Theme: M & M's - Letters Ms are initials of each two-word theme entry, the first word being a term of address.
20A. Etiquette authority: MISS MANNERS. A syndicated advice column written by Judith Martin. Since 1978, she has answered etiquette questions contributed by her readers and writes short essays on problems of manners, or clarifies the essential qualities of politeness.
38A. Cantankerous toon: MISTER MAGOO. Quincy (who knew?) Magoo is a cartoon character created at United Productions of America (UPA) in 1949. His stubborn refusal to admit his nearsightedness puts him into a series of sticky situations which he is quick to blame on other people.
57A. Sheridan's misuser of words: MRS. MALAPROP. Richard Sheridan (1751 – 1816) produced his play, The Rivals, a comedy of manners in five acts, in 1775. Mrs. Malaprop is the chief comic figure of the play, thanks to her continual misuse of words that sound like the words she intends but mean something completely different. (The term malapropism was coined in reference to the character.) Examples.
45D. Mars mouthful; also, a hint to this puzzle's theme: M AND M's. The Mars confectionery company produces, besides M&M's, the eponymous Mars bar, Milky Way, Twix, Skittles and Snickers.
Lots of long words in this 74-entry puzzle. Total 18 six-letter words.
Argyle here.
A great Monday. Perhaps a few too many proper names. Notice the themes go from MISS to MISTER to MRS.
Across:
1A. Criminal group: GANG.
5A. What a judge sets: BAIL.
9A. Modify, as a motion: AMEND.
14A. Suit to __: A TEE.
15A. Gillette's __ Plus razor: ATRA.
16A. City chief: MAYOR. "Mayor McCheese". Alliteration.
17A. Basted, but not with butter: SEWN. To sew loosely with large running stitches so as to hold together temporarily.
18A. Charge with a crime: BOOK. "Book 'em, Danno!". Alliteration.
19A. Cheri who impersonated Judge Judy on "Saturday Night Live": OTERI. I finally fill her name in without a second thought.
23A. Fiver: FIN. Five dollar bill.
24A. Critter that can carry many times its own weight: ANT.
25A. Forty-niner's find: ORE.
26A. Just after sunset: AT DUSK. Gloaming, in Scotland.
28A. Take the wheel: STEER.
30A. Bridge distance: SPAN.
33A. Antlered grazers: ELKS.
34A. Arboreal Australian critters: KOALAs. Easy after yesterday's discussion. Partly alliteration.
36A. Upper-story storage: ATTIC.
41A. Strikes through, as text: X's OUT.
42A. Seek aid from: TURN TO.
45A. Early 15th-century year: MCDI. 1401
48A. Actor Kristofferson: KRIS.
50A. '90s Defense secretary Les: ASPIN.
51A. "... my kingdom for __!": A HORSE. from Richard III by William Shakespeare: Act 5. Scene IV
53A. Bad review: PAN.
55A. Jungle swinger: APE.
56A. Prefix with conservative: NEO.
61A. Friend of Eminem: DR. DRE. Rap stars.
63A. Injured: HURT.
64A. Sitar master Shankar: RAVI.
65A. Mazda roadster: MIATA.
66A. Last word in a threat: ELSE.
67A. Serpent's home in Genesis: EDEN.
68A. Jewish feast: SEDER.
69. Bambi, for one: DEER.
70A. Flippant: PERT.
Down:
1D. Riot squad gear: GAS MASK.
2D. Corroded: ATE INTO.
3D. Group that breaks breaking stories: NEWS TEAM.
4D. Mil. leaders: GENS.. Generals.
5D. Picture book elephant: BABAR. Image. A French children's fictional character who first appeared in Histoire de Babar by Jean de Brunhoff in 1931.
6D. Does penance (for): ATONES.
7D. Gadget that gets out the creases: IRON. A gadget?!?
8D. Boating spot: LAKE.
9D. "It's __ Unusual Day": 1948 song: A MOST. Here sung by a most unusual trio. Clip.
10D. Doorway welcomer: MAT.
11D. Good-looker: EYEFUL. YES!. Maybe.
12D. Perfectly safe, as an investment: NO RISK.
13D. Bar buys: DRINKS.
21D. Marshy tract: MORASS.
22D. Beat up on verbally: RANT AT. Clunky.
27D. Room treatments: DECORS.
29D. Cure-all potion: ELIXIR.
31D. Miniseries' first section: PART I.
32D. Deposit or withdrawal gizmo, briefly: ATM.
35D. "Dracula" author Bram: STOKER.
37D. Big lizard: IGUANA.
39D. The Continent: Abbr.: EUR.. Europe.
40D. Displayed in a public procession: ON PARADE.
43D. Cause to topple: TIP OVER.
44D. Eighth of a gallon: ONE PINT.
46D. Paris sweetie: CHERIE.
47D. Thingy: DOODAD.
49D. Thinly populated: SPARSE. Sparse, that is what my comments are today.
52D. Blur, as wet ink: SMEAR.
54D. Change: ALTER.
58D. Backyard storage: SHED.
59D. Stubborn beast: MULE.
60D. Get ready, for short: PREP.
