Wednesday, April 19, 2017 C. C. Burnikel

Theme: Something fishy, right up front.  Each theme answer starts with the name of well known fish.

Let us start with the unifier, to make everything clear.

40 D. Ingredient in some Asian soup, or, literally, what each answer to a starred clue has : FISH HEAD.  So, the named FISH is the HEAD, or beginning of each theme fill.   This gives us our theme song.

17 A. *Droopy-eared dog : BASSET HOUND.   The BASSET HOUND has the awkward combination of long ears and short legs, and a sense of smell second only to the blood hound.  It's low slung contour is indicated by by the French word BASSET, meaning "rather low."  BASS are any of several fresh or salt water varieties, similar to perch, belonging to the order perciformes.  The name BASS is derived from a Middle English word for perch.

25 A. *Testimony preceder : SOLEMN OATH.  This involves an appeal to a deity or revered person or symbol to guarantee that oath speaker is making an honest testimony or promise.  SOLE are several varieties of flat fish.

38 A. *Garage alternative : CARPORT.  A more or less protective structure, with a roof but fewer than four walls.  CARP are several species of oily fresh water fish native to Europe and Asia.

52 A. *Common cause of food poisoning : SALMONELLA.  This is a bacterium that can be found in contaminated food.  It is named for Daniel Salmon who was leading the team in the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture that discovered the pathogen.  SALMON fish are born in fresh water.  Some varieties migrate to the sea, then return to where they originated to spawn.

61 A. *Garment with a fitted waist and flared bottom : SKATER DRESS.

Pair with stilettos and a clutch

The SKATE fish are similar, but not identical, to rays.

Hi gang, an ailing Jazzbumpa here to guide you through this aquatic offering from our fearless leader. Despite the theme, you'll see there is nothing fishy going on here. 

Across

1. Overzealous : RABID. Like certain sports fans,

6. Emotional states : MOODS.  They can be good or bad.

11. Big name in home security : ADT.   The largest security company in the U.S. and Canada with over 6.5 million customers.

14. Work together : UNITE.  Many hands make light work.

15. Golfer's birdie, often : THREE.  One under on a par 4 hole.  Cf. 33D.

16. "I've seen better" : MEH.

19. King Kong, e.g. : APE.  One of the really great APES.

20. Home buyer's choice : CONDO.  A private residence owned by an individual or family in a building or community with multiple units.

21. Annoyed reply to "Are you awake?" : I AM NOW.  It's about time!

23. Hog fare : SLOP.

28. Pan flying : PETER.  Children's story hero.

30. Present mo. : DEC.  The present month is April; the month for presents is December, which is in the future.

31. Bone, to Botticelli : OSSO.  Italian

32. Quick snooze : CATNAP.

34. "Darn it!" : SHOOT.  Phooey!  Drat!

37. Pop singer Grande's fragrance : ARI.  A steal at $28.82 per oz.

40. Price of admission : FEE.

43. The Euphrates flows through it : SYRIA.  Originates in Turkey, also flows through Iraq into the Persian Gilf.

Conflict

44. Like King Kong : SIMIAN.  Referring to apes and monkeys.  Also a clecho.

46. Shepherd's dinner, perhaps : ALPO.  German shepherd.

49. Coffee maker unit : CUP. Equivalent to one Keurig pod.

51. Impudent : SASSY.  Don't be that way.

56. Perlman of "The Mindy Project" : RHEA.  Also Carla from "Cheers."

57. Racer's swimwear brand : SPEEDO.  

Fitness

58. __ setter : IRISH.  Possible ALPO eater.

60. Country that won the most Olympics medals in Rio : USA.  Winning 46 gold, 37 silver and 38 bronze for a total of 121, next were Great Britain with 67, China with 70 and Russia with 55.

66. Something to chew : CUD.  If you're a cow.

67. Ship with liquid cargo : OILER.  Oil tanker.

68. Security breaches : LEAKS.  Unauthorized information escaping through unofficial channels.  

69. Officejet printers : HPS.  Hewlett-Packard

70. Polishing targets : NAILS.  On your fingers and toes.

71. Pearl Jam frontman Vedder : EDDIE. [b. 1964]   He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, just this month.

