Theme: "H-Hour" - H is added to the start of the first word of each familiar phrase.
26A. Presidential stylists? : HAIR FORCE ONE. Air Force One. John Edwards would have needed this, given his obsession with his hair.
45A. Helipad fee? : HOVER CHARGE. Overcharge.
71A. Fireside deity? : HEARTH GODDESS. Earth goddess. This one and 45A experienced sound changes.
97A. Punching range? : HARM'S LENGTH. Arm's length.
117A. Furs worn in a spring parade? : HIDES OF MARCH. Ides of March.
16D. Closet consultant's concern? : HANGER MANAGEMENT. Most shopaholics probably need this course. Anger management is the base phrase.
38D. What the winner of a catered wedding gets? : HALL-EXPENSES PAID. All-expense paid.
Easy to spot theme, isn't it? When I downloaded the puzzle and saw the title, I figured the theme entries might consist of 2 words, the first ends in H, the second starts in H.
The first theme entry on Sundays normally starts in Row 3, unless it has 19 or more letters. Today's first entry is of average length and it starts in Row 4. It's because the constructor wanted two 16's placed in Down slots and this gave her the best arrangement.
Patti Varol is Rich's assistant. I think this is her first LAT Sunday. Congrats, Patti!
Across:
1. Memorable touchdown maker, briefly : LEM (Lunar Excursion Module)
4. Girl having a ball? : DEB. Nailed it.
7. "Arabian Nights" woodcutter : ALI BABA. I just thought he was a thief.
14. Moral climate : ETHOS
19. Tchotchke holder : ETAGERE. Rooted in ETAGE (Floor). Tchotchke is difficult to spell.
21. CPU jointly developed by Apple, IBM and Motorola : POWERPC. Unaware of this joint effort.
22. Cook just below a boil : POACH
23. Intrinsically : AT HEART
24. First woman on the Supreme Court : O'CONNOR. Replaced by Alito. O'Connor was born in El Paso. An Avid golfer.
25. Sleeper's difficulty : APNEA
28. Apt. feature, in ads : EIK (Eat-in Kitchen)
30. "Criminy!" : EGAD
31. Plant deeply : ENROOT. New word to me. EN/EM prefix is so irrational. Why EMBED?
32. Banned pesticide : DDT
34. "Martin Chuzzlewit" novelist : DICKENS
36. Blond shade : ASH
39. Bk. read at Purim : ESTH (Esther)
40. Holdup : HEIST
42. __ beer: low-alcohol beverage : NEAR
43. Snowman's eyes : COALS
48. Humanities degs. : MAs
51. Perry of fashion : ELLIS. The model for Perry Ellis Night is very handsome. The Gucci Guilty guy has a wandering eye.
52. Narrow waterway : RIA
53. Filing aids : TABs
54. Like aged cheddar : SHARP
56. Kewpie, e.g. : DOLL
57. Still going : ACTIVE. Dennis just met & greeted The Beach Boys on Saturday night.
60. Canapé spread : PATE. Are those hot peppers on the left?
62. Enjoying a lot : INTO
63. Viscounts' superiors : EARLS
65. "I'm hunting wabbits" speaker : ELMER (Fudd)
67. Live-in helper : AU PAIR
69. Gift holder : BOX
75. Trick : GET. You got me!
76. Bird of prey : RAPTOR
78. Dalmatian, for one : CROAT. So the Dalmatian dogs came from this region originally?
79. Hasidic teacher : REBBE. Wanted RABBI.
81. Company that makes the Ektorp sofa : IKEA. What does Ektorp mean? Sounds like desktop.
82. "GWTW" plantation : TARA. "Gone with the Wind". And 58D. "GWTW" side : CSA. Should have been a full clue for former.
84. Church ceremony : RITUAL
87. Yemen neighbor : OMAN
90. Gives in : BENDS
92. Bits of wordplay : PUNS
94. Down for the count : OUT
95. Gun-shy : LEERY
96. Nav. rank : ENs
101. Palmer of the links : ARNIE. Hopefully he'll be at the 3M Championship this year. Was so happy to see Tom Watson last year.
102. 572-year-old school : ETON. Quite old.
104. Sets, as a trap : BAITS
105. Neurol. readouts : EEGs
107. Ink spots, briefly? : TAT (Tattoo)
108. Hollies hit featuring a shared umbrella : BUS STOP. Argyle will find you the perfect link.
111. NYC subway org. : MTA
112. Longtime "Sexually Speaking" host : DR. RUTH
114. View from Neuchâtel, to locals : ALPE. , Wikipedia says Neuchâtel is the capital of the Swiss canton of Neuchâtel on Lake Neuchâtel.
