Well, AH no, SpongeBob, not exactly. But you are close. It's not AH and it's not A HAT. What's missing is simply A. A what? Not A what. Not A anything. Just A.
Good morning, Cruciverbalists. Malodorous Manatee here with a Friday puzzle from Geoff Brown.
Let's start with the reveal:
67 Across: Not quite right, and an apt title for this puzzle?: AMISS.
In this case A (the letter) is MISSing. It has been removed from a "normal" description in order to create a humorous answer to the (somewhat contrived, out of necessity) situation described in the clue.
Here are the five themed clues and answers:
18 Across: Deep dive into the statistics of a NY slugger?: META ANALYSIS. Meta Analysis is a statistical method to combine the results of different studies. Drop the A and we end up with a reference to a member of the New York Mets baseball team.
23 Across: Scotch drinker who complains about a small pour?: DRAMA CRITIC. A Drama Critic reviews stage productions. Drop the A and we have someone who comments on a shot of whisky (a dram is technically equal to about one eighth of a fluid ounce but most people use the term to refer to a shot of whisky).
"Give The Fiddler A Dram" - Doc Watson
37 Across: So over meaty spaghetti sauce?: PASTA BOLOGNESE. This one also works as "past a Bolognese".
50 Across: One who stands in the way of a wager?: BETA BLOCKER. Beta Blockers are a class of drugs used primarily to treat cardiovascular diseases. Drop the A and you can no longer have fun on FanDuel or DraftKings.
58 Across: Flushed condition?: FLORIDA STATE. FLORIDA STATE University is, of course, a well-known university who's main campus is in Tallahassee, FLORIDA. Drop the A and you'll turn red.
This is how it all appears in the grid (with the A deleted in each case):
. . . . and here is the rest of the story:
Across:
1. Peak in the Tour de France: ALP. Peak as in mountain top not as in reaching the peak of one's level of performance.
4. Nickname for a Carolina team: CANES. The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team.
9. Air fryer brand: OSTER.
15. Leaves out: OMITS. There are two types of people. Those who can extrapolate OMITted data using existing data.
16. Fracking target: SHALE.
17. African viper: ASP.
20. Put on another coat: REPAINT. Not layer up for the cold.
22. Word with square and cube: ROOT.
26. Briny cheese: FETA. For those interested in the process: How To Make Feta Cheese
29. "Patience __ virtue": IS A. Wait a moment. Haven't we eschewed A?
30. Final bio: OBIT.
32. Texting nicety: THX. Thanks.
33. Civil War POTUS: ABE. POTUS in the abbreviation for President of the United States. ABE is the abbreviated version of Abraham Lincoln. Often clued with reference to a five dollar bill.
35. Dismal turnout: NO ONE. Dismal-est?
36. Afore: ERE. Before. Works well in palindromes.
41. British term for a vaccination: JAB. I just realized that Boris Johnson looks a lot like Benny Hill. It might explain quite a lot.
42. Quick and energetic: BRISK.
43. GPS display: RTE. RouTE
44. Frosty: ICY. Aloof. Distant. ICY The Snowman?
45. Take on: HIRE. A bit of a stretch clue-wise, but it is Friday.
46. __-K: PRE. Murray The would not fit the allotted space.
48. "The Book of Boba __": FETT. A Star Wars reference.
55. Flow slowly: OOZE.
57. Jelly Roll Morton genre: RAGTIME.
Jelly Roll Morton's Red Hot Peppers - 1926
62. Karate level: DAN. BELT would not fit. Thanks, perps.
63. Probably will, after "is": APT TO. Not to be confused with Apt 2.
64. Puzzle: POSER.
65. Fizzle out: DIE.
66. Washed-out: ASHEN. ASHEN-faced Joe Smith goes to see his doctor. "Doc" he says, "I have a piece of lettuce coming out of my butt." The doctor performs an examination and says "Joe, I have some bad news. Unfortunately, it's just the tip of the iceberg."
68. Copa Mundial cheer: OLE. A Spanish lesson for today. Copa Mundial = World Cup. The World Cup football (soccer) tournament was recently held in Qatar.
Down:
1. Oscar or Tony: AWARD. We often see EGOT.
2. Sore __: LOSER.
3. Cartoon piglet with a British accent: PEPPA.
4. Many open mic performers: COMICS. Other six-letter plurals were also possibilities (e.g. ACTORS, MIMICS, CLOWNS).
5. Egyptian deity: AMEN RA. Also, AMUN RA. The god of creation.
6. Tucci's "Road to Perdition" role: NITTI. Frank NITTI. Al Capone's first cousin.
7. GPS display: ETA. GPS is abbreviated ergo so is the answer. Estimated Time of Arrival
8. Fig. in identity theft: SSN.
9. European capital with more than 340 lakes: OSLO. We visit the capital city of Norway quite often in our puzzles.
10. Not quite meeting: SHY OF.
11. Market research comparison: TASTE TEST.
12. Pharmaceutical giant __ Lilly: ELI.
13. Hi-__ graphics: RES. High Resolution.
19. Following a curve: ARCING.
21. French friends: AMIES. Female (avec le e) friends in this case.
24. Hammer home?: TOOL SET. Not as in to hammer something home, the idiom for stressing a point of debate. Literally, where one might keep their hammer. Alternatively, Stanley Burrell's crib.
25. Old Mac laptop: I BOOK. First released in 1999.
27. Preakness horse's age: THREE. The Preakness Stakes comprises one-third of (American) horse racing's "Triple Crown" (with the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes). Regardless of their actual date of birth, all Thoroughbred racing horses turn 0ne year old on January 1st of the year following their birth.
28. Log chopper: AXE.
31. "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the __ Rings": TEN.
33. Rapidly: APACE.
34. Item left for a certain fairy: BABY TOOTH. Anyone else here grow up with Barnaby and Mr. O'Malley?
35. Bête __: NOIRE. Plus de francais although the term has become part of the English lexicon.
38. "Frankly," in texts: TBH. To Be Honest
39. Paid off: BRIBED. I tried to offer my school's administrator a BRIBE but she was too principled.
40. Not in a slump?: ERECT. Today's let's pass on the graphic moment.
41. Peanut butter brand: JIF.
46. Dishes: PLATES.
47. "The Gambler" singer: ROGERS. Kenny Rogers.
47. "The Gambler" singer: ROGERS. Kenny Rogers.
49. Patisserie product: TORTE. Made with lots of eggs and little flour.
51. Luca of "The Godfather": BRASI.
52. Affectionate nickname: KIDDO.
53. Send with a click: EMAIL. In this case, used as a verb.
54. Soprano Fleming: RENEE. A fairly easy proper noun to perp.
56. Williamson who was the 2019 #1 NBA draft pick: ZION. A tougher proper noun to perp.
58. Tower authority: Abbr.: FAA. As in aircraft control tower.
59. CD precursors: LPS.
60. Après-ski option: SPA. I have never heard anyone say "Hey, let's hit the SPA" after a day on the slopes. Anyone go, initially, with BAR?
61. Loki player Hiddleston: TOM. A tough finish (except that TOM perp'd easily) if you're not into the latest Hollywood/Marvel efforts.
A belated Happy New Year, one and all!
______________________________________________
