Hello Cornerites! Welcome to the first Monday in April!
Mama Mia! Today's constructor Dan Caprera has given us a Wicked fun puzzle enjoyed by solvers from Oklahoma! to Chicago to the South Pacific to Hamilton, Ontario. Yes, The Sound of Music from A Chorus Line was ringing in my ears as The King and I, along with the other Guys and Dolls, worked our way through the clues. We plan to thank The Producers by sending them a case of Spamalot and perhaps a pair of Kinky Boots.
You guessed it! Our theme today is Broadway Shows
James Cagney performing Give My Regards To Broadway
from the musical Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942).
Let's take an intermission and look at the 4 themed entries:
16 Across. *Vigorous effort: ELBOW GREASE.
noun
INFORMAL
- hard physical work, especially vigorous polishing or cleaning."you should be able to get the rust off with a wire brush and elbow grease"
23 Across. *"Last Week Tonight" host: JOHN OLIVER.
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| Comedian, actor, and writer JOHN OLIVER hosts this HBO show. It airs at 11 p.m. on Sunday nights. Oof! |
38 Across. *Winter transports with treads: SNOCATS. "SNOCAT" is a portmanteau of "snow" and "Caterpillar", as in the tractor company. The name originated from a 1946 trademark by Tucker Sno-Cat corporation. They can be used for plowing; grooming mountains and trails; creating snow terrain parks and obstacle courses; and transporting passengers across snow-covered areas. 
49 Across. *Come out on top, but just barely: WIN BY A HAIR. This idiom and "win by a nose" mean to defeat one's opponent by a very narrow margin.
Why would these seemingly disparate things be in the same puzzle? Let's look at the reveal:
61 Across. Dazzling theater performance, and what the answer to each starred clue literally has: SHOWSTOPPER. The Broadway shows GREASE, OLIVER, CATS, and HAIR are all dazzling theater performances. Furthermore, the titles are at the end of the starred clues so each starred clue actually STOPs with a show.
Well done, Dan!
Across:
1. Abrasion a tot may call an "owie": SCRAPE. A Hello Kitty band-aid will make it feel better.
7. __-mo: instant replay technique: SLO.
10. Cauldron: VAT. a large tank or tub used to hold liquid, especially in industry.
13. Wobble: TEETER. Does anyone remember these toys?
25. Treble __: music symbol: CLEF.
27. Exceedingly dry: SERE. (adjective) being dried and withered.
28. Fan's "I want my money back!": BOO.
31. Use Grubhub, say: EAT IN. When I had the "E", I was trying to make some sort of E-food or E-tail thing work. Turns out, it wasn't that complicated.
34. Curt: TERSE.
37. Gallop: RUN.
40. "__ it ain't so!": SAY.
41. Mermaid whose father is King Triton: ARIEL. (See 55 Down.)
43. Soda brand in blue cans: PEPSI.
44. Chopping tool: AXE.
45. Do as one's asked: OBEY.
47. Philosopher Immanuel: KANT. (1972-1894) life and works and more
53. Carmine and ruby: REDS. wines
57. Comes to a close: ENDS.
58. Piggy bank addition: COIN.
59. Confusion: MIX-UP. I am sure you have heard stories of travel destination MIX-UPs. This one happened just last February when a man traveling to Sydney, Australia ended up in Sydney, MT .
60. Hullabaloo: ADO.
63. Cup edge: RIM.
64. James of jazz: ETTA.
65. "Gotta hurry!": I'M LATE. "Gotta" in the clue makes the contraction in the answer work.
66. Observe: SEE. and 36 Down. Observe: EYE.
67. Donkey: ASS.
68. Dangerous African fly: TSETSE. When an infected TSETSE fly bites people, it can transmit a parasite that causes the disease African trypanosomiasis, also called sleeping sickness. Symptoms include fatigue, high fever, headaches, and muscle aches. If the disease is not treated, it can cause death.
Down:
1. Units tracked by fitness trackers: STEPS.
2. Large stringed instruments in an orchestra: CELLI. Hand up for first having CELLo. It turns out that CELLI or cellos is the plural of "cello" (full name: violincello).
3. Picture puzzle: REBUS. Here are 9. You can find the answers at the end of this write-up.
4. Decidedly tiny: ATOMIC. A human hair is about 1 million carbon atoms wide.
5. Church benches: PEWS. Wisdom from my grandfather: He who passes gas in church sits in his own PEW.
6. Indoor rower, for short: ERG. We've had this one before. An ERG (commonly known as a rower) stands for "ergometer", a device that measures the amount of work performed. It is designed to mimic the rowing motion that a person creates when in a watercraft but operates on land. Embrace the ERG!
8. Rodeo ropes: LASSOS.
9. Dollar: ONE.
10. The other way around: VICE VERSA. Fun fill!
26. TV journalist Stahl: LESLEY. Ms. Stahl began her 31st season on 60 Minutes in September 2022, having joined the broadcast as a correspondent in March 1991.
