Theme: "I Have To Ask" - Each common phrase is humorously reinterpreted as a question fitting the corresponding clue.
23. "Is he really the best actor for the role?": CASTING DOUBT
34. "Why is this keyboard key bigger than the others?": SPACE PROBE.
50. "How did the magician do that?": TRICK QUESTION.
68. "Is this actually a vegan burger?": BEYOND SUSPICION. Beyond Burger.
91. "Can you do me a favor?": FRIEND REQUEST.
103. "It's 'abracadabra,' not 'hocus-pocus,' right?": SPELLCHECK.
119. "How many Grammy Awards has Ms. Nicks won?": STEVIE WONDER.
I enjoyed very much this puzzle. Fun theme clues. Perfect title. So many gorgeous Down fill.
Another LAT debut. And a Sunday. I think this is our Ryan. Congrats, Ryan!
Across:
7. Cumin, for one: SPICE. Essential seasoning in Xinjiang lamb kabobs.
12. Sci. class: BIO.
15. Nile cobras: ASPS.
19. "Seinfeld" character: ELAINE. Benes.
20. Church instrument: ORGAN.
21. Estimate qualifier: ISH. 62. Estimate qualifier: OR SO.
25. Opening: GAP.
26. Lawn care brand: TORO. Based here in Minnesota.
27. U-turn from NNW: SSE.
28. Soaps, e.g.: DRAMAS.
29. Close tightly: SEAL.
30. CPR experts: EMTS.
31. Superlative suffix: EST.
33. "College GameDay" airer: ESPN.
36. Dream stage: REM.
38. Jedi played by Daisy Ridley: REY.
40. Long-snouted animals: TAPIRS.
42. Goal: AIM.
43. Makes blank: ERASES.
45. Incision: SLIT.
46. Rating systems: SCALES.
55. Go to a cafe, say: EAT OUT.
56. Caramel candies: ROLOS.
57. Lion voiced by Moira Kelly and Beyoncé: NALA.
58. Superfan: STAN. With a negative connotation.
61. Water line: SHORE.
63. Golden Arches sandwiches: MCRIBS.
65. Own (up): FESS.
67. Cut: MOW.
76. Ivy League school in Connecticut: YALE.
77. Lot attendants: VALETS.
78. Other, in Spanish: OTRO.
82. Not mainstream: NICHE.
84. Very little: A DAB.
87. Apple variety: GALA. Can't wait for the peach and nectarine season. Had enough apples this winter.
88. Work __: ETHIC.
89. Wealthy family on HBO's "The Gilded Age": ASTORS.
94. "Beauty and the Beast" villain: GASTON.
95. Snack introduced in 1912: OREO.
96. "You, Me and __": rom-com starring Owen Wilson: DUPREE.
97. Director Roth: ELI.
98. Gear for benched players: PIANOS. Piano bench.
101. "Houdini" singer Lipa: DUA.
102. Colony worker: ANT.
107. Seized auto: REPO.
109. Sass: LIP.
111. Pic takers: CAMS. Hey, first cache for me.
112. Hawaiian coffee region: KONA.
113. Subway handholds: STRAPS.
115. Connections and Spelling Bee publisher, for short: NYT.
117. Jessica of "Fantastic Four": ALBA.
118. Geologic span: EON.
123. Pi follower: RHO.
124. "Understood": ROGER.
125. Cactus bud: AREOLE. Learned from a previous LAT puzzle.
126. Cry from a bad driver?: FORE. Golfer after a bad tee drive.
127. Adage: SAW.
128. Tablets at some checkout counters: IPADS.
129. Came together: MERGED.
Down:
2. Word of regret: ALAS.
3. Blasted messages: MASS EMAILS. More great fill: 12. Conference with Providence and Villanova: BIG EAST. 14. "You're being ridiculous!": OH PLEASE. 69. Dad joke reaction, perhaps: EYE ROLL. 79. Spot that might make people feel comfortable?: THERAPY DOG. 83. Where people on vacation may store their bread?: HOTEL SAFE. 95. Filter option on some search results: OPEN NOW.
4. Gives more than a licking?: BITES. Fun clue.
5. Singer DiFranco: ANI.
6. Wire: SEND.
7. Crushes, e.g.: SODAS. This Crush.
8. Cue: PROMPT.
9. Tropical lizard: IGUANA.
10. Airport waiters: CABS. Wait-ers.
11. Doc who treats sinusitis: ENT.
13. Physicist Newton: ISAAC.
16. Replay speed: SLO MO.
17. Second installment: PART B.
18. Slangy "Let's say ... ": S'POSE.
24. Earl __ tea: GREY.
29. Netflix series featuring track stars: SPRINT.
32. Long hikes: TREKS.
34. Buildings near barns: SILOS.
35. Fashion designer Paloma: PICASSO. Daughter of Pablo Picasso.
36. Old-school: RETRO.
37. Goof: ERROR.
39. Law firm abbr.: ESQ.
41. Trident-shaped Greek letter: PSI.
44. Nickname used by Shaggy: SCOOB.
47. Weaving device: LOOM.
48. German currency: EURO.
49. Hearty meal: STEW. Chinese stew.
51. 7UP nickname, with "the": UNCOLA.
52. Made: EARNED.
53. Moved smoothly: SLID.
54. Surfer's subwindows: TABS.
59. Off the beaten path: AFIELD.
60. Divine drink of Greek mythology: NECTAR.
63. "Smoove Jones" R&B singer: MYA.
64. Santa Fe, for one: SUV. Our car.
66. Fam member: SIS.
70. Herb in some rituals: SAGE. Smudging.
71. Strategy: PLAN.
72. Still in bed: NOT UP.
73. Hiccup: SNAG.
74. Tuscan tower town: PISA.
75. Takes steps: ACTS.
80. Out of bed: RISEN.
81. A side of pawns, in chess: OCTET.
85. Continent that's home to Victoria Falls: AFRICA.
86. Shatter: BREAK.
88. Peer: EQUAL.
90. Official chocolate bar sponsor of the NFL: SNICKERS.
92. Charged particle: ION.
93. Ending for some college addresses: EDU.
99. "Wednesday" actress Jenna: ORTEGA.
100. Started a tennis rally: SERVED.
101. "Cool!": DOPE.
103. Winter wrap: SCARF.
104. Prefix with -lithic: PALEO.
105. Bonfire remnant: EMBER.
106. Ruckus: HOOHA.
108. Socks, hopefully: PAIRS.
110. Baltimore's __ Harbor: INNER.
113. Halt: STOP.
114. Freestyled, perhaps: SWAM. More into breaststrokes.
Finally off the month-long predisone. Steroid withdrawal symptoms are real.
116. Lead-in to health: TELE.
119. __ Lanka: SRI.
120. Minecraft block: ORE.
121. Checkers side: RED.
C.C.
