Theme: Scrambling - the four theme entries contain scrambles of the word "EIGHT", as the reveal succinctly explains:
63A. Simple card game, and what's hidden in the answers to starred clues: CRAZY EIGHTS
17A. *Like power lines: HIGH-TENSION. There's some debate around whether living close to power lines is bad for your health. They can look pretty in the right setting though:
24A. *End an engagement?: GET HITCHED. The best way to end an engagement.
38A. *Teddy kin: NIGHTIE. I'm not sure I knew the difference between the two, but arduous research over an extended period of time on various lingerie websites reveal that a teddy combines a top and panties. The things I go through for this blog.
51A. *Feature items in some annual sales: WHITE GOODS. Refrigerators and the like, although sometimes used to describe linens.
I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle, it was quite a challenge. I didn't check my time, but I know it took longer than most Thursdays. I like having to slowly work through, unpicking as I go. The theme reveal definitely helped with a couple of the white spaces which were left. Some smart cluing, nothing in the fill I'd call a clunker, some nice longer entries - definitely an "A" today. One of my favorite puzzles of the year so far, Alan checked all the boxes. Let's see what else:
Across:
1. Grammy category word: ALBUM. Album of the Year at this year's Grammys - Golden Hour, Kacey Musgraves
6. "And here it is!": VOILA!
11. Pickup spot, perhaps: BAR
14. Take a break: PAUSE
15. "Return of the Jedi" forest moon: ENDOR. The moon Endor is forested, and the home of the Ewoks.
16. Fashion or sense preceder: IN A
19. Band booking: GIG
20. Conspiring (with): IN LEAGUE
21. Cake invitation Alice accepted: EAT ME. The grow-tall cupcakes.
23. Does, say: DEER. The noun, not the verb. I like these kinds of misdirections.
27. Alternative rock genre: EMO
29. "Come on in!": ENTER!
30. Any member of ABBA: SWEDE
33. What a birdie beats: PAR. Golf, one under par.
34. Aromatic herb: DILL
37. '90s game disc: POG
42. One of the fire signs: LEO
43. Pull a fast one on: FOOL
45. Served, as time: DID
46. Brilliance: ÉCLAT. From the French éclater - to burst out.
48. One-footer, e.g.: TAP-IN. I've seen them missed. I've missed one (at least!) myself.
50. Gray shade: ASH
55. World-weary words: AH ME!
59. Up: RISEN
60. Babe __, only woman in ESPN's Top 10 North American Athletes of the 20th Century: ZAHARIAS. Quite the athlete. She won gold at the 1932 Olympics in the 80-meter hurdles with a world-record time, and also won Javelin gold with an Olympic record throw. She won silver in the high jump with a world-record equaling effort. She then moved on to professional golf where she won 10 LPGA major championships, which ranks her 4th all-time.
62. Life-saving pro: E.M.T.
66. __-disant: self-styled: SOI. From the french. The French also use it in the "so-called" sense, e.g. a so-called improvement.
67. Ancient Aegean region: IONIA
68. "The Wreck of the Mary __": DEARE. I read the book by Hammond Innes when I was young and I was rapt - I went on to read quite a number of his novels. The movie is probably better-known. I love the tag line in the center of the poster, rather dates it!
69. Channel that airs many RKO films: TMC. Turner Classic Movies. The one above doubtless shows up from time to time.
70. __ closet: LINEN
71. John of "The Addams Family": ASTIN. He's also Sean Astin's father - Sean played Samwise Gamgee in "The Lord of the Rings" and Rudy in the eponymous movie of the Notre Dame football walk-on.
Down:
1. Agricultural pest: APHID
2. "Rawhide" singer: LAINE. Let's have us some Frankie.
3. Taps player: BUGLE
4. Brought (in): USHERED
5. Like a footnote that explains footnotes: META. The crosses filled this in for me. I'm sure some of you are familiar with "meta" crossword puzzles which feature a hidden (often very hidden) theme and unifier.
6. Locale: VENUE
7. Early stage: ONSET
8. Dictator played by Forest: IDI. Amin, as portayed by Whitaker.
9. Leicester toilet: LOO
10. Journalist Peter: ARNETT. The ex-CNN reporter was one of the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists for his Vietnam war reporting for the Associated Press. He, David Halberstam and Neil Sheehan were all contrarian members of the press corps who repeatedly questioned the official line.
