Theme: The longer the pun, the greater the fun. We have four grid-spanning theme answers, each of which is a common phrase (all four words) that is clued in a totally silly but visually interesting way, with second level puns in each. The first word in the phrase is a verb which has a different meaning as a noun in the clue. Mr. DiPietro is a very regular NYTimes contributor, who is most famous for his themeless work. I may be missing something, but this is a semi-themeless themed puzzle. An odd puzzle with long and short fill. I enjoy each of the four theme answers, so let us see what I see.
17A. Litter in an abandoned library? : LEAVES IN THE DUST.(15) Reminds me of the Roadrunner. Anyway, pages in a book are leaves and libraries are notoriously dusty places.
31A. Imaginary nuclear facility? : PLANT IN ONE'S MIND.(15) Like an idea, and then we have a make believe nuclear plant, another interesting thought.
45A. Singles among the Pringles? : CASH IN ONE'S CHIPS.(15) Man, I would not mind opening my Pringles and finding money, but I am not ready to cash in my chips; let life ride.
58A. Bread seen while finding theater seats? : ROLL IN THE AISLES.(15) What you do when the play is very funny, but if you see a roll under the seat you may not laugh then.
okay, on to the rest
Across:
1. Jokes : KIDS. A hint from a constructor who likes to kid around; read C.C.'s informative interview.
5. Shade for a pool : AQUA. Not a tree, or a screen, but a color. Words have so many shades of meaning. See also the clecho: 14A. Brown shade : ECRU. And, 40D. It's usually not made in the shade : SUN TAN
9. Start of a familiar series : ABCDE. I guess we are back to the beginning.
15. Shoot the curl, perhaps : SURF. Gnarly man.
16. Copy : XEROX. Like Kleenex, this brand name became synonymous with the product.
20. Cross product : PEN. A big graduation present when I was a kid. Tricky clue. LINK.
21. Helping hand : AID. We have many (28) three letter fill in this puzzle.
22. Green around the gills : ILL. See, I told you.
23. Nice thing to steal : KISS. What a sweet, old-fashioned concept.
25. Harbinger of spring : BUD. The croci poking their heads from the brown earth...
27. Turkey's place, for the most part : ASIA. Not on your dinner table, but geographically speaking.
35. Places to get stuck : RUTS. Also 24 four letter answers.
36. Wield, as force : EXERT. As opposed to inert.
37. '50s political initials : DDE. Dwight David Eisenhower. the President.
38. Te-___ cigars : AMO. Literally, I love you. And now a word from our sponsor. LINK. (7:31)
39. WWII aircraft carrier known as the "Mighty Stinger" : USS WASP. No clue, but the clue was logical, so it was not hard to PICTURE.
41. Sushi fish : EEL.
42. Carmelo Anthony's org. : NBA. The Syracuse star who is now a New York Knick.
43. With 67-Across, museumgoers musing : BUT IS. 67A. See 43-Across : IT ART. Often said when Andy Warhol started exhibiting his work.
44. "What a ride!" : WHEE. Onomatopoeia. Not to be confused with I wanna poeia. See yesterday.
49. "Symphony in Black" artist : ERTE. WOW. Really classy.
17A. Litter in an abandoned library? : LEAVES IN THE DUST.(15) Reminds me of the Roadrunner. Anyway, pages in a book are leaves and libraries are notoriously dusty places.
31A. Imaginary nuclear facility? : PLANT IN ONE'S MIND.(15) Like an idea, and then we have a make believe nuclear plant, another interesting thought.
45A. Singles among the Pringles? : CASH IN ONE'S CHIPS.(15) Man, I would not mind opening my Pringles and finding money, but I am not ready to cash in my chips; let life ride.
58A. Bread seen while finding theater seats? : ROLL IN THE AISLES.(15) What you do when the play is very funny, but if you see a roll under the seat you may not laugh then.
okay, on to the rest
Across:
1. Jokes : KIDS. A hint from a constructor who likes to kid around; read C.C.'s informative interview.
5. Shade for a pool : AQUA. Not a tree, or a screen, but a color. Words have so many shades of meaning. See also the clecho: 14A. Brown shade : ECRU. And, 40D. It's usually not made in the shade : SUN TAN
9. Start of a familiar series : ABCDE. I guess we are back to the beginning.
15. Shoot the curl, perhaps : SURF. Gnarly man.
16. Copy : XEROX. Like Kleenex, this brand name became synonymous with the product.
20. Cross product : PEN. A big graduation present when I was a kid. Tricky clue. LINK.
21. Helping hand : AID. We have many (28) three letter fill in this puzzle.
22. Green around the gills : ILL. See, I told you.
23. Nice thing to steal : KISS. What a sweet, old-fashioned concept.
25. Harbinger of spring : BUD. The croci poking their heads from the brown earth...
27. Turkey's place, for the most part : ASIA. Not on your dinner table, but geographically speaking.
35. Places to get stuck : RUTS. Also 24 four letter answers.
36. Wield, as force : EXERT. As opposed to inert.
37. '50s political initials : DDE. Dwight David Eisenhower. the President.
38. Te-___ cigars : AMO. Literally, I love you. And now a word from our sponsor. LINK. (7:31)
39. WWII aircraft carrier known as the "Mighty Stinger" : USS WASP. No clue, but the clue was logical, so it was not hard to PICTURE.
