theme: BOARD GAMES - anagram of BOARD starts each theme answer.
20A. *General outline components : BROAD STROKES
37A. *16th/17th-century dramatic nickname : BARD OF AVON
43A. *2009-'10 Lady Gaga hit : BAD ROMANCE
56A. Cruise ship game ... or how to start each of the answers to starred clues? : SHUFFLEBOARD
melissa here.
i imagine puzzle constructors see most everything through the filter of word games. most of us see the word 'shuffleboard,' and think … you know .. shuffleboard, not shuffle board.
i imagine puzzle constructors see most everything through the filter of word games. most of us see the word 'shuffleboard,' and think … you know .. shuffleboard, not shuffle board.
across
1. Aveeno's parent co. : J AND J. johnson and johnson. tough start.
6. Hebrides native : SCOT. also tough.
10. Madcap : ZANY. great puzzle word.
14. Olds's last compact : ALERO.
15. Biblical prophet : EZRA
16. "En garde" weapon : EPEE
17. Louis of MGM : MAYER. metro goldwyn mayer.
18. Taps : CALLS UPON
22. Actor Aykroyd : DAN
23. SFO hrs. : PST. pacific standard time.
24. They may grade univ. papers : TAS. teacher's assistants.
27. __-di-dah : LAH
30. Shell-shocked : NUMB
33. Ad time : TONITE
35. Steamed : IRED
39. Scrawny sort : SCRAG
41. First person in France? : MOI
42. "Shrek" ogress : FIONA
46. Distance measures : FEET
47. 2003 self-titled folk album : ODETTA
48. Lawless TV role : XENA
50. Dr. with Grammys : DRE
51. Composer Rorem : NED
52. Windy City rail and bus org. : CTA. chicago transit authority.
54. "Community" network : NBC
62. Go motoring : TAKE A RIDE
65. Studio sign : ON AIR
66. Operating system developed at Bell Labs : UNIX
67. Sandusky's lake : ERIE. sandusky, ohio.
68. Short and probably not sweet : TERSE
69. Like the Nissan Cube : BOXY
70. Swabbing site : DECK. not ear.
71. Pounded the keyboard : TYPED
down
1. Door part : JAMB
2. Banned orchard spray : ALAR. banned in 1989.
3. "Miss Independent" R&B singer : NE-YO. Wiki: The stagename "Ne-Yo" was coined by Big D Evans, a producer with whom Ne-Yo once worked, because Evans claimed that Ne-Yo sees music as Neo sees the matrix.
4. Can't contemplate : DREAD
5. "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore" river : JORDAN
6. Schism group : SECT
7. Peter or Paul, but not Mary : CZAR. fun clue.
8. Ship's lowest 70-Across : ORLOP. new to me, lowest deck of a ship.
9. Consults : TALKS TO
10. Son of Cronus and Rhea : ZEUS
11. "Angry Birds," e.g. : APP
12. New beginning? : NEO
13. Japanese dough : YEN. were you fooled?
19. Hit the road : SET OFF
21. Intentionally fail to invite : SNUB. i see how it is.
24. Recorded, nowadays : TIVOED
25. Sorry sort : ATONER
26. Obama left it in November, 2008 : SENATE
27. Capital WSW of Madrid : LISBON
28. Game sanctuary? : ARCADE. nice.
29. Kept together, as sheep : HERDED
31. Doll's cry : MAMA
32. Place with a cheer named for it : BRONX. Bronx cheer.
34. Inexperienced one : NAIF
36. Zip : DART
38. Yahtzee need : DICE
40. "Tricked you!" : GOTCHA
44. Turned from green to red, perhaps : MATURED
45. Kin of -trix : ENNE
49. Costello's partner : ABBOTT
53. Blazing : AFIRE
55. Brooklyn's __ Island : CONEY
56. Quite the fox : SEXY
57. Abbr. in a bank ad : FDIC
58. Onionlike veggie : LEEK. hard to clean.
59. "To serve, not to be served" group : AARP. their motto, taken from the new testament book of matthew.
60. Ascent : RISE
61. Stowe antislavery novel : DRED
62. Place to unwind : TUB. ahh.
63. Year in Madrid : ANO