115. Courtroom VIPs : DAs
122. Cal __ : STATE
124. It's based on past legal decisions : CASE LAW
126. "If you ask me ..." : I, FOR ONE. I like this answer.
127. Like Samuel Beckett : IRISH. Hi there, Irish Miss (Agnes of Troy)!
128. Off the charts : EXTREME
129. Geico spokespeople with a short-lived sitcom : CAVEMEN
130. Puts on cargo : LADES
131. Has a conniption : SEES RED
132. Nor. neighbor : SWE
133. "Doctor Who" creatures : ETs
Down:
1. Sister of Rachel : LEAH. Both were married to Jacob.
2. Jazz legend James : ETTA
3. Half a food fish : MAHI. Got a good recipe for mahi-mahi?
4. "Children of a Lesser God" subject : DEAFNESS
5. Box score statistic : ERRORS
6. Affiance : BETROTH
7. Yeats's "__ to His Beloved" : A POET. Guessed.
8. Bonkers : LOCO
9. "Hmm, maybe ..." : I WONDER
10. Eggs __: brunch fare : BENEDICT
11. Prince Valiant's son : ARN. His wife is ALETA.
12. Fraternal org. : BPOE. For Abejo.
13. Nose-burning : ACRID
14. Org. concerned with climate change : EPA
15. Sunflower State capital : TOPEKA
17. Main : OCEAN
18. Roe sources : SHADS
20. "Brooklyn's Finest" co-star : GERE (Richard)
27. Partner in crime : COHORT
29. January honoree : KING
33. Like some road sign symbols : T-SHAPED
35. Ho-hum grades : CEEs
36. Solved with ease : ACED
37. Chorister's big moment : SOLO. And 88. Operatic 37-Down : ARIA.
40. Likely consequence of kicking dirt at the ump : HEAVE HO. Fun clue.
41. Knight wear : TABARD. New word to me. See here.
44. Philanthropist Wallace : LILA. No idea. Wiki said she co-founded "Reader's Digest" with her husband.
46. Sundial number : VII
47. Trio before U : RST
49. Clarinetist Shaw : ARTIE
50. Good-time Charlie : SPORT
55. Fanny pack spot : HIP
57. All eyes and ears : ALERT
59. "Pomp and Circumstance" composer : ELGAR(Edward)
61. Gallery stand : EASEL
64. P-like letter : RHO
66. What bored people may go through, with "the" : MOTIONS
68. iMac-to-iPhone connector : USB
69. Grease, as it were : BRIBE
70. Like bourbon barrels : OAKEN
72. "Keep on Truckin'" cartoonist : R. CRUMB. I just solved a puzzle with his name in the other day.
73. Classic muscle car : TRANS AM. Not a car person. I don't know what makes a car a muscle car.
74. Division of time : ERA
77. Wee bit : TAD
80. Dutch South African : BOER
83. When some Tauruses are born: Abbr. : APR
85. Jerk : TUG
86. Vocalizes : UTTERS
89. Kremlin vote : NYET. No!
91. Bar order : SHOT
93. Leaves no footprints, in a way : SLITHERS
95. Checkmate, e.g. : LAST MOVE
98. "And giving __, up the chimney ..." : A NOD
99. Web merchant : E-TAILER. Do any of you shop at Etsy?
100. Derring-do : HEROICS
103. Dangerous fly : TSETSE. The half fly was a staple at Wayne R. William's old puzzles.
106. Hearty chuckle : GUFFAW. I think this couple if fun to be with.
108. Spaghetti sauce herb : BASIL
109. Violet opening : ULTRA
110. Tries to walk off nerves : PACES
112. Like morning grass : DEWED. Spellchecker does not like this word.
113. Hound's prey : HARE
116. __-Altenburg: old German duchy : SAXE
118. Helen Mirren's title : DAME.She is so beautiful. My friend Maggie met her in a restaurant in Paris last year.
119. "I, Claudius" setting : ROME
120. Popular tech review site : CNET
121. Coop crowd : HENS
123. Quizzical sounds : EHs
125. Canonized Fr. woman : STE
Answer grid.
I'll Have Another! Thanks for the tip, Tinbeni. I wish I bet more against Boomer's Union Rags.
