPSILON. Unaware of the connection.

96. "__ you done?": AREN'T.

97. Aptly named Vt. ski resort: MT SNOW.

99. Small indentation: POCK.

104. Beatnik's "Got it!": I'M HIP.

106. Oscilloscope knob: DIAL.

107. Twice tetra-: OCTA.

108. PC brain: CPU.

111. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame architect: PEI. Born in Guangzhou.

118. Annex: ELL.

119. Action star Lundgren: DOLPH.

120. Bawl out: RAIL AT.

121. Mirrored: APED.

122. Silent consent: NOD.

123. "Hasta la vista!": SEE YA.

124. Digestion aid: ENZYME.

125. Tender in Havana: PESO.

Down:

1. Smart speaker brand: ECHO.

2. Display: SHOW.

3. Lifeguard's domain: POOL AREA.

4. Goofy laugh: YUK.

5. Drone shelter: APIARY. Not the flying drone.

6. Largest division of Islam: SUNNI.

7. Dramatic mus. marking: CRESC.

8. Writer LeShan: EDA.

9. Vow taker: NUN.

10. Youngest of nine Kennedy siblings: TED.

11. In the thick of: AMIDST.

12. "John Brown's Body" poet: BENET.

13. Self-indulgent sort: CAKE EATER. New phrase to me.

14. Numero di colori on the Italian flag: TRE.

15. Verb associated with mileage: VARY.

17. Stefan of tennis: EDBERG.

18. Heads: BOSSES.

24. Legal encumbrance: LIEN.

25. Horse fathers: SIRES.

31. Elevator guy: OTIS.

33. Ancient Dead Sea kingdom: MOAB.

34. Dino's love: AMORE.

35. FDR's dog: FALA.

36. Cinephile's website: IMDB.

37. "Hud" director Martin: RITT

39. Barnyard bleat: BAA.

40. Tray filler: ASH.

43. Come to, as an agreement: REACH.

45. Medicinal shrub: SENNA.

46. Spam holder: CAN.  Spam Musubi. I'll probably still dip this in the wasabi & soy sauce mixture. I'm going to try this one after my current tube runs out.

47. Garlicky sauce: AIOLI.

49. NFL stats: TDS.

50. Bootlegger's haul: HOOCH.

51. Variegated: PIED.

53. Mosey: AMBLE.

54. Chichén Itzá builders: MAYAS.

56. Overrule: DENY.

58. Bulldoze: RAZE.

59. Basketful on the table: BREAD. And 60. Basketful on the table: ROLLS. And 115. Indian 59-Down: NAN. Here are some Chinese Man Tou. We just steam.

62. "__ isn't!": emphatic rebuttal: NO IT.

63. Industrial settler?: SMOG.

64. Duty: TAX.

65. Tuck away: STASH.

68. Like the Impossible Burger: VEGAN.

69. Heroic poem: EPOS.

70. Pick: ELECT.

73. San Bernardino Co. is part of it: SOCAL.

76. Tater __: TOT.

78. Bing Crosby's role in "Robin and the 7 Hoods": ALAN ADALE. Learning moment for me also.

79. Westernmost South American capital: QUITO.

80. Young __: UNS.

83. Reluctant assent: OH OK.

84. One-named singer: CHER.

85. Vegas rival: RENO.

86. Caltech, e.g.: Abbr.: INST.

87. Guy's grooming portmanteau: MANSCAPE.

88. Pre-1868 Tokyo: EDO.

89. Jug band instrument: SAW.

91. __ bar: TIKI.

92. Cheery refrain: TRA LA.

94. Auto-injector brand: EPIPEN.

95. Big citrus fruit: POMELO. Thick-skinned.

96. __ Raisin, British whodunit sleuth named for a British writer: AGATHA. Helpful clue.

97. Change in form: MUTATE.

98. Something under the sink: TRAP.

101. Chilly: NIPPY.

102. With feigned shyness: COYLY.

103. Logical "razor" creator: OCCAM.

105. Bean bags?: PODS.

109. Bakery array: PIES.

110. Reverse: UNDO.

113. Iowa college: COE.

114. Spleen: IRE.

116. "Les __": MIZ.

117. Stout source: TAP.

C.C.

Sunday December 15, 2019 Robin Stears

Theme: *Black Magic"- Both words in each theme entry can follow "Black".

23. *Landmark near Waikiki: DIAMOND HEAD. Black diamond. Blackhead.

