L.A.Times Crossword Corner

Dec 28, 2024

Saturday, December 28, 2024, Annemarie Brethauer, Katie Hale

Themeless Saturday by Annemarie Brethauer and Katie Hale

Annemarie worked for twenty years at a local government access channel as a writer/director/producer and was also used to being strictly behind the camera (Documentaries like "Know Your Zoning Code."). She is now retired and freelancing as a puzzle creator.

Katie Hale, originally from Houston, is now a stay-at-home mom in London and Patti's assistant editor for the LA Times puzzles. We have seen her in a collaborative role quite often. In fact, this is my fourth Saturday Themeless collaboration with these two constructors.

After a run of very difficult solves, this one proved to be much easier and fun to do although some of the cluing...

Across:

1. Skip-the-line status: TSA PRE - No hint of abbreviation

7. Ambulatory access: APSE - New use of ambulatory for me. It can be a noun denoting the passageway used to access an APSE

11. Out of sorts: OFF.

14. Wartime partners: ALLIES - In 1945, I doubt my dad and uncles would ever have perceived that Germany and Japan would become our ALLIES and Russia would not

15. "Golda" subject: MEIR.

16. Links target: PAR.

17. Heckles: BOOS AT.

18. Taylor Swift hit that begins, "I have this thing where I get older, but just never wiser": ANTI HERO.

20. Take revenge: SETTLE OLD SCORES - Do politicians really do this? 🤔

22. Base runner's assertion: I'M SAFE - Shohei Ohtani pleads his case

23. Whac-A-Mole move: BASH.

24. First name in boxing: LAILA.

27. Penalty area in rugby, familiarly: SIN BIN.

30. Mantra sounds: OMS.

31. Sleeve element, for short: TAT - Howard and Raj got fake, slip-on TATS on Big Bang Theory to attract goth girls

33. Mexican-inspired casserole: TACO PIE - or a Frito Pie

37. Tusked pinniped: WALRUS.

39. Full-bodied: ROBUST.

40. "Ta-ta!": CHEERIO.

42. Disco guy on "The Simpsons": STU.

43. Univ. that sends acceptances on Pi Day: MIT ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ but interesting

44. Turn down: REFUSE - Henry turned down a famous role that went to John

46. Tibet's capital: LHASA - McDonalds took its business to new heights at this restaurant in LHASA at an elevation of 12,123'

48. Title fellow in a 1922 Broadway hit: ABIE.

51. Spanish store: TIENDA.

"I want a bag "What color?"

53. Competition for queens: RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE.

59. Wade Wilson's alter ego: DEADPOOL ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

60. "Shaun of the Dead" genre: ZOM COM - ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ A zombie comedy

61. Terminate: END.

62. Hill partner: DALE - Before the U.S. Army used the phrase...

63. "Take a chill pill!": COOL IT -

64. Figs.: NOS.

65. FanDuel list: ODDS - Here's how FanDuel sees the betting on today's Pinstripe Bowl. The Huskers are a 2.5 pt. favorite. On the Moneyline, you have to bet $132 straight up to win $100.

66. Makes invalid: ANNULS - Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman had their Las Vegas post-partying marriage ANNULLED nine days later

Down:

1. Window openings: TABS 😀 I always have too many open

2. Blackthorn: SLOE.

3. Lazy answer to "How many stars are in the sky?": A LOT.

4. Ovary plus stigma plus style: PISTIL.

5. Response to a puerile joke: REAL MATURE.

6. Newbery Medal winner Eleanor: ESTES ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

7. Coastal town at the foot of Monte Cerreto: AMALFI.

8. Suspended: PENDENT.

9. Gets ready to drive: SITS.

10. NFL Hall of Fame running back Dickerson: ERIC.

$550

11. Work traditionally performed without microphones: OPERA 😊

12. Uber passengers: FARES.

13. Ninth grader: FROSH.

19. Mix (with): HOBNOB.

21. Brewery kiln: OAST.

24. Note played by covering every hole on a recorder: LOW C - We called them tonettes when I was in school

25. Eastern nanny: AMAH.

26. __ of Man: ISLE.

28. Syst. that connects to Caltrain: BART - Bay Area Rapid Transit connects at Millbrae, CA.