C.C.
26A. Presidential stylists? : HAIR FORCE ONE. Air Force One. John Edwards would have needed this, given his obsession with his hair.
45A. Helipad fee? : HOVER CHARGE. Overcharge.
71A. Fireside deity? : HEARTH GODDESS. Earth goddess. This one and 45A experienced sound changes.
97A. Punching range? : HARM'S LENGTH. Arm's length.
117A. Furs worn in a spring parade? : HIDES OF MARCH. Ides of March.
16D. Closet consultant's concern? : HANGER MANAGEMENT. Most shopaholics probably need this course. Anger management is the base phrase.
38D. What the winner of a catered wedding gets? : HALL-EXPENSES PAID. All-expense paid.
Easy to spot theme, isn't it? When I downloaded the puzzle and saw the title, I figured the theme entries might consist of 2 words, the first ends in H, the second starts in H.
The first theme entry on Sundays normally starts in Row 3, unless it has 19 or more letters. Today's first entry is of average length and it starts in Row 4. It's because the constructor wanted two 16's placed in Down slots and this gave her the best arrangement.
Patti Varol is Rich's assistant. I think this is her first LAT Sunday. Congrats, Patti!
Across:
1. Memorable touchdown maker, briefly : LEM (Lunar Excursion Module)
4. Girl having a ball? : DEB. Nailed it.
7. "Arabian Nights" woodcutter : ALI BABA. I just thought he was a thief.
14. Moral climate : ETHOS
19. Tchotchke holder : ETAGERE. Rooted in ETAGE (Floor). Tchotchke is difficult to spell.
21. CPU jointly developed by Apple, IBM and Motorola : POWERPC. Unaware of this joint effort.
22. Cook just below a boil : POACH
23. Intrinsically : AT HEART
24. First woman on the Supreme Court : O'CONNOR. Replaced by Alito. O'Connor was born in El Paso. An Avid golfer.
25. Sleeper's difficulty : APNEA
28. Apt. feature, in ads : EIK (Eat-in Kitchen)
30. "Criminy!" : EGAD
31. Plant deeply : ENROOT. New word to me. EN/EM prefix is so irrational. Why EMBED?
32. Banned pesticide : DDT
34. "Martin Chuzzlewit" novelist : DICKENS
36. Blond shade : ASH
39. Bk. read at Purim : ESTH (Esther)
40. Holdup : HEIST
42. __ beer: low-alcohol beverage : NEAR
43. Snowman's eyes : COALS
48. Humanities degs. : MAs
51. Perry of fashion : ELLIS. The model for Perry Ellis Night is very handsome. The Gucci Guilty guy has a wandering eye.
52. Narrow waterway : RIA
53. Filing aids : TABs
54. Like aged cheddar : SHARP
56. Kewpie, e.g. : DOLL
57. Still going : ACTIVE. Dennis just met & greeted The Beach Boys on Saturday night.
60. Canapé spread : PATE. Are those hot peppers on the left?
62. Enjoying a lot : INTO
63. Viscounts' superiors : EARLS
65. "I'm hunting wabbits" speaker : ELMER (Fudd)
67. Live-in helper : AU PAIR
69. Gift holder : BOX
75. Trick : GET. You got me!
76. Bird of prey : RAPTOR
78. Dalmatian, for one : CROAT. So the Dalmatian dogs came from this region originally?
79. Hasidic teacher : REBBE. Wanted RABBI.
81. Company that makes the Ektorp sofa : IKEA. What does Ektorp mean? Sounds like desktop.
82. "GWTW" plantation : TARA. "Gone with the Wind". And 58D. "GWTW" side : CSA. Should have been a full clue for former.
84. Church ceremony : RITUAL
87. Yemen neighbor : OMAN
90. Gives in : BENDS
92. Bits of wordplay : PUNS
94. Down for the count : OUT
95. Gun-shy : LEERY
96. Nav. rank : ENs
101. Palmer of the links : ARNIE. Hopefully he'll be at the 3M Championship this year. Was so happy to see Tom Watson last year.
102. 572-year-old school : ETON. Quite old.
104. Sets, as a trap : BAITS
105. Neurol. readouts : EEGs
107. Ink spots, briefly? : TAT (Tattoo)
108. Hollies hit featuring a shared umbrella : BUS STOP. Argyle will find you the perfect link.
111. NYC subway org. : MTA
112. Longtime "Sexually Speaking" host : DR. RUTH
114. View from Neuchâtel, to locals : ALPE. , Wikipedia says Neuchâtel is the capital of the Swiss canton of Neuchâtel on Lake Neuchâtel.