29. *Down time on Wall Street?: BEAR MARKET. Black bear. Black market.

47. *It's larger than a littleneck: CHERRY STONE. Black cherry. Blackstone.

50. *Where land and ocean meet: SEA BOARD. Black Sea. Blackboard.

66. *Cowhide accessory: LEATHER BELT. Black leather. Black belt.

81. *Negative-studier's aid: LIGHT BOX. New phrase to me. Black light. Black box.

83. *Kozy Shack dessert: RICE PUDDING. Black rice. Black pudding.

104. *Fancy decoration particles: GOLD POWDER. Black gold. Black powder.

112. *Former Queens home of the US Open: FOREST HILLS. Black Forest. Black Hills.

I don't often see a title with an asterisk mark. This type of theme often has a reveal.

Don and I did this Black Monday puzzle ages ago. It was a hard work then. I'm just so amazed at the number of entries in Robin's theme.

Across:

1. Pulitzer-winning Ferber novel: SO BIG. 1924 novel.

6. PC key not used by itself: CTRL.

10. "Joy to the World," e.g.: CAROL.

15. Costa del __: SOL.

18. Mocedades song covered by Eydie Gormé as "Touch the Wind": ERES TU. It's You.

20. Riskily off base: AWOL.

21. All-inclusive adjective: EVERY.

22. Peak pique: IRE.

25. Carafe size: LITER.

26. Opposite of trans: CIS. Cisgender. Transgender.

27. Comes down with: GETS.

28. Printer supply: TONER.

31. 67.5 deg.: ENE.

32. Junior: SON.

33. '80s soap rebooted in 2017: DYNASTY. Looks intriguing.

35. __ podrida: Spanish dish: OLLA. Pork and beans.

36. "Sweeney Todd" tool: STROP.

38. Mary __: KAY.

40. One-named Deco artist: ERTE.

41. Sick to the max: ILLEST. Odd form.

43. What prospective borrowers compare: RATES.

45. Discipline with poses: YOGA.

46. 2015 Best Actress Larson: BRIE. "Room". I don't remember the film at all.

54. Cascades peak: SHASTA.

55. Bethesda medical agcy.: NIH.

56. Cut: SEVER.

57. Society page word: NEE.

58. Duck named for the long-feathered part of its anatomy: PINTAIL. Helpful clue.

60. Stand-up quality?: POSTURE. That duck has good posture.

63. "Straight Up" singer: ABDUL (Paula)

65. Bad road condition?: RAGE. Minnesotans are generally polite drivers.

69. One often has ticks: LIST.

70. "Consequently ... ": AND SO.

72. Snuggled, in a way: SPOONED.

73. Broad Eurasian region: SIBERIA. Remember this Siberian family?

75. GATT successor: WTO.

76. Plain __: obvious: TO SEE.

78. Gist: NUB.

80. Recall targets: LEMONS.

86. MTV sci-fi show "__ Flux": AEON.

87. Quick run: DASH.

88. Tough tests: ORALS.

89. 1964 Nobel Prize decliner: SARTRE. Here with Simone de Beauvoir.

92. Tenth: Pref.: DECI.

93. Narc's org.: DEA.

94. Best way to leave the casino: AHEAD. Boomer loves nickel poker.

98. "A Death in the Family" writer: AGEE.

99. Land adjoining a mansion: DEMESNE. New word to me.

101. "Miss Saigon" setting: NAM.

103. TiVo predecessor: VCR.

107. Come to pass: OCCUR.

109. Phony (up): HOKE. Is "hoke up" a common phrase? Never heard of it.

110. The "E" in BCE: ERA.

111. Alaskan native: ALEUT.

114. Not of the cloth: LAY.

115. Victoria, to William IV: NIECE.

116. Computer __: USER. Never used a computer until 1995. How about you?

117. Gets to the bottom of: SOLVES. I just wait for D-Otto.

118. Cry of success: YES.

119. Unloaded?: SOBER.

120. Submerged threat: REEF.

121. Art of verse: POESY.

Down:

1. Papyrus plants, e.g.: SEDGES.

2. Get situated: ORIENT.

3. Jalopy: BEATER.

4. Things to believe in: ISMS.

5. '60s song car with "three deuces and a four-speed and a 389": GTO.

