Sunday Dec 17, 2017 Jim Holland

Theme: "Two for One"- The first word in each original theme entry is split into homophonic two parts, changing spelling as needed.

23A. Athlete Jackson discusses immunization options? : BO TALKS INJECTIONS. Botox injections. Bo Jackson.

36A. Spring spelling event could face cancellation? : MAY BEE MAYBE NOT. Maybe maybe not.

71A. Seaman's complete canvas expense? : WHOLE SAIL COST. Wholesale cost.

103A. "2 + 2 = 5" problem? : SUM THINGS WRONG. Something's wrong.

122A. Writer anticipates a vacation? : AUTHOR EYES TIME OFF. Authorized time off.
 
16D. Situation when a frat room is empty? : NO BUDDY HOME. Nobody home.

70D. Average salary on a Detroit team? : PAY PER TIGER. Paper tiger.

Did you all grok the theme immediately? I need Santa's help to fully understand the gimmick.

This is the type of theme only a master wordsmith can dream of and execute. I'm in awe.

Across:   

1. "Don't panic" : BE CALM!

7. Lincoln who was the first screen adult Tarzan : ELMO. Silent movies. We also have 75. Tarzan player Ron : ELY. This ELMO is a stranger to me.

11. Adlai's 1956 running mate : ESTES (Kefauver)

16. Japanese theater form : NOH

19. Astronomy Muse : URANIA

20. "King __" : LEAR

21. Lacking company : ALONE

22. "What have we here?!" : OHO

26. Put an end to : BAN

27. Bit of porch furniture, perhaps : SETTEE. TTP/D-Otto/Splynter could build this screened-in porch. Who else are carpenters on our blog?

28. Beauty pageant band : SASH

29. Cruise purpose : PLEASURE. Never been on a cruise. You?

31. Seville : Sra. :: Seattle : __ : MRS. Alliteration in the clues.

33. Wee amount : TAD

35. Quick, as service : SAME DAY

44. __ Sea : DEAD. Not our regular ARAL.

45. Rotting results : ODORS

46. General Bradley : OMAR

47. Writer Bagnold : ENID

49. Places with courts : GYMS. Not judicial.

52. NBA nickname since the '70s : MAGIC. Oh, Magic Johnson.

53. Actress Gaye of "Ali" : NONA. No idea. Daughter of Marvin Gaye.

54. Former Renault : LE CAR

56. "Could be trouble" : UH OH

57. Forgers of a sort : SMITHS. Not art forgers.

59. Roof rack items : SKIS

61. Basic French infinitive : ETRE

62. Greiner of "Shark Tank" : LORI. Another stranger to me.

63. Brief moments : SECs

65. Denver-to-Omaha dir. : ENE

66. What "it takes," at the start of many macho mantras : A REAL MAN. The A makes it a long partial to me.

68. Nile biter : ASP

76. How rural areas are populated : SPARSELY

78. "More than I wanted to know" : TMI

79. Garden invader : WEED

81. Actor Diggs : TAYE. He was married to Idina Menzel for a long time.

82. Rover's turf : MARS

84. Chooses : OPTS

86. Checked (out) : SCOPED

90. Dadaist collection : ARPS. Not ARTS.

91. Clapton et al. : ERICs

93. Offer of help : I CAN

95. Rodeo accessory : REATA

96. Borscht veggie : BEET.  In the huge basket of goodies Agnes sent to me, there's a bag of Veggie Chips. They're actually potato flour with spinach and beet powder. So good.

97. Phobia beginning : ACRO. Acrophobia.

98. Islamic branch : SHIA

99. Bean in Hollywood : ORSON

100. "Friends" friend : ROSS (Geller). Monica's goofy brother.

106. Draw : ATTRACT

109. CEO's credential : MBA

110. LAX inspection org. : TSA

111. Like serious errors : GRIEVOUS

113. Pizazz : ELAN

116. Slowly : ADAGIO

121. Tease : RAG

126. Key for Debussy? : ILE. Last time is "Key for Ravel?".

127. Thin porridge : GRUEL. My grandma always prepared us millet or cornmeal gruel for breakfast. We had it with steamed bread, leftover veggies or pickled veggies. No eggs.

