Theme: Oohs and Aahs -"Ooh" sound in the last word of each familiar phrase is changed into "aah" sound.
21A. Charity that rewards golf talent? : ALMS FOR THE PAR. Alms for the poor.
33A. Treat a Saudi king with TLC? : COMFORT FAHD. Comfort food. King Fahd's look terrifies me.
56A. Timid officer? : CHICKEN COP. Chicken coop.
67A. Miniature B-17? : BABY BOMBER. Baby boomer.
88A. Hall of Famer Warren after garage work? : GREASY SPAHN. Greasy spoon. Warren Spahn. Remember the poem "Spahn and Sain and Pray for Rain"? No, Marti/Splynter, no baseball for you?
106A. Padding in an Easter basket? : CHOCOLATE MOSS. Chocolate mousse.
15D. Stuffy trio? : THE THREE STODGES. The Three Stooges. But stodgy is an adjective, how can it be pluralized?
41D. Onset of boredom? : BIRTH OF THE BLAHS. Birth of the Blues.
Fun theme, isn't it? I would have enjoyed the theme more if I spoke English properly.
Notice how Mike spread out his theme entries in the grid? I like puzzles with Across & Down theme arrangement. More impressive is the intersection and overlapping.
Chopping solving for me. Again, the names gave me trouble.
Favorite clue today is AHAs (31D. Clicking sounds?). Awesome! Totally click with me.
Across:
1. Look up to : ADMIRE
7. "Zen and the __ Motorcycle Maintenance": 1974 best-seller : ART OF. Unknown to me. But anything motorcycle related can't be Zen.
12. Tournament slots : BERTHS
18. Gradually removed (from) : WEANED
19. When Lear banishes Cordelia : ACT ONE. This clue is very Mike.
20. University of Delaware mascot : BLUE HEN. Delaware the Blue Hen State.
23. Jockey Angel : CORDERO. Stranger to me.
24. __ Rebellion: 1786-'87 insurrection : SHAYS'. What's it about?
25. Liqueur flavoring : ANISE
26. Rim : EDGE
27. Overly : TOO
28. Stitching on Li'l Abner's towel? : HIS'N
29. Enemy : FOE
30. Feeds amply : SATES
32. Phenom : WHIZ
38. Travesty : FARCE
39. "Hang on a sec," online : BRB (Be Right Back)
42. Off : DO IN. Off is a verb here.
43. Forearm bones : ULNAS
44. More than just worry : OBSESS
45. '70s Struthers co-star : REINER (Rob). Sally Struthers. "All in the Family". I drew a blank.