6. "Call Me Irresponsible" lyricist: CAHN (Sammy)

7. Outdoorsy, taste-wise: TWEEDY. Another learning moment for me.

8. Detroit Lions' mascot: ROARY. Big Easy and I used this word in our CHIEF JUSTICE puzzle a few years ago.

9. Honorary degree for attys.: LLD.

10. Sugar Plum Fairy's instrument: CELESTA.

11. Fly: AVIATE.

12. Take another shot: RETRY.

13. City on Utah Lake: OREM.

14. Vega's constellation: LYRA.

15. Tool with a curved blade: SICKLE.

16. Protruding windows: ORIELS.

17. "The Vampire Chronicles" vampire: LESTAT. Tom Cruise.

19. Word that may precede itself: UNTO. Unto itself.

24. Shrek's bestie: DONKEY.

29. River transport: BARGE.

30. Loggers' contest: ROLEO.

32. Peloponnesian War victor: SPARTA.

34. Noble gas: NEON.

37. Electra's brother: ORESTES.

39. PGA part: Abbr.: ASSN.

41. "Dies __": IRAE.

42. Early fall baby's sign: LIBRA.

44. Are losing: TRAIL.

45. Talk Like a Pirate Day refrain: YO HO HO.

46. Cuts at an angle: BEVELS.

47. Red wine: CHIANTI.

48. Sad sack: HANGDOG.

49. Walk quietly: TIPTOE.

50. Desertlike: SERE. Fixture in our old Tribune Media days.

51. Hearth item sometimes called a firedog: ANDIRON.

52. Extending the life of: REUSING.

53. Mouth formations: DELTAS.

54. Urban planner's concern: SPRAWL.

56. Pin in a ring, say: SUBDUE. Verb "pin".

59. Textbook section: LESSON.

61. Six-yr.-term pol: SEN.

62. Ditch: TRENCH.

64. Complexion spoiler: BLEMISH.

67. High point: APEX.

68. Actress Swinton: TILDA. She's in "Burn After Reading".

71. Weasel relative: OTTER.

74. Madhouse: BEDLAM.

77. Shawm descendant: OBOE.

79. Fraternal gp.: BPOE.

82. Despised: HATED.

83. Indy entrant: RACER.

84. Egyptian fertility goddess: ISIS. And 87. Harvest goddess: DEMETER.

85. Voyager 2 destination: URANUS.

89. How Yoda spoke: SAGELY.

90. Trading places?: AGORAE. They wouldn't believe how we shop today.

91. Track events: RELAYS.

92. Figure out: DEDUCE.

93. Formal order: DECREE.

95. Advance in the race?: EVOLVE. Human race.

96. "Supernatural" co-star Jensen __: ACKLES. No idea.

97. Beyond "business casual": DRESSY.

99. Dimwitted "We're Back! A Dinosaur's Story" dinosaur: DWEEB.

100. Rope loop: NOOSE.

102. Liberal __: ARTS.

105. Chef's collection: PANS. Have you tried Tuscan chicken before?

106. Potpourri: OLIO.

108. Random House co-founder: CERF.

109. Hawaii County seat: HILO.

112. Pelt: FUR.

113. Kangaroo move: HOP.

Sunday December 8, 2019 Paul Coulter

Theme:  "Pet Sitting" - CAT is placed on top of its usual spots.

 

19. Beats it: SCATS.

23. On easy street: IN THE LAP OF LUXURY.

32. Curtail: TRUNCATE.

40. Sedentary sort: COUCH POTATO.

51. Battery terminal: CATHODE.

55. Orchestra section leader: FIRST CHAIR.

77. Lively musical piece: TOCCATA.

84. Chart with branches: FAMILY TREE.

92. Pinpoint: LOCATE.

 97. Track foundation: RAILROAD BED.

113. Excoriate: SCATHE. Only familiar with "scathing".

115. Opposite of commends: CALLS ON THE CARPET.
 
Reveal:

114. One of six hidden in this puzzle, each sitting on an apt location: CAT.

Cute, right? All the CATs are fully embedded in another words. The place where each cat sits is a discrete word in a longer phrase.

Across:

1. Medical chart entry: AGE.

4. Author Janowitz: TAMA. One of the literary "brat pack".

8. Green eggs and ham promoter: SAM I AM.

14. USPS deliveries: LTRS.

18. Brown of jazz: LES.

21. Thorny shrub: ACACIA. Never saw one in person. Very pretty.

22. "That's not good": OH OH.

26. Beer buy: CASE.

27. Hall of Famers: GREATS. My all-time favorite. 

28. Put away: ATE.

29. Knife holder: SHEATH.

31. Demands: NEEDS.

37. "__ fair ... ": ALL'S.