28. Wardrobe item with a clasp: BRA.
29. Belonging to us: OUR.
30. Russian Orthodox church feature: ONION DOME.
32. Rink surface: ICE.
33. Some lap coverers: NAPKINS.
35. Kenny G's horn: SAX.
39. Old Russian ruler: TSAR.
42. Subsides: EBBS.
46. Luxury vessels: YACHTS.
48. __ sec: orange-flavored liqueur: TRIPLE.
49. Puts on: WEARS.
50. Many a low-budget flick: INDIE.
That's all for today. Please save me a seat for next week!
1. Abrasion a tot may call an "owie": SCRAPE. A Hello Kitty band-aid will make it feel better.
10. Cauldron: VAT. a large tank or tub used to hold liquid, especially in industry.
Batman (1989)
Michael Keaton (Batman) and Jack Nicholson (The Joker)
have it out over a VAT of industrial goop at Axis Chemicals (1:41 min.)
13. Wobble: TEETER. Does anyone remember these toys?
Weebles Wobble but they don't fall down. ♪♪♪
The Camino de Santiago SPANs a good portion of northern SPAIN.
Has anyone read I'll Push You ?
15. Wedding promise: I DO. I heard recently that people are using ChatGPT to write their "personal" wedding vows. 😂
18. Dairy farm animal: COW.
19. Future prunes, perhaps: PLUMS. I used to have a neighbor who had a prune orchard. That is how I learned that prunes are their own fruit -- not just dried plums. I ate fresh prunes off the tree and made prune jam. This link explains the difference between a plum and a prune. Good job, Dan, for including the "perhaps" qualifier!
20. R&B singer Redding: OTIS. Oh, yeah....
21. "And __ off!": WE'RE. I usually add, "...like a heard of turtles." My Aussie friend Mick usually adds, "...like a bucket of shrimp left in the sun." His version is funnier.
22. Spanish "Yes, yes!": SÍ SÍ
15. Wedding promise: I DO. I heard recently that people are using ChatGPT to write their "personal" wedding vows. 😂
18. Dairy farm animal: COW.
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| Check out their tally board! |
19. Future prunes, perhaps: PLUMS. I used to have a neighbor who had a prune orchard. That is how I learned that prunes are their own fruit -- not just dried plums. I ate fresh prunes off the tree and made prune jam. This link explains the difference between a plum and a prune. Good job, Dan, for including the "perhaps" qualifier!
20. R&B singer Redding: OTIS. Oh, yeah....
(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay
The song was recorded shortly before Otis died in a plane crash.
It was the first posthumous single to top the charts in the U.S.
My cat used to always perk up during the whistling part.
21. "And __ off!": WE'RE. I usually add, "...like a heard of turtles." My Aussie friend Mick usually adds, "...like a bucket of shrimp left in the sun." His version is funnier.
22. Spanish "Yes, yes!": SÍ SÍ
25. Treble __: music symbol: CLEF.
27. Exceedingly dry: SERE. (adjective) being dried and withered.
28. Fan's "I want my money back!": BOO.
Snoopy BOOs Charlie Brown
in A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) (31 sec.)
31. Use Grubhub, say: EAT IN. When I had the "E", I was trying to make some sort of E-food or E-tail thing work. Turns out, it wasn't that complicated.
34. Curt: TERSE.
37. Gallop: RUN.
40. "__ it ain't so!": SAY.
Weezer released SAY It Ain't So in 1994.
41. Mermaid whose father is King Triton: ARIEL. (See 55 Down.)
43. Soda brand in blue cans: PEPSI.
44. Chopping tool: AXE.
45. Do as one's asked: OBEY.
47. Philosopher Immanuel: KANT. (1972-1894) life and works and more
53. Carmine and ruby: REDS. wines
 |
| Was it constructor Dan's plan to distract us with thoughts of this Carmine from Laverne & Shirley? |
58. Piggy bank addition: COIN.
59. Confusion: MIX-UP. I am sure you have heard stories of travel destination MIX-UPs. This one happened just last February when a man traveling to Sydney, Australia ended up in Sydney, MT .
60. Hullabaloo: ADO.
63. Cup edge: RIM.
64. James of jazz: ETTA.
65. "Gotta hurry!": I'M LATE. "Gotta" in the clue makes the contraction in the answer work.
66. Observe: SEE. and 36 Down. Observe: EYE.
67. Donkey: ASS.
68. Dangerous African fly: TSETSE. When an infected TSETSE fly bites people, it can transmit a parasite that causes the disease African trypanosomiasis, also called sleeping sickness. Symptoms include fatigue, high fever, headaches, and muscle aches. If the disease is not treated, it can cause death.
Down:
1. Units tracked by fitness trackers: STEPS.
2. Large stringed instruments in an orchestra: CELLI. Hand up for first having CELLo. It turns out that CELLI or cellos is the plural of "cello" (full name: violincello).
3. Picture puzzle: REBUS. Here are 9. You can find the answers at the end of this write-up.
5. Church benches: PEWS. Wisdom from my grandfather: He who passes gas in church sits in his own PEW.
6. Indoor rower, for short: ERG. We've had this one before. An ERG (commonly known as a rower) stands for "ergometer", a device that measures the amount of work performed. It is designed to mimic the rowing motion that a person creates when in a watercraft but operates on land. Embrace the ERG!
