Tuesday January 14, 2020 Roland Huget

It's What's Inside that Counts.  The circled letters spell out things that can make up the inner core.

17-Across. City near the Great Salt Lake: OGDEN UTAH.  Nut.

25-Across. "Be yourself," nowadays: KEEP IT REAL.  Pit.

36-Across. Casino advantage: HOUSE EDGE.  Seed.

51-Across. "Be right with you": JUST ONE SEC.  Stone.

And the Unifier:
61-Across. Earth's most central geologic layer ... or what can be found in each set of puzzle circles: INNER CORE.

Across:

1. Watering hole: BAR.  Some are quite literally watering holes.

4. African language group: BANTU.  Swahili is a Bantu language.

9. Suddenly took interest: SAT UP.

14. Québec street: RUE.  Today's French lesson.

15. Future oak: ACORN.

16. Way to go it: ALONE.  Time for a musical interlude.

19. Has to have: NEEDS.

20. Biceps exercises: CURLS.

Charles Atlas (Oct. 30, 1892 ~ Dec. 24, 1972)

21. Hosting a show, briefly: MC-ING.  As in being an Emcee, short for Master of Ceremonies.

23. Tennis do-over: LET.

24. Breyers __ Cookies & Cream: OREO.  A fresh new clue for our old crossword staple.

27. Arnaz-Ball production company: DESILU.  The production company is a combination of Desi and Lu(cy).

29. Muss, as hair: TOUSLE.

30. Magazine VIPs: EDs.  As in Editors.

31. Adjust to one's environment: ADAPT.

35. Old fast fliers: SSTs.  As in SuperSonic Transport, a crossword staple.  Why the Concorde was retired.

39. Fleshy fruit: POME.  According to Webster's, a Pome is a generic term for any fleshy fruit "consisting of an outers fleshy layer and a central core with usually five seeds in a capsule."  The best known example of a Pome is an Apple.  In fact, in French, the word for Apple is Pomme.  Other examples of Pomes, include: pears, quince, loquats, and pomegranates.

42. Barbecue spot: PATIO.

43. Can opener: TAB.

46. Feathered friends: AVIANS.  The obvious Birds was too few letters.

49. Beethoven's "Tempest," e.g.: SONATA.  Time for a musical interlude.  This piece is also known as Sonata No. 17 and was composed by Beethoven around 1801/1802. 

55. Chimps and gorillas: APES.

56. Furry sitcom extraterrestrial: ALF.  Alf (Alien Life Form) was a sit-com ran from the mid-1980s to 1990.  I never watched it, but am familiar with it because Alf makes frequent guest appearances in the puzzles.

57. Chutzpah: MOXIE.  Chutzpah is that quality in the man who kills his mother and father, then throws himself at the mercy of the court because he is an orphan.

58. Stick with a pin: PRICK.

59. Early American crop: MAIZE.  Scientists believe that maize was first domesticated in the Americas, probably in Mexico.  A large cache of ancient maize was discovered in a cave in New Mexico over a hundred years ago.

63. Geographer's volume: ATLAS.

64. Tokyo-based watchmaker: SEIKO.  I had a Seiko watch like this one.

65. No-frills bed: COT.

66. Filters (through): SEEPS.

67. Jacket material: TWEED.  I initially tried Denim.

68. "Very cute!" sounds: AWs!

Down:

1. Tacit rules of male friendship: BRO CODE.  If it is tacit, why is there a book about the Code?

2. Was a sign of: AUGURED.

3. Set right: REDRESS.

4. Passes a law against: BANS.

5. Pressure prefix: ACU-.  As in AcuWeather, which allows you to learn of weather conditions where you live.

6. "I'm innocent!": NOT ME!

7. Barely detectable amount: TRACE.

8. Far from cool: UNHIP.

"I recommend hip replacement surgery for men who aren't as hip as they used to be."

9. Serenaded: SANG TO.

10. Stein filler: ALE.  Time for another musical interlude.

11. Like many summer shoes: TOELESS.  I prefer sandals.

12. Still being shuffled: UNDEALT.

13. Tablet crushers: PESTLES.  Tricky clue.  I was thinking along the lines of an iPad, which I certainly wouldn't want to crush.

