(Note from C.C.: Due to a blog lock-down, we had to move to Ginger Roots blog to review the puzzle. Please click here to see our discussions on this crossword.)
Theme: Turning Heads - The first words (heads) in each common phrase is spelled backwards, e.g., "turned".
23A. Nail salon supplies? : TIPS AND POLISH. Spit and polish.
34A. Couch-jumping and yard-running? : PETS AEROBICS. Step aerobics.
40A. Tongue twister? : TRAP OF SPEECH. Part of speech.
64A. Good golf rounds? : PAR SESSIONS. Rap sessions.
72A. Energetic ghosts? : LIVE SPIRITS. Evil spirits.
92A. Torches in Dracula's crypt? : DOOM LIGHTING. Mood lighting.
99A. Sharp dresser features? : DRAWER POINTS. Reward points.
116A. Talk shows? : YAP TELEVISION. Pay television.
I apologize for the short post. Been very distracted.
Across:
1. Over the top, design-wise : GARISH
7. Goes like the wind? : BLOWS. Nice clue. Very strong wind here last night.
12. Fairly shared : PRO RATA
19. Like much summery footwear : OPEN TOE
21. Mauve relative : LILAC
22. "Wild Thing" rapper : TONE LOC
25. Was humbled : ATE DIRT
26. Bud's promise : BLOOM
27. Midsection : GUT
28. Popular skiing destination : VAIL
30. Former NBA coach Brown : HUBIE. I don't follow basketball.
31. However : YET
32. Exam for a jr. : PSAT
37. Customarily : AS A RULE
39. Getting the wrong order and such : MIX UPS
45. 68-Across neighbor : NEB. 68. Where Manhattan is: Abbr. : KANS. Manhattan, Kansas.
46. Abscam agcy. : FBI
49. Dawn-of-mammals epoch : EOCENE
50. Wedding acquisition : SPOUSE
52. Multitude : LEGION
55. Fan sounds : RAHS
56. Lincoln Logs, e.g. : TOY
59. One and only : SOLE
60. Former Buick sedan : LESABRE
61. Mean Amin : IDI
62. Funeral lighting? : PYRES
66. Actress Ward : SELA
70. Alluvium : SILT
71. Italian hot spot : ETNA
75. "Oliver Twist" criminal : FAGIN
77. Holder and Reno: Abbr. : AGs. Eric Holder.
79. Certain Ukrainian : ODESSAN
80. They're worth 1.0 : DEES
82. Soccer __ : MOM
83. Classic name in shoes : MCAN
84. Ones with many feet : VERSES
85. Snoopy, for one : BEAGLE
87. Mimosa family tree : ACACIA
89. Road course curve : ESS
90. Airport uniform initials : TSA
95. Ed of "Modern Family" : O'NEILL
98. Barbecue fare : WIENERS
104. __ Beach, Fla. : VERO
105. Raiders' gp. : AFC
108. When doubled, Northwest wine valley : WALLA. Walla Walla.
109. Follow : OBEY
110. Title for Jackson or King: Abbr. : REV
111. "West Side Story" song : MARIA
113. Short operatic solo : ARIETTA
119. Apartment dwellers, typically : RENTERS
120. One way to read : ALOUD
121. London-based news agency : REUTERS
122. Lighthouse lens inventor : FRESNEL. Nope.
123. Cozy spots : NESTS
124. Music producer Estefan : EMILIO. Husband of Gloria Estefan. The only Emilio I know is Estevez.
Down:
1. Sidestepped : GOT BY
2. Loads : A PILE
3. Do a gardener's chore : RE-POT
4. __ many words : IN SO
5. Tries to put out, as a small fire : STAMPS ON
6. Dear : HON
7. Reputation stain : BLOT
8. Wee, in a small way : LIL
9. One stuck in a bar? : OLIVE. Clever!
10. Attended : WAS AT
11. Long division? : SCHISM
12. School support gp. : PTA
13. Malarkey : ROT
14. Like some grounders : ONE HOP
15. Gives a new name to : RE-DUBS
16. Story : ALIBI
17. Doughnut-shaped : TORIC. We just saw TORI clued as "Bagels, shapewise" last Friday.
18. Entr'__: play intervals : ACTES
20. Dick Francis has four of them : EDGARS. Mystery awards.
24. Provide, as money : PUT UP
29. "Mule Train" singer : LAINE (Frankie)
33. Firearm feature : SAFETY
34. Quick looks : PEEPS
35. Computer program suffix : EXE
36. Dollars : cents :: __ : kopecks : RUBLES
37. Copies : APES
38. "__ Miz" : LES
40. Actress Garr : TERI
41. Impromptu picnic locales : ROADSIDES
42. Go-getters : ACHIEVERS
43. Confine, with "up" : COOP
44. Luau dances : HULAS
46. Eponymous Italian mathematician : FIBONACCI. Don't know him.
47. Revitalized : BORN AGAIN. Christians.
48. Another name for Saint Agnes : INES. Agnes is our Irish Miss' real name.
51. Finishing touch of a sort : SERIF
53. German industrial city : ESSEN
54. Amble, e.g. : GAIT
57. Pest control name in a red diamond : ORKIN
58. Oenophile's concern : YEAR
60. Fire : LET GO
62. No longer in : PASSE
63. Not nice at all : SNIDE
65. Pan or roast : SLAM
67. Minus : LESS
69. Lieu : STEAD
72. Affectionate valediction : LOVE
73. Kindergarten craftsman : PASTER
74. Lily that's Utah's state flower : SEGO
76. Diagnostic machine : IMAGER
78. Trouble spot : SNAG
81. Responds to a yellow : SLOWS
83. Dojo accessories : MATS
85. "The Jungle Book" bear : BALOO. No idea. I just learned that KAA is "The Jungle Book" python.
86. Brit. record label : EMI
88. Element in stainless steel : CHROMIUM. I just call it Chrome.
91. Taste : SIP
93. Tool box item : LEVEL
94. "The nerve!" : I NEVER
95. Small hooters : OWLETS
96. Tidy : NEATEN
97. Like some of the Sahara : LIBYAN
99. Sleepy, e.g. : DWARF. The Seven Dwarfs. Tricky clue.
100. Less done : RARER
101. Dress style : A-LINE
102. Hall of Fame football coach Earle "Greasy" __ : NEALE. Unknown name to me.
103. Red-lined items, perhaps : TYPOS
105. The Little Mermaid : ARIEL
106. Flower-shaped pasta : FIORI. Italian for "flowers"
107. Childish comeback : CAN SO
110. Malbec and Merlot : REDS
112. __ Spumanti : ASTI
114. One past due? : TRE. Une, due, Tre
115. Manual transmissions?: Abbr. : ASL (American Sign Language)
117. King in a Steve Martin song : TUT. "King Tut".
118. Success sign : VEE
