Theme: "Zero G" - G is removed from each common phrase.
23. Judges in a best brie competition?: CHEESE RATERS. Cheese graters.
31. Truly blessed commuter line?: THE HOLY RAIL. The Holy Grail.
48. Tirade that begins, "Why can't those Sirens just shut up!?," e.g.?: ULYSSES' RANT. Ulysses Grant.
66. Rotate crops of corn?: SWITCH EARS. Switch gears.
68. The weather forecast Snap, Crackle, and Pop were hoping for?: RAIN OF RICE. Grain of rice.
84. Party debriefs?: HOST STORIES. Ghost stories.
101. Intercom message when a young boy arrives at the office?: LAD TO SEE YOU. Glad to see you.
115. Cause of longing in a long-distance marriage?: A BRIDE TOO FAR. A bridge too far.
The last one is the only entry where G is removed from inside. Easier to drop it from the start.
Very impressive grid for a Sunday debut. Congrats, Matt!
He used 142 words and only 69 blacks squares. I always have to use up all the 78 black squares allowed for a 21x21 LAT.
Across:
1. Sporty Mazdas: MIATAS.
7. Kilt feature: PLEAT.
12. Covert org.: CIA.
15. Adobe exports: PDFS.
19. "It's five __ somewhere!": O'CLOCK.
20. Israeli port city: HAIFA.
21. "Ta-da!": AND VOILA. And
25. Lusty reaction: VAVA VOOM. Crossing the stack of 7's. Lovely.
26. Mata __: HARI.
27. "GoodFellas" Oscar winner: PESCI. He's also in "Casino", one of Boomer's favorite movies.
28. Small, in France: PETIT.
29. Dove sound: COO.
30. Env. directive: ATTN.
34. Michael of "Barbie": CERA.
35. 102-Down goddess: GAIA. 102. Realm of 35-Across: EARTH.
37. Party-planning site: EVITE.
38. Geographic pit: BASIN.
39. MMA org.: UFC.
42. Pinkberry rival: TCBY. Never been to this place.
44. Joan of folk music: BAEZ.
45. Insert marks: CARETS.
46. Gets on, as a horse: MOUNTS.
52. Phony: POSER.
53. Unite while away: ELOPE.
54. "The Yearling" animal: DEER.
55. Espy: SPOT.
59. Comics sound effect: THWACK. Consonants-heavy.
61. Roll on a field: TARP.
63. Soybean paste: MISO.
65. Buckeyes' sch.: OSU.
71. Philosophy associated with yin and yang: TAO. 72. New Mexico art hub: TAOS. Not dupe. Different roots.
73. Glasses, colloquially: SPEX.
75. Hardwired: INNATE.
76. Harmonized, with "in": SYNC.
78. Eats: SUPS.
80. Poe's middle name: ALLAN.
82. French __ soup: ONION.
87. In a crass way: RUDELY.
88. Dr. Evil's sidekick: MINI-ME.
91. "May I say ... ": AHEM.
92. Iowa college city: AMES.
94. Tabloid: RAG.
95. Mixed in with: AMONG.
96. Japanese beer: KIRIN. Same as Chinese Qilin. Mythical creature with a dragon's head, deer's body, and ox's tail. Symbol of good fortune & prosperity.
98. Follow the rules: OBEY.
100. Back muscles, to trainers: LATS.
105. Pillbox letters: AM PM.
109. Previously: AGO.
110. Prince of Troy: PARIS.
111. Cancel: ABORT.
112. Dance in "Lilo & Stitch": HULA.
113. Snack with green filling: MINT OREO.
118. Diamond in the rough, e.g.: UNCUT GEM. I can't tell.
119. Hanukkah fare: LATKE.
120. Mysteriously alluring: EXOTIC.
121. Spec item: DEET.
122. Mantra syllables: OMS.
123. Musical theater legend Merman: ETHEL.
124. Hoedown go-round: DO-SI-DO.
Down:
1. Chocolaty cafe order: MOCHA.
2. Bygone Apple messaging tool: ICHAT.
3. Heads-up: ALERT.
4. __ the line: TOEING.
5. Summer coolers, briefly: ACS. Gorgeous weather here in MN.
6. Doubters: SKEPTICS.
7. Segment: PHASE.
8. Gate closer: LATCH.
9. "With a moo moo here ... " preceder: E I E I O.
10. Sahara continent: Abbr.: AFR.
11. Prof aides: TAS.
12. Word of warning: CAVEAT.
13. How tic-tac-toe often ends: IN A TIE.
14. Motrin competitor: ADVIL.
15. PBS documentary film series: POV.
16. Bishop's territory: DIOCESE.
17. Put the pedal to the metal: FLOOR IT.
18. Some Pacific Islanders: SAMOANS.
22. Large container: VAT.
24. Amy Winehouse hit: REHAB.
28. Highly valued: PRIZED.
32. Renter: LEASER.
33. Part of YSL: YVES.
34. Supermarket supply: CARTS.
36. Work like a magnet: ATTRACT.
38. Prohibit: BAN.
39. Official behind a catcher: UMP.
40. Walking path: FOOTWAY.
41. Chair softener: CUSHION.
43. "The King and I" star Brynner: YUL.
44. Avoid: BYPASS.
45. "The Tonight Show" icon: CARSON. Here's Johnny.
47. Small salamander: NEWT.
49. Tolkien epic, familiarly: LOTR. The Lord of the Rings.
50. Late tourney round: SEMI.
51. Control: REIN IN.
53. Barely manage, as a win: EKE OUT.
56. Actor/director Sidney: POITIER.
57. Seminole leader of the 19th century: OSCEOLA. We had him before.
58. First pt. of many a short week: TUE. OK, Monday off. Tuesday
is always my hardest day, as I took 4 methotrexate in the
morning, then 4 in the afternoon. All my future SIMPONI ARIA infusions
are on Tuesdays also. The first one starts on 5/20. Will see if I can
hit the high notes soon. Expensive stuff.
60. Gliding ballet move: CHASSE.
62. Early tourney round: PRELIM.
64. Futile: OF NO USE.
66. City map lines, briefly: STS.
67. Egyptian reptiles: ASPS.
69. Tricycle rod: AXLE.
70. Cape Town currency: RAND.
74. Aside containers, for short: PARENS. Parenthesis.
77. Does pull-ups: CHINS.
79. Beginnings: STARTS.
81. Light __ feather: AS A.
83. MetLife Stadium team, on scoreboards: NYG.
85. "Wowzers!": OMG.
86. Mississippi tributary: OHIO.
87. Countered, in a debate: REBUTTED.
88. "The Natural" novelist: MALAMUD. Roy Hobbs.
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89. Visualize: IMAGINE.
90. Never, or at least twice: NOT ONCE.
93. Roger who played James Bond seven times: MOORE.
96. NBA legend Abdul-Jabbar: KAREEM.
97. Phrases that don't translate well: IDIOMS.
99. Some Swift characters: YAHOOS. Jonathan Swift. "Gulliver's Travels".
101. Key __: LARGO.
103. Plug-in transport: EBIKE.
104. Peak performance?: YODEL. Alpine peak.
106. Muslim cleric: MUFTI.
107. Kilt feature: PLAID.
108. Name called out in a swimming pool: MARCO. Polo.
110. Coffee unit: POT.
114. Scolding syllable: TUT.
115. Pub order: ALE.
116. Stand at the plate: BAT.
117. Kitchen brand: OXO.
C.C.
