Theme: "Those Creepy Crawly Things" (Thanks, Tom, for supplying me with the title!)
No unifier is necessary for this type of theme. Each of the theme entries is a different definition for the common clue:
17. Bugs : HIDDEN MIKES. I had hidden wires at first.
23. Bugs : BEETLE CARS. I thought this was going to be a literal definition at first.
37. Bugs : SOFTWARE DEFECTS.
48. Bugs : ELMER'S BANE. Bugs Bunny, of course!
59. Bugs : DRIVES CRAZY.
I really enjoyed this puzzle. Sometimes definition type puzzle have strained theme entries, to fit within the constraints of the grid size, and to come out symmetrical. But all five of these entries felt like normal phrases. There was some fun stuff in the fill, too. So let's get to it.
Across:
1. Shake, as one's tail : ELUDE. Oh, I was sooooo thinking of this. 2:30
6. Apple polisher : TOADY. From the 16th c. "toad-eater." Fascinating story here.
11. "Ri-i-ight!" : HAH. Hah! Nailed it! And a clecho at 25-Down. "Ri-i-ight!" : AS IF.
14. Patient's share : CO-PAY. It seems to be more and more the "lion's" share lately...
15. Els only about six feet above the ground : ERNIE. I love golf, and enjoy watching ERNIE Els, a.k.a. "The Big Easy." (BTW, he is actually 6'3".)
16. Big name in kitchenware : OXO.
19. Animation collectible : CEL.
20. "Double Fantasy" artist : ONO.
21. Carnation spot : LAPEL.
22. Booked solid : BUSY.
26. Says it isn't so : REBUTS.
29. Annual Queens sports event : US OPEN. Tennis, not golf. It is held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, and runs from August 26-September 9 this year.
32. Seals, as a deal : ICES.
33. One may be given to a detective : ALIBI.
36. ___ diet : ON A.
41. "Don't Bring Me Down" rock gp. : ELO. Listen here. 4:04
42. Hits the trail : HIKES.
43. Mongolian tent : YURT.
44. Try to better understand, as difficult prose : RE-READ.
46. Bandleading brothers' name : DORSEY. Tommy and Jimmy.
52. Moo juice : MILK.
54. Lofty nest : AERIE.
55. Get-up-and-go : VIM.
58. Kerfuffle : ADO. I want to see the word "kerfuffle" in a crossword...
62. X, at times : TEN.
63. "Peer Gynt" playwright : IBSEN.
64. Lincoln's side : UNION.
65. Withered woman : HAG. (Hey, I'm not all that withered...)
66. With 67-Across, San Diego Zoo attraction : GIANT. and 67-Across. See 66-Across : PANDA.
Down: (...worth repeating.)
1. Letter before Foxtrot : ECHO. Have you memorized your NATO phonetic alphabet yet?
2. Pork purchase : LOIN.
3. Bridesmaid's coif : UPDO.
4. "American ___!": animated sitcom : DAD. While I was doing this write-up, the show came on TV and I suffered through it, just so I could report to you. My report? .... judge for yourself.
5. Ornamental embroidered hole : EYELET.
6. Bait : TEMPT.
7. Projecting window : ORIEL.
8. Popular tat spot : ANKLE. Bicep also fits. Just sayin'...
9. Conk out : DIE.
10. "It's a go!" : YES!
11. Words before disappearing, perhaps : HOCUS POCUS.
12. Fires : AXES.
13. First word from Robin : HOLY. Holy You Tube!
18. Laddie's turndowns : NAES.
22. "My man!" : BRO.
23. Pedestal sculpture : BUST. Like this?
24. 8 or 64, e.g. : CUBE.
26. Choir support : RISER.
27. Place for élèves : ECOLE. French for "students" and "school"
28. Any day now : BEFORE LONG.
30. ___ nous : ENTRE. "Between ourselves..." ("Keep it confidential.")
31. Vile : NASTY.
33. Object of Indy's quest : ARK. Indiana Jones and the "Raiders of the Lost Ark." (Why, all they had to do was look on top of Mt. Ararat!)
34. Sea side : LEE. Nice misdirection.
35. Tags on bags : IDS. Identification tags are about the only things many airlines still give away for free.
38. Impact sound : WHAM!!
39. Camp staffer : AIDE.
40. Rochester's bride : EYRE. Plain Jane.
45. Antlered critter : ELK.
46. Place of honor : DAIS.
47. Like small coffeemakers : ONE CUP.
49. Madame Gorbachev : RAISA. She died in 1999 of leukemia. In 2009, Mikhail made an album titled "Songs for Raisa" made up of old Russian love songs. Who says the Russians are cold-hearted??
50. Atomic number for nitrogen : SEVEN.
51. Bush adviser Scowcroft : BRENT.
52. It has roots and branches : MATH. Great misdirection!
53. Think tank output : IDEA.
55. Unable to merely walk past a mirror, say : VAIN.
56. Brand that once sported a reptile : IZOD.
57. Flying talker : MYNA.
59. "Get it, man?" : DIG?
60. Slugger's stat : RBI. I am finally getting the hang of this: slugger = Runs Batted In, pitcher = Earned Run Average. And then we have : 61-Down. Transfer ___ : RNA. Runs Not Allowed. (^0^)
Have a great week, everyone. See you next Thursday!
Marti
