Theme: It's a Surprise -IT is inserted into each common phrase.
23A. Stakeout? : SITTING OPERATION. Sting operation.
28A. "May I cut in?" speaker? : POLITE DANCER. Pole dancer.
47A. Part of an excavated skeleton? : ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIGIT. Archaeological dig.
62A. Voracious vampire's mantra? : BITE ALL THAT YOU CAN BITE. Be all that you can be. Surprise! Surprise! Fun clue too.
77A. Pot with limited seafood portions? : A FINITE KETTLE OF FISH. A fine kettle of fish.
100A. Unaffected horse movements? : NATURAL GAITS. Natural gas.
106A. One pirating Springsteen CDs? : THE E STREET BANDIT. The E Street Band.
Surprise indeed. I grokked the theme only after BITE ALL THAT YOU CAN BITE. You?
Would you be happy if the puzzle title is just "See 79 Down?"? ("Unhelpful response to "How did you do that?": IT'S MAGIC.)
We don't often see overlapping theme entries on Sundays. They tend to bring out undesirable fill (3-letter abbreviations, prefixes, etc). But terrific result today. Overlapping happens when there are heavy themage to consider, as in many Merl Reagle puzzles. We have 7 entries in this grid, a total 115 squares, 5 of which are very very long. Easier to move around when theme answers are 8, 9, or 10 letters in length.
Across:
1. Jason's ship : ARGO. Nice start to Lemonade.
5. One often found by a king or queen : BISHOP. Oh, chess then.
11. Ventriloquist Dunham : JEFF. Fun clip.
15. Exam with a Writing Skills section, briefly : PSAT
19. Spotted : SEEN
20. Using Wi-Fi : ONLINE. 104. 20-Across letters : EMAILS.
21. Morlock prey : ELOI. From "The Time Machine".
22. __ account: never : ON NO
26. Start over : RE-DO
27. Mad : INSANE
30. Runs slowly (through) : SEEPS
31. Called : PHONED
33. Looked lecherously : LEERED
35. NY subway line past Yankee Stadium : IRT (Interborough Rapid Transit)
36. Laudatory words : PRAISE
38. Letters on some tubes : ADA (American Dental Association). Toothpaste tubes.
41. Justice since 2006 : ALITO (Samuel). Right!
42. Papa Smurf feature : BEARD
43. Cell phone feature : CAMERA
46. Con : ANTI
51. Baker's dozens, maybe : DONUTS. "Sweet ring" for DONUT yesterday.
53. Brand promoted by Michael Jordan : HANES
54. "Mission: Impossible" actress : BAIN (Barbara)
55. Fix, in a way : EDIT
56. Blue Moon maker : COORS. Not familiar with Blue Moon brand. Do you know what's the most popular beer brand in the world?
58. Chihuahua child : NINO
59. Baseball's Bando : SAL. He has 3 World Series rings. With the A's.
68. Four O'Clock is a brand of it : TEA. Again, not familiar with the tea brand. I only drink loose tea.
69. Rail family bird : COOT
70. Cigna competitor : AETNA. Insurance.
71. 62, to Augustus : LXII
72. "I just don't know why they're shooting __": Hawkeye Pierce : AT US
73. __ Park, Calif. : MENLO
75. One-named folk singer : ODETTA. The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement", a la Wiki.
83. Big name in apple products : MOTT. In love with Zestar lately.
84. Spacious accommodations : SUITES
85. Grain holders : SILOS. The restrooms are inside two silos in the flea market we haunt on Sundays.
86. By land __ : OR SEA
88. Sch. group : PTA
89. Community standout : PILLAR
91. Improved partner? : NEW. New and improved.
94. Like many old movies : REMADE. Bill G likes the originals.
96. Prodigy : PHENOM
98. Unaccompanied : ALONE
105. Blow a fuse : RAGE
109. Dubai bigwig : EMIR
110. Singer in a Salinger story : ESME. Salinger's "For Esme – with Love and Squalor"
111. Pestle go-with : MORTAR
112. Ricky portrayer : DESI (Arnaz). Of "I Love Lucy".
113. They're big on bodybuilders : PECs
114. Long bath : SOAK
115. Matador's opponent : EL TORO. The bull.
116. Fill fully : SATE
Down:
1. Birthplace of St. Francis : ASSISI
2. "This is Spinal Tap" director : REINER (Rob).
