Each of the 5 theme answers has the last letter of the last word in a phrase doubled and an A is added to create a totally different phrase, clued with wit. With no intention to offend anyone, since I live in a community that is 60% 1st generation Italians, the rhythm of the new word created sounds to me like an Italian speaking English. For me that enhanced the whimsy and enjoyment of the puzzle. David is more than 5 years into his second career in making puzzles, and has made some really great ones; read his INTERVIEW. While I loved the theme, the word count, blocks and fill are mostly a Thursday feel for me. The sparkle was present in ALOMAR, AMULET, C-NOTES, MOGULS, SERENE, UGANDA, VOODOO, LIBERIA, COMANECI, and KICKED IN without too many 3/4 letter fill and only a few omnipresent ones like ATE and ANTE. Let's see how it all sounded to you.
17A. Oversized European import? : JUMBO JETTA (10) We recently had the VW Jetta clued as model since 1979, and we all know Jumbo Jets, pioneered by the 747.
25A. Summer known for kitchen supplies? : TEFLON DONNA (11). He was the TEFLON DON because no charges brought against him would stick. Like other teflon, it wore out and he died in prison. I wonder if this was the seed answer inspired by GOTTI. Love to Love You Baby.
37A. Be nostalgic for old Nordic currency? : MISS THE MARKKA (13). I know nothing of this FINNISH currency but Finns double vowels often, I hope you did not Miss the Mark on this one. .
52A. Poignant game show personality? : MOVING VANNA. (11) Other than a turn as Al's dream girl on Married With Children, I have never seen Vanna White express any emotion, but i love the clue/fill almost as much as I hate moving.
61A. Expert on Icelandic sagas? : MISTER EDDA (10) We have seen Edda so often and Mister Ed, now they are together...well I am cold just reading about Iceland and Finland, let's move on.
Across:
1. Type type : PICA. Once upon a time I knew pica and elite and no more.
5. He was originally called Dippy Dawg : GOOFY.I did not know this but with Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck it was not hard to guess that Walt like double letters.
10. Plastic option : VISA. Good Friday clue/fill.
14. Doofus : BOOB. No one commented on my Thong link last week, so I think this is safe... LINK.
15. Navel observation : INNIE. Loved the simple misdirection.
16. Turow book set at Harvard : ONE-L.
19. Other, in Oaxaca : OTRO. Spanish.
20. Half a sci-fi name : ARTOO. According to WOOKIEEPEDIA.
21. Cash in : REDEEM. Reminds me of the old Sperry and Hutchinson green stamps.
23. "Wow!" : MAN. Really vague, but so are our children.
28. News __ : ITEM.
30. Christmas purchase : FIR. Tree.
31. Campaign target : VOTER.
32. Tamper with : DOCTOR.
35. In development, as software : BETA. By now you all must know about Beta testers, and even constructors use them. (Hey Annette hope you are feeling better).
42. Cath. honorific : MSGR. Monseigneur. From the French. LINK.
43. Running without moving : IDLING. Especially for cars.
45. Pal of Picasso : AMIGO. Spanish.
49. Mannerism : TIC.
51. Classic name in shoes : MCAN.Thom?
56. Sunflower St. school : KSU. This is the third different clue for KSU in the last few weeks. Notice the flower on the flag.
57. Lake Victoria country : UGANDA. There are more than one. This is one of Africa's GREAT LAKES.
58. Tapenade ingredient : OLIVE. If you like olives and capers with a hint of anchovy...any recipes out there?
60. Breather : LUNG. This clue is how you make 4 letter fill Friday hard.
66. "A Shot in the Dark" actress Sommer : ELKE. She is back, and the nude scene with Peter Sellers has been linked enough.
67. Lead in the theater? : USHER. Not the star, but the one who takes you to your seat. I did that at the Candlewood Lake Theater.
68. Knee-slapper : RIOT. Funnnnnnnnnnnny.
69. Winter Palace resident : TSAR.
70. Head lock : TRESS. The space eliminates the wrestling hold.
71. Join the game : ANTE. One that requires betting.
Down:
1. Lunchbox staple, casually : PBJ. My first fill. Peanut Butter & Jelly.
2. Marker : IOU. Another Friday repeat.
3. Gymnast with five Olympic golds : COMANECI. The C from pica gave me this 10 all growed up.
4. E.g., e.g. : ABBReviation.
5. Boy toy : G I JOE. Did you like the movie?
6. Unrepeated event, in England : ONE OFF. David used this 1/18/2013 in a Friday where marti blogged and linked to the expression.
7. Mich. neighbor : ONTario, Canada. I believe David is from Canada, eh? Eh?
8. Qualified : FIT.
9. Long : YEARN. I long for the perfect write-up.
10. Gris-gris wearer's practice : VOODOO. Who do the voodoo like you do? A partial clecho:45D. Gris-gris, for one : AMULET. All you need to know about this TALISMAN.
11. Aim : INTENT.
12. Composed : SERENE.
13. Baseball family name : ALOMAR. Sandy Jr., Roberto a Hall of Famer and Sandy Sr., Nice to see someone other than the Alous.
18. Giant star : OTT. More baseball.
22. Composer Grieg : EDVARD. A Norwegian. We all know Peer Gynt.
23. Season opener? : MID-season form.
24. Tiny bit : ATOM.
26. Country settled by freed American slaves : LIBERIA. This is a HISTORY that was not taught when I was in school.
27. Home of Utah Valley University : OREM.
29. High pts. : MTS. Mounts, or Mountains. 46D. Downhill challenges : MOGULS. A little early skiing CSO for marti.
33. Performing siblings' surname : OSMOND. Donnie and Marie? I met marie in 1979 when this was filmed.
34. ACLU concerns : RTS.
36. __ chi : TAI.
38. "Curb Appeal" network : HGTV. Home and Garden Television.
39. Airline to Amsterdam : KLM. Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V.
40. Began to take effect : KICKED IN. Have the drugs kicked in yet?
41. Santa __: West Coast winds : ANAS.
44. Horned grazer : GNU. Who knew?
47. Fashionista Trump : IVANKA. It is good to be born rich. LINK.
48. Turmeric relative : GINGER. Want to know ALL?
50. Bills featuring Ben : C-NOTES. One Hundred Dollar bills, so nicknamed as Century Notes
53. Full extent : GAMUT. Like Amazon, from A to Z.
54. Cards, e.g. : NLERS, The baseball St. Louis version, not the football Arizona ones.
55. Broadcast : AIR.
59. Designer Wang : VERA. Some of the Fall Collection.
62. Neighbor of Leb. : ISRael.
63. Dam or madam : SHE. Nope, no safe way to comment.
64. Part of a modern address : DOT. How com you did not know this?
65. Had : ATE. I had grilled salmon, you?
Well I often eat when I am writing this, so it is fitting that I leave you on a food note (sounds like...?) Thanks David. Nice week end all and be sure and stop in and visit with Splynter as he unravels the mystery of the themeless Saturday: lemonade out.
