Theme: "Elimination"- EL is removed from each theme entry.
40A. What a generous mechanic might do after a wreck?: THROW IN THE TOW. Throw in the towel.
50A. David or Saul?: JEW IN THE CROWN. Jewel in the crown.
68A. Request to the local marriage oath writer?: CAN I BUY A VOW. Can I buy a vowel?
89A. Variety headline for director Lee's U.S. debut?: ANG'S IN AMERICA. Angels in America.
97A. Magician's tote?: EVERYTHING BAG. Everything bagel. Should have avoided BAGEL CHIP (63D. Crunchy snack)
118A. Talks about woks?: PAN DISCUSSIONS. Panel discussions.
I wonder if Ross's original title was "Noel", which describes the gimmick better.
EL is removed from the end of each key word, so very consistent. Ross is also known for his long sparkling fill. Today's grid is a great example. Lots of nice Downs, including a few never-been-seen debut entries.
EL is removed from the end of each key word, so very consistent. Ross is also known for his long sparkling fill. Today's grid is a great example. Lots of nice Downs, including a few never-been-seen debut entries.
Across:
1. __ vu: DEJA.
5. Command from Kirk: BEAM ME UP.
13. Drink word for "strained": COLADA. "Pina colada" means "strained pineapple".
19. [Sigh]: ALAS.
20. Unsuccessful competitors: ALSO-RANS.
21. One-footed creature: UNIPED. Like what?
25. Spiced up: ZESTED.
26. Sign of contempt: SNEER.
27. In a lab, it's often white: RAT.
28. "Yesterday!": STAT.
30. Cart count: ITEMS. Do you prefer Walmart or Target?
31. Pop by: STOP IN.
33. Org. with quarantine authority: CDC.
35. Western alliances: POSSES. I was thinking of NATO-style alliances.
37. How the satisfied stand: PAT.
39. "Psych!": NOT.
44. Indistinct mass: BLOB.
46. Deck-enclosing option: SCREEN.
48. Brainchild: IDEA.
49. Mani-pedi locale: SPA.
53. "Sunday Morning" channel: CBS.
55. __-de-sac: CUL.
56. Felt: SENSED.
57. Greek X: CHI.
58. Jolly syllables: HO HO. Dear Spitzboov and Santa, who loved the blooming onion. So glad they met.
60. Words of defeat: I LOST.
62. Chipotle alternative: QDOBA.
64. Kind of artery: RENAL.
65. DNC chair Tom: PEREZ. He beat the then Minnesota congressman Keith Ellison for the position. Ellison (right) is now our Attorney General.
66. Pittance: SOU.
72. Some dishwashers: GES. Ours is Samsung. We do have have a GE stove. The "Burner On" glitch is annoying.
73. Gap rival: J CREW.
75. Memoir, for one: GENRE.
76. Odist's inspiration: ERATO.
78. Rib: TEASE.
79. Best Female Athlete, e.g.: ESPY.
80. Eur. country in the Olympics since 1992: CRO. Croatia.
82. Dulles alternative: REAGAN.
86. Place to stay: INN.
87. Business card no.: TEL.
92. Calf spot: LEG.
93. With 66-Down, when Lady Macbeth says, "Leave all the rest to me": ACT I. 66. See 93-Across: SCENE V.
95. Nonprofit reporting app: AP NEWS.
96. Coal carrier: TRAM.
101. Clancy's "The __ of All Fears": SUM.
103. More-than-stretchy statement: LIE.
104. "The Yodeling Cowgirl" in "Toy Story" films: JESSIE.
105. Novelist Rand: AYN.
106. Rodeo contestants, at times: ROPERS.
108. Quiet order: SHUSH.
110. Run smoothly: PURR.
112. It's dropped for emphasis: MIC.
113. Implied: TACIT.
116. Pioneer 35mm cameras: LEICAS.
122. Shmoo creator: AL CAPP. Nice to have his full name. We see CAPP often.
123. Tapered cigar: PERFECTO.
124. __ Brasi, "The Godfather" enforcer: LUCA.