3. Shout shortly before a race : GET SET. Go!
4. Available : ON TAP
5. Radius, e.g. : BONE
6. Gerund letters : ING
7. Cal Poly's city, initially : SLO (San Luis Obispo). Stumped me.
8. "Hungry Hungry" game critters : HIPPOS
9. Common World Cup score : ONE ONE
10. Hostess Mesta : PERLE. "Call Me Madam."
11. Singer with The Blackhearts : JETT (Joan)
12. Nobelist Wiesel : ELIE
13. Grub : FOOD
14. Grade component : FINAL
15. Doll or vase material : PORCELAIN. Nice entry.
16. Scornful behavior : SNEERING
17. Racing family name : ANDRETTI (Mario). EddyB is nuts about racing.
18. Also : TOO
24. Look over closely : INSPECT. Well, Splynter is going to be a Home Inspector. Not really a surprise!
25. Financial __ : AID
29. Grant gp. : NEA
31. Normal lead-in? : PARA. Paranormal.
32. Pelt : HIDE
34. "I dare you!" : DO IT
37. Stadium cries : RAHS
38. Friends abroad : AMIs. In France/Belgium, e.g.
39. Present time?: Abbr. : DEC. Present = Gift. Sweet clue.
40. Coffee bean variety : ARABICA. I like this answer too.
42. Hulking sort : BRUTE
43. Pi and others : CONSTANTS. 3.1415926 is all I can remember. How many digits can you go?
44. Bartender's concern : AGE
45. Rod Stewart's ex : ALANA
47. "Hotel du Lac" author Brookner : ANITA. No idea. The book won Booker Prize in 1984.
48. "I know! I know!" : OH OH
49. Fictional archaeologist Croft : LARA. No "Moneyball" for me. Loyal Aniston fan.
50. "My Heart Will Go On" singer : DION (Celine).
51. It may lead to bankruptcy : DEBT
52. Garfield foil : ODIE
56. Macro lens shot : CLOSE-UP
57. Polo Grounds legend : OTT (Mel)
58. Sister : NUN
59. Like F or zeta : SIXTH
60. Words after keep or have : AT IT
61. Princess from Alderaan : LEIA. "Star Wars".
63. Play starter : ACT I
64. Dolts : LOUTS
65. Whisper's opposite : YELL
66. Plains native : OTOE
67. Hallow : BLESS
72. Colonial enemies? : ANTEATERS. Very clever clue.
73. Prefix with physics : META
74. Saison avant l'automne : ETE. Saison avant l'automne = Season before autumn.
75. "Man __ Mancha" : OF LA
76. Historical display : DIORAMA. In 3-D.
77. Latin love : AMOR
78. Peter, Paul or Mary : FORENAME. Another good clue.
80. Survival __ : KIT
81. European capital : OSLO
82. Festival entry : FILM
87. Ghanian-born soccer great : ADU (Freddie). Doesn't really live up to the hype.
89. Fuel for a lorry : PETROL
90. Previously missing letter, e.g. : INSERT
91. [Shrug] : NO IDEA
92. Sign up : ENLIST
93. White terrier, informally : WESTIE
95. Some Deco works : ERTEs
96. Dads : PAs
97. Casino request : HIT ME
99. Alights : LANDS
101. Facetious "Of course" : AH SO
102. Champagne Tony of '60s golf : LEMA
103. Nerd : GEEK
104. Spain's longest river : EBRO
105. Agent : REP
107. WWII arena : ETO (European Theater of Operations)
108. La Brea goo : TAR. La Brea Tar Pits.
Answer grid.
