It's Mardi Gras, so Laissez les bons temps rouler!
Let's go to the Movies! The last word of each movie theme answer can follow the word "Hollywood" to give us a new concept.
Let's go to the Movies! The last word of each movie theme answer can follow the word "Hollywood" to give us a new concept.
17-Across. 1950 Gloria Swanson film: SUNSET BOULEVARD. Hollywood Boulevard.
Sunset Boulevard was a film by Billy Wilder about a silent film star hoping to make a comeback.
Sunset Boulevard was a film by Billy Wilder about a silent film star hoping to make a comeback.
25-Across. 1979 Jim Henson film: THE MUPPET MOVIE. Hollywood Movie.
Hollywood movies aren't necessarily filmed in Hollywood.
The Muppet Movie is based on the television show, The Muppets.
Hollywood movies aren't necessarily filmed in Hollywood.
The Muppet Movie is based on the television show, The Muppets.
42-Across. 1988 Demi Moore film: THE SEVENTH SIGN. Hollywood Sign.
The title of The Seventh Sign, an apocalypse film, is apparently a reference to the seven seals in the New Testament book of Revelation. It got very poor ratings when it came out. Probably they haven't improved with time.
The title of The Seventh Sign, an apocalypse film, is apparently a reference to the seven seals in the New Testament book of Revelation. It got very poor ratings when it came out. Probably they haven't improved with time.
The Hollywood Sign dates to 1923, when it was erected as an advertisement for a local real estate development. It originally read "Hollywoodland". The "Land" portion has been lost, but the rest of the sign soon became an icon.
And the Unifier:
57-Acrosss. 2002 Woody Allen film ... or what each of the last words of 17-, 25- and 42-Across can be: HOLLYWOOD ENDING. Hollywood Endings is about a film director trying to make a comeback.
Across:
1. Rene of "Ransom" (1996): RUSSO. Rene Russo (née Rene Marie Russo; b. Feb. 17, 1954) makes frequent appearances in the crossword puzzles.
6. Not as expensive: LESS.
10. A bit loopy: DAFT.
14. Part of "the works" on a burger: ONION.
15. Old man, in German: ALTE. Today's German lesson.
16. Needle case: ETUI. A crossword staple.
This can be yours for only $675. Not sure if it comes with the contents.
20. Peanut butter choice: SMOOTH. My choice would be chunky.
21. Like wax fruit: INEDIBLE.
22. Note from one who's shy?: I.O.U. My favorite clue of the puzzle.
24. Laser pointer chaser: CAT.
33. Get out of bed: ARISE.
34. Jazz instruments: SAXES. Did you know that the Saxaphone is a newcomer to the musical instruments? Adolphe Sax (Nov. 6, 1814 ~ Feb. 7, 1894) received a patent for the instrument in 1846! It is now a staple of Jazz music
35. Peruvian singer Sumac: YMA. We haven't seen Ms. Sumac (1922 ~ Nov. 1, 2008) in quite some time. She used to make frequent appearances in the puzzles. She has quite a unique voice.
36. Squirrel's hoard: NUTS.
37. Credited in an endnote: CITED.
38. Place to tie up a boat: PIER.
39. 24-hr. cash source: ATM. The Automatic Teller Machine appears often in our puzzles.
40. Equestrian: RIDER.
41. "That's __!": "Piece of cake!": A SNAP!
45. News initials: UPI. As in United Press International.
46. __ bunt: productive MLB out: SAC. A baseball term meaning a Sacrifice Bunt.
47. Looks at closely: EYEBALLS.
52. "John Wick" star Keanu: REEVES. I think of Keanu Reeves (né Keanu Charles Reeves; b. Sept. 2, 1964) as the actor from the Bill and Ted movies.
59. "Garfield" dog: ODIE.
60. Baseball family name: ALOU. The Alou brothers make frequent appearances in the puzzles. The three brothers, Felipe Rojas Alou (b. May 12, 1935), Matty (Dec. 22, 1938 ~ Nov. 2, 2011), and Jesus (b. Mar. 24, 1942), were of the first generation of the family to play major league baseball. Two of Felipe's sons, Moises (b. July 3, 1966) and Luis Rojas (b. Sept. 1, 1981) are also professional baseball players.
