theme: smile to hide the tears
17A. *Role in the films "Wichita" and "Tombstone" : WYATT EARP
3D. *Protection for jousters : PLATE ARMOR
9A. *2000s documentary whose first episode was "From Pole to Pole" : PLANET EARTH
24A. *One who was held up, most likely : LATE ARRIVAL
30A. *Indoor antenna : RABBIT EARS
62A. Rip to pieces, and a hint to what's hidden in the answers to this puzzle's starred clues : TEAR APART
melissa here. i love theme-heavy puzzles, so this was fun for me. just right wednesday level. definitely needed perps for the theme answers. what's not to love about a full grid with long downs & theme entry intersection?
gonna be quick today, internet connection a bit unstable, and it just started raining, which seems to make it worse (?). all my fault - i washed my car yesterday.
Across
1. Aphid's meal : SAP. i only know they like tomato plants, never knew it was the sap they were feeding on.
4. Marsh bird : EGRET
9. Neil Simon's "__ Suite" : PLAZA. simon's early work is stellar. especially love this scene from the odd couple.
14. Communication at Gallaudet U. : ASL. graduate school for deaf and hard of hearing students. did anyone know this?
15. Concert venue : ARENA
16. Bona fide : LEGIT
19. Opposite of après : AVANT. french for after / before.
20. Place for un chapeau : TETE. more french. head / hat.
21. Miracle-__ : GRO
22. Get-up-and-go : ENERGY
23. Opera featuring Iago : OTELLO. based on shakespeare's othello.
25. Lint collector : NAVEL. snort.
27. It may be set or set off : ALARM. off is best.
29. Glowing, perhaps : LIT. no comment.
30. Cleaning closet item : RAG
33. Nautical pole : SPRIT. had no idea. where's jeannie?
35. Spry : AGILE
37. Will Smith title role : ALI
38. French noble : COMTE. new to me. also a french raw milk cheese.
39. Trail behind : LAG
40. Grape-growing spot : ARBOR
42. Back when : AGO
43. Put to shame : ABASH
45. Mutineer : REBEL
46. Neither mate : NOR
47. Noisy quarrel : ROW
48. "Hotel Rwanda" tribe : TUTSI
50. Compote ingredient : FRUIT
52. Fired on : SHOT AT
55. __ of Gibraltar : STRAIT
58. Source of lean red meat : EMU. tastes like chicken?
60. Pertaining to planes : AERO. hmm. i thought it was relating to air …?
61. Pope after Sergius II : LEO IV. don't have these things memorized.
64. Lexus competitor : ACURA
65. Malady with swelling : MUMPS
66. "Norma __" : RAE
67. Potter's apparatus : WHEEL. as in pottery.
68. "Count me out" : I PASS
69. Part of DOS: Abbr. : SYS. the old days … disk operating system. anyone else feel old?
Down
1. Managed : SAW TO
2. So far : AS YET
4. "Mangia!" : EAT. italian.
5. Genetics pioneer Mendel : GREGOR. i'm studying anthropology and environmental science right now, otherwise i wouldn't have known this. the father of genetics - he studied pea plants. quite fascinating.
6. Derrière : REAR
7. 2001 bankruptcy filer : ENRON
8. Brew source : TAP
10. Video game stage : LEVEL
11. Ice cream thickener : AGAR. more science. a polymer, made from algae.
12. Criticize with barbs : ZING
13. DOJ employee : ATTY. department of justice - attorney.
18. "We want to hear the story" : TELL IT
22. Devil's work : EVIL
26. Land : ALIGHT. verb.
28. Mozambique neighbor : MALAWI
31. Lotion addition : ALOE
32. Gibson __ : GIRL
33. Diagnostic test : SCAN
34. Comic strip possum : POGO
36. Beetle juice? : GAS. ohhhh …. vw beetle. beetle juice is pretty spendy these days.
41. Lather again : RE-SOAP.
44. Flu fighter's episode : BOUT
49. Seizes unlawfully : USURPS. never knew the 'unlawful' part ….
50. Renaissance __ : FAIRE.
51. Start a hole : TEE UP. reminds me of work. the fry's tournament is this week. will be glad when it's over.
53. Variety : ARRAY
54. Big name in raingear : TOTES
55. Picnic side : SLAW
56. One helping after a crash : TECH. computer crash.
57. Cad : ROUE. beast!
59. Cass's title : MAMA. for eddyb:
62. "Spare me the details," in brief : TMI. too much information.
63. Backpacked beast : ASS
Answer grid.
Melissa
Note from C.C.:
I'm sorry to inform you the passing of dear Clear Ayes, whose wisdom and advice I relied on in the early days of this blog. Thanks for letting us know, Windhover.
Clear Ayes (Lois) & GAH (Golf Addicted Husband) Fred
Answer grid.
Melissa
Note from C.C.:
I'm sorry to inform you the passing of dear Clear Ayes, whose wisdom and advice I relied on in the early days of this blog. Thanks for letting us know, Windhover.
Clear Ayes (Lois) & GAH (Golf Addicted Husband) Fred
