Theme: Tyro Torrent - all the theme entries are novices in various guises:
28A. *Fresh face in a newsroom: CUB REPORTER. The opposite is "a grizzled newspaperman". Now there's a phrase. It was used to describe Chicago Herald-Examiner reporter Ben Hecht among others: "... he had already developed the crusty style of a grizzled newspaperman ..." A mark of respect.
58A. *Fresh face at online gaming: NOOB. Via "Newbie" and "Newcomer" we get to NOOB. Language evolution, folks, I love it. If you are an expert, you used to be "L33T", as in "elite", but I'm sure that has gone the way of the dodo now.
59A. *With 60-Across, fresh face at a dojo: WHITE paired with ...
60A. *See 59-Across: BELT
3D. *Fresh face at boot camp: RAW RECRUIT. Don't mess with your Drill Sergeant.
11D. *Fresh face in the Boy Scouts: TENDERFOOT
51A. Error the answers to starred clues might make: ROOKIE MISTAKE
One thing to note right off the bat is that the symmetry of this puzzle is not "normal", meaning left-right and top-bottom, it is "mirror" symmetry, in this case left-right. This is often done to accommodate an attractive theme that can't be placed in a normal grid, I'm guessing this is the case with this one from C.C. (I could go ask her, but I'm taking a wild stab in the dark).
Another example of when you might see this variation is when there is a pattern or picture depicted in the white/black squares, but unless we've got a four-legged Space Invader/Pokémon hybrid I don't think that's the case here!
Let's see what else jumps out:
Across:
1. Passé saver of fave programs: VCR
4. Energized: AMPED UP
11. Sales add-on: TAX
14. Parseghian of Notre Dame: ARA. "The era of Ara" - Notre Dame football from 1964 to 1974, rescuing the program from mediocrity and winning national championships in 1966 and 1973. You wouldn't want to get this look from him:
15. "Alas, it's true": I FEAR SO. I had a few goes at this one, ended up correctly, eventually.
16. Juan Perón's wife: EVA. Don't Cry for Me, Argentina.
17. Level the playing field?: MOW. When I went to watch Chelsea FC play in London in the 80's, the appearance of the ride-on mower pre-game to give the pitch a final trim would be accompanied by this ditty, sung from the terrraces, as he drove, Zamboni-like, up and down the pitch:
"One man went to mow, went to mow a meadow.
One man and his dog (Spot), went to mow a meadow.
Two men went to mow, went to mow a meadow
Two men, one man and his dog (Spot), went to mow a meadow.
Three men went to mow, went to mow a meadow
Three men, two men, one man and his dog (Spot) went to mow a meadow.
Four men went to mow ...."
You get the idea. Amused us greatly at the time. I think the slowest mowing was something like "86 men went to mow ....."
And an excuse for a shameless Chelsea fan link!
18. Was felt very strongly: RAN DEEP
19. Say no to: NIX
20. Medicare section: PART B
22. Big name in shoe stores: DSW. Confession - I was Natick'ed again, two weeks in a row, with this one. The "W" got me.
23. "Same here": AS DO I. ME TOO didn't work. SO DO I didn't work. Eventually got the right letter combo.
25. Camper's heater: STERNO
27. Links targets: GREENS
32. ORD airport postings: ARRS. Arrivals at Orchard Field, now better known as Chicago O'Hare. One of my favorite airports for a layover, it's just a really nice space.
34. Get hitched on the run: ELOPE
35. Giant in nonstick sauté pans: T-FAL. My non-stick skillet is cast iron. Works a treat, but it gives the biceps a workout.
38. Big oafs: LOUTS
40. Saw: MET
41. Galaxy, e.g.: PHONE. Very nice, took me a while to see this one.
42. Practice frugality: SKIMP
43. Tense NFL periods: O.T.'S
44. "Bleeding Love" singer Lewis: LEONA. Thank you, crosses. Close to another Natick here. See 41D
45. Beat in a pie contest, say: OUT-EAT. Don't go up against Joey Chestnut. It's not just Nathan's hot dogs that he likes.
