Theme: "Workplay" - Each business place is literally rephrased fitting the first word in each clue.
22. Home business?: REAL ESTATE OFFICE.
39. Risky business?: INSURANCE AGENCY.
56. Pressing business?: DRY CLEANER.
70. Core business?: FITNESS STUDIO.
83. Funny business?: COMEDY CLUB.
101. Family business?: FERTILITY CLINIC.
122. Nobody's business?: SHELL CORPORATION.Great to see Sam back with Doug. They're a terrific pair and have collaborated on many puzzles in the past.
I really like this theme type where both the theme entries & and the clues are solid in the language with wordplay involved. Both Sam and Doug are masters at wordplay. I actually read the title as "Wordplay".
Across:
1. FLOTUS after Hillary: LAURA. Bush.
6. Result of a lost front tooth, perhaps: LISP.
10. Winter accessory: SCARF.
15. Docs doing deliveries: OBS.
18. Fairy tale bullies: OGRES.
19. Kuwaiti ruler: EMIR.
20. Gainbridge Fieldhouse player: PACER. The Indiana Pacers.
21. "Sussudio" singer Collins: PHIL.
25. Sword side: EDGE.
26. Ritzy: DELUXE.
27. PJ top, perhaps: CAMI.
28. Change one's story?: EDIT.
29. Handle: NAME.
30. Sift through: CULL.
32. Small stream: RILL.
34. "They set us up!": IT'S A TRAP. 42. Fail to cooperate?: ACT ALONE. 66. Real struggle: HARD TIME. 99. Gymnastics team gear: LEOTARDS. A few favorite fill in Across.
36. Italian "That'll do!": BASTA.
44. Timid souls: MICE.
45. Division I org. based in Arlington, Texas: WAC. OK, Western Athletic Conference.
46. Efficient: LEAN.
47. Diamond with hits: NEIL. Lovely clue.
49. Pita sandwiches: GYROS.
52. Rough and disorderly: ROWDY.
59. Checker's concern: FACT.
61. Loafer, e.g.: SHOE.
62. Souvenir shop staples: TEES.
63. Pop, to baby: DADA. Baba in Chinese.
68. Buckeyes' sch.: OSU.
74. Venn diagram grouping: SET.
75. 1960s sitcom family with a pet dragon named Spot: MUNSTERS.
77. Entreaty: PLEA.
78. Formerly, once: ERST.
80. Amount countable on one hand: A FEW.
81. Partially melted: SOFT. Hmm, frozen durian.
88. Six Flags attractions: RIDES.
90. Afternoon class hour: TWO PM.
93. 127-Across's Bonneville __ Flats: SALT. 127. Bryce Canyon National Park locale: UTAH.
94. Homeowner's overhaul, for short: RENO. Renovation.
95. ICU readout: EKG.
97. Response to something 98-Down: ROAR. 98. Laugh-out-loud funny: RIOTOUS.
107. Scanner brand: EPSON.
108. More than necessary: OVERMUCH. I just use "too much".
109. Wind with keys: OBOE.
110. Unnamed others: THEM.
112. Slimming procedure, for short: LIPO.
113. Gothic governess: EYRE.
115. Guesses from late guests, briefly: ETAS.
117. Lack of pep: ANEMIA.
121. "Hooked on Classics" record label: K-TEL.
125. Make waterproof: SEAL.
126. Doomed, so to speak: TOAST.
128. Run the __: GAMUT.
129. Couture monogram: YSL.
130. Weasel relative: OTTER.
131. Okay: SO SO.
132. Kimberly of "Diary of a Mad Black Woman": ELISE. Oh guess what? She was born in Minneapolis.
Down:
2. "The African Queen" screenwriter James: AGEE.
3. Intercontinental mountain range: URAL.
4. Second thoughts: RELUCTANCE. 38. "More to come": STAY TUNED. 76. Glazed treat: SWEET ROLL. And
79. Some recycling material: SCRAP METAL. And a few favorite Down fill.
5. Like one of the ace community: ASEXUAL.
6. Service that's neither good nor bad?: LET. Tennis.
7. Apple that comes in many colors: IMAC.
8. Lutelike instruments: SITARS.
9. Pump option: PREMIUM.
10. Lotion letters: SPF.
11. Central Perk, e.g.: CAFE. In "Friends".
12. Biting: ACIDIC.
13. Compete in a poetry slam: RECITE.
14. Tool that resembles a "P": FRETSAW.
15. "Fiddlesticks!": OH DARN.
16. Burger with a jingle listing its ingredients: BIG MAC.
17. Grumpy colleague: SLEEPY.
21. Whitsunday, by another name: PENTECOST. Seven Sundays after Easter.
23. Seasoning for French fries?: SEL. French for "salt".
24. North Sea work site: OIL RIG.
31. First part of many forms: LINE A.
33. Like many doilies: LACY.
35. Vegan panna cotta ingredient: AGAR. Never had "panna cotta". But agar is widely used in Chinese/Japanese desserts.
36. Lacking locks: BALD.
37. Laptop using ChromeOS, maybe: ACER.
40. Apt reply to "Does drei times drei equal acht?": NEIN. "Does three times three equal eight?"
41. Brand with a Kids Tactical Vest Kit: NERF.
43. Tiny outfits: ONESIES.
48. What a journalist might bury, in jargon: LEDE.
50. Home of surfing's Triple Crown: OAHU.
51. Slew: SCAD.
53. Teakettles and referees, e.g.: WHISTLERS.
54. Cake stand topper: DOME.
55. Chuck, casually: YEET.
57. What just isn't right?: LEFT. Fun clue also.
58. Hoarse voice: RASP.
60. Had a go at: TRIED TO. 96. Sticks on: GLUES TO. 106. Close by: NEAR TO.
64. ISP option: DSL.Stay away from CenturyLink.
65. "Gimme __": A SEC.
67. Nemo's forgetful friend: DORY.
68. Squad-mate of Tlaib and Pressley: OMAR. The Squad in the Congress. Ilhan Omar.
69. Islamic mystic: SUFI.
71. Easy gait: TROT.
72. "H.R. wouldn't like this" warning: NSFW.
73. New Mexico art community: TAOS.
82. Rishi Sunak, for one: TORY. The UK Prime Minister.
84. Algeria neighbor: MALI.
85. To-be: ELECT.
86. Ctrl+Z action: UNDO.
87. Cap'n's deputy: BOSN.
89. Whole alternative: SKIM.
91. Slightly, on scores: POCO.
92. Argentine grape: MALBEC. Looks sweet.
100. The first "T" in TMNT: TEENAGE.
101. Down-home: FOLKSY.
102. Offers with clickable RSVP's: E-VITES.
103. Overturn: REPEAL.
104. Pain relief brand with an oxymoronic name: ICY HOT.
105. Word with empty or veiled: THREAT.
111. Snarky syllable: HAR.
114. Instead: ELSE.
116. Daycation destinations: SPAS.
118. "Rent" role: MIMI.
119. Promising notes: IOUS.
120. Pay to play: ANTE.
123. Abbr. on a copier tray: LTR.
124. "Think so, eh?": OHO.
C.C.
