Theme: "Two for One"- The first word in each original theme entry is split into homophonic two parts, changing spelling as needed.
23A. Athlete Jackson discusses immunization options? : BO TALKS INJECTIONS. Botox injections. Bo Jackson.
36A. Spring spelling event could face cancellation? : MAY BEE MAYBE NOT. Maybe maybe not.
71A. Seaman's complete canvas expense? : WHOLE SAIL COST. Wholesale cost.
103A. "2 + 2 = 5" problem? : SUM THINGS WRONG. Something's wrong.
122A. Writer anticipates a vacation? : AUTHOR EYES TIME OFF. Authorized time off.
16D. Situation when a frat room is empty? : NO BUDDY HOME. Nobody home.
70D. Average salary on a Detroit team? : PAY PER TIGER. Paper tiger.
Did you all grok the theme immediately? I need Santa's help to fully understand the gimmick.
This is the type of theme only a master wordsmith can dream of and execute. I'm in awe.
Across:
1. "Don't panic" : BE CALM!
7. Lincoln who was the first screen adult Tarzan : ELMO. Silent movies. We also have 75. Tarzan player Ron : ELY. This ELMO is a stranger to me.
11. Adlai's 1956 running mate : ESTES (Kefauver)
16. Japanese theater form : NOH
19. Astronomy Muse : URANIA
20. "King __" : LEAR
21. Lacking company : ALONE
22. "What have we here?!" : OHO
26. Put an end to : BAN
27. Bit of porch furniture, perhaps : SETTEE. TTP/D-Otto/Splynter could build this screened-in porch. Who else are carpenters on our blog?
28. Beauty pageant band : SASH
29. Cruise purpose : PLEASURE. Never been on a cruise. You?
31. Seville : Sra. :: Seattle : __ : MRS. Alliteration in the clues.
33. Wee amount : TAD
35. Quick, as service : SAME DAY
44. __ Sea : DEAD. Not our regular ARAL.
45. Rotting results : ODORS
46. General Bradley : OMAR
47. Writer Bagnold : ENID
49. Places with courts : GYMS. Not judicial.
52. NBA nickname since the '70s : MAGIC. Oh, Magic Johnson.
53. Actress Gaye of "Ali" : NONA. No idea. Daughter of Marvin Gaye.
54. Former Renault : LE CAR
56. "Could be trouble" : UH OH
57. Forgers of a sort : SMITHS. Not art forgers.
59. Roof rack items : SKIS
61. Basic French infinitive : ETRE
62. Greiner of "Shark Tank" : LORI. Another stranger to me.
63. Brief moments : SECs
65. Denver-to-Omaha dir. : ENE
66. What "it takes," at the start of many macho mantras : A REAL MAN. The A makes it a long partial to me.
68. Nile biter : ASP
76. How rural areas are populated : SPARSELY
78. "More than I wanted to know" : TMI
79. Garden invader : WEED
81. Actor Diggs : TAYE. He was married to Idina Menzel for a long time.
82. Rover's turf : MARS
84. Chooses : OPTS
86. Checked (out) : SCOPED
90. Dadaist collection : ARPS. Not ARTS.
91. Clapton et al. : ERICs
93. Offer of help : I CAN
95. Rodeo accessory : REATA
96. Borscht veggie : BEET. In the huge basket of goodies Agnes sent to me, there's a bag of Veggie Chips. They're actually potato flour with spinach and beet powder. So good.
97. Phobia beginning : ACRO. Acrophobia.
98. Islamic branch : SHIA
99. Bean in Hollywood : ORSON
100. "Friends" friend : ROSS (Geller). Monica's goofy brother.
106. Draw : ATTRACT
109. CEO's credential : MBA
110. LAX inspection org. : TSA
111. Like serious errors : GRIEVOUS
113. Pizazz : ELAN
116. Slowly : ADAGIO
121. Tease : RAG
23A. Athlete Jackson discusses immunization options? : BO TALKS INJECTIONS. Botox injections. Bo Jackson.