18. "The Time Machine" race: ELOI.  A crossword staple.  I have never read The Time Machine, but apparently there are two-post humans existing in the future and the Eloi are one.

22. Little point to pick: NIT.  No names in today's puzzle for nit-picking.

25. Spiral-horned antelope: KUDU.  These animals are native to Africa.

26. Tricky plan: RUSE.

28. Vientiane people: LAO.

32. Poisonous African snake: ASP.  It was the death of Cleopatra.

33. Stew morsel: PEA.  If you're a princess, it will keep you awake at night.

34. Vietnamese New Year: TET.  A crossword staple.

36. Cookbook verb: HEAT.  Stir probably used more often in the cookbooks.

37. Spinal segment: DISC.

38. Bit of baby talk: GOO.

39. Often-abbreviated attire: PAJAMAS.  As in PJs, or as we say in my house: Jammie-Jams.

40. Produce eggs: OVULATE.

41. Put in the wrong folder: MISFILE.

43. Pudding choice: TAPIOCA.  I think of Tapioca pudding as a comfort food.

44. Was humiliated: ATE CROW.

45. Laundry holders: BASKETS.   Do you use a laundry basket or a clothes hamper?

47. "Easy to clean" ad claim: NO MESS.  I initially tried, No Muss.

48. __-Cat: winter vehicle: SNO.

50. DEA agent: NARC.

52. Live: EXIST.

53. Muscular power: SINEW.

54. Start of a counting rhyme: EENIE.  A final musical interlude.

58. Cattle poker: PROD.

60. Microwave: ZAP.

62. Squeeze (out): EKE.

Here's the Grid:

LSU: #1 in Football and Beer Consumption

QOD:  In conversation, remember you’re more interested in what you’re saying than anyone else is.  ~  Andy Rooney (né Andrew Aitken Rooney; Jan. 14, 1919 ~ Nov. 4, 2011), American television personality

Note from C.C.:

Happy Birthday to dear JD, who used to be very active on our blog. Now she's busy with four grandkids and other volunteer work. We miss your daily presence, JD!

JD & Bob

Monday January 13, 2019 Matt McKinley

Theme: Californian Hoopers

 18. Manicurist's tool: NAIL CLIPPER.

28. Eponymous '60s-'80s "Airways" entrepreneur: FREDDIE LAKER.

47. Attacker or defender of online information systems: CYBER WARRIOR.

62. "It" novelist: STEPHEN KING.

Reveal:

65. Org. for the ends of 18-, 28-, 47- and 62-Across): NBA

 

68. Home state for the ends of 18-, 28-, 47- and 62-Acr.: CAL.

 

Boomer here.  

Well, football season has ended here in Minnesota.  Good luck to the NFL teams that remain.  Although the NBA theme of this puzzle is a different sport and that season ended in Minnesota AROUND 1959.  Luckily, bowling season is still with us so here we go.

Across:

1. Hanks who plays Mr. Rogers: TOM.  I like him in "A League of Their Own".

4. Spanish houses: CASAS.

9. Watched secretly: SPIED.

14. Dr.'s group: AMA.  Stands for "I AM A Doctor"

15. Scarlett of fiction: O'HARA.  Shocking line in "Gone with the Wind".  "Frankly my dear. I don't give a d..."  Shocking four letter word in a 1939 movie.

16. African river: CONGO.  In the middle of Africa.  Flows into the Atlantic.

17. Server of shots: BAR. "Bar tender" is the actual server.

20. Word with sprawl or renewal: URBAN.  Also the name of Popes in the third and eleventh centuries

22. Norse trickster: LOKI.

23. Walrus feature: TUSK.  "I am the egg man, they are the egg men, I am the walrus" (The Beatles)

24. Made stuff up: LIED.

26. Like Mattel's Cathy doll: CHATTY.  My sister had one of these.  You had to pull a plastic ring on a string to get her to chat.