128. Approval indicator : SEAL

129. Aerial mission : SORTIE

130. Two above an eagle : PAR

131. Lamb piece : ESSAY. Nailed it. Charles Lamb.

132. Spot : ESPY

133. Fighting ender : TREATY

Down:

1. Pal : BUB

2. Cupid, to Plato : EROS. And 117. 2-Down, to Cato : AMOR

3. Actress Blanchett : CATE

4. Med school subj. : ANAT

5. Easy rhythm : LILT

6. Arms-folded response : MAKE ME

7. Brother of Peyton : ELI

8. Camera component : LENS

9. Subject of clothed and nude Goya portraits : MAJA

10. Handel opera written in Italian : ORESTE. I only know Orestes.

11. Absorb, as a loss : EAT

12. Unintended revelation : SLIP

13. Kit set : TOOLS

14. Set of nine : ENNEAD

15. Bun choice : SESAME. Always have toasted sesame in our cupboard.

17. Tara surname : O'HARA

18. Darling : HONEY

24. Weekly inspiration for many : SERMON. Nice clue.

25. No. 5 maker : CHANEL

30. Shore squawker : SEAGULL

32. Island birthplace of Pythagoras : SAMOS. See this map. Off the coast of Turkey.

34. Gift recipient : DONEE. Do you actually use this word?

36. Grandmas, earlier : MOMs. OK, earlier.


37. Podcaster Carolla : ADAM. Know him, though I'm not subscribed to his podcast.

38. "Pic-a-nic" basket-seeking toon, familiarly : YOGI

39. The Beatles, e.g. : BRITS

40. Avoids like the plague : ESCHEWS

41. Pinstripes wearer : YANKEE

42. Smarts : BRAINS

43. Certs competitor : TIC TAC

48. 1925 Bryan foe : DARROW (Clarence). Got me. William Jennings Bryan, who was opposed to opposed Darwinism, according to Wiki.

50. Aesopian ending : MORAL

51. Reflective : SHINY

55. Big name in candy : REESE'S. Boomer went to a big Christmas party two weeks ago. He said the beef melted in his mouth, the dessert table was amazing and "I only took a piece of cake and two cookies"

58. Plot : SCHEME

60. Defense gp. dissolved in 1977 : SEATO

64. Toyota Camry model : SOLARA

67. Was humbled : ATE CROW

68. Take __ at : A STAB

69. Success on the second roll : SPARE. Bowling.

72. Ira Gershwin's forte : LYRICS

73. Mischievous : IMPISH. Hi there Spitzboov.

74. Chinese evergreen : LITCHI. My favorite fruit ever. In Guangzhou, you can find them cheap at the fruit stands in June/July. 

77. Bring back to a former state : RESTORE

80. Anthony __, Pulitzer winner for "All the Light We Cannot See" : DOERR. Never heard of the author or the book.

83. Rugby action : SCRUM. Like this.

85. Leslie Charteris hero, with "The" : SAINT. Also an unknown to me.

87. El __, Texas : PASO

88. Harrow competitor : ETON

89. Mild oath : DANG

92. Gloomy : SOMBER

94. Bugs : NAGS AT

101. Brutal : SAVAGE

102. Searches all over : SCOURS

104. "Unto the Sons" memoirist : TALESE (Gay)

105. Word derived from a marquis : SADIST. Marquis de Sade.

106. "Get __!": "Control yourself!" : A GRIP

107. Refrain syllables : TRA LA

108. Ballet outfits : TUTUS

112. Where the Mets played : SHEA. Before Citi Field.

114. Motion passers : AYES

115. Tide type : NEAP

118. "Chicago" star : GERE

119. Meager amount : IOTA

120. "What __?" : OF IT

123. Beer originally brewed near a Northwest capital, briefly : OLY. Googled afterwards: Olympia Beer.

124. Foxy : SLY
 
125. Poehler "Weekend Update" co-host on "SNL" : FEY

Saturday, December 16, 2017, Peter Wentz

Themeless Saturday Puzzle

Hello, my puzzling friends, this is Husker Gary about to 40. Sail : GO TO SEA on the S.S. LA Crossword - Saturday edition. After years of devoted effort, Splynter has retired from the helm and I hope my blog 34. Causes to be : RENDERS a useful service to you in the enjoyment of our weekend challenges.

