17A. *Doing more than is necessary : GOING OVER THE TOP.
22A. *Where secrets are kept : UNDER ONE'S HAT.
37A. *"The Elements of Style" co-author : E.B. WHITE.
39A. *"We're even!" : IT'S A TIE.
(and)
47A. *Words before a flip : HEADS OR TAILS.
58A. Celebration suggested by words that end answers to starred clues : A NIGHT ON THE TOWN.
Well, I have to admit, that the theme eluded me until I got to the reveal. But I loves me an old musical, and Fred Astaire is at the top of my list...or is it Gene Kelly???
Marti reporting in today, with heartfelt thanks to Lemony for his courageous effort in writing up (yet another) definition puzzle yesterday!
Across:
1. Williams' partner in paint : SHERWIN. Timely entry for me - we are buying an investment property that needs a TON of Sherwin-Williams paint!
8. Vivid : GRAPHIC.
15. Former and current Yankee Alfonso : SORIANO. (I only needed 7 perps, and nailed it!)
16. "How sexy!" : OOH LA LA.
19. Decorates on mischief night, briefly : TPS. How naughty!
20. Norwegian saint : OLAF. V-F dilemma...perps made the choice for me.
21. Bad marks in high school? : ACNE.
26. MD's "Pronto!" : STAT.
29. Habituate : ENURE. I wanted "inure." Here's the difference.
30. New York governor before Spitzer : PATAKI. 1995-2006.
33. Prefix with tarsal : META. Foot bones connected to the ankle bone...
34. Mean: Abbr. : AVG. Hi Avg Joe!
41. OK hours : CST. Central Standard Time in Oklahoma.
42. Hot stuff : LAVA.
44. Toady : YES MAN.
45. "Blue Jasmine" director : ALLEN. Woody. New release with Cate Blanchett and Alec Baldwin. Has anyone seen it?
46. Map speck : ISLE.
53. Household name in household humor : ERMA. Bombeck.
54. Bologna bone : OSSO. Had to wait for perps before deciding on OSSa or OSSO.
55. Local center? : CEE. If you haven't caught on to these "letter" clues, you need to start cramming now:
Can opener?
Head of compliance?
Corner opening?
Capital of Colorado?
First character to appear in "Carmen"?
Chess opening?
63. Frequent park statue visitors : PIGEONS.
64. "Show Boat" (1936) standout : ROBESON. Paul. 4:19 Outstanding, indeed.
65. Gives a kick : SEASONS. Bam!
66. Hanging in the balance : AT STAKE.
Down:
1. Army NCO : SSGT. Staff Sergeant.
2. Earring shape : HOOP.
3. Most massive known dwarf planet : ERIS. Not a clue.
4. Dog star's first name? : RIN. Haha..."dog star" is the common name for Sirius, in the constellation Canis Major (big dog). Rin Tin Tin.
5. It may be covered : WAGON. I had WAG** and wanted WAGer. But that was just a WAG.
6. "__ Chicago": 1937 Tyrone Power film : IN OLD. About the Chicago Fire of 1871.
7. Exploding stars : NOVAE. Anyone else put NOVAs without checking perps??
8. Brit's oath : GOR. Euphemism for "G-d."
9. Balderdash : ROT.
10. Contented sigh : AHH.
11. "Say __" : PLEASE. Ahhhhh.
12. Contrive : HATCH.
13. Actress Massey : ILONA. Another figure from the '30s.
14. French royal name of yore : CAPET. From 987 - 1328.
18. Violinist Zimbalist : EFREM. Retired for the first time in 1949. Then again in 1955.
22. The Colorado runs through it : UTAH.
23. R.E.M.'s "The __ Love" : ONE I. Here's the video. 3:18
24. Bonkers : NUTTY.
25. Use a Pink Pearl : ERASE. Eraser made by Paper Mate.
26. Project detail, briefly : SPEC.ification.
27. They're run at bars : TABS.
28. Chem lab abbr. : AT. WT. ATomic WeighT.
31. Defeats, as a bill : KILLS.
32. European prefix : ITALO.
34. Green machines? : ATMS. Nice misdirection. Anyone remember these? 0:33
35. Medical lab vessel : VIAL.
36. Item in a pool : GENE.
38. "Did you __?!" : EVER. Having the theme in mind, I instinctively wanted to write EVAH. 3:29
40. Surplus store caveat : AS IS.
43. "Three Sisters" playwright Chekhov : ANTON.
45. Bits of advice from gramps, perhaps : ADAGES.
47. Jalopies : HEAPS.
48. "Sesame Street" striped-shirt wearer : ERNIE.
49. Cuban girlfriend : AMIGA.
50. Latin stars : ASTRA.
51. Enjoys a lucky streak : IS HOT. Parsed differently, the clue could have been "___ the Sheriff."
52. Editor Marshall and singer Lisa : LOEBS.
55. Toledo thing : COSA.
56. "Star Wars" creature : EWOK.
57. Kin of -ess : ENNE.
59. "Woo-__!" : HOO. I'm almost done!
60. Old Opry network : TNN. The Nashville Network.
61. 1942 FDR creation : OSS. Office of Strategic Services.
62. Asian occasion : TET.
And that's it for this week!
Marti
