Theme: Your punishment is in the pun.
After seeing Todd Gross and SJSJ return after lengthy absences, we have today James Sajdak who did 24 puzzles by 2012 then one in 2013, one in 2014 and none last year. He was the subject of this INTERVIEW . His puzzles were all different and today he does sound a-like for humor. As with any puzzle crafted on humor, it is in the eyes of the beholder. I really liked the theme and all of the wonderful fill like SHADOW, MOHAIR, EQUITY, PALLID, RAW EGG, I'M GLAD, NED KELLY, TITICACA, IRONICALLY, INTAGLIOED some which had me buffaloed. The cluing also had some really stellar moments. Well on with the show.
20A. Québec quiche, e.g.? : CANADIAN BAKING (14). Canadian Bacon is our shout out to our Canadian readers. WHY is it called that? I like the double "QU."
26A. Saying "It wasn't me" when, in fact, it was? : COWARDLY LYING (13). The Cowardly Lion from the Wizard of Oz, is replaced by a liar.
46A. "Wish we had built a bigger pyramid," e.g.? : EGYPTIAN RUING (13). The word RUIN is not related to the verb "to rue", but this still seems odd. I think it is because the other three phrases are words where an ending "ON" changed to ending in "ING" along with spelling changes.
56A. Greeting from a faithful friend? : WELCOME WAGGING (14). Welcome Wagon is a great service and they are all over Florida. Some hang out around Tinbeni. I was in Ybor City last weekend.
1. Publishing tasks : EDITS. I found Mark McClain's comment on Rich's changes very interesting.
6. Jack letters : MIC. The place you plug in your microphone.
9. "Hotel Imperial" (1927) star : NEGRI. Pola was a star.
15. Tesoro de la Sierra Madre : ORO. There's gold in them there Spanish hills.
16. Horse play : EQUUS. Another Friday clue/fill but I remember Richard Burton was in both the PLAY and the movie. Also Daniel Radcliffe-Harry Potter's first big role was in a revival of the play.
17. Kitchen drawer? : AROMA. Wonderful smells draw you into the kitchen. Awesome clue even if has been used before.
18. It can be cured : HAM. Again, what cluing.
19. "Beats me" : DUNNO.
23. Start of a weekly cry : TGI Friday.
24. "Either thou, __ ... must go with him": Romeo : OR I. I do love me our Friday dose of Shakespeare.
25. Ran into : MET.
33. Digitize, in a way : SCAN.
35. Squawk : YELL.
36. Greenwich Village sch. : NYU. New York University.
37. Set apart, as funds : ALLOT.
39. Layer : PLY. Mostly seen in TP ads these days.
40. Eastwood's "Rawhide" role : YATES. He was Rowdy.
43. Retail giant with stores in 23 U.S. states : IKEA. I get this often on Friday.
45. Bit of power : WATT.
51. Feel poorly : AIL.
52. Source of bills : ATM. Not the ones you pay, but the one you spend.
53. Stretcher, to Huck Finn : LIE. I do not recall the book that well.
62. Citrus cooler : ADE. Yay me.
63. Sarge's superior : LOOIE.
64. "Hamlet" courtier : OSRIC. He is the courtier sent by Claudius to invite Hamlet to participate in the duel with Laertes. A double dose.
65. Fix : RIG. Our crime corner.
66. Supports illegally : ABETS.
67. Mary's upstairs neighbor : RHODA. Valerie is hanging in there..
69. Performed, in the Bible : DIDS'T. Thou did too.
Down:
1. Pass : ENACT.
2. Modern kerchief cousin : DO RAG. Taken over by bikers and women.
3. How many O. Henry stories end : IRONICALLY. Which is more famous, Gift of the Magi or Ransom of Red Chief?
4. Writer Janowitz : TAMA. Luckily this was all filled because I never heard of HER or any of the brat pack of authors.
5. Sunny day phenomenon : SHADOW. Cute misdirection.
6. Angora fabric : MOHAIR.
7. Republic since 1979 : IRAN.
8. Search high and low : COMB. Fine tooth anyone?
9. Legendary Australian outlaw : NED KELLY. This man was truly ROWDY. We will have to ask Kazie how his legend is now in Oz.
10. Fairness : EQUITY.
11. "Treasure Island" castaway Ben : GUNN. All from the mind of RLS.
12. Step up? : RUNG. Literal.
13. Prefix with bar : ISO.
21. George's lyrical brother : IRA. He wrote the words.
22. __ alcohol: fusel oil component : AMYL.
27. Bed-in for Peace participant : ONO.
28. "Blowin' in the Wind" songwriter : DYLAN. Still an anthem of my generation.
30. Like petroglyphs : INTAGLIOED. First you need to know petroglyphs, but the perps were fair.
31. Nikita's no : NYET. Did the shoe come off?
33. Word processing command : SAVE.
34. Blockage : CLOG. Did you have trouble sinking of the answer.
38. Bolivian border lake : TITICACA. Geography 1. READ.
39. Shade of green : PEA.
41. Botanical beard : AWN. Botany STUDY.
44. Smuggler's unit : KILO. Drugs....
47. Wan : PALLID.
48. Caesar salad dressing ingredient : RAW EGG. Very few do the CLASSIC with the egg yolks.
49. Acting guru Hagen : UTA.
50. "Good for you" : I'M GLAD.
54. OK components : INITS. Initials.
55. Throw out : EGEST. In goes in; E goes out.
56. Load in a basket : WASH.
57. River of Spain : EBRO. LESSON 2 time.
58. Con man's target : MARK.
59. Falco of "Nurse Jackie" : EDIE. Also Mrs. Soprano.
61. 2015 A.L. East champ : TORonto Blue Jays.
Well that was a fun work out; welcome back James and hope you all had fun. My Oscar prediction: Chris Rock will be funny. Lemonade out. Yo Adrian!
