Theme: Signed On - The animal in each theme entry is replaced by its corresponding Zodiac sign.
17A. Certain pickup, to an astrologer? : ARIES TRUCK. Ram truck.
27A. Gorton's product, to an astrologer? : PISCES STICKS. Fish sticks. We got some freshly caught crappie yesterday.
44A. Stubborn, to an astrologer? : TAURUS-HEADED. Bullheaded.
58A. Courageous, to an astrologer? : LEO-HEARTED. Lion-hearted.
Bonus entry: HOROSCOPE (11D. Daily reading for many). Its grid counterpart SET UP SHOP (33D. Hang out one's shingle, say) is not related to the theme, so HOROSCOPE must come up at the filling process.
C.C.
here, giving Lemonade a well-deserved honeymoon break. I like the
theme. Don't remember seeing this approach before. I just told D-Otto the other day how I value originality in themes.
Across:
1. 45-Down component : BEAD. And 45D. You can count on it : ROSARY. Nice clue for ROSARY.
5. Sunday service component : CHOIR
10. RWR successor : GHWB. Bush Sr. Neither are known for their initials. Price to pay for HOROSCOPE & GLUTEI,
14. Humdinger : LULU
15. Hamlin of NASCAR : DENNY. Not familiar with the guy.
16. "Firecracker" singer Lisa : LOEB
19. Eurasian border river : URAL
20. Peer : NOBLE
21. Some are smooth : OPERATORS. Love Sade's "Smooth Operator".
23. CBS franchise since 2000 : CSI
24. Canadian loc. of the fictional Green Gables : PEI (Prince Edward Island)
26. Chicago suburb : NILES. Known for what, TTP/Abejo? We also have CDT (5D. Summer hours in Chi.)
31. Where to find MSFT : NASDAQ. OK, Microsoft.
34. Delinquency result, perhaps : REPO
35. Galeón cargo : ORO. Spanish ship.
36. Not kosher : TREF. Dictionary says it's literally "torn" in Hebrew.
37. Dawn goddess : EOS
38. Tea serving? : SPOT
39. Word with paint or blanket : WET
40. Risks : BETS
42. People with a maize god : AZTECS. First encounter with this maize god. We don't have rice god in China.
47. Entrance to la maison : PORTE. French for "door".
48. San Francisco's __ Hill : NOB
49. Guitar wood : ASH
52. Richard Crenna played him in the TV miniseries "On Wings of Eagles" : ROSS PEROT. Unaware of this series. True story?
55. Unstable : ROCKY
57. Dept. of Labor arm : OSHA
60. Othello, for one : MOOR
61. Vegged out : LAZED
62. Transvaal settler : BOER
63. Make out : ESPY. Clue works for SPOT as well.
64. O's, for one : ALERS. Baltimore Orioles. American Leaguers.
65. Mex. title : SRTA
Down:
1. Vin choice : BLANC
2. Greek capital : EUROS. Easy elimination of ATHENS due to letter count.
3. Cover for a crime : ALIBI
4. Two-person contest : DUEL
6. Intrepid : HEROIC
7. "Movin' __": "The Jeffersons" theme : ON UP
8. Tees off : INCENSES
9. Cracker brand since 1904 : RY KRISP. Based here in MN.
10. Squat targets : GLUTEI
12. Grow tiresome : WEAR
13. Energy-related units: Abbr. : BBLS (Barrels)
18. Antique tone : SEPIA
22. __ flute : ALTO
25. Legal title: Abbr. : ESQ
27. Email attachment : PDF
28. Jagged, as a leaf's edge : EROSE
29. "Grinding It Out" autobiographer : KROC. I sure need "Ray" or "McDonald" in the clue.
30. Barflies : SOTS
31. Food package amt. : NT WT
32. Flooring calculation : AREA
37. Heavenly : ETHEREAL. Nailed this entry with one letter in place.
38. Benchmark: Abbr. : STD
40. Do a new parent's job : BURP
41. Pip's romantic interest in "Great Expectations" : ESTELLA. Never read "Great Expectations". You?
42. Stir : ADO
43. Donkey relative : ZEBRA
46. Pollen bearer : ANTHER
49. Woods or Irons : ACTOR. James Woods. Jeremy Irons. Not CLUB.
50. Shooting sport : SKEET
51. Monster slain by Hercules : HYDRA
52. Spanish Steps site : ROME
53. Spanish bears : OSOS
54. Exude : OOZE
56. Mars and Saturn : ORBS
59. Money mgrs.? : EDs. Money magazine.
C.C.
Note to Barry G:
Irish Miss asked if you could share your seafood linguine recipe.