11. Time of one's life: BIG THRILL
12. Cartoon genre: ANIME. It has a very distinct style.
13. Continued unabated: RAGED
18. "The one who makes it, takes it" breakfast brand: EGGO
22. Breezed through: ACED
25. Recipe verb: HEAT
26. Crucifix letters: INRI. From the Latin "Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum" - "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews".
28. Fellows: MEN
30. Beach letters: SPF. Sun-tan lotion's protection factor.
31. Try to attract: WOO
32. Lacking humility: EGOTISTIC
33. Third deg.?: PH.D. I like the clue, I think it was used recently if I recall correctly.
35. Verdant patch: LEA
36. Auction unit: LOT
39. "Gotcha!": I DIG!
40. Singer Vannelli: GINO. Canadian singer from the 70's & 80's. He had some big hair!
41. Some RIT grads: E.E.S. I'm guessing Electrical Engineers from Rochester Institute of Technology?
44. After-hours: LATE
47. Supplies power to: CHARGES
49. #2, for one: PENCIL. I know them as "HB" pencils from the European grading system.
50. '60s-'70s tennis great Arthur: ASHE
51. Extract forcibly: WREST
52. Bleachers sign: HI MOM!
53. David and Ricky's dad: OZZIE. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, as I'm sure you all know.
54. Israeli hero Moshe: DAYAN. "He would wake up with a hundred ideas. Of them ninety-five were dangerous; three more had to be rejected; the remaining two, however, were brilliant." Ariel Sharon
56. Drum kit part: HI-HAT
57. Motherly introduction?: MATRI-. Matriarch, for example.
58. German steel center: ESSEN. I learned this from school German classes. Our textbook Mr. Müller and his family lived in Essen. You never know when this stuff is going to come in handy.
61. Operatic princess: AIDA
64. Versailles monarch: ROI
65. Taylor of fashion: ANN
I didn't come across anything "terribble" this week, but then again, I didn't last week either, that was the problem!
Just let me double-check I've got the correct squares highlighted ...... yup, all's good .... and I'm done!
Steve
63A. Simple card game, and what's hidden in the answers to starred clues: CRAZY EIGHTS
24A. *End an engagement?: GET HITCHED. The best way to end an engagement.
38A. *Teddy kin: NIGHTIE. I'm not sure I knew the difference between the two, but arduous research over an extended period of time on various lingerie websites reveal that a teddy combines a top and panties. The things I go through for this blog.
51A. *Feature items in some annual sales: WHITE GOODS. Refrigerators and the like, although sometimes used to describe linens.
I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle, it was quite a challenge. I didn't check my time, but I know it took longer than most Thursdays. I like having to slowly work through, unpicking as I go. The theme reveal definitely helped with a couple of the white spaces which were left. Some smart cluing, nothing in the fill I'd call a clunker, some nice longer entries - definitely an "A" today. One of my favorite puzzles of the year so far, Alan checked all the boxes. Let's see what else:
Across:
1. Grammy category word: ALBUM. Album of the Year at this year's Grammys - Golden Hour, Kacey Musgraves
6. "And here it is!": VOILA!
11. Pickup spot, perhaps: BAR
14. Take a break: PAUSE
15. "Return of the Jedi" forest moon: ENDOR. The moon Endor is forested, and the home of the Ewoks.
16. Fashion or sense preceder: IN A
19. Band booking: GIG
20. Conspiring (with): IN LEAGUE
21. Cake invitation Alice accepted: EAT ME. The grow-tall cupcakes.
23. Does, say: DEER. The noun, not the verb. I like these kinds of misdirections.
27. Alternative rock genre: EMO
29. "Come on in!": ENTER!
