Theme: "Ooh, I Get It!" - Long I sound is changed into long U sound, changing spellings as needed.
24A. Grinch victim in the Wasatch Range?: ROCKY MOUNTAIN WHO. Rocky Mountain High.
37A. Bilks corporate bigwigs?: TAKES IN THE SUITS. Takes in the sights.
45A. Puff's ailment?: DRAGON FLU. Dragonfly.
56A. Nickname for a seafaring Smurf?: CAPTAIN BLUE. Captain Bligh.
77A. Amphibian College curriculum?: NEWT COURSES. Night courses.
82A. Inspiration for "The Hulk"?: BRUTE IDEA. Bright idea.
93A. Exceptional wind?: FIRST CLASS FLUTE. First class flight.
111A. 18-Down?: FATHER OF THE BROOD. Father of the bride.
Jeffrey
told me that the puzzle title is from Rich and Patti. His suggested "The Right Route". Sometimes it's tricky
to find a perfect title that captures the sound changing gimmick.
Total
102 theme squares. Our average. The top and bottom edge design is not
very Jeffrey, but the side edges is, with triple stacks of 7's and 6's. Those are hard to pull off cleanly, but Jeffrey is a pro. And he managed a 140 worder.
Across:
1. Some old Eur. republics: SSRS. Soviet Socialist Republics. Tiny "republics"/R dupe. Jeffrey mentioned that this is not his entry. He said "Rich didn’t like something in that section, but he did not request a revision, which I would have gladly worked on." He said SSRS is an entry he would do anything to remove, esp at 1-Across.
5. Brownstone-front hangout: STOOP.
10. Homer's "rosy-fingered" time: DAWN. Tiny dupe: 96. Dawn goddess: AURORA.
14. One looking badly?: OGLER.
19. Astute: KEEN.
20. Aquatic predators: ORCAS.
21. "Nasty" Nastase of tennis: ILIE. Honored on a stamp.
22. Good, to Giovanni: BUONO.
23. "__ la Douce": IRMA.
27. High point: PEAK.
28. College domain: EDU. Two more U's: 105. Charlottesville sch.: UVA.75. Columbus campus: Abbr.: OSU.
29. Large wardrobe: ARMOIRE. Not an armoire here. Just want to show you my friend Carmen's vases.
30. College dorm figs.: RAS.
31. Legal memo phrase: IN RE.
32. Pro Football Hall of Famer Merlin __: OLSEN.
35. Modigliani subject: NUDE. Andy Garcia played him in the 2004 movie.
36. Set (on): BENT.
41. Airhead: DUNCE.
42. Bit of trickery: GAG.
43. Chris of "American Pie" films: OWEN. Wiki says this: "In 2014, a New York Daily News article reported Owen was working as a waiter at a sushi restaurant in Santa Monica, California.
In the article, Owen says that "life doesn’t always go the way you
planned. I love acting and this job lets me stay in the fight." After that article was published, he appeared in two films in addition of a role on Criminal Minds".
44. Urn turner, perhaps: POTTER.
50. Real-estate holding account: ESCROW.
54. D.C. VIPs: REPS.
55. __-B: hygiene brand: ORAL.
61. __-Locka, Fla.: OPA.
62. Arena roarer: CROWD.
63. In cahoots: AS ONE.
64. Swahili honorific: BWANA. Literally "sir".
65. Meal with a crust: POTPIE.
67. "Ghosts" playwright: IBSEN.
69. Shoulders, e.g.: JOINTS. Nina kindly sent us an exercise routine to improve Boomer's body mass and balance. We just started the easiest ones.
70. "God __ refuge and strength": Psalm 46: IS OUR.
71. Traded (in): DEALT.
73. Like honey: GOOEY.
76. 2000 Richard Gere title role: DR T. OK. I just read the plot for the first time. Surreal.