47. Tiffs : SPATS
48. "Go fly __!" : A KITE
49. Sitting still : AT REST
50. Terrible twos, one hopes : PHASE
51. Coach Parseghian : ARA
52. Big petrol seller : ESSO
55. Danish explorer Bering : VITUS. You all know his given name?
58. Hoosegow : STIR. Jail.
59. Durham sch. : UNH (University of New Hampshire)
60. All-time RBI leader : AARON (Hank). 2, 297. Guess how many grand slams he has? Don't google.
62. Diarist Nin : ANAIS
64. Medical suffix : OMA
65. Crucifix : ROOD
71. Army doc : MEDIC
73. __ Romeo Spider : ALFA
74. NYC-based securities gp. : ASE (American Stock Exchange)
75. After-school treats : OREOS
76. Player with an orange and black-striped helmet : BENGAL. Cincinnati Bengals.
77. Junk : TRASH
79. Did well on the quiz : GOT A "B". Trick to parse.
80. "What's My Line?" regular Francis : ARLENE
81. Pennsylvania university : LEHIGH. Is it very famous?
83. Like some casks : OAKEN
84. Aromatherapist's supply : OILS. Melissa or Barbara B introduced Jojoba oil to me some time ago. I love it.
86. Sound after a pop : SSS
87. Alaskan native : ALEUT
91. Lobster house freebies : BIBS
92. Wicked one : FIEND
94. Hall of Fame pool player __ Mataya Laurance : EWA. Wow, no idea. She looks cool
95. West Coast sch. : UCLA. And 102D. West Coast sch. : UCAL. Not the same?
99. Handy communication syst.? : ASL. Good clue. (Added later: ASL is American Sign Language.)
100. Allure rival : ELLE
101. When repeated, "Hungry Like the Wolf" band : DURAN
103. Greek promenades : STOAS
104. Noxious fumes : MIASMAS
109. Artsy district : BOHEMIA
110. Run roughshod over : MARAUD
111. 2009 aviation biopic : AMELIA
112. Comeback : ANSWER
113. Little silvery fish : SMELT
114. Words on some Montana license plates : BIG SKY. Their nickname.
Down:
1. Overrun (with) : AWASH. I've only used "awash in".
2. City NE of Jodhpur : DELHI
3. Words from dolls : MAMAS
4. On the same page : IN SYNC
5. They sometimes count to 10 : REFS. Boxing, right?
6. Shogun's capital : EDO
7. More uncomfortable : ACHIER
8. AAA suggestions : RTES
9. Reach for the Skyy, excessively : TOPE. Spell checker doesn't like this verb.
10. __ roll: winning : ON A
11. Backin' : FER
12. Promotes oneself online : BLOGS. Verb here.
13. Chartres's river : EURE. I can never remember those European rivers.
14. The color of money owed? : RED
16. Daring rescue, say : HEROICS
17. Grabs some shuteye : SNOOZES
19. When many a whistle blows : AT NOON. I don't get this clue.
20. A train? : BCDE. A B C D E. Alphabet. Meh entry, but saved by an excellent clue.
22. "Bananaphone" singer : RAFFI. Here is a clip.
26. SFO listings : ETDS
30. South Carolina river : SANTEE. Named after the Santee tribe. Learning moment!
32. Fails to recycle : WASTES
34. Black Sea port : ODESSA
35. Cartoonist Walker : MORT. "Beetle Bailey".
36. Rapper __ Shakur : TUPAC
37. Lab container : FLASK
38. "Most Wanted" org. : FBI. And 78D. 38-Down employee : AGT.
39. Dazzling performance : BRAVURA. I like this word.
40. Vitamin A : RETINOL. It reduce the wrinkles.
44. Giraffe relative : OKAPI
46. Fresh out of the box, in Berlin : NEU. New.
47. Freshly minted : SHINY
48. Like a loud crowd : AROAR
50. Suffix for techno : PHOBE. Technophobe.
51. Dermatologist's cases : ACNES
53. Monkeys, e.g. : SIMIANS
54. They have all the answers : ORACLES. Including answers to this puzzle!
56. Computer problem : CRASH
57. Big cheese : NABOB
61. Bring shame to : ABASH
63. Bond nemesis : SMERSH. Weird looking word.
66. Persian king, 522-486 B.C. : DARIUS. Darius the Great. Stumper.
68. Unavailable, as for appointments : BOOKED
69. "Coffee __?" : OR TEA
70. Wherewithal : MEANS
72. Like mil. volunteers : ENL (Enlisted)
76. __ Cynwyd, Pa. : BALA. No idea.
79. Former Utah senator Jake who flew aboard Discovery in 1985 : GARN
81. Ritchie Valens biopic : LA BAMBA
82. Apostrophe's purpose, often : ELISION
83. Curved molding : OGEE
84. Role in Stone's "JFK" : OSWALD. "Life" magazine with Lee Harvey Oswald on the cover is a collectible item.
85. "Brusha, brusha, brusha" toothpaste : IPANA
89. Ump's call : YER OUT!
90. Eggnog topping : NUTMEG
92. Distinctive style : FLAIR. Do you miss Jerome?
93. "Casablanca" heroine : ILSA
96. Becomes safe to eat, in a way : COOLS. Simple in retrospect.
97. Cornea-reshaping surgery : LASIK. I just don't feel it's safe.
98. Test for purity : ASSAY
100. Former "Fashion Emergency" host : EMME. Unaware of the program.
101. 19th-century French book illustrator : DORE (Gustave). French & 19th-century spell out nothing for me, unfortunately. Interesting read in Wikipedia.
103. Cargo hauler : SEMI
105. Embroider, e.g. : SEW
106. Ruler amts. : CMs
107. Breakfast side : HAM
108. Folder user's aid : TAB.
Answer grid.