115. Courtroom VIPs : DAs
122. Cal __ : STATE
124. It's based on past legal decisions : CASE LAW
126. "If you ask me ..." : I, FOR ONE. I like this answer.
127. Like Samuel Beckett : IRISH. Hi there, Irish Miss (Agnes of Troy)!
128. Off the charts : EXTREME
129. Geico spokespeople with a short-lived sitcom : CAVEMEN
130. Puts on cargo : LADES
131. Has a conniption : SEES RED
132. Nor. neighbor : SWE
133. "Doctor Who" creatures : ETs
Down:
1. Sister of Rachel : LEAH. Both were married to Jacob.
2. Jazz legend James : ETTA
3. Half a food fish : MAHI. Got a good recipe for mahi-mahi?
4. "Children of a Lesser God" subject : DEAFNESS
5. Box score statistic : ERRORS
6. Affiance : BETROTH
7. Yeats's "__ to His Beloved" : A POET. Guessed.
8. Bonkers : LOCO
9. "Hmm, maybe ..." : I WONDER
10. Eggs __: brunch fare : BENEDICT
11. Prince Valiant's son : ARN. His wife is ALETA.
12. Fraternal org. : BPOE. For Abejo.
13. Nose-burning : ACRID
14. Org. concerned with climate change : EPA
15. Sunflower State capital : TOPEKA
17. Main : OCEAN
18. Roe sources : SHADS
20. "Brooklyn's Finest" co-star : GERE (Richard)
27. Partner in crime : COHORT
29. January honoree : KING
33. Like some road sign symbols : T-SHAPED
35. Ho-hum grades : CEEs
36. Solved with ease : ACED
37. Chorister's big moment : SOLO. And 88. Operatic 37-Down : ARIA.
40. Likely consequence of kicking dirt at the ump : HEAVE HO. Fun clue.
41. Knight wear : TABARD. New word to me. See here.
44. Philanthropist Wallace : LILA. No idea. Wiki said she co-founded "Reader's Digest" with her husband.
46. Sundial number : VII
47. Trio before U : RST
49. Clarinetist Shaw : ARTIE
50. Good-time Charlie : SPORT
55. Fanny pack spot : HIP
57. All eyes and ears : ALERT
59. "Pomp and Circumstance" composer : ELGAR(Edward)
61. Gallery stand : EASEL
64. P-like letter : RHO
66. What bored people may go through, with "the" : MOTIONS
68. iMac-to-iPhone connector : USB
69. Grease, as it were : BRIBE
70. Like bourbon barrels : OAKEN
72. "Keep on Truckin'" cartoonist : R. CRUMB. I just solved a puzzle with his name in the other day.
73. Classic muscle car : TRANS AM. Not a car person. I don't know what makes a car a muscle car.
74. Division of time : ERA
77. Wee bit : TAD
80. Dutch South African : BOER
83. When some Tauruses are born: Abbr. : APR
85. Jerk : TUG
86. Vocalizes : UTTERS
89. Kremlin vote : NYET. No!
91. Bar order : SHOT
93. Leaves no footprints, in a way : SLITHERS
95. Checkmate, e.g. : LAST MOVE
98. "And giving __, up the chimney ..." : A NOD
99. Web merchant : E-TAILER. Do any of you shop at Etsy?
100. Derring-do : HEROICS
103. Dangerous fly : TSETSE. The half fly was a staple at Wayne R. William's old puzzles.
106. Hearty chuckle : GUFFAW. I think this couple if fun to be with.
108. Spaghetti sauce herb : BASIL
109. Violet opening : ULTRA
110. Tries to walk off nerves : PACES
112. Like morning grass : DEWED. Spellchecker does not like this word.
113. Hound's prey : HARE
116. __-Altenburg: old German duchy : SAXE
118. Helen Mirren's title : DAME.She is so beautiful. My friend Maggie met her in a restaurant in Paris last year.
119. "I, Claudius" setting : ROME
120. Popular tech review site : CNET
121. Coop crowd : HENS
123. Quizzical sounds : EHs
125. Canonized Fr. woman : STE
Answer grid.
I'll Have Another! Thanks for the tip, Tinbeni. I wish I bet more against Boomer's Union Rags.
C.C.