38. My Chemical Romance 2-Down: EMO. 2. Category: GENRE.

44. They pick up things: SENSORS. Nice clue.

48. Mailed: SENT TO.

49. Get ready to eat?: RIPEN.

50. Muffin topping: OLEO.

53. Assure: PROMISE.

57. Response in court: PLEA.

59. Blues singer James: ETTA.

60. Tiny lab subjects: AMOEBAS.

61.  competitor: REO. Never heard of Maxwell automobile. Read more here. We also have 89. Former Fords: LTDS.

63. "If it's handcrafted, ... it's on __": ETSY. I've been eyeing a disc necklace there for a few months.

64. Designing initials: YSL.

65. Airline to Stockholm: SAS.

66. Most Dresden residents: GERMANS.

68. H.S. class: BIO.

71. Medical suffix: OMA. .And 74. Anatomical canal: ITER. We also had 93. Harem room: ODA.

76. Its "B" is sometimes turkey: BLT.

81. 1993 Literature Nobelist Morrison: TONI.

83. Brings home: NETS.

86. Chaotic but appealing person: HOT MESS. I learned this phrase from an article about Britney Spears ages ago.

88. Powerless motion?: GLIDING. Another great clue.

90. Boosts, e.g.: AIDS.

91. Sneak off to Vegas, maybe: ELOPE.

95. Part of a Shakespearean soothsayer's warning: THE IDES. Of March.

99. Parenthesis, essentially: ARC.

100. Film __: NOIR.

101. To begin with: AS A START.

105. Bridge positions: EASTS.

110. Repair, as sewn-together edges: RE-SEAM.

112. A in French: UNE.

114. Queens' __ Field: CITI.

121. Choir voice: ALTO.

122. Conservative foe, in the U.K.: LABOUR. Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, etc.

123. Suddenly paid attention: SAT UP.

124. "Yo te __": AMO.

125. Stereotypical angst sufferer: TEEN.

126. Wears slowly: ERODES.

127. High-tech workers: BOTS.

128. Gymnast's goal: TEN. Who's your favorite gymnast?

Down:

1. Adjust, as car wheels: ALIGN.

3. Cosmetician Lauder: ESTEE.

4. African menaces: TSETSES.

5. Orthopedic surgery targets, initially: ACLS.

6. Kid's cry: MAA. Farm kids.

7. For face value: AT PAR.

8. Longtime "The Avengers" comics artist Buscema: SAL. Learning moment for me.

9. Pressure lead-in: ACU.

10. Nth degree: MAX.

11. Post-OR area: ICU.

12. Affectations: AIRS.

13. Perchance, old-style: MAYHAP. Not familiar to me.

14. Hour in a pilot's announcement: LOCAL TIME.

15. Response to sad news: THAT'S A PITY. Very nice parallel long entries

16. Hebrew for "head": ROSH.

17. "__ Loves You": Beatles hit: SHE.

20. Annual Jan. speech, in Twitter hashtags: SOTU. State of the Union.

24. Ate: HAD.

25. Bog: FEN.

30. Ecuadoran gold region: EL ORO.

32. Holy scrolls: TORAHS.

33. Emailed a dupe to: CC'ED.

34. Bang-up: A-ONE.

35. "For shame!": TUT.

36. Outer: Pref.: ECT.

39. Deerskin attire: MOCCASINS.

41. Aspirations: HOPES.

42. Proficiency determiners: TESTS.

43. 1992-'93 NBA Rookie of the Year: O'NEAL. Shaq.

44. Slight, as a chance: SLIM.

45. Architect Saarinen: EERO.

46. Attendance count: NOSES.

47. Penn, e.g.: Abbr.: STA.

48. Aching to a larger degree: SORER.

50. Birds-feather link: OF A.

52. Staff builders: HIRERS.

54. Dancer who played a scarecrow: RAY BOLGER. "The Wizard of Oz".

56. Not yet on the sched.: TBA.

57. Quintet: PENTAD. 70. Group of eight: OCTAD.

58. Capt.'s inferiors: LTS.

62. Fed. fiscal agency: OMB. Office of Management and Budget.

66. Acquire: GET.

67. 1966 Michael Caine title role: ALFIE.

69. Aloof: ICY.

71. Wise start?: OTHER. Otherwise.

72. Loot: MOOLA.

73. 2006 Dunst title role: ANTOINETTE.

