Theme: Bummer - Four grid spanners that start off badly. (synonyms for bad)
16A. Airport security canine : BOMB SNIFFING DOG
23A. Thanksgiving serving : TURKEY DRUMSTICK
41A. Frothy citrus dessert : LEMON CHIFFON PIE
56A. Women's swimsuit size factor : BUST MEASUREMENT. A sideline for Dennis?
Argyle here. The discussion about day of the week appropriateness for a word may continue today. There are some doozies.
The long entries (SEE STARS and EAU DE VIE) adjacent to the top and bottom theme entries are quite sparkly.
The long entries (SEE STARS and EAU DE VIE) adjacent to the top and bottom theme entries are quite sparkly.
Across:
1. Baseball's Hammerin' Hank : AARON. Rookie card. Note he signed it Henry Aaron.
6. Bad color for ink? : RED
9. Sunlight unit : BEAM
13. Vegetation : FLORA
14. Ward of "Sisters" : SELA. Her IMDb page.
15. Notion : IDEA
19. React to a whack : SEE STARS
20. "You're not the only one!" : "SO CAN I!"
21. Ending for mass or pass : IVE
22. Talking bird : MYNA
31. Agenda details : ITEMS
32. Cool-cucumber link : AS A
33. Lake Mich. city : CHIcago. The Windy City.
34. Semana septet : DIAs. Spanish week/days
35. "Divine Comedy" poet : DANTE
37. Phlebotomist's target : VEIN
38. With 48-Across, shout at the station : ALL, 48A. See 38-Across : ABOARD. Do they still do that?
39. Byrnes of "Grease" : EDD. His IMDb page.
40. Quake site : FAULT. (earthquake)
46. Pothole's place : ROAD
47. Jimmy's successor : RON (Jimmy Carter/Ron Reagan)
51. Type of brandy whose name means "water of life" : EAU DE VIE. Upon reading the explanation, I remember having this before. Basically, it is a brandy NOT made from grapes but some other kind of fruit.
58. Capri, for one : ISLE. In the Bay of Naples, southeast of Rome.
59. Puppy bites : NIPS
60. Mascara problem : SMEAR
61. Ring decisions, briefly : TKOs. Boxing rings/technical knockouts.
62. Sample : TRY
63. Sample : TASTE. Classic clecho.
Down:
1. Langley and Travis: Abbr. : AFBS. (Air Force Bases)
2. Botanical skin treatment ingredient : ALOE
3. "Julius Caesar" setting : ROME
4. Globes : ORBS
5. Bad guys : NASTIES
6. Flag throwers : REFs. Is there a sport besides football where the refs throw a flag?
7. Many a "Lord of the Rings" character : ELF
8. Dogpatch gal : DAISY MAE. Edie Adams won a Tony Award for playing the original Daisy Mae in the Broadway musical "Li'l Abner". 1956
9. Lion, for one : BIG CAT
10. Icelandic poetic work : EDDA
11. Really long time : AEON
12. Star followers : MAGI
14. Begat : SIRED
17. It's darker than royal blue : NAVY
18. Dijon denials : NONs. Dijon is southeast of Paris.
22. Is compelled to : MUST
23. __ wave : TIDAL
24. Of practical value : UTILE
25. Domain : REALM
26. Canadian rd. distances : KMs. (kilometre)
27. "Amazing" paranormal debunker : RANDI
28. Freeze over : ICE UP
29. Spicy bean dish : CHILI
30. Kunta __: Burton's "Roots" role : KINTE. LeVar Burton.
35. Morally degenerate : DECADENT
36. Condition treated with Ritalin, briefly : ADHD. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
37. Car for a large family : VAN
40. Most doting : FONDEST
42. Takes the podium : ORATEs
43. Standard : NORM
44. Munich matrons : FRAUs. German.
45. Typical barbershop complement : FOUR
48. Slightly : A BIT
49. Perform on sidewalks, in London : BUSK. The word "BUSK" comes from the Spanish root word "buscar", meaning "to seek" – buskers are literally seeking fame and fortune. per Wikipedia.
50. Scandinavian capital : OSLO
51. Glimpse : ESPY
52. Austen heroine : EMMA. Published in December 1815.
53. Victory signs : VEEs
54. __ the finish : IN AT
55. To be, in Brittany : ÊTRE. Peninsula west of Paris.
57. Balloon contents : AIR
Argyle
