Theme: Funny Business - Humorous re-interpretation of four common phrases to relate them to four comedians.
20A. Posh digs for comic Billy? : CRYSTAL PALACE. Billy Crystal clip. (2:54) The original Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and glass building erected in Hyde Park, London, England, to house the Great Exhibition of 1851. Image.
34A. Rumors about comic Eric? : IDLE GOSSIP. Eric Idle Clip.(3:49) A founding member of Monty Python.
41A. Theme song for comic Chris? : ROCK ANTHEM. Chris Rock Clip.(2:33) An American comedian, was on SNL.
55A. Topics for comic Martin? : SHORT SUBJECTS. Martin Short Clip. (5:06) A Canadian actor who also is an alumnus of SNL.
Argyle here. Interview with David here. I thought today was harder than yesterday but many didn't agree with my assessment yesterday, so what do I know. Maybe these comedians are more familiar than yesterday's old songs.
Across:
1. Persian __ : GULF
5. Argentina's PerĂ³n : JUAN
9. Spectrum producer : PRISM
14. One of two Monopoly squares: Abbr. : UTIL. The utilities: the water works and the electric company.
15. Not a supporter : ANTI
16. Greek column type : IONIC
17. Morro Castle site : CUBA. Castillo de los Tres Reyes Magos del Morro is a picturesque fortress guarding the entrance to Havana bay in Havana, Cuba. Image.
18. Desktop image : ICON
19. Bakery array : CAKES
23. Owing too much money : IN A HOLE
24. Getaway for Gandhi : ASHRAM. A religious retreat or community where a Hindu holy man lives.
27. Feathery accessory : BOA
28. Barley beards : AWNS. Barley beards fan out. Anyone who has handled barley knows that the beards have serrated edges.(I didn't know. Maybe that's why they have the separate name for them. AWNS). Tiny barbs catch when you rub from the ends towards seeds. Image.
30. Latin 101 verb : AMO
31. Fine cotton : PIMA. The name Pima was applied in honor of the Pima Indians, who helped raise the cotton on USDA experimental farms in Arizona in the early 1900s.
37. Decree : EDICT
39. Spring mo. : APR.
40. Public commotion : SCENE
44. Yankee nickname since 2004 : A-ROD. Alexander Emmanuel "Alex" Rodriguez, third baseman.
45. Radius starting point: Abbr. : CTR. Center.
46. Lower intestinal parts : ILEA. We had this last Friday, October 21.
47. Work in a museum : ART
49. Major or Mrs. of old comics : HOOPLE. The Major. The strip was "Our Boarding House".
51. Deo __: thanks to God : GRATIAS
58. Sunday singers : CHOIR
60. Part of IBM: Abbr. : INTL.
61. "The Man Who Fell to Earth" director Nicolas : ROEG. Image.
62. Plunder : RIFLE
63. Abate : EASE
64. Give off, as light : EMIT
65. Sculls in a quad scull, e.g. : OCTAD. Eight.
66. 1974 Gould/Sutherland spoof : "SPYS"
67. Retreats with remotes : DENS
Down:
1. Name on some fashionable sunglasses : GUCCI
2. Complete reversal : U-TURN
3. Algeria neighbor : LIBYA
4. Scene from the past, in films : FLASHBACK
5. Game called zesta-punta in Basque : JAI ALAI
6. "I give up!" : "UNCLE!"
7. On : ATOP
8. 1492 caravel : NINA. Maybe like this ship.
9. Some cubist paintings : PICASSOs
10. Exterminator's target : ROACH
11. Feature of some pens : INK ERASER
12. "Sprechen __ Deutsch?" : SIE
13. Game show VIPs : MCs Master of Ceremonies
21. Furthermore : TOO
22. January 1st song word : LANG. "Auld Lang Syne"
25. Kind of acid in protein : AMINO
26. Hybrid bike : MOPED
28. Leader in Athens? : ALPHA. Greek alphabet.
29. Existed : WERE
31. Roost : PERCH
32. "What did __ deserve this?" : I DO TO
33. Windows manufacturer : MICROSOFT
35. Go out with : DATE
36. Strewn : SCATTERED
38. Like a well-fitting suit : TAILORED
42. D'back or Card : NLer
43. Aggies and steelies : MARBLES
48. British rule in India : RAJ
50. Temple U. setting : PHILA. Founded in 1884 in Philadelphia, PA.
51. Bold : GUTSY
52. "Ready or not, here __!" : I COME
53. Ordered takeout, say : ATE IN
54. NCOs two levels above cpl. : SSGTs. Staff Sergeant.
56. Exec's rackful : TIES
57. Breeze : SNAP
58. Zagreb's country, to the IOC : CRO
59. Blazin' Blueberry drink brand : HI-C
Argyle