75. Big name in electric cars: TESLA.

77. Soldier's helmet: TIN HAT.

78. R&B vocalist India.__: ARIE.

79. "Bill & __ Excellent Adventure": TED'S.

80. '50s political initials: AES. Adlai Ewing Stevenson.

82. Self-destruction: IMPLOSION.

85. Charles River sch.: MIT.

87. Like TV's "Supernatural," e.g.: EERIE.

88. Mother of the Titans: GAEA.

94. "60 Minutes" network: CBS.

96. Antarctic features: ICECAPS.

98. Expert in futures?: ORACLE.

102. 252 wine gallons: TUN.

103. Unwanted workers: ANTS.

104. Detox program: REHAB.

106. Berne's river: AAR.

107. Fifth-century bishop in Ireland, familiarly: ST PAT.

108. Most crosswords have one: THEME. Except those low-word count Saturdays.

109. Determined about: SETON.

110. Upset and then some: RILE.

111. Photographer Dora who had a relationship with Picasso: MAAR.

113. Cottontail's tail: SCUT.

116. Certain corp. takeover: LBO.

117. Airport near Tel Aviv: LOD.

118. Go after, in a way: SUE.

119. Surg. sites: ORS.

120. Ike's WWII arena: ETO.

Happy birthday to our cool Jazzbumpa (Ron), who's having a very busy month. He'll be back to guide us next month.

C.C.

Sunday December 1, 2019 Gary Larson

Theme:  "Name Tags" - Each familiar phrase is re-interpreted as if the word is a person's name.

21. Inspiring Gates?: ELECTRIC BILL. Bill Gates is truly inspiring.

24. Upright Fosse?: PLUMB BOB. Bob Fosse, the choreographer with nine Tony wins.

 

49. Refined Bailey?: CULTURED PEARL. Pearl Bailey.

51. Careless Montana?: SLOPPY JOE. Joe Montana.

 

64. Vividly expressive Carney?: GRAPHIC ART. Art Carney.

67. Outgoing Macdonald?: SOCIAL NORM. Norm Macdonald of "Saturday Night Live".

 86. Slothful Sontag?: LAZY SUSAN. Susan Sontag.

89. Seafaring Davis?: NAUTICAL MILES. Miles Davis.

113. Forthcoming Tyson?: OPEN MIKE. Mike Tyson.

115. Forceful Kelly?: DOMINANT GENE. Gene Kelly.

We got a good mix of people. 2 ladies. 8 men. From various walks of life.

Theme heavy. Total 10 entries in a 140-word grid.

   

Across:

1. Milky white kind of glass: OPAL.

5. "Dumb and Dumber" co-star: CARREY. Jim Carrey seems to be a recluse now.

11. Confident: ASSURED.

18. Stellar phenomenon: NOVA.

19. Aspirations: DREAMS.

20. Self-officiated game with a disc: ULTIMATE. Why don't they call it "Ultimate frisbee" any more?

25. More tender: SORER.

26. Driver's lic. info: DOB.

27. Red dye: EOSIN.

29. Use for a fee: RENT.

30. Family nickname: SIS.

32. Something read to the rowdy?: RIOT ACT. Nice clue/answer.

35. English breakfast __: TEA.

37. Outrage: IRE.

40. Very funny sort: CARD.

42. Hostess output: CUPCAKES.

44. It has an eye on TV: CBS.

47. 1980s Panamanian dictator: NORIEGA. Manuel Noriega. The Chilean dictator is Augusto Pinochet.

53. Type, in Calais: SORTE. Similar to our English.

54. Westminster landmark: ABBEY.

55. Jumbles: OLIOS.

56. House shower: C-SPAN.

58. Causes of frequent break-ins?: SPONSORS. Commercial breaks.

60. IBM competitor: NEC.

61. 1942 Philippine battle site: BATAAN. We had this before also.

63. Cold sheet: FLOE.

73. Actor Neeson: LIAM.

74. Fortune-telling aids: TAROTS.

75. One of the fire signs: LEO.

76. Period of the first dinosaurs: TRIASSIC. Is this word related to "triceratops"?

80. State with a panhandle: TEXAS.

81. Plane angle symbol: THETA.

83. Very long time: AEONS.

84. Some corporate jets: LEARS.

92. Where to find an idiomatic pig: IN A POKE. This idiom and "don't look a gift horse in the mouth" are just odd.

93. Family docs: GPS.

94. Widespread: NON-LOCAL.

95. One doing stars, say: APER.

96. Outlaw Kelly: NED.

97. "Ben-Hur" studio: MGM.