So let's cast off lines, weigh anchor and shove off. 

We'll miss Splynter's style but to quote my second favorite Sammy Davis Jr. Song, I've Gotta Be Me! 

Let's set sail and... (Hey, enough of the nautical metaphors already!) 

Across

1. Overwhelming place for many country folk : THE BIG CITY

11. Once-a-week mantra : TGIF - Everyday is Friday when you're retired!

15. Early second-millennium style : ROMANESQUE - Architecture characterized by Roman Arches. Ground was broken in 1063 for this fabulous example: The Dumo di Pisa. Hey, isn't the building in the background famous too?

16. Modern-day carpe diem : YOLO - According to Ian Fleming's 007 book and his buddy Roald Dahl's screenplay, You Only Live Twice (not Once)

17. '80s scandal : IRAN CONTRA - Every president seems to have at least one scandal

18. Pro shop purchase : POLO - My golf shirts tend to be "Whatever's on sale at Kohl's"

19. Remove fluff from, perhaps : EDIT - and 22. Dispatch to the cutting room floor : DELETE. He'd be great at it!

20. Blond, in many cases : DYED

21. Moved to another table : RESAT 

24. Easy money, in theory : SURE BETS - Sonny Liston was an 8 - 1 SURE BET against Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) in 1964. Uh, not so  much.

26. Some retirement purchases : RVS - We love to walk through Recreational Vehicles but don't know if our marriage could survive living/traveling in one

27. Pinkberry competitor : TCBY

28. Hardened, as concrete : SET - Like the Hollywood "Walk Of Fame"


29. Layers : PLIES - Baltic Birch plywood in different PLIES

32. Make a mild romantic overture to : ASK IN - Said the spider to the fly

33. Eastern way : TAO

36. Anka hit with a Spanish influence : ESO BESO - "Ooh, THAT KISS!"

38. Iron-__ : ONS

39. Era, perhaps : REIGN - The Victorian Era during the 64-year REIGN of Queen Victoria wasn't a real hoot for most 

41. Place for a pin : LAPEL

42. Opening : GAP - This very famous one through the Appalachians helped open up the West

43. Facts and figures : INFO - Not DATA as it turns out

44. Physical pros : MDS - "Turn your head and cough!" 45. "Right, understood" : OH I GET IT - "I know what you're checking."

47. Fig. at the state's courtroom table : ASST DA - Law And Order had some hot ASSistanT District Attorneys

51. "Odyssey" fruit : LOTUS - When Odyessus' ship got blown off course to the land of the Lotus Eaters, his men partook of the local LOUTS food/narcotic and had to be dragged back to the ships

52. They have small roles : COGS - We are all vital COGS at this blog

54. Unlike narrators, usually : SEEN - Peter Coyote was "heard but not SEEN" narrating six Ken Burns' documentaries 

55. Duty-__ : FREE

56. Could conceivably get : HAS A SHOT AT - Nebraska HAS A SHOT AT yet another VB national championship tonight like this one in 2015 (and five others)

58. Hazzard County deputy : ENOS

59. "Is it safe to talk?" : ARE WE ALONE

60. Calls the game : REFS - Some cheat while calling the game

61. Plot markers : HEADSTONES


Down

1. Strained, e.g. : TRIED - Wonderful Paul Robeson sang: "You an' me, we sweat an' STRAIN, Body all achin'' and' racked wit pain" 

2. Large mass : HORDE - Here's the Khanate of the Golden HORDE below

3. Modern box filler : EMAIL

4. Went back and forth : BANTERED

5. Business issue : INC

6. Natural history museum objects : GEODES - A huge GEODE at the Harvard Museum of Natural History

7. "Ohio" group, initially : CSNY - The initials of the group!

8. Educational placement aids : IQ TESTS 

9. Double-stuffed holiday dish : TURDUCKEN - Yes, it's a TURkey stuffed with a deboned DUCK and a deboned chickEN. Voila, you have this portmanteau 

10. Pro's call : YEA - As opposed to the anti's call of nay 

11. Generally unstressed : TYPE-B - Working for a TYPE-A person can make you 13. Twitchy : ILL AT EASE

12. Stiff-legged stride : GOOSE STEP - Ahhh...

14. Chair accessory : FOOT STOOL

21. Big name in aluminum history : REYNOLDS

23. Pilot's ideal outcome? : TV SERIES - Despite a lousy pilot that simply copied the British version, this show adapted and became a great TV SERIES. Clever clue!