79. Way back when, once: ERST.
80. Alone, in Arles: SEUL.
81. Two-time Pulitzer Prize for Fiction awardee: UPDIKE.
84. Bering, e.g.: STRAIT.
88. Arp's art: DADA.
91. Whole effort: ALL.
92. Coat of arms element: CREST.
101. Dusters: RAGS.
102. Just: MERE.
103. Prepare for bodybuilding photos: OIL UP. Would you believe that they use PAM cooking spray?
104. Egyptian deity: ISIS.
106. Takes, as a bus: RIDES ON.
108. Friend of Eeyore: ROO.
110. Bygone depilatory brand: NEET.
115. Canadian gas: ESSO.
116. Belong: FIT IN.
117. Wishes one hadn't done: RUES.
118. Actress Delta: BURKE.
119. Ado: STIR.
120. Billiards slab: SLATE.
121. Gucci of fashion: ALDO. Also 10. Chanel competitor: DIOR
122. Motel 6 visits: STAYS.
123. Tokyo electronics giant: SONY.
Down:
1. "Let's not do that": SKIP IT.
2. Sister of Venus: SERENA. The Williams sisters.
3. Say casually: REMARK.
4. Whence some garters?: SNAKE EGGS. Garter snakes. I did not know that snakes lay eggs. Google Images shows this corn snake laying an egg.
5. Hot under the collar: SORE.
6. Walked over: TROD ON.
7. Like Hogwarts lore: OCCULT.
8. Sturdy tree: OAK.
9. 101 class involving Freud: Abbr.: PSY. No more K-Pop rapper.
11. Many college donors: ALUMNI.
12. Succeed despite obstacles: WIN OUT.
13. Coll. students' access codes: NETIDS. Another learning moment for me.
14. Tony's cousin: OBIE. Or EMMY.
15. Staple __: GUN.
16. Inexpensive, as housing: LOW RENT.
17. Improve: ENHANCE.
18. Wake-up call provider: ROOSTER. The black character is how it's written in traditional Chinese.
25. Minister's house: MANSE.
26. "There you __!": ARE.
33. Uncertain query before a query: SHOULD I ASK. I normally send an email to D-Otto: "Does this feel solid to you?"
34. "Yuck!": EEW.
36. On the other hand: BUT.
38. __ Paulo: SAO.
39. Pass over: IGNORE.
40. Mild angst: UNEASE.
41. Warning about overexuberance: DOWN BOY. Great fill.
44. Pasty food: POI.
45. Surprise with a visit: DROP IN.
46. Rest: REPOSE.
47. "Trainwreck" director Judd: APATOW.
48. Back again: FRO.
49. Foundation of a civil society: LAW.
51. Stress-relief tool: SPONGE BALL. Never used these. I do have spike balls.
52. UPS unit: CTN.
53. Actress Issa: RAE.
56. Play lists: CASTS.
57. Airport near D.C.: BWI. Baltimore–Washington International. Also 72. NW Penn. airport: ERI.
Erie International Airport. Googled afterwards.
58. Alit: LANDED.
59. Like perjured testimony: UNTRUE.
60. Cal. locale of the Latino Walk of Fame: EAST LA. We had this clue before.
62. Basic electrical component: CIRCUIT.
66. Delay, with "off": PUT.
68. Runs in the wash: BLEEDS.
69. Beetle relatives: JETTAS.
71. It doesn't go off: DUD.
74. Hockey legend: ORR (Bobby). So grid-friendly. ORR and OTT.
78. Choose: OPT.
80. Endearing quality of puns: SILLINESS.
83. Often pointy-eared figure: ELF.
84. Kitten handles?: SCRUFFS. Nice clue/fill. Consonant-rich.
85. Hard work: TRAVAIL.
86. Sailing competition: REGATTA.
87. Braying beast: ASS.
89. Expiate, with "for": ATONE.
90. Rank of Brit. TV sleuth Morse: DCI. OK, Detective Chief Inspector.
93. Indiana Jones' hat: FEDORA.
94. Filled with rage: IREFUL.
95. Ready to play again: RESTED.
97. Goosebump-inducing: SPOOKY.
98. Employs so that one may: USES TO.
99. Connects logically: TIES IN.
100. Editing app on Google Play: E STORY. Unfamiliar to me.
102. Orbiter for 15 years: MIR.
106. Philosopher Descartes: RENE.
107. Rather: OH SO.
109. Wordsworth works: ODES.
112. Musical success: HIT.
113. Small ammo: BBS.
114. Tedious situation: RUT.
C.C.