33. Like desperate straits: DIRE.

34. Send with a stamp: MAIL.  The first class stamp is now $.55.  Besides me, who remembers when it was .03 cents?

35. Old Detroit brewer: STROH.

39. Like frozen roads: ICY.  It's really bad here.  I hate to complain because Minnesota is my home.  But we had snow two weeks ago, then it melted a bit, then it got cold again and guess what happened.

40. Resolves out of court: SETTLES.  I would prefer ___ like dust, on the shoulders of the old friends.  (Simon and Garfunkel).

42. Paris summer: ETE.

43. Spot for a friendly kiss: CHEEK.

45. Bit of cat talk: MEOW.

46. Mennen lotion: AFTA.  I don't use it.  Got some "Old Spice" for Christmas.

50. Water heater: BOILER.

53. Nuremberg no: NEIN.  I learned a few words when I was in Deutschland.  This was ein of them.

54. German auto: AUDI.  A German vehicle.  If offered to me, I am afraid I would say nein danka.

55. Movie lab assistant: IGOR.  He did the monster MASH.

59. President #2: ADAMS.  John.

66. Remove the chalk: ERASE.  A "Stay after school" punishment.

67. Muslim holy city: MECCA.

69. Monica of tennis: SELES.

70. Beautify: ADORN.  "Major League II"  ADORN bought the Cleveland Indians from the lady.

71. Suffix with Japan or Milan: ESE.

Down:

1. "Forbidden" fragrance: TABU.

2. Actor Epps: OMAR.  Rep. Ilhan of Minnesota makes the news too frequently with negative opinions.

3. Bakery item Jerry stole from an old woman in a classic "Seinfeld" episode: MARBLE RYE.  It was the last one the bakery had.

4. Fooled in a swindle: CONNED.

5. "Figured it out!": AHA.

6. Windsurfing need: SAIL."We sail the ocean blue, in our saucy ships of beauty"  Gilbert & Sullivan.

7. Guthrie of folk: ARLO.  "You can get anything you want, at Alice's Restaurant."

8. Quarterback-tackling stat: SACK.  Saw a few of these on Saturday.

9. Biol. or ecol.: SCI.

10. Toaster snack: POP TART.

11. Data to enter: INPUT.

12. Spew out: EGEST.

13. Not at all cool: DORKY.

19. Kiss from a pooch: LICK.  I HATE that Allstate commercial.  Where do they come up with tripe like that.

21. Teacher's helper: AIDE.

25. Ten-cent piece: DIME.  U.S. keeps messing with quarters and dollar coins, but the good old FDR ten center remains the same.

27. Gas brand with toy trucks: HESS.  A collectable toy tow truck.

28. Bank acct.-protecting org.: FDIC.

29. Wealthy: RICH.  "Happy Days RICHie Cunningham:.  Not OPIE

30. Cake directive Alice obeyed: EAT ME.  First she drank the "Drink Me" potion and became too small.  So than she tried some "Eat me" cake and blew up like a balloon. A little more potion and she was Just Right. 

31. Soda bottle buy: LITER.  Mostly in Europe. Also a white wine buy.  I think Canadian gasoline is sold by the Liter.  It sounds cheaper that way.

32. Permit: ALLOW.  First you get a driver's permit. Then soon you need to spend your allowance on a car.

36. Arrange new terms for, as a loan: REFINANCE.  Banks and loan companies always make this sound like a good deal.  I feel sorry for people that have to refinance due to cash flow issues. 

37. Bart's bus driver: OTTO.

38. Perceive aurally: HEAR.  What??

40. Terrier type: SKYE.  In an Island off Scotland.

41. McGregor of "Doctor Sleep": EWAN.

44. "Total" 2017 event visible in a coast-to-coast path from Oregon to South Carolina: ECLIPSE.

46. Very dry: ARID.

48. Soft French cheese: BRIE.

49. President #40: REAGAN.  One of two Presidents whose history included a divorce.

50. Diamond quartet: BASES.  The Twins used to have an announcer named John Gordon who would shout "Touch 'em all" whenever a Twin hit a home run --BORING

51. Off-the-wall: OUTRE.

52. Perfect: IDEAL.  It's a wonderful toy --- "It's Ideal" (Commercial.)

56. Govt.-owned home financing gp.: GNMA.  Sometimes called Ginnie Mae.  They might do a refinance.

57. Gave the nod to: OK'ED.

58. Wealthy, to Juan: RICO.  You would think the Hurricane was bad enough.  Now they are living in the results of an earthquake.