25. MLB stats : RBIS

29. FedExCup seeker : PRO GOLFER

30. Subject of the biography "Stormy Weather" : LENA HORNE - Her biography was named for her signature song

31. Notwithstanding : IN SPITE OF

32. "Big deal" : AS IF I CARE - One must judge if this phrase is bantering or bullying

35. Let out for a time : RENT - My friend LETS out his winter Texas home in the summer

37. Jazz club highlight : BASS SOLO

44. Ordinary people : MASSES - I needed two more letters for HOI POLLI 

46. One may be educated : GUESS

48. Western Wyoming county : TETON


49. Revolutionary diplomat Silas : DEANE - He was a hero for negotiating an armament deal with France and then was disgraced by accusations he profiteered

50. Opening stakes : ANTES

53. "Oh mah __!" : GAWD - A Valley Girl term of amazement

56. "Unlikely!" : HAH

57. Banded Wonderland wear : HAT - The numbers on the Mad Hatter's hat indicated it cost 10 shillings and 6 pence

Ok, lower the gangplank and transfer over to the comment area!

DA GRID

Friday, December 15, 2017, John Lampkin

Title: Music...Opera? Sorry I did not have time to finish....

Where do I begin in discussing this most perfect example of the constructor and his humor? JL begins with a shout out to himself, as his name Lampkin is a pet form of Lambkin. Kin was added in the 12th century when taxes began being collected from individuals rather than property and they needed surnames to keep track of who paid and who did not. (Opinion, not fact, as who really know?)
He created a 15x16 puzzle to fit in all of his whimsical reboots of famous pieces of music. John is an accomplished professional musician and piano teacher who I am sure is very familiar with each of these actually finished pieces. In contrast to the adding KIN to his name, John removes the end of each of the titles of the work and clues the result for maximum humor. The themers are presented in pinwheel with a center fill. He also adds NO CLUE, CAROMED, DESPOTS, FLEABAG, GYRATOR, the mini-theme added musical fill LULLABY and SAD SONG along with SLAMMER, UP A TREE, RECRUITS and TOOK CARE. So, here we go.

18A. Unfinished Puccini work a.k.a. "Homage to a Dairy"? : MADAMA BUTTER(FLY) (12). Before anyone calls "foul" the play was Madame Butterfly. The opera Madama. LINK.

42A. Unfinished Beethoven work a.k.a. "Salute to Manning"? : FÜR ELI(SE) (6). How up to date to use Eli Manning, and our common clue/fill LINK.

66A. Unfinished Beethoven work a.k.a. "Dracula's Boy"? : MOONLIGHT SON(ATA)(12). No sun for Drac's son; the musical piece was finished before he completely lost his hearing. LINK.

12D. Unfinished Mozart work a.k.a. "A Sorcerer's Bug"? : THE MAGIC FLU(TE) (11). This opera LINK was his last. Flu season is back, be careful.

26D. Unfinished Vivaldi work a.k.a. "Water Music for the Mathematically Challenged"? : THE FOUR SEAS(ONS) (11). He wrote these four violin concertos LINK and a poem for each. Forgetting that there are seven seas would be difficult.

Across:

1. Meat of which Australia is among the largest producers: LAMB. Shamelessly crossing 1D. Hasty flight: LAM. The self-referential beginning to this over-sized effort is wonderful.

5. Down-and-out inn: FLEABAG.  Such a fun ORIGIN.

12. Apt brew for a golfer? : TEA. A tee for two pun.

15. Healing Salve: ALOE.

16. Oral soporific? : LULLABY. More music, but not so fancy.

17. Solo with memorable lines: HAN. Very popular this week.The new Star Wars movie, without Han, opens today. It also is the 49th anniversary of my first corneal transplant and 44 years since I graduated law school.

20. Fertilization target : EGG. Ova last week. As most of you know, John Lampkin is also a world class photographer with insects his specialty. So, look at these insect eggs. The world is a fun place.