C.C.
23A. Stakeout? : SITTING OPERATION. Sting operation.
28A. "May I cut in?" speaker? : POLITE DANCER. Pole dancer.
47A. Part of an excavated skeleton? : ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIGIT. Archaeological dig.
62A. Voracious vampire's mantra? : BITE ALL THAT YOU CAN BITE. Be all that you can be. Surprise! Surprise! Fun clue too.
77A. Pot with limited seafood portions? : A FINITE KETTLE OF FISH. A fine kettle of fish.
100A. Unaffected horse movements? : NATURAL GAITS. Natural gas.
106A. One pirating Springsteen CDs? : THE E STREET BANDIT. The E Street Band.
Surprise indeed. I grokked the theme only after BITE ALL THAT YOU CAN BITE. You?
Would you be happy if the puzzle title is just "See 79 Down?"? ("Unhelpful response to "How did you do that?": IT'S MAGIC.)
We don't often see overlapping theme entries on Sundays. They tend to bring out undesirable fill (3-letter abbreviations, prefixes, etc). But terrific result today. Overlapping happens when there are heavy themage to consider, as in many Merl Reagle puzzles. We have 7 entries in this grid, a total 115 squares, 5 of which are very very long. Easier to move around when theme answers are 8, 9, or 10 letters in length.
Across:
1. Jason's ship : ARGO. Nice start to Lemonade.
5. One often found by a king or queen : BISHOP. Oh, chess then.
11. Ventriloquist Dunham : JEFF. Fun clip.
15. Exam with a Writing Skills section, briefly : PSAT
19. Spotted : SEEN
20. Using Wi-Fi : ONLINE. 104. 20-Across letters : EMAILS.
21. Morlock prey : ELOI. From "The Time Machine".
22. __ account: never : ON NO
26. Start over : RE-DO
27. Mad : INSANE
30. Runs slowly (through) : SEEPS
31. Called : PHONED
33. Looked lecherously : LEERED
35. NY subway line past Yankee Stadium : IRT (Interborough Rapid Transit)
36. Laudatory words : PRAISE
38. Letters on some tubes : ADA (American Dental Association). Toothpaste tubes.
41. Justice since 2006 : ALITO (Samuel). Right!
42. Papa Smurf feature : BEARD
43. Cell phone feature : CAMERA
46. Con : ANTI
51. Baker's dozens, maybe : DONUTS. "Sweet ring" for DONUT yesterday.
53. Brand promoted by Michael Jordan : HANES
54. "Mission: Impossible" actress : BAIN (Barbara)
55. Fix, in a way : EDIT
56. Blue Moon maker : COORS. Not familiar with Blue Moon brand. Do you know what's the most popular beer brand in the world?
58. Chihuahua child : NINO
59. Baseball's Bando : SAL. He has 3 World Series rings. With the A's.
68. Four O'Clock is a brand of it : TEA. Again, not familiar with the tea brand. I only drink loose tea.
69. Rail family bird : COOT
70. Cigna competitor : AETNA. Insurance.
71. 62, to Augustus : LXII
72. "I just don't know why they're shooting __": Hawkeye Pierce : AT US
73. __ Park, Calif. : MENLO
75. One-named folk singer : ODETTA. The Voice of the Civil Rights Movement", a la Wiki.
83. Big name in apple products : MOTT. In love with Zestar lately.
84. Spacious accommodations : SUITES
85. Grain holders : SILOS. The restrooms are inside two silos in the flea market we haunt on Sundays.
86. By land __ : OR SEA
88. Sch. group : PTA
89. Community standout : PILLAR
91. Improved partner? : NEW. New and improved.
94. Like many old movies : REMADE. Bill G likes the originals.
96. Prodigy : PHENOM
98. Unaccompanied : ALONE
105. Blow a fuse : RAGE
109. Dubai bigwig : EMIR
110. Singer in a Salinger story : ESME. Salinger's "For Esme – with Love and Squalor"
111. Pestle go-with : MORTAR
112. Ricky portrayer : DESI (Arnaz). Of "I Love Lucy".
113. They're big on bodybuilders : PECs
114. Long bath : SOAK
115. Matador's opponent : EL TORO. The bull.
116. Fill fully : SATE
Down:
1. Birthplace of St. Francis : ASSISI
2. "This is Spinal Tap" director : REINER (Rob).