125. Frank: WIENER.
126. Regular guys?: STEADIES. Nice clue.
127. Headliner: STAR.
Down:
1. Some diaper changers: DADS.
2. Panache: ELAN.
3. 1607 settlement: JAMESTOWN.
4. Selling point: ASSET.
5. Abolish: BAN.
6. Spooky: ELDRITCH. Never heard of word. Looks like Tiger's real name.
7. Like about 25% of Russia's population: ASIAN.
8. Part of MVP: MOST.
9. "The A-Team" muscle: MR T.
10. Singer's skill: EAR.
11. World Heritage Site org.: UNESCO. Italy is the leader with 54 sites. China has 53, one of them is in my hometown.
12. Subtle "Over here!": PSST.
13. Member of the fam: CUZ.
14. Flexible lunch hour: ONEISH.
15. Directory name: LISTEE.
16. College Bd. result using a 1-to-5 scale: AP TEST SCORE. Also 61. Creations with colorful blocks: LEGO ART.91. "Oh, that's adorable!": AW SO CUTE. All debut entries. Lovely.
17. Consider: DEEM.
18. Throws in: ADDS.
23. Golfer's wedge, e.g.: IRON. Most of Boomer's clubs are hybrids.
24. Delicious: SAPID.
29. Musical timbre: TONE COLOR.
32. Ph.D.'s next hurdle: POSTDOC
33. French sweetie: CHERI.
34. Crab Key villain: DR NO. Google shows that "Crab Key is a fictional island off the coast of Jamaica that served as the stronghold of Dr. Julius No."
36. Wild attempt: STAB.
37. Lunchbox staples, initially: PBJS. Standard Chinese lunch box. Lots of plain rice. Paleo diets won't work for me.
38. Protected while sailing: ALEE.
40. Silicon Valley field: TECH.
41. Ryder of "Stranger Things": WINONA.
42. Works: OPUSES.
43. Chopin work: WALTZ.
45. Creamy soups: BISQUES. This looks delicious.
47. Mends, as a rattan chair: RE-CANES.
51. Stark in "Game of Thrones": NED.
52. Muffet fare: WHEY.
54. Nurse: SIP.
59. "Try it": HAVE ONE.
64. Regret: RUE.
67. Breakfast staple: ORANGE JUICE. 11-letter non-theme entry!
69. Hurting: IN PAIN.
70. __ Mawr College: BRYN.
71. Gets ready to play: WARMS UP.
73. Scrabble 8-pointer: J TILE. What's the score of your name? Try here. I (Zhouqin Burnikel) probably beat most of the regulars on our blog.
74. Rainy: WET.
77. Driving aid: TEE.
80. It covers the House: C SPAN.
81. Encircle: RING.
83. Thin Mints seller: GIRL SCOUT. This cookie selling is very American.
84. Trendy berry: ACAI.
85. Finger: NAME.
88. Has: EATS.
90. "Girls" Emmy nominee Hoffmann: GABY. Unknown to me.
94. Make a mess of, as traffic: TIE UP.
98. Swipe again?: RE-SCAN.
99. Slingshot feature: Y SHAPE.
100. January birthstone: GARNET.
102. Queens squad: METS.
106. 2014 Lizzie Borden portrayer Christina: RICCI.
107. Flight safety equipment?: RAILS. What a great mislead.
108. Crunchy side: SLAW.
109. Port opener: HELI.
111. See 119-Down: RAPS. 119. Dr. who 111-Down: DRE.
112. Advanced teaching deg.: MSED.
114. Machu Picchu denizen: INCA. Hahtoolah was there. She and Kazie are globe-trotters. JD too.
115. Peter the Great, e.g.: TSAR.
117. Mar. arrival, in theory: SPR.
120. "__ tree falls ... ": IF A.
121. USCG reception: SOS.
I
heard from Dudley a few days ago. He said he gave up doing the puzzle
in March when Cruciverb had a prolonged glitch and he had not returned
since. Dudley told me "I'm actually kind of surprised that, after 20
years of the LAT and about 10 years at the Corner, I don’t miss puzzle
solving."
I'm glad his absence is not health-related. I do hope he continues to solve the puzzles and visits us from time to time.
C.C.