21. Cashed, as a forged check: KITED.  It actually is THIS which has nothing to do with forgery. Juxtaposed with...

22. Hoosegow: SLAMMER. Where people can end up for kiting checks.

24. Completely filled: SATED.

27. Singers do it: SEW. A fake out addition to the mini-theme. My grandfather used a Singer like this

29. Moist-eyed: TEARY.

30. "Argo" setting: TEHRAN. The Movie.

32. It may make you 29-Across: SAD SONG.
Hey Jude, don't make it bad
Take a sad song and make it better
Remember to let her into your heart
Then you can start to make it better

35. "All bets __ off": ARE.

36. Soak (up), as gravy: SOP.

38. They may be raw: RECRUITS. A new, inexperienced, or fresh recruit, such as someone just entering the army, navy, police, etc. Also, college athletes.

41. Whistle-blower: REF. Fun.

44. Cabin bed: COT.

45. Proceeded cautiously: TOOK CARE.

48. Arcing shot: LOB. Tennis.

50. Side dish piece: FRY. The "French" is being fazed out. Freedom never caught on.

51. Stuck: UP A TREE. Cats 1?

53. What the puzzled have: NO CLUE. And of course, we have lots of clues here.

55. Baseball commission? : ERROR. Tricky baseball clue/fill; not an investigative body.

57. Mex. distances: KMS. Kilometers also in Thailand.

59. Tie for cooking: TRUSS. Did you?

60. Dictators: DESPOTS. Unless they are benevolent.

63. Track bet: PLACE. Win, place, and show = 1, 2 and 3.

65. View: SEE.

71. Actress Gabor: EVA. Merv Griffin's beard and the Green Acres' wife.

72. "M*A*S*H" unit? : EPISODE. JL was an early creator of clechos.

73. "M*A*S*H" actor: ALDA.

74. Guitarist Paul: LES.

75. Held up: DELAYED.

76. Putin's refusal: NYET.

Down:

2. In the style of: À LA.

3. Stylish, '60s-style : MOD. The mods and the rockers.  FLASHBACK.

4. Lab container: BEAKER.

5. Like day-old seltzer: FLAT. The bubbles burst.

6. Garage services: LUBES.

7. Dodges: ELUDES.

8. Key usually pressed and held: ALT. CTRL/ALT/DEL.

9. Takes cuts in a box: BATS. Another of the tricky baseball clues.

10. Slain brother: ABEL.

11. Belly dancer, e.g.: GYRATOR. You want to watch? LINK.

13. Gung-ho: EAGER.

14. Steamed: ANGRY. Coming out of your ears?

19. Gilt-ridden king? : MIDAS. There have been so many clues to this storied king, but this is perfect.

23. List of options: MENU. Not just food any longer.

24. Square one: START. GO?

25. Word on Spanish mail: AEREO.

28. Soft finish? : WARE.

31. Dietary watchwords: NO-FAT.

33. Farmer's habitat? : DELL. More baby stuff.

34. Boxy Toyota: SCION. They aren't anymore, but were in 2004.

37. Persian murmur: PURR. Another kitty cat for CED and the other feline fanatics.

39. Bagel shape: TORUS.

40. Eye sores: STYES.

43. Smell to high heaven: REEK.

46. "Gangnam Style" genre, for short: K-POP. LINK.

47. Ricocheted: CAROMED. A gimme to any billiard/pool player.

49. Make a mess of: BOTCH.

52. Use: EMPLOY.

54. Ancient Knossos denizen: CRETAN. Knossos is the largest Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and has been called Europe's oldest city.  The citizens of Crete are Cretans, literally.

55. Collectible lemon: EDSEL. A fabulous CSO to yours truly!

56. "Still Me" memoirist: REEVE.                  LINK.

58. One way to come home: SLIDE. A cool baseball misdirection.

61. Hit the sauce: TOPE. Archaic, literary. Drink alcohol to excess, especially on a regular basis.
‘he was toping the while from a flagon of sack.’ Or perhaps, port.

62. Get dirty: SOIL. This has so many negative implications.

64. Like port, usually: AGED. It is one of this wine's ADVANTAGES. Something else our Renaissance Man knows about.

67. DOD division: NSA. Department of Defense oversees the National Security Agency.

68. Underhanded: SLY.

69. Keats forte: ODE.

70. 2017 NLDS player: NATional. One final baseball reference for C.C.