60. Corp. execs' degrees: MBAS.

61. January "white" event: SALE.  Pitcher Chris who the Red Sox got from the White Sox.

63. "For __ a jolly ... ": HE'S. --- Good Fellow.

64. ATM giant: NCR.  Remember when you could request $25.00 or $50.00?? Those were pretty stingy machines.

Boomer

Notes from C.C.:

Here are three fantastic pictures from Spitzboov. Cute and handsome.

 I’m 17 mos, old.  Before we moved upstate to the farm

I’m being hoisted into the helicopter from the ship’s fantail for transfer to the carrier Randolph in the right center background.

I’m in my full-dress whites - on occasion of ship’s change of command ceremony.  Sporting Lt.jg shoulder boards.

Sunday January 12, 2020 David Alfred Bywaters

Theme: "Up Above" - Up is added to front of each theme entry.

  

3. Like many characters in 22-Across?: UPSET TO MUSIC. And 22. Mozart works: OPERAS. One more cross-reference: 24. Mozart works for 22-Across: OVERTURES.

12. Fashion house employee?: UPSCALE MODEL. Scale model.

14. Belt firms?: UPHOLDING COMPANIES. Holding companies.

25. Some online forum posts?: UPLOADED QUESTIONS. Loaded questions.

28. Like an enthusiastic shrubbery salesperson?: UPBEAT ABOUT THE BUSH. Beat about the bush.

 

63. Unwanted piano key noise?: UPRIGHT CLICK. Right-click.

66. Niacin and protein, say?: UPSIDE OF BEEF. Side of beef.

Great visual! We don't often see theme entries placed in Down entries, unless the theme itself dictates, with reveals like DOWN *, or * FALLS.

One of the simple themes from David. His puzzles often have tricky wordplay.

Across:

1. Cozy: SNUG.

5. Dublin-based air conditioner company: TRANE. Ours is Rheem.

10. Fontaine filler: EAU. French "Fountain". Also 40. Fromage hue: BLEU.

13. Red and blue: PURPLE.

19. Sulk: MOPE.

20. Seriously flirt with: HIT ON.

21. Matterhorn or Jungfrau: ALP.

23. Informally formal entry announcement: IT'S I.

26. "Friends" friend: PHOEBE. "Smelly Cat".

27. "Friday I'm in Love" group: THE CURE.

29. Google __: MAPS. And 47. Google __: EARTH.

30. Rival of J.H. and W.K. Kellogg: CW POST. Post Cereals.

32. From bottom __: TO TOP.

33. Hiker's path: TRAIL.

35. Hall with Oates: DARYL.

36. Clear (of): RID.

39. Ambulance worker, briefly: EMT.

42. Unhappily unaccompanied: LONELY.

44. Holder of rays: DAISY. Can't wait to see this again.

46. Modernist's prefix: NEO.

49. Staff helper: AIDE.

50. Big finish: FINALE.

51. Intend: MEAN.

53. Bad sort whose second syllable is often dropped: HOODLUM. Hood.

55. Hart part: ANTLER.

56. Incisively sarcastic: CAUSTIC.

59. Intl. supporter of the arts: UNESCO. My pal Lesley (the Guangzhou girl) was in Xi'an last week. She went to this UNESCO site of course.

60. Metric wts.: KGS.

61. "__ luego": HASTA.

62. Enticed: LURED.

64. Like some ancient Icelandic works: EDDIC.

66. Strike caller: UMP.

69. Bigeye or yellowfin: AHI.

70. Appliance alert: BEEP.

72. Times and Herald, in NYC: SQS. Squares.

74. 21-year-old currency: EURO.