47. Booted out: OUSTED
48. Turncoat: RAT
50. Cable network since 1972: HBO. I tried HSN. Was wrong.
62. "Try again": NOPE
63. Zeus' shield: AEGIS. I knew it! Woo Hoo crosswords!
64. Bike signal: BELL
65. Website for handmade jewelry: ETSY
66. Egg holders: NESTS
67. "Match Game" host Baldwin: ALEC
Down:
1. Improvises, in jazz: VAMPS
2. Dubrovnik resident: CROAT
4. Site with many home pages?: AIRBNB. Lovely clue. I started using AirBnB this past year for weekend trips. No complaints at all, some lovely accommodations
5. CalArts degree: M.F.A.
6. Await a decision: PEND
7. George of "MacGyver": EADS
8. Picked from the deck: DREW
9. Find a place for: USE
10. Keith Haring genre: POP ART. We had Op-Art last week. What's next week - Impressionism? I'm taking bets.
12. French postcard word: AVION. "Par Avion" - or Air Mail.
13. Graph line: X-AXIS
21. "I wouldn't lie": TRUST ME
24. Is really boiling: SEETHES
26. Mining find: ORE
27. Hurdle for a future Ph.D.: G.R.E. Or the Graduate Record Examinations test to give it a long name.
29. Red Muppet: ELMO. Ticklish chap.
30. Frost, e.g.: POET
31. Goes (for): OPTS
32. Too: ALSO
33. Amazon Fire TV Stick alternative: ROKU
36. Hathaway of "Ocean's 8": ANNE
37. Take charge of: LEAD
39. __ plug: SPARK
41. Plum-apricot hybrid: PLUOT. I'm sure it's a thing, I've just never seen one, nor, to my knowledge eaten one, cooked with one or written one down.
46. Where bubble tea originated: TAIWAN. AKA boba tea. The upcoming ban on plastic straws here in California is causing some consternation. Now what?
47. Persistently haunt: OBSESS
49. Little laugh: TEHEE. Not sure how to punctuate this. I guess I'll leave it alone.
50. "Start the music!": HIT IT!
51. Carrot or turnip: ROOT. I cooked roasted parsnips on Sunday with a roast chicken. Kind of a carrot-turnip hybrid root. I love the caramelized sugars when you roast root vegetables.
52. "My bad": OOPS
53. Follow orders: OBEY
54. "Top Gun" enemy planes: MIGS
55. "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" group: ABBA. Late in the day, but here's a music link. ABBA were great listening to when I was a teen. Perfect pop music. Of course, we were all too cool for school to admit it.
56. Ship's backbone: KEEL
57. Glamour rival: ELLE
58. Mobile-to-Knoxville dir.: N.N.E.
61. Dr. Mom's skill: T.L.C.
A couple of abbreviations to wrap things up, and with a background of ABBA - Mama Mia! Here's the grid:
Steve
28A. *Fresh face in a newsroom: CUB REPORTER. The opposite is "a grizzled newspaperman". Now there's a phrase. It was used to describe Chicago Herald-Examiner reporter Ben Hecht among others: "... he had already developed the crusty style of a grizzled newspaperman ..." A mark of respect.
58A. *Fresh face at online gaming: NOOB. Via "Newbie" and "Newcomer" we get to NOOB. Language evolution, folks, I love it. If you are an expert, you used to be "L33T", as in "elite", but I'm sure that has gone the way of the dodo now.
59A. *With 60-Across, fresh face at a dojo: WHITE paired with ...
60A. *See 59-Across: BELT
3D. *Fresh face at boot camp: RAW RECRUIT. Don't mess with your Drill Sergeant.
11D. *Fresh face in the Boy Scouts: TENDERFOOT
51A. Error the answers to starred clues might make: ROOKIE MISTAKE
One thing to note right off the bat is that the symmetry of this puzzle is not "normal", meaning left-right and top-bottom, it is "mirror" symmetry, in this case left-right. This is often done to accommodate an attractive theme that can't be placed in a normal grid, I'm guessing this is the case with this one from C.C. (I could go ask her, but I'm taking a wild stab in the dark).
Another example of when you might see this variation is when there is a pattern or picture depicted in the white/black squares, but unless we've got a four-legged Space Invader/Pokémon hybrid I don't think that's the case here!
Let's see what else jumps out:
1. Passé saver of fave programs: VCR
4. Energized: AMPED UP
11. Sales add-on: TAX
14. Parseghian of Notre Dame: ARA. "The era of Ara" - Notre Dame football from 1964 to 1974, rescuing the program from mediocrity and winning national championships in 1966 and 1973. You wouldn't want to get this look from him:
15. "Alas, it's true": I FEAR SO. I had a few goes at this one, ended up correctly, eventually.
16. Juan Perón's wife: EVA. Don't Cry for Me, Argentina.
17. Level the playing field?: MOW. When I went to watch Chelsea FC play in London in the 80's, the appearance of the ride-on mower pre-game to give the pitch a final trim would be accompanied by this ditty, sung from the terrraces, as he drove, Zamboni-like, up and down the pitch:
"One man went to mow, went to mow a meadow.
