Theme: "Counterfeit Crossword."
The last shall be first:
59A. Swimming infractions, and what the first words of the answers to starred clues can all have :
FALSE STARTS. All the theme entries start with words that can make a common expression by adding "false" before them.
18A. *Union VIP : LABOR LEADER. False labor. Also known as "Braxton Hicks" contractions.
24A. *You might sleep through it : ALARM CLOCK. False alarm. Like false labor?
39A. *Self-esteem essential : POSITIVE IMAGE. False positive. As in, an incorrect laboratory result. (Whew, you mean I wasn't really pregnant??)
49A. *1998 Sandra Bullock film : HOPE FLOATS. False hope. Oh well, we can always adopt a puppy.
Marti here with this week's Thursday contribution. And there were plenty of tricky spots that could have been my undoing, but I finished in almost my typical Monday time.
Across:
1. "The Walking Dead" network : AMC. I always skip these type of "network" clues until I have some perps in place. AMC used to be known as "American Movie Classics," but now they have de-emphasized the abbreviation because of a shift in focus. So no need for Abbr. in the clue.
4. Home of William, known for his logical "razor" : OCCAM. We are not talking Gillette here. A philosophical "razor" is a premise that lets you eliminate the unlikely explanations for something.
9. Dubuque native : IOWAN. Because "Siouan" didn't fit.
14. John of England : LOO. Was anyone fooled by this toilet humor?
15. "Guess again!" : WRONG.
16. Aria response, perhaps : BRAVO. Because "encore" didn't fit. See how easy this was?
17. Poet's eye : ORB.
20. Image on Irish euro coins : HARP.
22. Weigh station unit : TON.
23. Kitchen extension? : ETTE. Kitchenette.
27. Abates : EBBS.
30. Feedback for a masseuse : AAH.
31. Tip for smokers : ASH. Because "quit" didn't fit.
33. José's hooray : OLE.
34. It may contain a $10 bottle of water : MINI BAR. Funny clue, but alas - so true! And 54-Down. High-end : STEEP. "That water sure is steep!"
37. Bicker : ARGUE.
41. Super 8, e.g. : MOTEL. You won't find $10 bottles of water in their mini-bars.
42. The Big Easy, to locals : N'AWLINS. Hahtoolah, is that really how you say it?
43. "Yuck!" : UGH.
44. S.A. country : ARG.entina. For some reason, I thought they were talking about "South Africa." Duh!
46. Inc. cousin : LLC. Limited Liability Corporation. [Update: It stands for Limited Liability Company. Thanks Vidwan827!]
47. Silk road desert : GOBI. Map.
55. Peas, at times : AMMO. I can just picture DH and I flinging peas at each other across the table.
57. "Deathtrap" playwright Levin : IRA.
58. Horseradish, e.g. : ROOT. I love fresh horseradish.
63. An invitation might include one: Abbr. : RTE. Route. Is that still true? I used to include a map when I sent invitations to our house, but now I just give them the GPS coordinates!
64. Small landmass : ISLET.
65. Prepare to be dubbed : KNEEL.
66. Casual top : TEE. and 67. Sculpted works : BUSTS. [snicker]...how about sculpted BUSTS with wet TEEs?
68. Après-ski drink : TODDY. Brandy, honey, lemon, hot water and tea. I usually ask for mine without the tea, hot water, lemon and honey.
69. Intensify, with "up" : AMP.
Down:
1. Sign of tropical hospitality : ALOHA. Because "lei" was too short...
2. Parable message : MORAL.
3. Hooded slitherer : COBRA.
4. Hooter : OWL.
5. Tiny Tim's surname : CRATCHIT. Do you remember this Tiny Tim's surname?
6. Early computer language : COBOL. COmmon Business-Oriented Language.
7. "That's ___!" : A NO-NO.
8. Ball club VIP : MGR. Manager. And now we move into the baseball portion of the puzzle...
9. Skeptic's reply : I BET.
10. Speak with style : ORATE.
11. Besides Derek Jeter, only Major Leaguer whose 3,000th hit was a homer : WADE BOGGS. Did not know that. Did know Wade Boggs from x-words. More baseball.
12. City map abbr. : AVE.nue.
13. Here-there link : NOR. "That's neither here nor there!"
19. Change in Albania? : LEKS. Not sure this one really needed the "?"
21. Laud : PRAISE.
25. Tropical capital : MANILA.
26. Seven-time A.L. batting champ : CAREW. Of course C.C. knows him - he played for the Minnesota Twins at one time. Baseball, again.
28. Really bummed : BLUE.
29. Observe : SEE.
32. Skater known as "America's sweetheart" : HAMILL. Dorothy. She developed the "Hamill Camel" skating move. (at 0:22-0:28 on the clip.)
34. Puts in storage : MOTHBALLS. Interesting article about "mothballed" ships.
35. Word shouted at church : BINGO. Because "amen" was too short...
36. Actress Gardner : AVA.
38. Bitterness : RANCOR.
39. Kelly's possum : POGO.
40. Like star-crossed lovers : ILL-FATED.
41. Ham it up for a shooter : MUG. I was always the one who ruined the family photos by crossing my eyes just as the flash went off.
45. P-like letters : RHOS.
48. "You ready?" answer : I'M SET. (Then GO!!)
50. Grand ___ : PIANO.
51. Had to say "Oops," say : ERRED.
52. Vital conduit : AORTA.
53. Clan symbol : TOTEM. Thinking of Scottish clans here, I wanted "plaid." But the Scots call the pattern "tartan." To them, "plaid" means a tartan cloth slung over the shoulders, or even a simple bed blanket. Who knew?
56. Ball club whose colors are blue and orange : METS. Enough with the baseball!
59. Little white lie : FIB.
60. Sch. with a Mesa campus : ASU. Arizona State University.
61. Box office buy: Abbr. : TKT. Ticket.
62. Slick : SLY. Since MS-PV did not allow me any other opportunity, I will close with this particularly appropriate link!
See you next week!
Marti