3. Shout shortly before a race : GET SET. Go!
4. Available : ON TAP
5. Radius, e.g. : BONE
6. Gerund letters : ING
7. Cal Poly's city, initially : SLO (San Luis Obispo). Stumped me.
8. "Hungry Hungry" game critters : HIPPOS
9. Common World Cup score : ONE ONE
10. Hostess Mesta : PERLE. "Call Me Madam."
11. Singer with The Blackhearts : JETT (Joan)
12. Nobelist Wiesel : ELIE
13. Grub : FOOD
14. Grade component : FINAL
15. Doll or vase material : PORCELAIN. Nice entry.
16. Scornful behavior : SNEERING
17. Racing family name : ANDRETTI (Mario). EddyB is nuts about racing.
18. Also : TOO
24. Look over closely : INSPECT. Well, Splynter is going to be a Home Inspector. Not really a surprise!
25. Financial __ : AID
29. Grant gp. : NEA
31. Normal lead-in? : PARA. Paranormal.
32. Pelt : HIDE
34. "I dare you!" : DO IT
37. Stadium cries : RAHS
38. Friends abroad : AMIs. In France/Belgium, e.g.
39. Present time?: Abbr. : DEC. Present = Gift. Sweet clue.
40. Coffee bean variety : ARABICA. I like this answer too.
42. Hulking sort : BRUTE
43. Pi and others : CONSTANTS. 3.1415926 is all I can remember. How many digits can you go?
44. Bartender's concern : AGE
45. Rod Stewart's ex : ALANA
47. "Hotel du Lac" author Brookner : ANITA. No idea. The book won Booker Prize in 1984.
48. "I know! I know!" : OH OH
49. Fictional archaeologist Croft : LARA. No "Moneyball" for me. Loyal Aniston fan.
50. "My Heart Will Go On" singer : DION (Celine).
51. It may lead to bankruptcy : DEBT
52. Garfield foil : ODIE
56. Macro lens shot : CLOSE-UP
57. Polo Grounds legend : OTT (Mel)
58. Sister : NUN
59. Like F or zeta : SIXTH
60. Words after keep or have : AT IT
61. Princess from Alderaan : LEIA. "Star Wars".
63. Play starter : ACT I
64. Dolts : LOUTS
65. Whisper's opposite : YELL
66. Plains native : OTOE
67. Hallow : BLESS
72. Colonial enemies? : ANTEATERS. Very clever clue.
73. Prefix with physics : META
74. Saison avant l'automne : ETE. Saison avant l'automne = Season before autumn.
75. "Man __ Mancha" : OF LA
76. Historical display : DIORAMA. In 3-D.
77. Latin love : AMOR
78. Peter, Paul or Mary : FORENAME. Another good clue.
80. Survival __ : KIT
81. European capital : OSLO
82. Festival entry : FILM
87. Ghanian-born soccer great : ADU (Freddie). Doesn't really live up to the hype.
89. Fuel for a lorry : PETROL
90. Previously missing letter, e.g. : INSERT
91. [Shrug] : NO IDEA
92. Sign up : ENLIST
93. White terrier, informally : WESTIE
95. Some Deco works : ERTEs
96. Dads : PAs
97. Casino request : HIT ME
99. Alights : LANDS
101. Facetious "Of course" : AH SO
102. Champagne Tony of '60s golf : LEMA
103. Nerd : GEEK
104. Spain's longest river : EBRO
105. Agent : REP
107. WWII arena : ETO (European Theater of Operations)
108. La Brea goo : TAR. La Brea Tar Pits.
Answer grid.
C.C.