98. Starts to negotiate, as a price: ASKS FOR.

100. Clearasil target: ZIT.

102. Formally transfer: CEDE.

105. Opposite of piano: FORTE.

107. Young socialite: DEB.

109. Dependable: SOLID. All our blogging team. So lucky.

119. Fan of Jerry Garcia's band: DEADHEAD.

120. Flea market deal: RESALE. We had lots of fun at the flea market. Did it for many years.

121. Part of a pot: ANTE.

122. __ overload: SENSORY.

123. Absorbs the financial hit: EATS IT.

124. "Enough!": STOP.

Down:

1. Till stack: ONES.

2. Game played in an anagram of itself: POLO. Water polo. Pool.

3. Swear: AVER.

4. What loafers lack: LACES.

5. Burnable medium, briefly: CDR.

6. Dry as a bone: ARID.

7. "Made to be broken" thing: RECORD.

8. Browning's Ben Ezra, e.g.: RABBI. See here. New to me.

9. Former U.K. recording giant: EMI.

10. Fashion initials: YSL.

11. "__ want for Christmas ... ": ALL I.

12. Hindered, as growth: STUNTED.

13. __City: computer game: SIM.

14. Eclipse shadow: UMBRA.

15. "Streamers" playwright: RABE. Also new to me.

16. School since 1440: ETON.

17. Balance on a card, say: DEBT.

20. Parvenus: UPSTARTS.

22. Bench press muscles: TRICEPS.

23. Seized, as an opportunity: LEAPT ON.

28. Go down, so to speak: OCCUR.

31. Like some turkey stuffing: SAGY. Our 12-pound turkey this year. Tons of sage in the stuffing.

33. Eye care product prefix: OCU.

34. Certain Sooner: TULSAN.

36. ESPN Deportes language: ESPANOL. ESPN "Sports".

37. Joyous way to break out: IN SONG.

38. Surfing wave: ROLLER.

39. Symphony originally dedicated to Napoleon: EROICA.

41. Friend of TV's Sheldon: RAJ.

43. Stay in shape: KEEP FIT.

44. Popular spring break locale, informally: CABO. Cabo San Lucas.

45. Uncle Remus title: BR'ER.

46. Stone and Stallone: SLYS.

48. Wall St. news: IPO.

49. French Oscar: CESAR. Wiki says "The name of the award comes from the sculptor César Baldaccini (1921–1998) who created it."

50. "Barnaby Jones" star: EBSEN.

52. Numerical prefix: OCTA. Prefix for "eight".

57. Frisk, with "down": PAT.

59. Rio greetings: OLAS.

61. Partial view?: BIAS.  Not "Not total" partial.

62. Lombardy-based football club: AC MILAN. Sponsored by the Emirates Airline. There are things that money can buy.

65. Nursery item: PLANT.

66. Sound of disapproval: HISSING.

67. Early rock horn: SAX.

68. Face-to-face exams: ORALS.

69. Toledo thing: COSA.

70. "Little House" family name: OLESON. Nellie Oleson.

71. Second shot: RETAKE.

72. Sounded ghostly: MOANED.

74. Green cars: TESLAS.

76. Sharp flavor: TANG.

77. Harvest: REAP.

78. Markers: IOUS.

79. Like many fine wines: CELLARED. Not a word I use.

80. Deked, say: TRICKED.

81. Bolshevik's foe: TSARIST.

82. March opening: HUP.

85. "He's __ notable coward ... ": Shak.: A MOST.

87. Speed: ZIP.

88. Santa __ Valley: California wine region: YNEZ.

90. More cozy: COMFIER.

91. Polar helper: ELF. I absolutely love this time of the year. Everywhere is so festive.

95. Sites for fights: ARENAS.

97. Patches up: MENDS.

99. Horace, for one: ODIST.

101. "Animal House" party attire: TOGAS.

102. Some UPS deliveries: CODS. Cash on Delivery.

103. Duel tool: EPEE.

104. University VIP: DEAN.

106. "Just __ is not __": AT&T slogan: OKAY.

108. Island near Java: BALI.

110. Mardi Gras follower: LENT.

111. Liking: INTO.

112. Insightful: DEEP.

114. Old reciprocal electrical unit: MHO. Now called a siemens.

116. Mt. Hood's home: ORE.

117. __ culpa: MEA.

118. Bottom line: NET.

C.C.