Title: Do you want to PAL around?
JW returns with 'add a word' (3 letters at that) to existing phrases to create a whimsical mental picture of something very different. Despite my seeing and discussing much of Jeffrey's work lately, the cluing is fresh and only PROEM was unknown to me. The longer fill, CLASS UP, THE MAGI, I'M A JERK, IN EXILE, RAIN SHOWER and MOTOR SPORT really show his preference for multi-word answers. The choice to have just three themers plus a reveal was governed by the grid-spanners giving 58 theme spaces. Lots of music references and - well, let us go see.
17A. Financially distressed royal residence? : PALACE IN THE HOLE (15). The PAL is added to the beginning of "ace in the hole." Cute. I do not think the Queen is hurting financially.
34A. Pious antelope? : IMPALA BELIEVER (14). I was really amused by the picture of this cute African food source for lions, praying and singing....
40A. Clairvoyant magazine staff? : PALMISTS OF TIME (14). A common expression also has the PAL added to the beginning; I like the John Mayall version.
And the reveal:
61A. Carole King song title ... or a hint to 17-, 34- and 40-Across : YOU'VE GOT A FRIEND (15).
I wonder if this puzzle was inspired by the Broadway play about Ms. King. She has written so many wonderful songs.
1. Sprinkled stuff : TALC. So much CONTROVERSY now.
5. Ottoman honorific : AGHA.
9. Carried : TOTED. Reminds me of listening to this album as a child. He was a true...
15. Golf inconvenience : RAIN SHOWER. Ask, HG--this is a perfect clue, as a shower does not stop a serious golfer.
19. Things kept for oneself : STASH. Not to be confused with last week's 'STACHE.
20. Elite group : A TEAM. Generic, or the TV Show?
21. New Delhi-to-Mumbai dir. : SSW. Heading toward last week's newbie constructor.
22. "Downton Abbey" assent : YES SIR.
24. Wit : WAG. An old term for a jokester, mid 16th century (denoting a young man or mischievous boy, also used as a term of endearment to an infant): probably from obsolete waghalter ‘person likely to be hanged.’ Per dictionary.
26. "The Golden Arm" of the Baltimore Colts : UNITAS. High topped always, Johnny U.
37. Geisha circler : OBI. More sashes for me.
38. Sister of Melpomene : ERATO.
39. Ho's accompaniment : UKE.
46. Submitted : SENT IN.
47. Dance genre : TAP.
49. Annual delivery vehicle? : SLEIGH. Santa and the odd clecho 9D. Annually celebrated group : THE MAGI.
53. Setting in Eng. : GMT. Greenwich Mean Time.
56. First name in Western crime : JESSE. James
60. Like George H. W. Bush : EX-CIA. Conspiracy THEORY anyone?
64. Rallying, e.g. : MOTOR SPORT. I used to want to do THIS.
65. Singing daughter of Judy and Vincente : LIZA. Judy Garland and Vincente Minelli.
66. Bombed : STUNK.
67. Expression of appreciation : HAND. Let's give all our constructors a big hand for the entertainment.
68. "L'__, c'est moi": Louis XIV : ÉTAT. The State in French.
Down:
1. Lit : TIPSY.
2. "... __ which will live in infamy": FDR : A DATE.
3. Falana and Glaudini : LOLAS. Lola 1 one was a Sammy Davis protege with health issues; Lola 2 is a very busy TV actress. Feel free to IMDB.
4. Infuse with elegance : CLASS UP. My meh fill of the day. Though 'class up the joint' appears often, the reference on its own just hangs there for me.
5. Exist : ARE.
6. Greek primordial deity : GAIA. Quite an incestuous and bloody STORY reminiscent of later Heinlein works.
7. Subtlety : HINT.
8. Startup money? : ANTE. To start the game.
10. "How wonderful!" : OOH. AHH.
11. Dancers, often : TWOS. It does take two to Tango.
12. Sushi kitchen supply : EELS.
16. "I often quote myself. It adds spice to my conversation" speaker : SHAW. No Shakespeare but the eminently quotable George Bernard Shaw, LINK. I could not pick my favorite. No P Shaw quotes.
18. Where gunpowder was invented : CHINA. Some HISTORY.
23. Irks : RILES.
25. Univ. student's ordeal : GRE. Graduate Record Examination
27. Wonderland trial evidence : TARTS. Carroll's not subtle indictment of our legal system.
28. Demean : ABASE.
29. __ Hall : SETON. A Catholic college in NJ named after the first American SAINT.
31. Cell with potential : OVUM. Eggsactly.
32. Chinese toy : PEKE. More China and no abbr.
33. Poet's "previously" : ERE.
34. Construction support : I BAR.
35. Close follower of Venus? : MILO. You all know the Venus de Milo and her lack of arms.
36. Some apartments : LOFTS.
37. On the facing pg. : OPPosite..
41. Citi Field player : MET.
42. "D'oh!" : I'M A JERK. I think of it more as "I am an idiot."
43. Interior construction specialist : TILER.
44. Napoleonic? : IN EXILE. A Friday thought.
48. Cribbage pieces : PEGS. That is how you count points and it is where I learned to how add by watching my father play the game.
50. Clinch the game, in slang : ICE IT.
51. Japan's answer to Rodeo Drive : GINZA. Alex, we will stay with Asia for $800.00. LINK.
52. Attacked : HAD AT.
53. Places to see presses : GYMS. Bench presses, military presses...
54. Academic : MOOT.
55. "Fantasia" hippo's garb : TUTU.
57. Certain collegian : SOPHomore. And of course the freshmen who fail or sopholess; derivation from Greek sophos "wise" + moros "foolish, dull"?
58. Athenian walkway : STOA. A covered walkway.
59. Get through work : EARN.
62. Otto __ Bismarck : VON. A very INFLUENTIAL figure.
63. Mercury is on its co. logo : FTD. As a Virgo this is a perfect image for me to exit. JW returned, made us work, made us smile. I must say 'bye for now-see you next week. Hope you enjoyed the ride. Lemonade out on winged feet.
