Theme: Casting Re-Calls
23A: Movie not starring Queen Latifah?: THE KING AND I
36A: Movie not starring Sid Caesar?: ROMAN HOLIDAY
61A: Movie not starring Vincent Price?: CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN
73A: Movie not starring Billy Crystal?: ROMANCING THE STONE
97A: Movie not starring Orlando Bloom?: CACTUS FLOWER
119A: Movie not starring Robin Williams?: BIRD ON A WIRE
16D: Movie not starring Robert Morse?: THE DA VINCI CODE
49D: Movie not starring Gregory Peck?: PRELUDE TO A KISS
A decent puzzle, isn't it? No Roman numerals for a change! Are you bothered by the exceeding amount of suffixes "S"?
Given that today is Father's Day, I would have clued SIRE (113A: Royal address) as "Father", and POP (47A: What a weasel goes) as "Dad". Shouldn't the clue be "How a weasel goes" instead of "What a weasel goes"? The clue for LEMON (72D: Pop flavoring) needs to be changed to "Citrus fruit" or "Dud". I simply hate the word POP popped up twice.
Besides, the clue for OSTIA (74D: Port city of Rome) is incorrect, it should be "Port City of ancient Rome". It's not there any more. OSTIA the town yes. And STE (92D: Fr. title) should be "Fr. Holy woman". It has to be a Mlle.
Lots of 3-letter words in the grid, and "EE" combinations, CEE, DEEP, GEESE, SMEE (31D: Neverland pirate), FOR FREE, REDEEM (20A: Win back) and LEE (44A: Stan of Marvel Comics). By the way, I am eagerly waitinging for LEE Westwood to pull off an upset at US Open later today. I like Geoff Ogilvy too. Who are you rooting for? Tiger?
ACROSS:
21A: Soap Box Derby Site: AKRON OHIO. Knew AKRON, had no idea what was "Soap Box Derby". AKRON is also the location of National Inventors Hall of Fame.
25A: In an unhurried manner: LEISURELY. And then 107D: Rash: HASTY
26A: Greenhorns: NOVICES
29A: Struts: PARADES.
30A: Rugged mountain ridge: ARETE. I just learned that ARETE also means "the aggregate of qualities, as valor and virtue, making up good character". Greek origin.
31A: Disconnected musically: STACCATO. Another musical term: 58D: Slow musical passage: ADAGIO
34A: Writer LeShan: EDA. Not a familiar name to me. A rather short Wikipedia bio.
39A: __out (be a couch potato): VEG
42A: Goggle: STARE
45A: Resolve: DECIDE. Do you like the Cranberries "Free to DECIDE"? I am listening to their Linger right now..."you know I am such a fool for you..."
50A: When asked for: ON DEMAND
54A: Payback: REVENGE. "It's sweet and not fattening".
56A: At no cost: FOR FREE
60A: Andean tubers: OCAS. Has anyone tried them before? Does they taste like sweet potatoes?
68A: Author of "The Hundred Secret Senses": TAN (Amy). Only read her "The Joy Luck Club", and it's good.
81A: Queen of Sparta: LEDA. Ah, the Swan lady, mother of Helen of Troy. I am slowly learning this Greek mythology stuff.
85A: Backed off: EASED UP
88A: Bleak: DESOLATE. And 89D: Depressions: LOWS. How can I cheer you up? How about some Spanish OMELETS (86A: Folded dishes) and mozzarella ROTINI (91A: Pasta choice) salad? Now, are you feeling a bit ZESTFUL (114A: Spirited)?
90A: Hellenic vowel: ETA
94A: In the open: OVERT
96A: Year in Yucatan: ANO. And 51D: Yucatan dwellers: MAYANS.
102A: Kachina maker: HOPI. Look at these ones. Tough to identify the artist I suppose.
106A: "Take on Me" trio: A-HA. Here is the clip. I've never heard of this Norwegian band before, have you?
108A: Biddy condos?: HEN COOPS
109A: Body of rules: CANON. Wish it were clued as CANON camera to pair up with 13D: Camera adjunct: TRIPOD.
110A: Capital of Indonesia: JAKARTA. Too hot and humid there.
116A: Being: EXISTENCE. This reminds me of Sartre's Being and Nothingness.
121A: Intervening spaces: DISTANCES
122A: Titled: LEANED
124A: Suburb of Paris: ISSY. ORLY is another 4-letter city in the suburb of Paris.
126A: Literary compositions: ESSAYS
DOWN:
1D: Refreshing rest: CAT NAP
2D: Shudders at: ABHORS
3D: Irks: PEEVES. See also 65A: Pique: IRE. Not in good mood today...
4D: Nevis partner: ST. KITTS. Got it this time.
5D: "Judith" composer: ARNE (Thomas). Took an educated guess. Only keow ARNE as the "Rule, Britannia" composer.
7D: Nabokov novel: ADA. Have you read this book? Oh, ADA Lovelace is Byron's daughter.
8D: Diva Scotto: RENATA. Completely unknown to me. Got her name from across clues. Here is more information about this diva.
