Theme: A Spoonful of wacky words makes the Friday go down.
We
are back in the wild world of spoonerisms, where mixing up word phrases
leads to hilarity. There is an additional undercurrent of the sound
"ICK" but I am not sure how that can be incorporated into the theme but
the sound is all over the fill. I found this to be a comparative speed
run for a Friday with lots of short fill, but also humor and some
inventive cluing. This is our second LAT puzzle from Mr. White who has
had 5 Saturday and 1 Friday published in the NY Times, which makes the
solving of this surprising, or maybe I was just lucky. Let's get to
work.
17A. Falk and Fonda after mud wrestling? : ICKY PETERS.
(10). Picky Eaters transformed into two Hollywood types writhing in the
muck. I suppose a clue "diseased organs" would not pass the breakfast
test.
24A. Overzealous peach eaters? : PIT NICKERS.(10). Nit pickers, like our own divine miss m., get confused and steal their fruit treats.
39A. Oils a deck of cards? : SLICKS UP THE PACK. (15) Picks up the slack.
51A. Security images of an armed robbery? : STICK UP PIX. (10) 5, 6 pick up sticks. Are two pick ups in a row okay? I know they are if you are visiting Honey Boo Boo.
63A. Gal idolizing actor Matthew? : PERRY CHICK. (10). We all know it is Joey who gets to Cherry Pick the girls not Chandler. Anyone watch GO ON? (3:00).
Across:
1. Org. where weight matters : WBA. World Boxing Association, one of the many association which oversee professional boxing, a sport on the way out.
4. Ancient Ephraimite's home : ISRAEL. We are not talking about Mr. Zimbalist and his FBI show, but one of the lost TRIBES.
10. Pasture calls : BAAS. Baas, maas, eh.
14. "Ben-___" : HUR. More ancient Israel, but moved up to Roman times.
15. Caterer's supply : STERNO.
16. Succotash bean : LIMA. Mixed with corn.
19. Since : AS OF.
20. Overhead views : SKIES. Very literal.
21. "You got me" : NOT A CLUE. Well actually, you have the clues even if you cannot solve them.
23. Hawaiian coffee : KONA. Named after an area on the big island, an interesting history. LINK>At the base of 68A. Mauna ___ : LOA.
26. Treated, as a patient : SEEN. These days, you are lucky to even get looked at, let alone actually treated by a doctor. Shout to one of our own.
28. Midwinter Asian holiday : TET. I hope no one finds this reminder offensive.
29. Tin ___ : EAR. When I was in high school, I was admonished to only lip sync because of my tin ear.
32. Packs in a hold : LADES. We have had this word and the related bills of lading often.
35. End notes? : OBIT. Cute clue for a sad subject.
43. Office specialist : TECH.
44. Lost, as a tail : SHOOK. Having read too many detective stories, this was very easy.
45. Storm maker of yore : GEO. The automobile.
46. CIA predecessor : OSS.
49. Falls back : LAGS.
56. Salon choice : UPDO.
60. Nine to three, say : MULTIPLE. 3X3 = 9
61. Heart conditions? : ACHES.
Also, misdirection, especially those of us who have more conventional
diagnoses. I read a study today which says a broken heart might actually
lead to a heart attack!
62. Inter ___ : ALIA.
66. Scratch : CLAW.
67. Pathetic to the max : LAMEST.
69. Wolverine sneaker brand : KEDS.
70. '50s tankers? : EDSELS. More good use of clue deception, as this model tanked from day 1, with horse collar grill I guess everyone said neigh.
71. Bungle : ERR. Bungle is just a fun word.
Down:
1. Roux-making tool : WHISK. Or maybe use a SPATULA? (4:59)
2. Chichester chap : BUCKO.
3. "Catch-22" actor : ARKIN. Wonderful book and MOVIE (4:32). He became Yossarian. The link is to the final scene so do not watch if you want to see the movie from the beginning.
4. Net profit makers, briefly : ISPS. Not NET profit, but INTERNET (net). Creative.
5. Sault ___ Marie : STE.
6. Like many a mil. officer : RETired.
7. Ain't right? : AREN'T.we special.
8. Subject of the 2005 book "Conspiracy of Fools" : ENRON. One of our many corporate disasters.
9. Snapped : LOST IT. Some of the Saturday Silkie's get me close, luckily we have Splynter to pick up the pieces.
10. Driveway improvement : BLACK TOP.
11. Flier's request : AISLE. Makes gong to the bathroom easier, but you do get beat up by all the carry on luggage.
12. Illicit affair : AMOUR. I confess
13. Hotel amenities : SAFES..you believe you have the only key?
18. They're all for it : YEAS. (Pronounced yays) which makes the English language so much fun as we also have, 24D. Casserole veggies : PEAS.
22. Nail : ACE. Nailed it! C.C.'s favorite.
25. River near Karachi : INDUS.. One of the seven sacred RIVERS.
27. Buckskin source : ELK. I did not know this.
29. 1970s-'80s self-improvement course : EST. This controversial SEMINAR.
30. Bar supply : ALE. And the clecho 37D. Bar supply : ICE.
31. "Coney Island" documentarian Burns : RIC.. Has he become as famous as his brother Ken? IMDB.
33. Bk. before Philippians : EPHesians. This BOOK.
34. Gimlet spec : STOLI. I guess it means specification and Stoli is a premium Vodka.
36. Snare : BAG. From the old days, where hunters literally bagged the little creatures.
38. Ring decision : TKO. Technical Knock Out.
40. Southeast natives : CHOCTAWS. Yes she really was part Choctaw.
41. Barnum's Fiji mermaid, for one : HOAX. Piltdown Man anyone? Howard Hughes autobiography?
42. Hosp. readout : EKG.
47. Cross-country need, perhaps : SKI. marti, you have a spare pair?
48. Lithe : SUPPLE
50. Similar things : SUCH. And such
51. Act of love, or hostility : SMACK. Cute clue, and accurate in so many ways.
52. Veil material : TULLE. pronounced tool, named for a city in France, it is really fine netting, which sounds a lot less classy than a veil.
53. Epic with more than 15,000 lines : ILIAD. Arma virumque cano.
54. Respond to a charge : PLEAD.
55. Salon choices : PERMS.
57. Franco finale? : PHILE. Francophile.
Not as familiar as the Anglophile, but I am sure there are some out
there who want to be considered French. Mais oui! Not a reference to the
dead Spanish leader, who probably still gets an occasional reference on
SNL.
58. Designer's concern : DECOR.
59. Schindler of "Schindler's List" : OSKAR. It took me years to watch the movie.
61. Treads the boards : ACTS.
64. R&B artist Des'___ : REE. My learning moment, but already in by way of perps. I knew the SONG (4:00) but not the artist. I did have a silver Siamese named Desiree, but she did not sing.
Well
another journey together complete, and we are ending a week in April,
which I find amazing. I thank Mr. White for his effort and hope you are
all prepared for the long stretch with no holidays until Memorial Day.
Here we wait for our snow birds, who begin leaving now.
Peace out
L.
Notes from C.C.: Happy Birthday to dear Irish Miss!
Happy Birthday to Abejo also!
