Theme: ROLL CALL
17. Soda debut of 2002: VANILLA COKE.
23. "Ain't Misbehavin'" Tony and Emmy winner: NELL CARTER.
38. Security guard Paul Blart, in a 2009 film title: MALL COP.
50. Judge's research aide: LEGAL CLERK.
61. Station identifiers, and a hint to each set of
circles: CALL LETTERS.
Perfect reveal phrase. The letters CALL are rearranged and span (spun?)
across two words.
Melissa here. I'm sure it was unintentional, but this grid was
full of references to the arts. Film, TV, stage, literature, music.
Across:
1. Capital of Morocco: RABAT.
Visiting Rabat.
6. Green military symbol: BERET.
11. Energy one might run out of: GAS. Nice.
14. Humiliate: ABASE. "To lower in rank, office, prestige, or esteem."
15. Napoleon on St. Helena, e.g.: EXILE.
16. Squeeze bunt stat: RBI. Runs Batted In.
19. Consume: EAT.
20. Cadillac's answer to the Navigator: ESCALADE. Luxury SUVs.
21. Table input: DATA.
22. Useless, now: SHOT.
27. Froze, with "up": ICED.
29. Foreign: ALIEN.
30. Harry Potter nemesis Malfoy: DRACO. Unusual for the 'good'
guy to have dark hair and the 'bad' guy to have blonde hair.
33. Fishing spot: PIER. Not LAKE or POND.
34. Wane: EBB.
37. Feel bad: AIL.
41. Anguish: WOE.
42. Holiday tuber: YAM.
43. Stratagem: PLOY.
44. Mork's leader on Ork: ORSON.
46. 1943 penny metal: STEEL.
48. Fuss: TODO.
53. West Point, briefly: USMA. United States Military Academy.
57. Way out: EXIT.
58. "Her résumé is clean and checks out": NO ISSUES.
60. Off-road transp.: ATV. All-terrain vehicle.
64. Historic start?: PRE. Prehistoric.
65. Tatum of "Paper Moon": ONEAL. The film starred real-life
father and daughter Ryan and Tatum O'Neal. Tatum holds the record for
the youngest actor to win an Oscar - Best Supporting Actress.
66. Send payment: REMIT.
67. Road crew's supply: TAR. Smells awful.
68. Rolls to the runway: TAXIS.
69. "Golden Boy" author Clifford: ODETS.
Play
that charts the swift rise of a gifted twenty-one-year-old violinist,
Joe Bonaparte, who is corrupted by fame and fortune when he chooses
to become a professional boxer.
Down:
1. Cast-pleasing reviews: RAVES. Another art reference.
2. Disconcert: ABASH. One letter different, and similar to
ABASE. "To destroy the self-possession or self-confidence of
(someone)."
3. Place to save in Sevilla: BANCO. Sevilla is a capital city
in Spain. Banco is Spanish for bank.
4. Like some elephants: ASIATIC.
5. Relate: TELL.
6. Adorned with tiny spheres: BEADED.
7. Get all A's: EXCEL.
8. Spain's Ebro, por ejemplo: RIO. More Spanish. Rio = River.
9. Lodge member: ELK.
10. Top with a slogan: TEE.
11. "That's wonderful to hear!": GREAT NEWS.
12. Wane: ABATE. ABASE, ABASH, and now ABATE.
13. Indian strings: SITAR.
18. HOV __: LANE.
21. "The Chronic" Dr.: DRE. His debut studio album.
24. Secular: LAIC.
25. Role for Liz: CLEO. Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra.
26. Apple earbud: AIRPOD.
28. Force: COMPEL.
30. Labor __: DAY.
31. Narrow waterway: RIA.
32. Charitable sort: ALMS GIVER.
33. Perform diligently: PLY. "Work with (a tool, especially one requiring steady, rhythmic
movements)." A tailor delicately plying his needle.
35. Sound meant to startle: BOO.
36. Big __: BEN. So beautiful.
39. d'Urberville rake murdered by Tess: ALEC. Book
and movie.
40. Laze about: LOLL.
45. Forced out of bed: ROUSTED.
47. Ankle art, often: TAT.
48. Internet troublemakers: TROLLS.
49. "The Grapes of Wrath" character: OKIE. Another movie
reference.
50. Jumped: LEAPT.
51. Face in the crowd, in film: EXTRA. Amazon Prime is
streaming a 2007 documentary called Strictly Background, about
extras.
52. Zhou who hosted Nixon: ENLAI. Nixon's 1972 visit to China.
54. "See if I care!": SUE ME.
55. Be worthy of: MERIT.
56. Aides: Abbr.: ASSTS.
59. Space City ALer: STRO. Short for a Houston Astro.
61. Foldable bed: COT.
62. "SNL" alum Gasteyer: ANA.
63. Evil Luthor: LEX. From Superman.
