Give 'em the old Razzle-Dazzle! Today's theme is exemplified in 4-Down: Really wowed: DAZZLED.
I've highlighted how the clue and answer are paired. Be prepared to be DAZZLED by the creativity of Beth Rubin, today's puzzle creator.
17-Across. Thelma's "Wow!"?: GEEZ LOUISE! A reference to the 1991 movie Thelma and Louise.
24-Across. Astronomer's "Wow!"?: OH, MY STARS!
39-Across. Saint's "Wow!"?: GOOD ONE!
48-Across. Safari guide's "Wow!"?: THAT'S WILD!
60-Across. Chameleon's "Wow!"?: OUT OF SIGHT!
How else are we dazzled today?
Across:
1. Gave money to: PAID.
5. Shawkat of "Being the Ricardos": ALIA. Alia Shawkat (née Alia Martine Shawkat; b. 1989) also portrayed Maeby Fünke in Arrested Development. She has made occasional guest appearances in the puzzles. [Name # 1]
9. Bygone Swedish automaker: SAAB. Saab Automobile was founded 1945 and ceased operations in 2016. The name comes from Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (Swedish for "Swedish aeroplane corporation"), a Swedish aerospace and defense company.
13. Icelandic saga: EDDA. Everything you wanted to know about the Icelandic saga, but didn't know to ask. // Not to be confused with 67-Across. Whirlpool: EDDY.
14. Code creator: MORSE. Samuel Morse (né Samuel Finley Breese Morse; Apr. 27, 1791 ~ Apr. 2, 1872) was known as a portrait painter before delving into creating the eponymous code that was the social media of his time. [Name #2.]
16. Canyon comeback: ECHO.
19. Site with handmade goods: ETSY.
20. Ilana of "Broad City": GLAZER. Ilana Glazer (b. Apr. 12, 1987) is also a stand-up comedian. [Name # 3.]
21. "__ Lot": Stephen King novel: SALEM'S. Salem's Lot is a horror story about a little town in Maine where the residents become vampires. Not a fan of Stephen King's writings, but he is a graduate of my alma mater, albeit, he attended several years earlier. A Stephen King novel also appeared in last Tuesday's puzzle. [Name adjacent.]
23. Raises one's voice: YELLS.
27. British prep school: ETON. This school appeared in last Tuesday's puzzle. Prince William (b. June 21, 1982) and Eddy Redmayne (b. Jan. 6, 1982) were classmates there.
29. Property manager's sign: TO LET.
30. Like memories to smile about: FOND.
33. Badminton target: BIRDIE. Also known as a shuttlecock.
37. Fertility clinic cells: OVA.
38. Smog watchdog org.: EPA. As in the Environmental Protection Agency.
40. Religious sister: NUN. Hi, Lucina!
41. Bolivia neighbor: Abbr.: ARG. Both countries in South America.
42. File manager menu option: RENAME.
43. Requirement: NEED.
44. Stark daughter played by Sophie Turner on "Game of Thrones": SANSA. Sophie Turner (née Sophie Belinda Jonas; b. Feb. 21, 1996) made her acting debut as Sansa Stark on Game of Thrones. [Name # 4.]
46. Canadian gas brand: ESSO. Hi, CanadianEh! This gas brand has become a crossword staple.
52. Scarecrow innards: STRAW.
56. "Jinkies! That's out of the question!": GOSH, NO!
57. Loosen, as a corset: UNLACE.
58. "Lip __ Battle": SYNC. Hand up if you knew that Lip Sync Battle is a television musical reality competition.
62. Enjoy a bath: SOAK.
63. "Me too": DITTO.
64. Change direction suddenly: VEER.
65. Pulls (at), as heartstrings: TUGS.
66. Gentle throw: TOSS.
Down:
1. "__ Sue Got Married": PEGGY. Peggy Sue Got Married is a 1986 film that starred Kathleen Turner (née Mary Kathleen Turner; b. June 19, 1954) and Nicholas Cage (né Nicolas Kim Coppola; b. Jan. 7, 1964). [Name Adjacent]
2. "Rolling in the Deep" singer: ADELE. Adele, whose given name is Adele Laurie Blue Adkins (b. May 5, 1988), appeared in last Tuesday's puzzle. [Name # 5.]
3. Like a best-case scenario: IDEAL.
5. Spanish for "love": AMOR. Today's Spanish lesson. Hello, again, Lucina!
6. Singer Rawls: LOU. Lou Rawls (né Louis Allen Rawls; Dec. 1, 1933 ~ Jan. 6, 2006) released over 60 albums. [Name # 6.]
7. Notre Dame Fighting __: IRISH. Hello, Irish Miss!
8. Tea region of India: ASSAM. Did you know where it was located in India?
9. Appear that way: SEEM TO.
10. Has no help: ACTS ALONE.
11. Tonsils-checking sounds: AHS!
12. Son: BOY.
15. Too wiggly to hold: EELY. Everything you wanted to know about eels, but didn't know to ask.
18. "__ we forget": LEST.
22. Cosmetician Lauder: ESTÉE. Estée Lauder (née Josephine Ester Mentzer; July 1, 1908 ~ Apr. 24, 2004) cofounded the eponymous cosmetic company in the 1940s. [Name # 7.]
24. Scallion kin: ONION. Do you know the difference?
25. Variety show: REVUE.
26. Kiosk: STAND.
28. Orchestra pitch setter: OBOE. Did you ever wonder why the Oboe is used to tune the orchestra?
30. Sumptuous meal: FEAST.
31. Media mogul Winfrey: OPRAH. [Name # 8.]
 |
| Oprah Gail Winfrey (b. Jan. 29, 1954) |
32. "I heard you the first dozen times!": NAG! NAG! NAG!
35. Like some all-weather stadiums: DOMED. The Superdome in New Orleans is now known as the Caesar's Superdome. A few years ago, it was the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. It's all about the money.
36. Trésor spokesmodel Sastre: INÉS. Inés Sastre Moratón (b. Nov. 21, 1973) is a Spanish model. She was the face of one of Lancôme's signature perfume, Trésor, back in the 1990s. She succeeded Isabella Rossellini as the perfume's spokesperson. A pretty obscure clue for a Tuesday. [Name # 9.]
39. Wimbledon playing surface: GRASS. Why Wimbledon uses a grass court.
43. Prerecorded: NOT LIVE.
45. Wall Street investments: STOCKS.
47. IRS IDs: SSNs. As in Social Security Numbers.
49. "__'ve thought it?": WHO'D.
50. Arctic natives: INUIT.
51. Numbers game: LOTTO.
53. Threw a fit: RAGED.
54. Had sore muscles: ACHED.
55. Humble reply to "Great work, team!": WE TRY.
57. Sci-fi hoverers: UFOs.
58. Old ultrafast plane, briefly: SST. A crossword staple. Everything you wanted to know about the SST but didn't know to ask.
59. "__ and me both!": YOU.
61. Bonus WNBA periods: OTs. As in Over Times
Here's the Grid:
חתולה
It's that time again of year again. Stay warm, folks.