75. Taro dish: POI. Never tried poi. I bet I'll love it, since I love taro.

76. U.S. org. chaired by the president: NSC.

77. Aerosol targets: ODORS.

79. Eurasian range: URALS.

81. Surveying partner of Dixon: MASON. Oh, the Mason–Dixon line guys.

83. Area __: RUG.

84. They may abut peninsulas: INLETS.

86. "Kim" author: KIPLING.

88. Scold: BERATE.

91. Loses it: GOES APE. Surprise to see GONE PRO (100. Surrendered amateur status).

93. Incursion: RAID.

94. Calendar listings: EVENTS.

95. Search: HUNT.

96. Name after Paul or before Peter: SIMON.

98. Chicken source ... and product: EGG. We also have 124. Chicken choice: BREAST.

101. Often perpendicular measure: DEPTH.

102. Get to: ATTAIN.

104. Hindu princess: RANI.

105. Conquistador's treasure: ORO. The Korean "gold" is just "Kim", like Kim Jong-un.

106. Significant period: ERA.

107. The "Iliad" and the "Odyssey": EPICS.

109. Like some cookies: OATEN.

111. Impish: ELFIN. Spitzboov, do you have a childhood picture to share with us?

113. Submit a new invoice to: RE-BILL.

115. No longer fooled by: ONTO.

116. Render nonfunctional: DISABLE.

118. "Absolutely!": SO TRUE.

120. Mutton dish: IRISH STEW. Here is a well-known Xi'an mutton dish (Paomo).

123. Rightmost menu, often: HELP.

125. CO rank: COL.

126. Northeast express train: ACELA.

127. One in the headlights?: DEER.

128. 1994 Grammy Lifetime Achievement awardee: ARETHA.

129. Way in: KEY.

130. Grandmas: NANAS.

131. "In that case ... ": IF SO.

Down:

1. In love: SMITTEN.

2. Off somewhere: NOT HOME.

4. Insurance giant: GEICO.

5. Son of Odin: THOR.

6. Rosie, notably: RIVETER. The only one I know.

7. Consumed: ATE.

8. Marilyn's birth name: NORMA. So pretty.

9. Involve: ENTAIL.

10. Rabbit __: EARS.

11. Pub order: ALE.

13. "Row on row" blower in a classic poem: POPPY.

15. Flying Clouds, e.g.: REOS.

16. Like some court motions: PRE-TRIAL.

17. Workplace with tests: LAB. I was very nervous last November when Boomer's PSA went up. Dr. Nina calmed me down. Dr. Downs also said it's normal for the numbers to fluctuate. He said he has another patient whose prostate cancer metastasized to the bone. The guy's PSA number was 50 for six consecutive months. They had a bone scan but found no more bad cells.  

18. Salem-to-Boise dir.: ESE.

31. Twisted: WRY.

34. Bible book: RUTH.

35. Emulate Columbo: DEDUCE. The detective.

37. Many a map dot: ISLE.

38. Garment worker: DYER.

41. Social activist Guinier: LANI.

43. Good name for a Swedish soccer goalie?: NILS. Cute clue.

45. Picnic invaders: ANTS.

48. Time piece: HOUR.

50. Muslim mendicant: FAKIR. Wiki says it's Arabic for "poverty". And it refers to "a Sufi Muslim ascetic who has taken vows of poverty and worship, renouncing all relations and possessions. Fakirs are prevalent in the Middle East and South Asia. A fakir is thought to be self-sufficient and possesses only the spiritual need for God".

52. Ga. winter hours: EST.

54. People: ONES.

56. Sleuth Charlie known for aphorisms: CHAN.

57. Sighed lines: AAHS.

58. Jazz singer Laine: CLEO. Dame.

65. Gloaming: DUSK.

67. Tidal influence: MOON.

68. Send a text to: PING.

71. Borders: EDGES.

73. Span. title: SRTA.

78. Prominent noses: SNOUTS.

80. Nile serpents: ASPS.

82. Muhammad with gloves: ALI.

83. Tirade: RANT.

85. Horne or Headey: LENA.

87. Golfer's choice: IRON.

88. Old historian of older Britain: BEDE. The Venerable Bede.

89. One or more times: EVER.

90. Witty exchange: REPARTEE. You can find it our Comments section.

92. Hibernia: EIRE.

97. South African liberator: MANDELA.

99. Ornamental front ends: GRILLES.

102. Feel sick: AIL.

103. Revolutionary Hale: NATHAN.

108. Michelangelo masterpiece: PIETA.

110. Puccini masterpiece: TOSCA.

112. "Well, __-dah!": LAH-DI.