C.C.
21A. Charity that rewards golf talent? : ALMS FOR THE PAR. Alms for the poor.
33A. Treat a Saudi king with TLC? : COMFORT FAHD. Comfort food. King Fahd's look terrifies me.
56A. Timid officer? : CHICKEN COP. Chicken coop.
67A. Miniature B-17? : BABY BOMBER. Baby boomer.
88A. Hall of Famer Warren after garage work? : GREASY SPAHN. Greasy spoon. Warren Spahn. Remember the poem "Spahn and Sain and Pray for Rain"? No, Marti/Splynter, no baseball for you?
106A. Padding in an Easter basket? : CHOCOLATE MOSS. Chocolate mousse.
15D. Stuffy trio? : THE THREE STODGES. The Three Stooges. But stodgy is an adjective, how can it be pluralized?
41D. Onset of boredom? : BIRTH OF THE BLAHS. Birth of the Blues.
Fun theme, isn't it? I would have enjoyed the theme more if I spoke English properly.
Notice how Mike spread out his theme entries in the grid? I like puzzles with Across & Down theme arrangement. More impressive is the intersection and overlapping.
Chopping solving for me. Again, the names gave me trouble.
Favorite clue today is AHAs (31D. Clicking sounds?). Awesome! Totally click with me.
Across:
1. Look up to : ADMIRE
7. "Zen and the __ Motorcycle Maintenance": 1974 best-seller : ART OF. Unknown to me. But anything motorcycle related can't be Zen.
12. Tournament slots : BERTHS
18. Gradually removed (from) : WEANED
19. When Lear banishes Cordelia : ACT ONE. This clue is very Mike.
20. University of Delaware mascot : BLUE HEN. Delaware the Blue Hen State.
23. Jockey Angel : CORDERO. Stranger to me.
24. __ Rebellion: 1786-'87 insurrection : SHAYS'. What's it about?
25. Liqueur flavoring : ANISE
26. Rim : EDGE
27. Overly : TOO
28. Stitching on Li'l Abner's towel? : HIS'N
29. Enemy : FOE
30. Feeds amply : SATES
32. Phenom : WHIZ
38. Travesty : FARCE
39. "Hang on a sec," online : BRB (Be Right Back)
42. Off : DO IN. Off is a verb here.
43. Forearm bones : ULNAS
44. More than just worry : OBSESS
45. '70s Struthers co-star : REINER (Rob). Sally Struthers. "All in the Family". I drew a blank.