36A. Spring spelling event could face cancellation? : MAY BEE MAYBE NOT. Maybe maybe not.
71A. Seaman's complete canvas expense? : WHOLE SAIL COST. Wholesale cost.
103A. "2 + 2 = 5" problem? : SUM THINGS WRONG. Something's wrong.
122A. Writer anticipates a vacation? : AUTHOR EYES TIME OFF. Authorized time off.
16D. Situation when a frat room is empty? : NO BUDDY HOME. Nobody home.
70D. Average salary on a Detroit team? : PAY PER TIGER. Paper tiger.
Did you all grok the theme immediately? I need Santa's help to fully understand the gimmick.
This is the type of theme only a master wordsmith can dream of and execute. I'm in awe.
Across:
1. "Don't panic" : BE CALM!
7. Lincoln who was the first screen adult Tarzan : ELMO. Silent movies. We also have 75. Tarzan player Ron : ELY. This ELMO is a stranger to me.
11. Adlai's 1956 running mate : ESTES (Kefauver)
16. Japanese theater form : NOH
19. Astronomy Muse : URANIA
20. "King __" : LEAR
21. Lacking company : ALONE
22. "What have we here?!" : OHO
26. Put an end to : BAN
27. Bit of porch furniture, perhaps : SETTEE. TTP/D-Otto/Splynter could build this screened-in porch. Who else are carpenters on our blog?
28. Beauty pageant band : SASH
29. Cruise purpose : PLEASURE. Never been on a cruise. You?
31. Seville : Sra. :: Seattle : __ : MRS. Alliteration in the clues.
33. Wee amount : TAD
35. Quick, as service : SAME DAY
44. __ Sea : DEAD. Not our regular ARAL.
45. Rotting results : ODORS
46. General Bradley : OMAR
47. Writer Bagnold : ENID
49. Places with courts : GYMS. Not judicial.
52. NBA nickname since the '70s : MAGIC. Oh, Magic Johnson.
53. Actress Gaye of "Ali" : NONA. No idea. Daughter of Marvin Gaye.
54. Former Renault : LE CAR
56. "Could be trouble" : UH OH
57. Forgers of a sort : SMITHS. Not art forgers.
59. Roof rack items : SKIS
61. Basic French infinitive : ETRE
62. Greiner of "Shark Tank" : LORI. Another stranger to me.
63. Brief moments : SECs
65. Denver-to-Omaha dir. : ENE
66. What "it takes," at the start of many macho mantras : A REAL MAN. The A makes it a long partial to me.
68. Nile biter : ASP
76. How rural areas are populated : SPARSELY
78. "More than I wanted to know" : TMI
79. Garden invader : WEED
81. Actor Diggs : TAYE. He was married to Idina Menzel for a long time.
82. Rover's turf : MARS
84. Chooses : OPTS
86. Checked (out) : SCOPED
90. Dadaist collection : ARPS. Not ARTS.
91. Clapton et al. : ERICs
93. Offer of help : I CAN
95. Rodeo accessory : REATA
96. Borscht veggie : BEET. In the huge basket of goodies Agnes sent to me, there's a bag of Veggie Chips. They're actually potato flour with spinach and beet powder. So good.
97. Phobia beginning : ACRO. Acrophobia.
98. Islamic branch : SHIA
99. Bean in Hollywood : ORSON
100. "Friends" friend : ROSS (Geller). Monica's goofy brother.
106. Draw : ATTRACT
109. CEO's credential : MBA
110. LAX inspection org. : TSA
111. Like serious errors : GRIEVOUS
113. Pizazz : ELAN
116. Slowly : ADAGIO
121. Tease : RAG
126. Key for Debussy? : ILE. Last time is "Key for Ravel?".
127. Thin porridge : GRUEL. My grandma always prepared us millet or cornmeal gruel for breakfast. We had it with steamed bread, leftover veggies or pickled veggies. No eggs.
