Sunday June 22, 2024 Gary Larson

Theme: "Commercial Free" - AD is removed from each common phrase.

23A. Like a kid wearing a tutu and a superhero cape?: SELF DRESSED. Self-addressed.

47A. Parental agenda that involves claims like, "You never call, you never text ... "?: MISSION OF GUILT. Admission of guilt.

67A. Compose a second draft of a hit song from "Cats"?: REWRITE MEMORY. Read-write memory.

89A. Good title for a reflective book on the life of a rap Dr.?: EXISTENTIAL DRE. Existential dread.

111A. Carnival?: RIO ACTIVITY. Radioactivity.

3D. Flashy accessories for hair curlers?: ROLLER BLING. Rollerblading.

69D. The guilty pleasure of using WebMD to second-guess one's doctor?: MEDICAL VICE. Medical advice.

I like how ADS are removed all over the place. Not just start or end. Sometimes consistency is good, but it also makes themers easier to obtain. 

Across:

1. Solitaire unit: CARAT.

6. Brownish pigment: UMBER.

11. Two-beat gait: TROT.

15. Leg part: SHIN. Not CALF.

19. Go gaga for: ADORE.

20. Baker's tool: SIEVE.

21. Country whose anthem is "Amhrán na bhFiann": EIRE. Google shows it's called "The Soldier's Song" in English.

22. Five-O: POPO. Slang for cops.

25. Like viruses: ACELLULAR. I only know Cellular.

27. Right angle shape: ELL.

28. __ buco: OSSO.

29. "__ we go again": HERE.

31. 2021 role for Kristen Stewart: LADY DI. The film is "Spencer".

32. "Looks that way": SEEMS TO.

35. Zane Grey setting: OLD WEST.

37. Uses the << button on a remote: REWINDS.

40. Former Ford: TORINO.

41. 17-Down array: APPS. 17. Surface alternative: IPAD.

45. Buffalo NHL team: SABRES.

50. Lashes, e.g.: CILIA. Did you know these little bumps under your eyes are called milia?

51. Racket head shape: OVAL.

52. Flow out forcefully: SPEW.

53. Folktronica musician Beth: ORTON.  Wikipedia says "Folktronica mixes elements of folk and electronica". New to me.

54. Missing: OMITTED.

56. Copycat: APE.

58. Raises a glass to: TOASTS.

59. Changeable camera part: LENS.

60. Disapprove, in a way: VOTE NO.

63. Some protagonists: HEROES.

66. B.S., e.g.: DEG.

69. Prefix with life or wife: MID.

72. Looked after: TENDED.

73. Copycats: MIMICS.

74. Transfer to a new city, informally: RELO.

75. Declare to be true: ATTEST.

78. Fleet org.: USN.

79. Fixated (on): HOMED IN.

81. Meat, in Mexico: CARNE. Called Rou in Chinese. My hometown Xi'an is known for its Rou Jia Mo.

82. "Well, __ that precious!": ISN'T.

85. Let up: EASE.

88. Performed by skaters, say: ON ICE.

92. Indigenous Arizona people: APACHE.

93. Coin with olive and oak branches: DIME.

94. Poirot creator Christie: AGATHA.

95. Prom fabric: TAFFETA. I can't tell the differences.

97. Dad's dads: GRAMPAS.

98. In a big, big way: ROYALLY.

101. Get going: PROPEL.

105. Pub glass size: PINT.

106. Rosalind of "Mulan": CHAO.

108. Routing word: VIA.

109. Smaller than small: SUBATOMIC.

115. __ burn romance: SLOW. Like most Chinese romances. The song I danced to last week is very sad Chinese love song. Here's the original version. Sloooow burn.

116. Camp accommodation: BUNK.

117. Puccini work: OPERA.

118. "Attack!": SIC 'EM.

119. College freshman, often: TEEN.

120. Like French toast: EGGY.

121. Gets smaller, as the moon: WANES.

122. Reagan-era attorney general: MEESE. Ed. Still alive.

Down:

1. Suits in court: CASES.

2. "Set Fire to the Rain" singer: ADELE.

4. Sandy's bark: ARF.

5. Actor Danson: TED.

6. Employs against: USES ON.

7. Hit alternative: MISS.

8. "Eso __": Paul Anka hit: BESO.

9. Night before a big 55-Down: EVE. 55. Occasion: EVENT.

10. Spicy cinnamon candies: RED HOTS.

11. Sign of sorrow: TEARDROP.

12. __ vinegar: ingredient in sushi seasoning: RICE WINE. The brand I use.

13. Underground resource: ORE. 68. Went after 13-Down: MINED.

14. Relates a tale about: TELLS OF.

15. NBA great Webb: SPUD. 5'6".

16. "__ cow!": HOLY.

18. Seaweed snack: NORI.

24. Flatbreads served with some curries: ROTIS.

26. Back muscle, for short: LAT.

30. Mumford of "Fifty Shades of Grey": ELOISE. New to me also.

33. Earns: MERITS.

34. Hard work: SWEAT.

36. Sufficient, to Shakespeare: ENOW.

38. ID issuer: DMV.

39. "Unstoppable" singer: SIA. And 46. Pop singer Mann: AIMEE.

41. Ethereal glows: AURAS.

42. Olive discards: PITS.

43. Conspiracy: PLOT.

44. RR stops: STNS.

45. Reprimand: SCOLD.

48. Viewpoint: SLANT.

49. Like hot fudge: GOOEY. Never had fudge, cold or hot.

51. Chris of "The Sapphires": O'DOWD.

57. Ada Limón works: POEMS.

58. Top spot?: TORSO.

61. Half of sei: TRE.

62. __ al-Fitr: EID.

63. Shirt edge: HEM.

64. British recording giant: EMI.

65. Valium maker: ROCHE.

67. Zero out: RESET.

70. Tchaikovsky's middle name: ILICH. No idea.

71. Fundraiser beneficiary: DONEE.

72. Needing kneading: TENSE.

74. Italian soprano Tebaldi: RENATA. Meaning "reborn" in Italian.

75. Got top marks on: ACED.

76. Cab: TAXI.

77. Curtail: TRIM.

78. Moab resident: UTAHAN.

80. Glum: MOPEY.

82. Teri's "Young Frankenstein" role: INGA.

83. Putting one's foot down: STAMPING.

84. Overly critical: NIT-PICKY.

86. Frick collection: ART. In NYC.

87. Brighton attraction: SEA.

90. Spot for a stud or hoop: EARLOBE.

91. Edge of the nosebleed section: LAST ROW.

92. Happening now: AFOOT.

96. Brawl: FRACAS.

97. Figure out: GET.

99. The Chi-__: "Have You Seen Her" group: LITES. Also unknown to me.

100. "I'm so great!": YAY ME.

101. "I need to tell you something secret": PSST.

102. Cardinal __: RULE.

103. Flute neighbor in an orchestra: OBOE.

104. One of 16 in a chess set: PAWN.

106. Filmmaker Joel or Ethan: COEN. They grew up in St. Louis Park, MN.

107. Rabbit lookalike: HARE.

110. Coffee cup: MUG.

112. Craft beer letters: IPA.

113. Belief system suffix: ISM. This poster was in all our classrooms. It says "Long live Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought!" We don't use Maoism in China. Just Mao Zedong Thought.

114. Compete (for): VIE.

C.C.