114. Part of Q.E.D.: ERAT.

115. Unctuous: OILY.

117. "As __ saying ... ": I WAS.

118. Entrepreneur-helping org.: SBA.

119. Bruins legend: ORR.

121. Shad spawn: ROE.

122. Half a score: TEN.

Saturday January 11, 2020, Erik Agard & Wyna Liu

Saturday Themeless by Erik Agard and Wyna Liu

Today's puzzle was authored by 
frequent LA Times constructor and Jeopardy Champion Erik Agard who partnered with Wyna Liu, seen here with a good friend. 

Online, I discovered - Wyna is a mixed media sculptor and crossword puzzle constructor based in NYC. She received Master from NYU's Interactive Telecommunications Program in 2014. Her work combines digital fabrication techniques with fussy hand finishing processes. She is interested in modularity, mechanisms and the lathe. Okay... 

Here's a note I got from Wyna:  "This was a fun puzzle to work on! Erik and I began building the grid around CRANKYPANTS, HIDEYHOLE, and NAUGHTYLIST. We worked back and forth a number of times but finally had to lose NAUGHTYLIST to keep it clean (who likes seeing REECHO and OTTOII in a puzzle??). This was one of our first collaborations (the first themeless), and was a formative and invaluable learning experience for me."

Let's review Erik and Wyna's collaborative effort:

Across:

1. Drill bit?: MARCH - It was my first thought but tricky NW cluing held back confirmation

6. Sudden blow: GUST.

10. '60s civil rights gp. inspired by student sit-ins: SNCC - Often called "snick"

14. Recall trigger: E-COLI - They certainly experienced a recall

15. One singing in musical tones?: ALTO - A list of very good ALTOS/ALTI pop singers 

16. Ponies run in it: POLO.

17. Written in mystical letters: RUNIC - Crossword learning made this my first confident fill

18. Ghanaian flag feature: STAR - Oh yeah, it's just south of Burkina Faso. BTW, changing one letter of its capital would give us 2. Luxury auto: ACURA.

19. Micro amount: ATOM and 59. Micro amount: IOTA.

20. Irritable sort, in slang: CRANKY PANTS - Grumpypants came and went before I landed on this seed entry

23. Even prime: TWO - We math peeps are aware 

24. Stadium opening?: YANKEE - New YANKEE Stadium being built adjacent to the historic old YANKEE Stadium in 2008

25. Precious person: DEAR ONE.

27. Mickey's "Love Is Strange" singing partner: SYLVIA - Despite the on-screen graphics this live performance is fun to watch 

30. Hoods: GOONS.

31. Fricative admonishment: SHH - After a "Huh?" for Fricative, the admonishment of SHH came through. Fricative is a consonant sound that is created by constricting the vocal tract, causing friction as the air passes through it. 

34. Distorts to one's advantage: SPINS - Areas for news conferences after political debates are actually called SPIN rooms

35. Clog from France: SABOT - Familiar crossword footwear

36. Wasn't true: LIED.

38. Sober: STAID.

40. Gov't agency with a "meatball" logo: NASA - Students of mine have heard this space educator say "NASA meatball" for decades, therefore, I was so pleased to see Erik and Wyna make this reference. I've told Joann I want my ashes in an urn with the NASA Meatball on it!

41. Agent concerned with spots: AD REP - Singular clue should have gotten me off AD MEN a lot faster than it did!

43. Alternative to "start at," in pricing: AND UP - "Oh, if you want the 48. Opposite of austere: DELUXE model, that'll be another thousand dollars!"

45. Only article in a U.S. state capital name: DES - It is on and named after the DES Moines River, which likely was adapted from the early French name, Rivière des Moines, meaning "River of the Monks". You're welcome...