9D: Highway divider: MEDIAN
10D: Dishonor: SMIRCH
14D: Homer-hitter Sammy: SOSA. Not anymore, not without steroid!
15D: ICBM watchdog: NORAD (North American Air Defense Command)
17D: ___ E. Coyote: WILE. Learned this from doing crossword of course.
22D: Rudolf of ballet: NUREYEV
24D: Saloon rocks?: ICE
28D: Upbraid: SCOLD
32D: Schooner fill: ALE
33D: Make fast: TIE. I don't understand this one. What is "make fast"? And how is "TIE" related to "Make fast"?
36D: Hindu aristocrat: RANEE. Or RAJAH. The 4-letter answers would be RANI and RAJA.
37D: Harmony: ORDER
38D: Fashionable Simpson: ADELE. She was on April 22 TMS puzzle.
40D: Mystery award: EDGAR
41D: Silly skein?: GEESE. I like this clue.
43D: Lethargy: TORPOR
47D: Platoon mem: PFC
52D: Lark: ANTIC
54D: Peri on "Frasier": ROZ. I got her name from the across clues. Vaguely remember seeing this name mentioned in a comment long time ago.
56D: CAB successor: FAA. This should have become a gimme to you.
59D: Refuses to: WON'T . Why "refuses to" instead of "refuse to"? Why "s"?
62D: Reveal secrets: BLAB
63D: Old lab burners: ETNAS
64D: Egyptian leader: NASSER. There is also a Lake NASSER in Egypt.
71D: Botanist's study: FLORA
75D: Lambda followers: MUS. No idea. Why?
80D: MPG monitor: EPA
82D: Larter of "Heroes": ALI. Unknown to me. She is pretty.
87D: Wikipedia alternative: ENCARTA. Did you get this one?
88D: Data storage units: DISCS
95D: Direction giver's phrase: THAT WAY
98D: Serendipity: CHANCE. "Can once in a lifetime happen twice?" Silly movie.
99D: Quirk: FOIBLE
100D: Brightly colored parrots: LORIES. So pretty.
101D: Bizet creations: OPERAS
104D: Add, as a liquid: POUR IN
109D: Coastal recesses: INLETS
110D: "Star Wars" group: JEDI. Ha ha, I know this one.
111D: Chart line: AXIS
114D: Nickelodeon's "___101": ZOEY. Jamie-Lynn Spears TV series.
120D: Strand of evidence: DNA
Here is to you, Dr. Dad, and to all those who are Dads, Happy Father's Day!
C.C.
23A: Movie not starring Queen Latifah?: THE KING AND I
36A: Movie not starring Sid Caesar?: ROMAN HOLIDAY
61A: Movie not starring Vincent Price?: CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN
73A: Movie not starring Billy Crystal?: ROMANCING THE STONE
97A: Movie not starring Orlando Bloom?: CACTUS FLOWER
119A: Movie not starring Robin Williams?: BIRD ON A WIRE
16D: Movie not starring Robert Morse?: THE DA VINCI CODE
49D: Movie not starring Gregory Peck?: PRELUDE TO A KISS
A decent puzzle, isn't it? No Roman numerals for a change! Are you bothered by the exceeding amount of suffixes "S"?
Given that today is Father's Day, I would have clued SIRE (113A: Royal address) as "Father", and POP (47A: What a weasel goes) as "Dad". Shouldn't the clue be "How a weasel goes" instead of "What a weasel goes"? The clue for LEMON (72D: Pop flavoring) needs to be changed to "Citrus fruit" or "Dud". I simply hate the word POP popped up twice.
Besides, the clue for OSTIA (74D: Port city of Rome) is incorrect, it should be "Port City of ancient Rome". It's not there any more. OSTIA the town yes. And STE (92D: Fr. title) should be "Fr. Holy woman". It has to be a Mlle.
Lots of 3-letter words in the grid, and "EE" combinations, CEE, DEEP, GEESE, SMEE (31D: Neverland pirate), FOR FREE, REDEEM (20A: Win back) and LEE (44A: Stan of Marvel Comics). By the way, I am eagerly waitinging for LEE Westwood to pull off an upset at US Open later today. I like Geoff Ogilvy too. Who are you rooting for? Tiger?
ACROSS:
21A: Soap Box Derby Site: AKRON OHIO. Knew AKRON, had no idea what was "Soap Box Derby". AKRON is also the location of National Inventors Hall of Fame.
25A: In an unhurried manner: LEISURELY. And then 107D: Rash: HASTY
26A: Greenhorns: NOVICES
29A: Struts: PARADES.
30A: Rugged mountain ridge: ARETE. I just learned that ARETE also means "the aggregate of qualities, as valor and virtue, making up good character". Greek origin.
31A: Disconnected musically: STACCATO. Another musical term: 58D: Slow musical passage: ADAGIO
34A: Writer LeShan: EDA. Not a familiar name to me. A rather short Wikipedia bio.