30. Any member of ABBA: SWEDE
33. What a birdie beats: PAR. Golf, one under par.
34. Aromatic herb: DILL
37. '90s game disc: POG
42. One of the fire signs: LEO
43. Pull a fast one on: FOOL
45. Served, as time: DID
46. Brilliance: ÉCLAT. From the French éclater - to burst out.
48. One-footer, e.g.: TAP-IN. I've seen them missed. I've missed one (at least!) myself.
50. Gray shade: ASH
55. World-weary words: AH ME!
59. Up: RISEN
60. Babe __, only woman in ESPN's Top 10 North American Athletes of the 20th Century: ZAHARIAS. Quite the athlete. She won gold at the 1932 Olympics in the 80-meter hurdles with a world-record time, and also won Javelin gold with an Olympic record throw. She won silver in the high jump with a world-record equaling effort. She then moved on to professional golf where she won 10 LPGA major championships, which ranks her 4th all-time.
62. Life-saving pro: E.M.T.
66. __-disant: self-styled: SOI. From the french. The French also use it in the "so-called" sense, e.g. a so-called improvement.
67. Ancient Aegean region: IONIA
68. "The Wreck of the Mary __": DEARE. I read the book by Hammond Innes when I was young and I was rapt - I went on to read quite a number of his novels. The movie is probably better-known. I love the tag line in the center of the poster, rather dates it!
69. Channel that airs many RKO films: TMC. Turner Classic Movies. The one above doubtless shows up from time to time.
70. __ closet: LINEN
71. John of "The Addams Family": ASTIN. He's also Sean Astin's father - Sean played Samwise Gamgee in "The Lord of the Rings" and Rudy in the eponymous movie of the Notre Dame football walk-on.
Down:
1. Agricultural pest: APHID
2. "Rawhide" singer: LAINE. Let's have us some Frankie.
3. Taps player: BUGLE
4. Brought (in): USHERED
5. Like a footnote that explains footnotes: META. The crosses filled this in for me. I'm sure some of you are familiar with "meta" crossword puzzles which feature a hidden (often very hidden) theme and unifier.
6. Locale: VENUE
7. Early stage: ONSET
8. Dictator played by Forest: IDI. Amin, as portayed by Whitaker.
9. Leicester toilet: LOO
10. Journalist Peter: ARNETT. The ex-CNN reporter was one of the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists for his Vietnam war reporting for the Associated Press. He, David Halberstam and Neil Sheehan were all contrarian members of the press corps who repeatedly questioned the official line.
11. Time of one's life: BIG THRILL
12. Cartoon genre: ANIME. It has a very distinct style.
13. Continued unabated: RAGED
18. "The one who makes it, takes it" breakfast brand: EGGO
22. Breezed through: ACED
25. Recipe verb: HEAT
26. Crucifix letters: INRI. From the Latin "Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorum" - "Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews".
28. Fellows: MEN
30. Beach letters: SPF. Sun-tan lotion's protection factor.
31. Try to attract: WOO
32. Lacking humility: EGOTISTIC
33. Third deg.?: PH.D. I like the clue, I think it was used recently if I recall correctly.
35. Verdant patch: LEA
36. Auction unit: LOT
39. "Gotcha!": I DIG!
40. Singer Vannelli: GINO. Canadian singer from the 70's & 80's. He had some big hair!
41. Some RIT grads: E.E.S. I'm guessing Electrical Engineers from Rochester Institute of Technology?
44. After-hours: LATE
47. Supplies power to: CHARGES
49. #2, for one: PENCIL. I know them as "HB" pencils from the European grading system.
50. '60s-'70s tennis great Arthur: ASHE
51. Extract forcibly: WREST
52. Bleachers sign: HI MOM!
53. David and Ricky's dad: OZZIE. The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, as I'm sure you all know.
54. Israeli hero Moshe: DAYAN. "He would wake up with a hundred ideas. Of them ninety-five were dangerous; three more had to be rejected; the remaining two, however, were brilliant." Ariel Sharon
56. Drum kit part: HI-HAT
57. Motherly introduction?: MATRI-. Matriarch, for example.
58. German steel center: ESSEN. I learned this from school German classes. Our textbook Mr. Müller and his family lived in Essen. You never know when this stuff is going to come in handy.
61. Operatic princess: AIDA
64. Versailles monarch: ROI
65. Taylor of fashion: ANN
I didn't come across anything "terribble" this week, but then again, I didn't last week either, that was the problem!
Just let me double-check I've got the correct squares highlighted ...... yup, all's good .... and I'm done!
Steve