46. Key partner: PEELE - PEELE and Key did a lot of collaborative sketches but Keegan-Michael Key's portrayal of a substitute teacher is the hilarious holy grail for those of us who sub!

47. Looked bad?: LEERED paired with another 61. Look bad?: OGLE and less offensive  44. Looked over: PERUSED.

49. __ analysis: SYSTEMS - I just love this:

51. Venues with games: ARENAS.

55. Rap music article: THA.

56. Do a surveying task: TRIANGULATE - 1946 Triangulation surveying of Palestine

62. Plant name from the Arabic for "red": SUMAC - SUMAC really brighten the fall landscape around here

63. Film bit: CLIP - Actors on talk shows often have CLIPS from their films to show. Sometimes it is the only interesting scene in the movie

64. Las Vegas Aces' org.: WNBA - All pro teams in Vegas

65. Put into action: EXERT.

66. Was true to, as one's word: KEPT - And so he was

67. Elle Woods of "Legally Blonde" got 179 on hers, briefly: LSAT - I wonder what Reese Witherspoon, who portrayed fictional Elle Woods, would have scored.

68. Lucy's husband and son: DESIS - Desi Arnaz IV, later known as Desi Arnaz Jr., appeared only once on I Love Lucy - on the final episode, June 24, 1957, along with his sister, Lucie. But he wasn't playing Little Ricky on that finale. Both Desi Jr. and Lucie later starred on their mom's show, Here's Lucy (1968-74), as her kids, Craig and Kim.


Down:

1. Compassion: MERCY.

3. Saoirse __, "Lady Bird" star: RONAN - Nope, it had nothing to do with LBJ's wife

4. Toasting signs: CLINKS - CRUMBS didn't cut it for this fun clue that was heard often 12 days ago

5. Make-out spots?: HICKEYS - you might 6. Respond to a shock: GASP - if you google these
7. Beauty store chain: ULTA - Find the nearest one to you

8. Get out of the way: STAND ASIDE.

9. Dessert that just sounds wrong: TORTE 

10. Ooh-and-aah site: SPA.

11. Just okay: NOT TOO BAD - AT&T's new ad pitch. Don't open if you've seen this as many times as I have

12. Classic hole-in-one site: CLOWN NOSE - How else are ya gonna put one on?

13. José's greeting: COMO ESTAS - ¿Cómo estás? Adding usted is optional

21. Kennel chorus: YELPS 

22. Dips: SAGS.

26. Equine coat color: ROAN.

28. Physical figures: VITAL SIGNS - On a monitor by every hospital bed

29. Absurd: INANE.

31. Some visual humor: SLAP STICK - The Three Stooges leapt to my mind

32. Alternative to a wall safe: HIDEY HOLE - Bank Vault? Buzz, but thanks for playing!
33. Help line: HERE'S A TIP - Maxine uses that line a lot

37. Upper-bod muscle: DELT - Shoulder muscle not chest (PECT)

39. Aid in developing hair waves: DURAG - Its main purpose is to develop or preserve waves after they are in your hair. Worn by many football players under their helmets

42. Alfred of coffee fame: PEET - The intertwined history of Alfred PEET and Starbucks

50. Animated Tootsie Pop eater in ads: MR OWL - 50 yrs ago he posited the question of "How many licks it takes to get to the center or a Tootsie Pop?"

52. When repeated, spills the beans: NAMES - These guys refused to NAME NAMES to the HUAC committee 

53. Gaming biggie: ATARI.

54. Splinter groups: SECTS - Some SECTS form because of differing views on sex.

57. Jessica of "L.A.'s Finest": ALBA - Do LA police look like this?

58. Off the rocks?: NEAT - I may have to write Tinman to warn him about this picture 😦

60. Flat: Abbr.: APT - Housing is scarce in our growing town, so finding an apt APT. is difficult 

"I'll take Comments for $1,000 Alex". "The answer is 'Fun and Stimulating'". "What is Erik's and Wyna's 1.11.20 crossword puzzle?" You have a different answer?

Note to Wyna - Would this cluing have worked? 😏

Second reverberation - REECHO

HRE emperor known as "The Red" - OTTO II