JW in back-to-back Friday appearances. Today he inserts 'ZZ' into expressions and clues the result with levity. Of course using double Zs requires lots of z words so there is some very challenging fill. Much of the non-theme long fill is rarely if ever used including REAL BAD, ADRIAN I, JIMENEZ, GALLONS, RADIOED, CERAMIC, ZAMBIAN, LIBERIA, ERODING, GARTERS, AN EARFUL, SEA TO AIR. There are some complete unknowns for me (ATWOOD, JIMENEZ etc.) The triple sevens in the NW and SE make for an interesting grid with only the 13 letter themers requiring some cheater squares. The humor is clear in all the theme fill, with Semper Fizz my favorite. Well, you gave mixed reviews last week; let's look at this week.
18A. Syncopated gaits? : JAZZY WALKS (10). A Jaywalker ups his game by dancing to the music.
33A. Rube Goldberg machines, e.g.? : DIZZY PROJECTS (13). Rube Goldberg was famous for his unnecessarily complex machines, like the beginning to Elementary. He was a CARTOONIST, inventor and so much more. The choice of the DIY (do it yourself) phrase is awesome.
36A. Impress around the green? : CHIP AND DAZZLE (13). More cartoons with those lovable CHIPMUNKS and maybe the golfers recall this shot. LINK.
55A. Cocktail that never goes flat? : SEMPER FIZZ (10). Semper is Latin for always so the joke is great and the shout to Dennis and our other marines is nice.
Across:
1. Indian bigwig : RAJA.
5. Short club : CUDGEL. I may be a day late but this is an example.
14. Find the right words, say : EDIT. Puzzles clues are often more than 50% changed by editors.
15. With 54-Across, common dorm room phenomenon : UNMADE. 54A. See 15-Across : BED.
16. 55 million-member service org. : AAA. American Automobile Association.
17. Treaty subject : ARMS. Salt I from last week.
20. Bit of duplicity : LIE.
21. Broadway choreographer for "Chicago" : FOSSE. His CAREER. People forget he was a dancer first.
22. Fr. address : MLLE. Not a street but to a young lady, mademoiselle.
23. Zulu or Kikuyu : BANTU.
25. Called the tower : RADIOED. I only thought of this.
35. Like tandoori cuisine : ASIAN.
44. Annoyance : PEEVE. Many keep them as pets.
45. Like some naval missiles : SEA TO AIR.
46. Holdup bands? : GARTERS. Nice challenging Friday clue and excuse to link for Splynter....
50. Dumpster habitués : FLIES. I did not know until last Sunday that DUMPSTER was a trade name.
58. Helpful, if impersonal, voice : SIRI. Not to Raj. WATCH.
59. Nous minus moi? : TOI. Us minus me equals you in French.
60. Fill with passion : ENAMOR.
61. "Game of Thrones" actor __ Glen : IAIN. Sir Jorah Mormont.
63. Margaret Atwood's homeland : CANADA. Eh! She is accomplished. LINK.
64. Hitch : SNAG.
Down:
1. Desperately : REAL BAD. I wanted that new car....
2. Eighth-century pope : ADRIAN I. Yo, another random Pope? No, a rather significant ONE.
3. 1956 literature Nobelist Juan Ramón __ : JIMENEZ. A celebrated Spanish poet, but not in my ken. I am sure Clear Ayes could have told us much.
5. King dog : CUJO. Not a nice puppy.
6. Some, in Sevilla : UNAS. Spanish: Un and una mean 'a,' and unos and unas mean 'some.'
7. Neutral areas, briefly : DMZS. We grew up with DeMitiliarizedZones on the news nightly.
8. Star attachment? : GAZER.
9. Name on an ice cream container : EDY. And a way to buy...11D. Dairy case choices : GALLONS.
10. "Ben-Hur" author Wallace : LEW.
12. Headliner in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show : OAKLEY. Annie.
19. Something made by millionaires? : A MINT. Where millions are made as well.
21. " ... a tale / ... full of sound and __": Macbeth : FURY. Our Shakespeare quote of the day. Sound and fury has become a phrase meant to signify a whole lot of nothing.
'Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.' -- Macbeth
24. Whirling toon : TAZ. The cartoon Tasmanian Devil. I have had him on Friday before.
27. French noble : DUC. Duke.
29. Bad news from the professor : F PAPER. I wonder how and when grading A-F started?
30. __ Major : URSA. The constellation that holds the big dipper. Latin for Bear.
31. Butcher's cuts : LOINS.
34. Ming dynasty art source : JADE. Clecho. 36D. Ming dynasty art source : CERAMIC.
37. Excited : HET UP.
38. "__ gotta run!" : I'VE.
39. Date night destinations : ATMS. B's cost money! (Babes?)
40. Suffix with proto- : ZOA.
41. Lusaka native : ZAMBIAN. Not up on my African CAPITALS.
42. Africa country whose official language is English : LIBERIA. I now know that this was Africa's first republic, founded in 1822 as a result of the efforts of the American Colonization Society to settle freed American slaves in West Africa. The society contended that the emigration of blacks to Africa was an answer to the problem of slavery and the then prevalent perception of the incompatibility of the races. This settlement dates back to 1847. If you want you can read MORE.
43. Whittling away, as support : ERODING.
44. Former Toyotas : PASEOS. More Spanish, and a short lived sporty car of the 90's.
46. Beau __ : GESTE. A character in a P.C. Wren book and many movies, it also is French for grand gesture.
47. Trekkie, e.g., for short : S F FAN. Science Fiction Fan.
51. Capital south of Quito : LIMA. Ecuador and Peru.
52. Sportswear brand : IZOD. The complete HISTORY.
56. 1957 Treaty of Rome org. : EEC. European Economic Community, precursor to the European Union.
57. Genetic messenger : RNA.
58. Member of the fam : SISter.
Wow, that was a workout. I do enjoy JW 's creations very much and appreciate his humor and consistency; having blogged so many that I think I can see where the puzzle is headed when I begin solving a JW Friday. Hope you enjoyed your St. Paddy's Day. Spring is near. Lemonade out