I have such fun doing these write-ups especially when the puzzles are as whimsical as this one was.  Happy Chanukah to those who light the candles and get ready for Christmas- 10 more shopping days. Thanks, John Lampkin, nice baseball stuff:  and all of you who come to the corner. Lemonade out.

Thursday, December 14th 2017 Ed Sessa

Theme: Johnnys-come-lately. As explained succinctly by the theme hint

35A. Classic TV intro which can be applied to the starts of the four other longest puzzle answers : HEEEEERE'S JOHNNY! Choose your own number of "E"s!

Also famously used by Jack Nicholson in the movie adaptation of Stephen King's "The Shining":

18A. Year-end rewards : CASH BONUSES. Johnny Cash."The Man in Black". Portrayed to great effect by Joaquim Phoenix in the biopic "Walk the Line".

23A. Silver State capital : CARSON CITY. Johnny Carson. The original Johnny referred to by the puzzle title. Ed McMahon's intro line for Carson on "The Tonight Show". Nevada is the Silver State.

50A. Bad break : ROTTEN LUCK. Johnny Rotten. John Lydon in his "Sex Pistols" alter ego. The Pistols were a tad controversial, but a huge influence on popular music, despite only releasing four singles and one studio album. Here's the first single if you want a taste of 1976.

56A. Dugout loudmouth : BENCH JOCKEY. Johnny Bench. Appropriate clue for the Red's catcher from 1967-1983. I don't know if he was a loudmouth in the dugout. Anyone? I'm not sure I'm familiar with the phrase, but the crosses were solid.

Nice theme from Ed, and some really nice fill, especially in the downs. POSEIDON and PLAY NICE, along with the stacked vertical 6's in the NW and SE. Good stuff. Let's see what else we've got to talk about:

Across

1. Place for peas or z's : BED. The Princess and the Pea reference, I'm sure.

4. Bridge measure : SPAN

8. Like traffic at a bottleneck : STOP-GO. Very nice.

14. "Norma __" : RAE. Played by Sally Field in the movie.

15. She famously said "Play it" to 49-Across : ILSA.  Casablanca. No "again" contrary to some opinions.

16. Saved to watch later : TIVO'ED

17. Horace's "__ Poetica" : ARS. A poem advising others how to write poetry.

"Ye who write, make choice of a subject suitable to your abilities; and revolve in your thoughts a considerable time what your strength declines, and what it is able to support. Neither elegance of style, nor a perspicuous disposition, shall desert the man, by whom the subject matter is chosen judiciously."

20. One-step-at-a-time toy : SLINKY. The walking-downstairs spring. All the rage for a while, but essentially a one-trick pony.

22. "Only __": NPR sports program : A GAME

26. "The Mindy Project" actor Barinholtz : IKE Thank you, crosses

29. Well-endowed org.? : OPEC. Nice pun on the "well" in the clue. What did Red Adair say to "Boots" Hansen? " Oil's well that ends well".

30. McKellen and McShane : IANS. Both fine actors.

31. Said further : ADDED

33. Real estate unit : ACRE

34. Acted bullish? : MOO'ED. I associate mooing more with cows. Bulls snort.

41. Volunteer's offer : I'LL GO

42. "Vaya con __" : DIOS. "Go with God" - first sung by Freddy Fender.

43. Attach with string : TIE ON

44. Half of half-and-half : MILK. My local market has fat-free half-and-half - isn't that defeating the purpose?

45. Flower painted by van Gogh : IRIS

49. See 15-Across : SAM

52. Really worry : EAT AT

55. __ Tunes : LOONEY

60. Horseplayer's hangout, for short : OTB. Off-Track Betting facility. Every high street in every town in Britain has a betting shop, or two. They will take bets on anything you like - famously offering 5000-1 odds that the world would end as prophesied by the Mayan Calendar (and offering 1-5000 odds that it wouldn't); 5000-1 that perennial underdogs Leicester City would win the Premier League title in 2015-16 (and they did) and 175-1 odds that Uruguayan soccer star Luis Suarez would take a bite out of an opponent after two prior offenses. (He did, at the 2016 World Cup in Rio and was banned for six games).

