L.A.Times Crossword Corner

Nov 7, 2023

Tuesday, November 7, 2023 Michele Govier

Do Not Pass Go, and Do Not Collect $200. Oh, wait! Today we can pass Go and we can collect our $200. Each theme answer is a different concept for something that one can pass.

19-Across. One known for clutch performances?: RACE CAR DRIVER.

31-Across. One who is sometimes a dummy?: BRIDGE PLAYER.

39-Across. One who is not on a roll?: D PLUS STUDENT. As I was completing today's puzzle, I had DPL, and thought one of my perps must be wrong. What kind of word begins with DPL. I stuck with my perps, to give me the poor student who is barely earning a passing grade. With grade inflation, this student is probably really totally failing the course.

And the unifier:

53-Across. "No, thank you," or something 19-, 31-, and 39-Across might say?: I THINK I'LL PASS.

Across:

1. Casual hellos: HIs.

4. Let in: ADMIT.

9. Ocular bump: STYE. Eye problem.

13. Thin-strapped top: CAMI. Short for Camisole.

14. "Psycho" star Janet: LEIGH. Janet Leigh (née Jeanette Helen Morrison; July 6, 1927 ~ Oct. 3, 2004) was the mother of actress Jamie Lee Curtis (Nov. 22, 1958). [Name # 1.]

15. Celebrity rodent of Punxsutawney: PHIL. Everything you wanted to know about Punxsutawney Phil but didn't know to ask. [Name # 2.]

16. River through Kazakhstan: URAL. Everything you wanted to know about the URAL River but didn't know to ask. The river is in both Europe and Asia. At 1,509 miles long, the Ural River is the 3rd longest in Europe, followed by the Volga (2,194 miles) and Danube (1,777 miles). It's the 18th longest river in Asia.

17. Italian salami city: GENOA. Everything you wanted to know about Genoa Salami but didn't know to ask.

18. Tie: LINK.

22. Third-place medal: BRONZE.

23. Forward, as mail: SEND ON.

26. Nasal membranes: SEPTA.

27. Quick punch: JAB.

30. "Rolling in the Deep" singer: ADELE. I love this Adele (née Adele Laurie Blue Adkins; b. May 5, 1988) song, but then I love all of her songs. [Name # 3.]

34. Pack animal: ASS.

37. Tropical veranda: LANAI. Lanai, Porch, Patio ... what's the difference?

38. That, in Spanish: ESO. Today's Spanish lesson.

44. Venmo transfer, e.g.: E-CASH. I didn't realize the company had been around for so long.

45. Curvy shape: ESS.

46. Wear down: ERODE.

50. Certain Polynesian: SAMOAN. Polynesia is made up a several islands including Samoa.

52. Hurt: PAINED.

57. Carson's successor: LENO. Both Johnny Carson (né John William Carson; Oct. 23, 1925 ~ Jan. 23, 2005) and Jay Leno (né James Douglas Muir Leno; b. Apr. 28, 1950) hosted the Tonight Show. Carson was the host for nearly 30 years. [Names # 4 and 5.]

59. Sales rep's target: QUOTA.

60. NYC drama award: OBIE. The Obie, or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are presented annual for outstanding achievement in plays performed off-Broadway.

61. "__, Brute?": ET TU.

62. Poet Ginsberg: ALLEN. Allen Ginsberg (né Irwin Allen Ginsberg; June 3, 1926 ~ Apr. 4, 1997) was known as a Beat Poet and, along with William Burroughs (Feb. 5, 1914 ~ Aug. 2, 1997) and Jack Kerouac (Mar. 12, 1922 ~ Oct. 21, 1969), were at the heart of the Beat Generation. [Name # 6.]

Allen Ginsberg

63. Lenovo competitor: DELL. Both companies make personal computers. Levono is a Chinese company and the name is a portmanteau of Le (for legend) and novo (Latin for new). Dell is an American company, founded in 1984 by Michael Dell (né Michael Saul Dell; b. Feb. 23, 1965). [Name adjacent.]