62D. Hwy.: RTE..
Answer grid.
Argyle
20A. Etiquette authority: MISS MANNERS. A syndicated advice column written by Judith Martin. Since 1978, she has answered etiquette questions contributed by her readers and writes short essays on problems of manners, or clarifies the essential qualities of politeness.
38A. Cantankerous toon: MISTER MAGOO. Quincy (who knew?) Magoo is a cartoon character created at United Productions of America (UPA) in 1949. His stubborn refusal to admit his nearsightedness puts him into a series of sticky situations which he is quick to blame on other people.
57A. Sheridan's misuser of words: MRS. MALAPROP. Richard Sheridan (1751 – 1816) produced his play, The Rivals, a comedy of manners in five acts, in 1775. Mrs. Malaprop is the chief comic figure of the play, thanks to her continual misuse of words that sound like the words she intends but mean something completely different. (The term malapropism was coined in reference to the character.) Examples.
45D. Mars mouthful; also, a hint to this puzzle's theme: M AND M's. The Mars confectionery company produces, besides M&M's, the eponymous Mars bar, Milky Way, Twix, Skittles and Snickers.
Lots of long words in this 74-entry puzzle. Total 18 six-letter words.
Argyle here.
A great Monday. Perhaps a few too many proper names. Notice the themes go from MISS to MISTER to MRS.
Across:
1A. Criminal group: GANG.
5A. What a judge sets: BAIL.
9A. Modify, as a motion: AMEND.
14A. Suit to __: A TEE.
15A. Gillette's __ Plus razor: ATRA.
16A. City chief: MAYOR. "Mayor McCheese". Alliteration.
17A. Basted, but not with butter: SEWN. To sew loosely with large running stitches so as to hold together temporarily.
18A. Charge with a crime: BOOK. "Book 'em, Danno!". Alliteration.
19A. Cheri who impersonated Judge Judy on "Saturday Night Live": OTERI. I finally fill her name in without a second thought.
23A. Fiver: FIN. Five dollar bill.
24A. Critter that can carry many times its own weight: ANT.
25A. Forty-niner's find: ORE.
26A. Just after sunset: AT DUSK. Gloaming, in Scotland.
28A. Take the wheel: STEER.
30A. Bridge distance: SPAN.
33A. Antlered grazers: ELKS.
34A. Arboreal Australian critters: KOALAs. Easy after yesterday's discussion. Partly alliteration.
36A. Upper-story storage: ATTIC.
41A. Strikes through, as text: X's OUT.
42A. Seek aid from: TURN TO.
45A. Early 15th-century year: MCDI. 1401
48A. Actor Kristofferson: KRIS.
50A. '90s Defense secretary Les: ASPIN.
51A. "... my kingdom for __!": A HORSE. from Richard III by William Shakespeare: Act 5. Scene IV
53A. Bad review: PAN.
55A. Jungle swinger: APE.
56A. Prefix with conservative: NEO.
61A. Friend of Eminem: DR. DRE. Rap stars.
63A. Injured: HURT.
64A. Sitar master Shankar: RAVI.
65A. Mazda roadster: MIATA.
66A. Last word in a threat: ELSE.
67A. Serpent's home in Genesis: EDEN.
68A. Jewish feast: SEDER.
69. Bambi, for one: DEER.
70A. Flippant: PERT.
Down:
1D. Riot squad gear: GAS MASK.
2D. Corroded: ATE INTO.
3D. Group that breaks breaking stories: NEWS TEAM.
4D. Mil. leaders: GENS.. Generals.
5D. Picture book elephant: BABAR. Image. A French children's fictional character who first appeared in Histoire de Babar by Jean de Brunhoff in 1931.
6D. Does penance (for): ATONES.
7D. Gadget that gets out the creases: IRON. A gadget?!?
8D. Boating spot: LAKE.
9D. "It's __ Unusual Day": 1948 song: A MOST. Here sung by a most unusual trio. Clip.
10D. Doorway welcomer: MAT.
11D. Good-looker: EYEFUL. YES!. Maybe.
12D. Perfectly safe, as an investment: NO RISK.
13D. Bar buys: DRINKS.
21D. Marshy tract: MORASS.
22D. Beat up on verbally: RANT AT. Clunky.
27D. Room treatments: DECORS.
29D. Cure-all potion: ELIXIR.
31D. Miniseries' first section: PART I.
32D. Deposit or withdrawal gizmo, briefly: ATM.
35D. "Dracula" author Bram: STOKER.
37D. Big lizard: IGUANA.
39D. The Continent: Abbr.: EUR.. Europe.
40D. Displayed in a public procession: ON PARADE.
43D. Cause to topple: TIP OVER.
44D. Eighth of a gallon: ONE PINT.
46D. Paris sweetie: CHERIE.
47D. Thingy: DOODAD.
49D. Thinly populated: SPARSE. Sparse, that is what my comments are today.
52D. Blur, as wet ink: SMEAR.
54D. Change: ALTER.
58D. Backyard storage: SHED.
59D. Stubborn beast: MULE.
60D. Get ready, for short: PREP.
62D. Hwy.: RTE..
Answer grid.
Argyle
