64. Watcher ... and homophone of a letter that appears exactly once in every clue and all but two answers: EYE.
It's rare to see something new in a puzzle and/or theme - but here's one I haven't seen before. The only two answers without an I are 40A CYCLOPS and the reveal at 64D EYE. See?
Melissa here. A total of 39 I's in the grid. And one I in every clue, too - wow! This appears to be a debut for the team of Dave Tabor and Laura Moll. Ironic that neither of their names contain an I. There are also a handful of multi-word answers which are fun and an added challenge. I hope we see more from Dave and Laura.
Across:
1. Little __ Muffet: MISS.
5. Roger Bannister, famously: MILER. Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister was an English
middle-distance athlete and neurologist who ran the first sub-4-minute
mile.
At the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Bannister set a British record in the
1500 metres and finished in fourth place. "The Bannister Effect" is the phenomenon of one person showing others that it can be done and, thus, prompting others to believe and achieve.
10. Speaker in Cooperstown: TRIS. Tris Speaker (1888-1958) hit a Major League record 792 doubles; he also had 3,514 hits and holds the record for outfielders in assists & double plays.
14. Elvis or Coca-Cola: ICON. That was pretty tricky.
15. "The L Word" co-creator Chaiken: ILENE. Showtime series.
16. Whisper: HINT.
17. Interstate hauler: SEMI.
18. Ad prizes: CLIOS.
19. Dramatic opener: ACT I. Nice clue.
20. Adagio and allegro: TEMPI. Plural of tempo. In musical terminology, tempo is the speed or pace of a given piece.
22. Leave the city to evade arrest: SKIP TOWN. Another tricky clue.
24. Like some tanks: SEPTIC.
27. Where the old woman lived: IN A SHOE.
28. Permits to enter: LETS IN. So sneaky these clues! Permits is verb, not noun here.
30. Title of respect: SRI. Polite form of address in India. It is also commonly used as a title of respect within the yoga community.
31. Exec, slangily: SUIT.
33. Schoolmarmish: PRIM.
35. List to-dos: ITEMS. Even in this age of technology, I still tend to write to-do's on paper. Then I lose them.
39. Intense anger: IRE.
40. It has just one 64-Down: CYCLOPS. In Greek mythology and later Roman mythology, the Cyclopes are giant one-eyed creatures.
42. Shapiro of NPR: ARI.
43. Delivery, as of a baby: BIRTH.
45. Inter __: ALIA. Latin, meaning "among other things." Used in legal pleadings and writings to specify one example out of many possibilities. In general terms, the phrase is used to say that there are other things involved apart from those that are mentioned.
46. Recipe word: STIR.
47. Relieved (of): RID.
49. Comes to light: ARISES.
51. Secret fraternity member: SHRINER. Masonic society established in 1870 and headquartered in Tampa, Florida.
55. Party or wild follower: ANIMAL.
57. Bit of encouragement: KEEP AT IT. Don't give up!
59. Vinyl-covered, as a floor: TILED. Tough clue - I usually think of tile as ceramic.
61. Worldwide: Abbr.: INTL. International.
62. Absinthe flavor: ANISE.
65. Half a round on the links: NINE. Golf.
66. Ohio's lake: ERIE.
67. R&B family name: ISLEY. Ronald and younger brother Ernie Isley are the two remaining siblings of The Isley Brothers.
68. Budget sister company: AVIS. Avis is regarded as a higher-end car rental company, while Budget is cheaper. There are locations where the same mechanics services both.
69. Runs out of juice: DIES.
70. "It's true!": NO LIE.
71. Guido of Baroque art fame: RENI. 144 Guido Reni Artworks.
Down:
1. Light fog: MIST.
2. Relatives of Slurpees: ICEES. What's the difference?
3. Server with a blush?: SOMMELIER. Great clue.
4. Piece of prose: SNIPPET.
5. A hot one can be problematic: MIC. Microphone.
6. Laid up: ILL.
7. Island necklaces: LEIS.
8. Long, thin soup mushroom: ENOKI. The Complete Guide to Enoki Mushrooms.
9. Viscous plant substances: RESINS.
10. "Bingo!": THAT'S IT.
11. Japanese electronics company: RICOH.
12. Cut down the middle: IN TWO.
13. "Goosebumps" series author: STINE.
21. Gomez's furry cousin: ITT. From TV show The Adams Family.
25. Road trip game: I SPY.
26. Approximately: CIRCA.
29. Nabisco brand name: NILLA.
31. Jem, to Scout Finch: SIB. From To Kill a Mockingbird. We have a cat name Scout, and another named Boo. Now all I need is a dog named Atticus.
32. Psychic Geller: URI. Israeli-British illusionist, magician, television personality,
and self-proclaimed psychic. He is known for his trademark television
performances of spoon bending and other illusions.
34. Ballerina Shearer: MOIRA. 1926-2006. Scottish ballet dancer and actress. She is best remembered for her
performances in Powell and Pressburger's The Red Shoes and Michael
Powell's Peeping Tom.
36. Completely dominates: EATS ALIVE. Again with the two-word answer!
37. Med. injury detector: MRI. Magnetic resonance imaging.
38. Title for two Beatles: SIR. in 1997 Paul McCartney was knighted for services to music; Ringo Starr received the same honor in 2018.
40. The good dishes: CHINA.
41. Discomfort cause: PAIN.
44. Makes four into twelve, say: TRIPLES.
46. Advanced course offering: SEMINAR.
48. Hold for questions: DETAIN.
50. Take care of a kitty: SIT.
51. Went down a slippery slope: SKIED. Nice.
52. Matisse of the art world: HENRI.
53. Knot again: RETIE. Haha.
54. Old-time laundry soap brand: RINSO. Laundry soap and detergent marketed by Unilever.
56. Red Square figure: LENIN. Red Square serves as the resting place of Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin. His preserved body has been on public display there since shortly after his death in 1924, with rare exceptions in wartime.
58. Place for singles: TILL. Dollar bills.
60. He loved Lucille: DESI. Aw.
63. Cinque e uno: SEI. Italian: Five and one = six.
Melissa
Notes from C.C.:
Please send your thoughts and prayers
to dear Spitzboov (Al), who's been hospitalized due to breathing
problem, which could be the result of the weekly Retacrit injection for his rheumatoid arthritis. He called me last night and he sounded good. He might be out of the hospital soon.
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| Spitzboov, Betty & Argyle |