64. Fragrance: ODOR. I think of a fragrance as being a pleasant smell, while an odor is more stinky.

65. Hold responsible: BLAME.

66. "The Simpsons" disco guy: STU. Diehard Simpsons fans known that his full name is Stuart Discothèque. [Name # 7, fictional.]

Down:

1. Zimbabwe's capital: HARARE. Hand up if you knew the name of this capital city without help from the perps.

2. Joe Friday's declaration in the classic "Dragnet" intro: I'M A COP. Jack Webb (né John Randolph Webb; Apr. 2, 1920 ~ Dec. 23, 1982. ) was the actor who portrayed Joe Friday on classic cop show, Dragnet. [Name # 8, fictional.]

3. Subtle characteristic?: SILENT B. Not really keen on this type of clue and answer.

4. Aquarium problem: ALGAE.

5. Forest animal with antlers: DEER. // And 12-Down. Large 5-Down: ELK. All Elk are Deer, but not all Deer are Elk.

6. Pay attention to: MIND.

7. "Young Frankenstein" assistant with a shifting hump: IGOR. [Name # 9, fictional.]

8. Bangkok natives: THAIs. Hi, Lemonade and Oo!

9. Sweetener brand with sucralose: SPLENDA. It's the sweetener in the yellow packaging.

Chemical compound of Sucralose,

10. Mystical source of perception beyond ordinary sight: THIRD EYE.

11. __ and yang: YIN. Yin is also a form of Yoga.

13. Sidewalk edges: CURBS.

20. Captain of industry: CZAR.

21. Osso buco meat: VEAL. Osso buco is an Italian speciality. The name literally means bone with a hole, which refers to the bone marrow. It's supposed to be good, but I have never tried it.

24. Cheers for a flamenco dancer: OLÉs. More of today's Spanish lesson.

25. Rex Stout sleuth Wolfe: NERO. Rex Stout (né Rex Todhunter Stout; Dec. 1, 1886 ~ Oct. 27, 1975) was American writer best known for his detective novels, which featured Nero Wolfe. The Nero Wolfe series has been adapted for film, radio and television. In 1981, a television show began based on Stout's characters in his Nero Wolfe series. Nero Wolfe was portrayed by William Conrad (né John William Cann, Jr.; Sept. 27, 1920 ~ Feb. 11, 1994). There was a second adaptation of Nero Wolfe in the early 2000s, which starred Maury Chaykin (July 27, 1949 ~ July 27, 2010) as Nero Wolfe. You can still listen to the radio adaptations. [Names # 10 and 11, one real, one fictional.]

27. Matchmaking app for Jewish singles: JDATE.

28. __ Dei: lamb of God: AGNUS. Hi, Irish Miss!

29. Abacus units: BEADS.

32. Plural French pronoun: ILS. Today's French lesson. It means They, and can be a group of males, or a mix of male and females, but not a group of females. That would be Elles.

33. Pastry with a crust: PIE. Yummers! It's almost time for pumpkin and pecan pies.

34. Fruity summer drinks: ADES. Hi, Lemonade. Come visit us again!

35. Pet adoption org.: SPCA. As in the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

36. Hit with force: SLAM INTO.

40. Traveling show that entertains the troops: USO TOUR.

41. Former Iranian ruler: SHAH.

42. "Arrow" and "Legends of Tomorrow" actor McDonough: NEAL. [Name # 12.]

43. Camera stands: TRIPODS.

47. How some risks are taken: ON A BET.

48. Arnaz and Ball's production company: DESILU. A portmanteau of the first names of Desi Arnaz (Mar. 2, 1917 ~ Dec. 2, 1986) and Lucile Ball (Aug. 6, 1911 ~ Apr. 26, 1989). [Names # 13 and 14.]