41. Sushi fish : EEL.
42. Carmelo Anthony's org. : NBA. The Syracuse star who is now a New York Knick.
43. With 67-Across, museumgoers musing : BUT IS. 67A. See 43-Across : IT ART. Often said when Andy Warhol started exhibiting his work.
44. "What a ride!" : WHEE. Onomatopoeia. Not to be confused with I wanna poeia. See yesterday.
49. "Symphony in Black" artist : ERTE. WOW. Really classy.
50. Amount past due? : TRE. The old counting in Italian trick, DUE= two, TRE= three.
51. Square or level : TOOL.
52. Wanted-poster letters : AKA. Also Known As. Yes, I can explain this one, also.
54. Strikes (out) : XES. Sorry, C.C., no baseball, just the old way using a typewriter for a
55. 2008 BCS football champs : LSU. Hahtoolah, where are you?
64. Bread in a deli : BAGEL. Another clecho, with 58 A a theme clue.
65. Make concessions : BEND. But do not break.
66. Art store stock : OILS.
68. Win over : SWAY. Like voters.
69. Sport : WEAR. Not where, or ware.
Down:
1. Laminaria, for one : KELP. Time to LEARN. Kelp sounds so much netter than brown algae.
2. Slush Puppie maker : ICEE. More SHELDON. I love the sub-titles!
3. Showed concern for someone's health? : DRANK A TOAST. Another visual and with 38D, a nice pair of 11s.
4. Durango, e.g. : SUV. By Dodge. Dexter voices the commercials.
5. Umbrian birthplace of two saints : ASSISI. Clare and FRANCIS.
6. Pounds in Plymouth : QUID. Plymouth, England. Debate over the how the term started, perhaps from the paper factory in Quidhampton where banknotes came from. Steve? Nice Cuppa you out there?
7. Kitchen server : URN. You want you coffee, you have to urn it.
8. "To the rear, Admiral!" : AFT. A little Navy humor, with no vice intended.
9. Skating maneuver : AXEL. For our dear CA and Robin who have skated into our hearts WATCH.(1:17) I love the sound.
10. Utter chaos : BEDLAM. Like XEROX and KLEENEX this word derived from the name of a London Hospital for the criminally insane, known for its cruelty and inhuman treatment of the mentally ill. See also Arkham Asylum for those of you who read and watch movies.
11. Unlikely classification term for 25-Down : CRU. A premier wine, never likely to end up as a 25D. Libation pooh-poohed by some : BOX WINE. It is pooh poohed, because that is what it tastes like. marti would be furious.
12. Novelist John ___ Passos : DOS. An important WRITER.
13. Dept. phone no. : EXTension.
18. All-Star side : EAST. I really wanted WEST!
19. It's quarry : HIDERS. Maybe not, you could have this PRODUCT.
24. Former U.S. Border Patrol gp. : INS. Immigration and Naturalization Service
26. Discomfort : UNEASE. Getting there.
28. Golf ball-on-a-slope challenge : SIDEHILL LIE. Shotgun start at 8:00am, but this is Florida, there are no hills except this MOUNT.
29. Irreversibly committed : IN DEEP. Probably the part of the rough I will be in tomorrow.
30. Astaire and Simpson : ADELES. Fred's dancing partner sister, and the fashion designer,
31. Derby winner's move : PRANCE. Which Derby? The horsies prance?
32. Like some medical punctures : LUMBAR. Like THIS.(0:55)
33. Trojan War sage : NESTOR. Nice MYTHOLOGY.
34. Longtime sponsor in NASCAR events : STP. Andy Granatelli's fuel additive company.
39. Latin "where" : UBI. SEMPER UBI SUB UBI.
44. "___ said so?" : WHO. I did.
46. Doctor, ideally : HEALER. _____ is a common given name for a male. It comes from Greek meaning "healer"
47. Main squeeze : STEADY. Not to be confused with the Squeeze Box.
48. Mozart's "___ fan tutte" : COSI. LISTEN. (4:25)
53. Skirt often worn with ghillie brogues : KILT. Skirt!
54. TV ally of Hercules : XENA.
56. Ward with awards : SELA.
57. WWII power : USSR.
58. Good squeeze result, for short : RBI. Finally, the baseball, a squeeze bunt.
59. Muffin morsel : OAT. I like Orange Cranberry better.
60. JFK alternative : LGA. Airport codes in NYC.
61. "Dinner and a Movie" channel : TBS. LINK.
62. Cut down : HEW. EWE again? You? oooooo.
63. Farm female : SOW. Cow fits too, but not words to use with your DW. A good place to stop before I get into trouble. Enjoy June. Rabbit Rabbit out of Habit.
Answer grid.
Lemonade
58. Good squeeze result, for short : RBI. Finally, the baseball, a squeeze bunt.
59. Muffin morsel : OAT. I like Orange Cranberry better.
60. JFK alternative : LGA. Airport codes in NYC.
61. "Dinner and a Movie" channel : TBS. LINK.
62. Cut down : HEW. EWE again? You? oooooo.
63. Farm female : SOW. Cow fits too, but not words to use with your DW. A good place to stop before I get into trouble. Enjoy June. Rabbit Rabbit out of Habit.
Answer grid.
Lemonade