47. Tiffs : SPATS
48. "Go fly __!" : A KITE
49. Sitting still : AT REST
50. Terrible twos, one hopes : PHASE
51. Coach Parseghian : ARA
52. Big petrol seller : ESSO
55. Danish explorer Bering : VITUS. You all know his given name?
58. Hoosegow : STIR. Jail.
59. Durham sch. : UNH (University of New Hampshire)
60. All-time RBI leader : AARON (Hank). 2, 297. Guess how many grand slams he has? Don't google.
62. Diarist Nin : ANAIS
64. Medical suffix : OMA
65. Crucifix : ROOD
71. Army doc : MEDIC
73. __ Romeo Spider : ALFA
74. NYC-based securities gp. : ASE (American Stock Exchange)
75. After-school treats : OREOS
76. Player with an orange and black-striped helmet : BENGAL. Cincinnati Bengals.
77. Junk : TRASH
79. Did well on the quiz : GOT A "B". Trick to parse.
80. "What's My Line?" regular Francis : ARLENE
81. Pennsylvania university : LEHIGH. Is it very famous?
83. Like some casks : OAKEN
84. Aromatherapist's supply : OILS. Melissa or Barbara B introduced Jojoba oil to me some time ago. I love it.
86. Sound after a pop : SSS
87. Alaskan native : ALEUT
91. Lobster house freebies : BIBS
92. Wicked one : FIEND
94. Hall of Fame pool player __ Mataya Laurance : EWA. Wow, no idea. She looks cool
95. West Coast sch. : UCLA. And 102D. West Coast sch. : UCAL. Not the same?
99. Handy communication syst.? : ASL. Good clue. (Added later: ASL is American Sign Language.)
100. Allure rival : ELLE
101. When repeated, "Hungry Like the Wolf" band : DURAN
103. Greek promenades : STOAS
104. Noxious fumes : MIASMAS
109. Artsy district : BOHEMIA
110. Run roughshod over : MARAUD
111. 2009 aviation biopic : AMELIA
112. Comeback : ANSWER
113. Little silvery fish : SMELT
114. Words on some Montana license plates : BIG SKY. Their nickname.
Down:
1. Overrun (with) : AWASH. I've only used "awash in".
2. City NE of Jodhpur : DELHI
3. Words from dolls : MAMAS
4. On the same page : IN SYNC
5. They sometimes count to 10 : REFS. Boxing, right?
6. Shogun's capital : EDO
7. More uncomfortable : ACHIER
8. AAA suggestions : RTES
9. Reach for the Skyy, excessively : TOPE. Spell checker doesn't like this verb.
10. __ roll: winning : ON A
11. Backin' : FER
12. Promotes oneself online : BLOGS. Verb here.
13. Chartres's river : EURE. I can never remember those European rivers.
14. The color of money owed? : RED
16. Daring rescue, say : HEROICS
17. Grabs some shuteye : SNOOZES
19. When many a whistle blows : AT NOON. I don't get this clue.
20. A train? : BCDE. A B C D E. Alphabet. Meh entry, but saved by an excellent clue.
22. "Bananaphone" singer : RAFFI. Here is a clip.
26. SFO listings : ETDS
30. South Carolina river : SANTEE. Named after the Santee tribe. Learning moment!
32. Fails to recycle : WASTES
34. Black Sea port : ODESSA
35. Cartoonist Walker : MORT. "Beetle Bailey".
36. Rapper __ Shakur : TUPAC
37. Lab container : FLASK
38. "Most Wanted" org. : FBI. And 78D. 38-Down employee : AGT.
39. Dazzling performance : BRAVURA. I like this word.
40. Vitamin A : RETINOL. It reduce the wrinkles.
44. Giraffe relative : OKAPI
46. Fresh out of the box, in Berlin : NEU. New.
47. Freshly minted : SHINY
48. Like a loud crowd : AROAR
50. Suffix for techno : PHOBE. Technophobe.
51. Dermatologist's cases : ACNES
53. Monkeys, e.g. : SIMIANS
54. They have all the answers : ORACLES. Including answers to this puzzle!
56. Computer problem : CRASH
57. Big cheese : NABOB
61. Bring shame to : ABASH
63. Bond nemesis : SMERSH. Weird looking word.
66. Persian king, 522-486 B.C. : DARIUS. Darius the Great. Stumper.
68. Unavailable, as for appointments : BOOKED
69. "Coffee __?" : OR TEA
70. Wherewithal : MEANS
72. Like mil. volunteers : ENL (Enlisted)
76. __ Cynwyd, Pa. : BALA. No idea.
79. Former Utah senator Jake who flew aboard Discovery in 1985 : GARN
81. Ritchie Valens biopic : LA BAMBA
82. Apostrophe's purpose, often : ELISION
83. Curved molding : OGEE
84. Role in Stone's "JFK" : OSWALD. "Life" magazine with Lee Harvey Oswald on the cover is a collectible item.
85. "Brusha, brusha, brusha" toothpaste : IPANA
89. Ump's call : YER OUT!
90. Eggnog topping : NUTMEG
92. Distinctive style : FLAIR. Do you miss Jerome?
93. "Casablanca" heroine : ILSA
96. Becomes safe to eat, in a way : COOLS. Simple in retrospect.
97. Cornea-reshaping surgery : LASIK. I just don't feel it's safe.
98. Test for purity : ASSAY
100. Former "Fashion Emergency" host : EMME. Unaware of the program.
101. 19th-century French book illustrator : DORE (Gustave). French & 19th-century spell out nothing for me, unfortunately. Interesting read in Wikipedia.
103. Cargo hauler : SEMI
105. Embroider, e.g. : SEW
106. Ruler amts. : CMs
107. Breakfast side : HAM
108. Folder user's aid : TAB.
Answer grid.
C.C.