61. "Good News" Grammy winner Kathy : MATTEA. Merci, les croixes.

62. Workshop gadget : VISE

63. Opposite of paleo- : NEO-. Paleolithic, neolithic, for example.

64. Wimps : WUSSES

65. Cheek or lip : SASS

66. "Yakety __": rock-'n'-roll novelty hit : SAX. I thought this was "Yakety Yak", so that slowed down my progress in this corner.

Down:

1. "Donnie __": Depp film : BRASCO. That's the fifth Johnny for today.

2. Part of a winter hat : EARLAP. What happened to the "F"?

3. Appetite : DESIRE

4. Michael Moore film about healthcare : SICKO

5. "No more fighting!" : PLAY NICE!

6. Pack animal : ASS

7. "Don't think so" : NAH

8. Cheap smoke : STOGY. I thought it was spelt "stogie". Mark Twain wouldn't smoke a cigar that cost more than 5¢

9. Actress Fey : TINA 

10. Egg cell : OVUM

11. Trident-carrying god : POSEIDON. Neptune is his Roman counterpart.

12. "My goodness" : GEE

13. Pigs out (on), for short : OD'S

19. Creatures in caves : BATS

21. Pres. advisory team : NSC. National Security Council.

24. "The Alienist" novelist Caleb : CARR. Indebted to you, crosses.

25. Boss' demand often followed by "now!" : I NEED IT!

27. Shrewd : KEEN

28. Circular current : EDDY

31. Tori of pop : AMOS. Aged five, she was the youngest student ever admitted to the Peabody Conservatory of Music. She was expelled at 11 years old due to her interest in rock and pop, and her dislike of sight-reading. Her first band was called "Y Kant Tori Read" as reference to that episode in her life..

32. Head-slapper's cry : DOH!

33. Long, long time : AEON

35. Search engine results : HITS

36. Director Kazan : ELIA. A Streetcar Named Desire, On the Waterfront and East of Eden are some of his best-known. A great director.

37. Basic principles : ELEMENTS

38. Big head : EGO

39. Sandy sediment : SILT

40. Like a really bad comedy skit : JOKELESS

44. Fictional detective Mr. __ : MOTO

45. U.N. workers' agcy. : ILO. The International Labour Organization. Founded in 1946, the UN's first specialized agency.
.
46. Sentences that need fixing : RUN-ONS

47. Summer drink : ICE TEA

48. Posh stadium seating : SKY BOX. I prefer the cheap seats. Much better atmosphere than hanging out with the mucky-mucks in the boxes.

50. Hindu princes : RAJAS

51. "The Highwayman" poet : NOYES

Tlot-tlot, in the frosty silence! Tlot-tlot, in the echoing night!

Nearer he came and nearer! Her face was like a light!

Her eyes grew wide for a moment; she drew one last deep breath,

Then her finger moved in the moonlight,

   Her musket shattered the moonlight,

Shattered her breast in the moonlight and warned him—with her death.

53. "Hair" parts : ACTS

54. Biblical pronoun : THEE

56. Big name in luxury autos : BMW. "Bayerische Motoren Werke AG". Originally an aircraft engine manufacturer. The blue-and-white badge represents an aircraft propeller. They made a three-wheel one-person car with the door opening at the front. The car had a reverse gear, unlike the Messerschmidt version, which caused the driver some problems if he pulled into the garage and stopped too close to the back wall. He couldn't open the door, and couldn't back up.

57. __ de cologne : EAU

58. Rite Aid competitor : CVS. One on every corner here in LA. I get my RX's filled through CVS.

59. Soul maker : KIA. Korean car company.. 기아자동차

And that pretty much wraps it up for me. I'm heading back East into some snow from the sunny California shores. I'm going in the wrong direction.

Here's the grid!

Steve

Wednesday, December 13 2017, Brian Gubin

Theme: PET NAMES

 

3. *Friendly words to departing guests : GLAD YOU CAME. LADY is the Cocker Spaniel from Disney's Lady And The Tramp.

 

10. *Like medicine that works quickly : FAST ACTING. Regular crossword solvers recognize  ASTA as the Wire Fox Terrier from The Thin Man series.