8. Rodeo ropes: LASSOS.
Will Rogers in The Roping Fool (1922).
Watch him rope a mouse!
10. The other way around: VICE VERSA. Fun fill!
adverb
- with the main items in the preceding statement the other way around
Here is the trailer for the 1988 movie VICE VERSA starring Judge Reinhold and Fred Savage.
It's one of those parent-kid-switch-bodies movies -- always a good set-up for some silliness.
11. Love to pieces: ADORE.
12. Pisa landmark: TOWER. Construction of the Leaning TOWER of Pisa began in 1173 as the third and final structure of the city of Pisa's cathedral complex. In particular, it was built to serve as the complex's bell TOWER.
14. "Jokes __ Can't Tell": late-night segment: SETH. The "late-night" part, along with a perp or two, helped me guess "SETH Meyers". I found this article on the segments.
17. Locale of many a swanky bar: ROOFTOP.
21. Cable: WIRE.
23. The Fugees rapper Wyclef __: JEAN. Wyclef Jean, born on October 17, 1969, is an American-Haitian rapper and songwriter best known for his chart-topping album “The Score.” He began his musical career singing in church choirs, having been raised by a preacher father.
24. Admits: LETS IN.
12. Pisa landmark: TOWER. Construction of the Leaning TOWER of Pisa began in 1173 as the third and final structure of the city of Pisa's cathedral complex. In particular, it was built to serve as the complex's bell TOWER.
14. "Jokes __ Can't Tell": late-night segment: SETH. The "late-night" part, along with a perp or two, helped me guess "SETH Meyers". I found this article on the segments.
17. Locale of many a swanky bar: ROOFTOP.
21. Cable: WIRE.
23. The Fugees rapper Wyclef __: JEAN. Wyclef Jean, born on October 17, 1969, is an American-Haitian rapper and songwriter best known for his chart-topping album “The Score.” He began his musical career singing in church choirs, having been raised by a preacher father.
24. Admits: LETS IN.
A policeman at 10 Downing St. LETS IN Larry the cat. (56 sec.)
I love that Larry uses the policeman as his personal doorman.
Notice the giant yawn.
26. TV journalist Stahl: LESLEY. Ms. Stahl began her 31st season on 60 Minutes in September 2022, having joined the broadcast as a correspondent in March 1991.
28. Wardrobe item with a clasp: BRA.
29. Belonging to us: OUR.
30. Russian Orthodox church feature: ONION DOME.
 |
| why Russian churches have ONION-shaped DOMEs |
32. Rink surface: ICE.
33. Some lap coverers: NAPKINS.
35. Kenny G's horn: SAX.
Kenny G. plays Silhouette (1988).
39. Old Russian ruler: TSAR.
42. Subsides: EBBS.
46. Luxury vessels: YACHTS.
48. __ sec: orange-flavored liqueur: TRIPLE.
 |
You might find it in these drinks: |
49. Puts on: WEARS.
50. Many a low-budget flick: INDIE.
 |
| We are not talking about INDIana Jones. This refers to an INDEpendently made movie; that is, one made outside of a major studio. |
51. Owl sounds: HOOTS.
52. Audio brand: AIWA. I found this timeline on the company's website:
52. Audio brand: AIWA. I found this timeline on the company's website:
1951 Founded & independent
1982 Acquired by Sony Corporation
2006 Brand Discontinued
2017 Re-launch of AIWA (independent again)
2020 Kick-start AIWA Global Business Network Formation
54. American living abroad, for short: EXPAT. An EXPATriate is a someone who lives outside their native country. the difference between an EXPAT and an immigrant
55. Tunes two croon: DUETS. Here are two toons crooning tunes:
54. American living abroad, for short: EXPAT. An EXPATriate is a someone who lives outside their native country. the difference between an EXPAT and an immigrant
55. Tunes two croon: DUETS. Here are two toons crooning tunes:
Sweet Child from The Little Mermaid (1989)
56. Shopping binge: SPREE. According to Good Job, Brain! Episode #107, Mary Todd Lincoln was a notorious compulsive shopper. She liked to go to New York on shopping SPREEs where the merchants were happy to extend credit to the president's wife. Her shopping debts created problems in her life.
59. May honorees: MOMS. This year, Mother's Day is Sunday, May 14.
61. Salty expanse: SEA.
62. __ for tat: TIT. actions done intentionally to punish other people in retaliation for something they have done to you.
59. May honorees: MOMS. This year, Mother's Day is Sunday, May 14.
61. Salty expanse: SEA.
62. __ for tat: TIT. actions done intentionally to punish other people in retaliation for something they have done to you.
And for the grand finale, we have the grid!
3 Down. REBUS puzzle answers:
1.) misunderstood, 2.) a walk in the park, 3.) one in a million, 4.) looking back, 5.) you're under arrest, 6.) stand by me, 7.) walking on thin ice, 8.) I see you understand, 9.) B flat