One man and his dog (Spot), went to mow a meadow.
Two men went to mow, went to mow a meadow
Two men, one man and his dog (Spot), went to mow a meadow.
Three men went to mow, went to mow a meadow
Three men, two men, one man and his dog (Spot) went to mow a meadow.
Four men went to mow ...."
You get the idea. Amused us greatly at the time. I think the slowest mowing was something like "86 men went to mow ....."
And an excuse for a shameless Chelsea fan link!
18. Was felt very strongly: RAN DEEP
19. Say no to: NIX
20. Medicare section: PART B
22. Big name in shoe stores: DSW. Confession - I was Natick'ed again, two weeks in a row, with this one. The "W" got me.
23. "Same here": AS DO I. ME TOO didn't work. SO DO I didn't work. Eventually got the right letter combo.
25. Camper's heater: STERNO
27. Links targets: GREENS
32. ORD airport postings: ARRS. Arrivals at Orchard Field, now better known as Chicago O'Hare. One of my favorite airports for a layover, it's just a really nice space.
34. Get hitched on the run: ELOPE
35. Giant in nonstick sauté pans: T-FAL. My non-stick skillet is cast iron. Works a treat, but it gives the biceps a workout.
38. Big oafs: LOUTS
40. Saw: MET
41. Galaxy, e.g.: PHONE. Very nice, took me a while to see this one.
42. Practice frugality: SKIMP
43. Tense NFL periods: O.T.'S
44. "Bleeding Love" singer Lewis: LEONA. Thank you, crosses. Close to another Natick here. See 41D
45. Beat in a pie contest, say: OUT-EAT. Don't go up against Joey Chestnut. It's not just Nathan's hot dogs that he likes.
47. Booted out: OUSTED
48. Turncoat: RAT
50. Cable network since 1972: HBO. I tried HSN. Was wrong.
62. "Try again": NOPE
63. Zeus' shield: AEGIS. I knew it! Woo Hoo crosswords!
64. Bike signal: BELL
65. Website for handmade jewelry: ETSY
66. Egg holders: NESTS
67. "Match Game" host Baldwin: ALEC
Down:
1. Improvises, in jazz: VAMPS
2. Dubrovnik resident: CROAT
4. Site with many home pages?: AIRBNB. Lovely clue. I started using AirBnB this past year for weekend trips. No complaints at all, some lovely accommodations
5. CalArts degree: M.F.A.
6. Await a decision: PEND
7. George of "MacGyver": EADS
8. Picked from the deck: DREW
9. Find a place for: USE
10. Keith Haring genre: POP ART. We had Op-Art last week. What's next week - Impressionism? I'm taking bets.
12. French postcard word: AVION. "Par Avion" - or Air Mail.
13. Graph line: X-AXIS
21. "I wouldn't lie": TRUST ME
24. Is really boiling: SEETHES
26. Mining find: ORE
27. Hurdle for a future Ph.D.: G.R.E. Or the Graduate Record Examinations test to give it a long name.
29. Red Muppet: ELMO. Ticklish chap.
30. Frost, e.g.: POET
31. Goes (for): OPTS
32. Too: ALSO
33. Amazon Fire TV Stick alternative: ROKU
36. Hathaway of "Ocean's 8": ANNE
37. Take charge of: LEAD
39. __ plug: SPARK
41. Plum-apricot hybrid: PLUOT. I'm sure it's a thing, I've just never seen one, nor, to my knowledge eaten one, cooked with one or written one down.
46. Where bubble tea originated: TAIWAN. AKA boba tea. The upcoming ban on plastic straws here in California is causing some consternation. Now what?
47. Persistently haunt: OBSESS
49. Little laugh: TEHEE. Not sure how to punctuate this. I guess I'll leave it alone.
50. "Start the music!": HIT IT!
51. Carrot or turnip: ROOT. I cooked roasted parsnips on Sunday with a roast chicken. Kind of a carrot-turnip hybrid root. I love the caramelized sugars when you roast root vegetables.
52. "My bad": OOPS
53. Follow orders: OBEY
54. "Top Gun" enemy planes: MIGS
55. "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" group: ABBA. Late in the day, but here's a music link. ABBA were great listening to when I was a teen. Perfect pop music. Of course, we were all too cool for school to admit it.
56. Ship's backbone: KEEL
57. Glamour rival: ELLE
58. Mobile-to-Knoxville dir.: N.N.E.
61. Dr. Mom's skill: T.L.C.
A couple of abbreviations to wrap things up, and with a background of ABBA - Mama Mia! Here's the grid:
Steve