 

21. *Extremely retro food regimen? : PALEO DIET. PAL, a Collie, was the original Lassie.

 

30. *"Cruel Summer" band : BANANARAMA. NANA is a St. Bernard who appears in Disney's 1953 animated film Peter Pan.

 

26. Common yoga pose ... and a hint to hidden names in the answers to starred clues : DOWNWARD DOG

 

Melissa here. A fun change to see down theme answers - and doubly fun for all the dog lovers.

 

Across:
 

1. Brainiac : EGGHEAD
 

8. Campus eatery, for short : CAF. I've never heard this shortened form uttered.
 

11. Flying Solo? : HAN. Star Wars - fun clue.
 

14. Brewpub brew : PALE ALE
 

15. Auburn University home : ALABAMA
 

17. #2 on Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time : CLAPTON. See the list here.
 

18. Burger bun flavorings : SESAMES. Did not come easy - have never seen this pluralized.
 

19. Out-of-date : OLD
 

20. Usual people in a roundup? : SUSPECTS
 

22. Small dogs : TOYS. Dog breeds by size.
 

24. Trafficking org. : DEA. Drug Enforcement Administration.
 

25. Insisted on it : SAID SO
 

29. Gaming rookie, in slang : NOOB. Aka, Newbie.
 

31. "Treasure Island" author's initials : RLS. Robert Louis Stevenson.

33. Cape : CLOAK. Jane Eyre wore one.
 

34. Six-sided state : UTAH. See?

 

 

36. Steinbeck's "__ of Eden" : EAST
 

38. Simple card game : WAR

 

39. Pal of Sleepy : DOC. The Seven Dwarfs.

 
41. "Taras Bulba" novelist Gogol : NIKOLAI

 
43. Org. with Thunder and Heat : NBA

 

44. Eggs in a lab : OVA

 

45. Amino __ : ACID
 

46. Chew (on) : GNAW
 

48. Male bodybuilder : HE MAN. Or a little rascal.

 

 

50. Uncle, in Mexico : TIO
 

52. Homecoming figure : GRAD
 

54. Rock show venues : ARENAS
 

56. U.K. country : ENG
 

58. Palm smartphone : TREO
 

60. Welcomers at the church door : GREETERS. Or Walmart.

 

 

63. Car seller's employer: Abbr. : DLR. Dealer.
 

64. Like some celebrity memoirs : TELL ALL.
 

67. Desperate : DO OR DIE
 

69. Salaries : INCOMES
 

70. Composer Puccini : GIACOMO. Never knew his first name. "The greatest composer of Italian opera after Verdi". Wikipedia.
 

 

71. 28-Down, essentially : POD

 

72. Solid __ rock : AS A
 

73. Steams up : ENRAGES
 

Down:
 

1. Spaceship Earth locale : EPCOT
 

2. Unit at the pumps : GALLON

4. Old-school "cool" : HEP
 

5. Has : EATS
 

6. Spoken : ALOUD
 

7. More heavily populated : DENSER
 

8. Attorney's assignment : CASE
 

9. Smart guys? : ALECS

11. Smoked meat : HAM
 

12. Zion Church letters : AME. I did not know this.
 

13. "One Mic" rapper : NAS. Wikipedia.
 

 

 

16. Pasta sauce herb : BASIL
 

23. Drunkard : SOT
 

27. Former Swedish automaker : SAAB
 

28. Southern veggie : OKRA
 

32. Mineo of movies : SAL
 

35. Hyphenated fruit drink brand : HI-C
 

37. Droop : SAG
 

39. Qatar's capital : DOHA
 

40. Done : OVER
 

42. Young fox : KIT
 

47. Hotel lobby hangings : ART
 

49. Prefix with Saxon : ANGLO
 

51. Nervous : ON EDGE
 

53. Remove calcium deposits from : DELIME
 

55. Tennis great Monica : SELES
 

57. Area below the abdomen : GROIN
 

59. Cookie bits in some Milka chocolate bars : OREOS
 

61. "Born Free" lioness : ELSA
 

62. Fly high : SOAR
 

64. Gratuity : TIP
 

65. Rock producer Brian : ENO
 

66. HDTV choice : LCD
 

68. HDTV brand : RCA