39A: __out (be a couch potato): VEG
42A: Goggle: STARE
45A: Resolve: DECIDE. Do you like the Cranberries "Free to DECIDE"? I am listening to their Linger right now..."you know I am such a fool for you..."
50A: When asked for: ON DEMAND
54A: Payback: REVENGE. "It's sweet and not fattening".
56A: At no cost: FOR FREE
60A: Andean tubers: OCAS. Has anyone tried them before? Does they taste like sweet potatoes?
68A: Author of "The Hundred Secret Senses": TAN (Amy). Only read her "The Joy Luck Club", and it's good.
81A: Queen of Sparta: LEDA. Ah, the Swan lady, mother of Helen of Troy. I am slowly learning this Greek mythology stuff.
85A: Backed off: EASED UP
88A: Bleak: DESOLATE. And 89D: Depressions: LOWS. How can I cheer you up? How about some Spanish OMELETS (86A: Folded dishes) and mozzarella ROTINI (91A: Pasta choice) salad? Now, are you feeling a bit ZESTFUL (114A: Spirited)?
90A: Hellenic vowel: ETA
94A: In the open: OVERT
96A: Year in Yucatan: ANO. And 51D: Yucatan dwellers: MAYANS.
102A: Kachina maker: HOPI. Look at these ones. Tough to identify the artist I suppose.
106A: "Take on Me" trio: A-HA. Here is the clip. I've never heard of this Norwegian band before, have you?
108A: Biddy condos?: HEN COOPS
109A: Body of rules: CANON. Wish it were clued as CANON camera to pair up with 13D: Camera adjunct: TRIPOD.
110A: Capital of Indonesia: JAKARTA. Too hot and humid there.
116A: Being: EXISTENCE. This reminds me of Sartre's Being and Nothingness.
121A: Intervening spaces: DISTANCES
122A: Titled: LEANED
124A: Suburb of Paris: ISSY. ORLY is another 4-letter city in the suburb of Paris.
126A: Literary compositions: ESSAYS
DOWN:
1D: Refreshing rest: CAT NAP
2D: Shudders at: ABHORS
3D: Irks: PEEVES. See also 65A: Pique: IRE. Not in good mood today...
4D: Nevis partner: ST. KITTS. Got it this time.
5D: "Judith" composer: ARNE (Thomas). Took an educated guess. Only keow ARNE as the "Rule, Britannia" composer.
7D: Nabokov novel: ADA. Have you read this book? Oh, ADA Lovelace is Byron's daughter.
8D: Diva Scotto: RENATA. Completely unknown to me. Got her name from across clues. Here is more information about this diva.
9D: Highway divider: MEDIAN
10D: Dishonor: SMIRCH
14D: Homer-hitter Sammy: SOSA. Not anymore, not without steroid!
15D: ICBM watchdog: NORAD (North American Air Defense Command)
17D: ___ E. Coyote: WILE. Learned this from doing crossword of course.
22D: Rudolf of ballet: NUREYEV
24D: Saloon rocks?: ICE
28D: Upbraid: SCOLD
32D: Schooner fill: ALE
33D: Make fast: TIE. I don't understand this one. What is "make fast"? And how is "TIE" related to "Make fast"?
36D: Hindu aristocrat: RANEE. Or RAJAH. The 4-letter answers would be RANI and RAJA.
37D: Harmony: ORDER
38D: Fashionable Simpson: ADELE. She was on April 22 TMS puzzle.
40D: Mystery award: EDGAR
41D: Silly skein?: GEESE. I like this clue.
43D: Lethargy: TORPOR
47D: Platoon mem: PFC
52D: Lark: ANTIC
54D: Peri on "Frasier": ROZ. I got her name from the across clues. Vaguely remember seeing this name mentioned in a comment long time ago.
56D: CAB successor: FAA. This should have become a gimme to you.
59D: Refuses to: WON'T . Why "refuses to" instead of "refuse to"? Why "s"?
62D: Reveal secrets: BLAB
63D: Old lab burners: ETNAS
64D: Egyptian leader: NASSER. There is also a Lake NASSER in Egypt.
71D: Botanist's study: FLORA
75D: Lambda followers: MUS. No idea. Why?
80D: MPG monitor: EPA
82D: Larter of "Heroes": ALI. Unknown to me. She is pretty.
87D: Wikipedia alternative: ENCARTA. Did you get this one?
88D: Data storage units: DISCS
95D: Direction giver's phrase: THAT WAY
98D: Serendipity: CHANCE. "Can once in a lifetime happen twice?" Silly movie.
99D: Quirk: FOIBLE
100D: Brightly colored parrots: LORIES. So pretty.
101D: Bizet creations: OPERAS
104D: Add, as a liquid: POUR IN
109D: Coastal recesses: INLETS
110D: "Star Wars" group: JEDI. Ha ha, I know this one.
111D: Chart line: AXIS
114D: Nickelodeon's "___101": ZOEY. Jamie-Lynn Spears TV series.
120D: Strand of evidence: DNA
Here is to you, Dr. Dad, and to all those who are Dads, Happy Father's Day!
C.C.