61. Dalai Lama's land: TIBET.
62. Have a craving for: WANT.
63. Appraise: RATE.
64. Clairvoyants: SEERS.
Down:
1. PBS painter Bob: ROSS. Bob Ross (né Robert Norman Ross; Oct. 29, 1942 ~ July 4, 1995) appeared recently when I provided commentary. He has actually made a number of guest appearances in the crosswords in the past. He hosted a show on PBS entitled The Joy of Painting.
2. E pluribus __: UNUM. The Latin phrase meaning "Out of Many, One", which is the traditional motto of the United States and is found on some American currency.
3. Chinese: Pref.: SINO-.
4. Fair-to-middling: SO-SO.
5. Previous: ONE TIME.
6. Chem class: LAB.
7. Fair-haired Wells race: ELOI. Another crossword staple. They are of the imagination of H.G. Wells' novel The Time Machine.
8. Flabbergast: STUN.
9. Chose: SELECTED.
10. Actor Danny who appears in M&M's commercials: DEVITO. Danny DiVito (né Daniel Michael DeVito, Jr.; b. Nov. 17, 1944) is best known for his portrayal of Louie De Palma on the television sit-com Taxi. He is married to Cheers star, Rhea Pearlman.
11. Run __: drink on credit: A TAB.
12. Roll and bind, as a sail: FURL.
13. Laundry soap brand: TIDE.
18. Commandment pronoun: THOU.
19. Red-wrapped cheeses: EDAMs. Yummers!
23. Positive aspect: UPSIDE. Also the title of a movie.
25. "The __ is out there": "The X-Files" catchphrase: TRUTH.
26. Blackjack request: HIT ME!
27. Handy Scrabble tile: ESS. As in the letter "S".
28. Eucharistic plate: PATEN.
29. Applies, as pressure: EXERTS.
30. Competing (for): VYING.
31. "Know what __?": I MEAN.
32. Wyatt of the Old West: EARP. Wyatt Berry Stapp Earp (Mar. 19, 1848 ~ Jan. 13, 1929) is probably best known for his role in the gunfight at the O.K. Corral, although his role was minor compared to that of his brother, Virgil.
33. Future MD's class: ANAT. As in Anatomy.
37. 1860s North-South conflict: CIVIL WAR.
38. Letter before omega: PSI. It's Greek to me.
40. Settle, as a debt: REPAY.
41. Climbs: ASCENTS.
43. Rental from a renter: SUBLET.
44. Tortoise racer: HARE. A reference to one of Æsop's fables.
47. Website with step-by-step instructions: E-HOW. I have never heard of eHow, but it makes sense.
48. "Star Wars" sentence inverter: YODA. There is green, he is.
49. Tiger Woods' ex: ELIN. Elin Maria Pernilla Nordegren (b. Jan. 1, 1980) was born in Stockholm, Sweden. She and Tiger were married in 2004 and divorced 6 years later. Last October, she gave birth to a son, whom she named Filip. Just last week, she legally changed his name to Arthur.
Elin, her boyfriend Jordan Cameron, and baby Arthur, formerly known as Filip.
50. 1970 Kinks hit: LOLA. Can you believe it's been 50 years since this song came out!
51. Chimney residue: SOOT.
53. Actress Falco: EDIE. Edie Falco (née Edith Falco; b. July 5, 1963) played Carmela Soprano on the HBO series The Sopranos.
54. Vague feeling: VIBE.
55. The "E" in DOE: Abbr.: ENER. As in the Department of Energy.
56. Some NCOs: SGTS. As in Sergeants, who ar Non-Commissioned Officers.
58. Deserving: DUE.
Here's the Grid:
QOD: It has been said that a Scotchman has not seen the world until he has seen Edinburgh; and I think that I may say that an American has not seen the United States until he has seen Mardi Gras in New Orleans. ~ Mark Twain (né Samuel Langhorne Clemens; Nov. 30, 1835 ~ Apr. 21, 1910), American writer.
QOD: It has been said that a Scotchman has not seen the world until he has seen Edinburgh; and I think that I may say that an American has not seen the United States until he has seen Mardi Gras in New Orleans. ~ Mark Twain (né Samuel Langhorne Clemens; Nov. 30, 1835 ~ Apr. 21, 1910), American writer.