128. Approval indicator : SEAL
129. Aerial mission : SORTIE
130. Two above an eagle : PAR
131. Lamb piece : ESSAY. Nailed it. Charles Lamb.
132. Spot : ESPY
133. Fighting ender : TREATY
Down:
1. Pal : BUB
2. Cupid, to Plato : EROS. And 117. 2-Down, to Cato : AMOR
3. Actress Blanchett : CATE
4. Med school subj. : ANAT
5. Easy rhythm : LILT
6. Arms-folded response : MAKE ME
7. Brother of Peyton : ELI
8. Camera component : LENS
9. Subject of clothed and nude Goya portraits : MAJA
10. Handel opera written in Italian : ORESTE. I only know Orestes.
11. Absorb, as a loss : EAT
12. Unintended revelation : SLIP
13. Kit set : TOOLS
14. Set of nine : ENNEAD
15. Bun choice : SESAME. Always have toasted sesame in our cupboard.
17. Tara surname : O'HARA
18. Darling : HONEY
24. Weekly inspiration for many : SERMON. Nice clue.
25. No. 5 maker : CHANEL
30. Shore squawker : SEAGULL
32. Island birthplace of Pythagoras : SAMOS. See this map. Off the coast of Turkey.
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34. Gift recipient : DONEE. Do you actually use this word?
36. Grandmas, earlier : MOMs. OK, earlier.
37. Podcaster Carolla : ADAM. Know him, though I'm not subscribed to his podcast.
38. "Pic-a-nic" basket-seeking toon, familiarly : YOGI
39. The Beatles, e.g. : BRITS
40. Avoids like the plague : ESCHEWS
41. Pinstripes wearer : YANKEE
42. Smarts : BRAINS
43. Certs competitor : TIC TAC
48. 1925 Bryan foe : DARROW (Clarence). Got me. William Jennings Bryan, who was opposed to opposed Darwinism, according to Wiki.
50. Aesopian ending : MORAL
51. Reflective : SHINY
55. Big name in candy : REESE'S. Boomer went to a big Christmas party two weeks ago. He said the beef melted in his mouth, the dessert table was amazing and "I only took a piece of cake and two cookies"
58. Plot : SCHEME
60. Defense gp. dissolved in 1977 : SEATO
64. Toyota Camry model : SOLARA
67. Was humbled : ATE CROW
68. Take __ at : A STAB
69. Success on the second roll : SPARE. Bowling.
72. Ira Gershwin's forte : LYRICS
73. Mischievous : IMPISH. Hi there Spitzboov.
74. Chinese evergreen : LITCHI. My favorite fruit ever. In Guangzhou, you can find them cheap at the fruit stands in June/July.
77. Bring back to a former state : RESTORE
80. Anthony __, Pulitzer winner for "All the Light We Cannot See" : DOERR. Never heard of the author or the book.
83. Rugby action : SCRUM. Like this.
85. Leslie Charteris hero, with "The" : SAINT. Also an unknown to me.
87. El __, Texas : PASO
88. Harrow competitor : ETON
89. Mild oath : DANG
92. Gloomy : SOMBER
94. Bugs : NAGS AT
101. Brutal : SAVAGE
102. Searches all over : SCOURS
104. "Unto the Sons" memoirist : TALESE (Gay)
105. Word derived from a marquis : SADIST. Marquis de Sade.
106. "Get __!": "Control yourself!" : A GRIP
107. Refrain syllables : TRA LA
108. Ballet outfits : TUTUS
112. Where the Mets played : SHEA. Before Citi Field.
114. Motion passers : AYES
115. Tide type : NEAP
118. "Chicago" star : GERE
119. Meager amount : IOTA
120. "What __?" : OF IT
123. Beer originally brewed near a Northwest capital, briefly : OLY. Googled afterwards: Olympia Beer.
124. Foxy : SLY
125. Poehler "Weekend Update" co-host on "SNL" : FEY