Down

1. Barbecue spice mixture : RUB.

2. Santa __ Mountains : ANA.   A short range extending for about 61 miles southeast of the Los Angeles basin.

3. Twice-baked cookies : BISCOTTI. They are oblong, dry, crunchy, and intended for dipping - traditionally in Vin Santo, a style of Italian desert wine of variable sweetness.

4. "Come right on in!" : IT'S OPEN.  The door, that is.

5. Celebrity chef Paula : DEEN.  Known for traditional southern comfort food.

6. Highest peak in Ore. : MT. HOOD.  It's height is approximately 11,240 ft.  It is a "potentially active" volcano, with the odds of an eruption during the next 30 years estimated to be between 3 and 7%.

7. "Well, looky here!" : OHO.  Thar she blows!

8. Christian sch. in Tulsa : ORU.  Founded by its eponym in 1965, Oral Roberts University has a high academic standing and a checkered administrative past.

9. Vest fabric : DENIM.  More famous for blue jeans, probably.

10. It often has four doors : SEDAN.  An automobile with front and rear seating suitable for adults, and a cargo compartment, typically in the rear.

11. Some kitchen appliances : AMANAS.  The company manufactures a variety of kitchen and household appliances.

12. Bus stations : DEPOTS.

13. "Tommy" band : THE WHO.

18. Pts. by Vikings : TDS.  Touch Downs scored by a professional football team from Minnesota.  Do we have any RABID fans?

22. Irrelevant : MOOT.  This is the secondary meaning.  The primary meaning is "open to dispute."

23. Critter rescue org. : SPCA.  Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 

24. Big name in business jets : LEAR.   The LEARJET company was founded in the 1950's by William Powell LEAR.

26. Electric guitar pioneer : LES PAUL.

27. Cave feedback : ECHO.   Reflected sound.

29. Like "Fifty Shades of Grey" : RACY.  Risqué, suggestive, naughty, sexy, spicy, ribald.

33. Golfer's four, often : PAR.  The number of strokes needed by a first class player to complete the hole.  Cf 15A.

35. Hosp. areas : ORS.  Operating Rooms in hospitals.

36. Handle on many elevators : OTIS.   "Handle" here denoting the name.

39. Bento box staple : RICE.  A bento is a single-portion take out or home made meal common in Japanese cuisine.  It usually contains rice along with meat or fish and cooked vegetables.  The actual box can be anything from a cheap disposable to hand-crafted laquerware.

41. Facility : EASE.

42. "Only Time" songwriter : ENYA.  It seems that Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin shows up at least half the time when I blog.

43. A handful : SOME.  Not too many.

45. Color named for a planet : MARS RED.   Benjamin Moore 2172-20.

46. In itself : AS SUCH.  Exactly as described or suggested.

47. Devours eagerly : LAPS UP.  To accept something with great enthusiasm.

48. Responds in court : PLEADS.  Presents or argues for a position.

50. Tool box item : PLIERS. Pincers, typically having parallel, flat, serrated surfaces intended for gripping. 

53. Has too much of, briefly : O Ds ON. Technically, to take more than the recommended dose of a medication, or in drug culture to have too much of a narcotic, resulting in a dangerous and potentially lethal condition.  In loose vernacular, to have too much of anything, frex, Easter ham. 

54. Finnish tech giant : NOKIA.   Multinational communications and information technology company founded in 1865.

55. Flight stat. : ARRival time.  

59. On the sidelines : IDLE.  Not currently in use.

62. Legendary fighter : ALI.  Professional boxer Muhammad Ali, originally Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. [1942-2016.]   He was also famous and controversial as an activist and draft resistor.

63. Business card no. : TELephone.

64. Hit the slopes : SKI.

65. Dallas-to-Houston dir. : SSE.  Texas geography.  Three and a half hour drive via I-45 covering 239 miles.

That wraps it up - a fine puzzle, indeed.  My only nit is the glaring lack of a baseball reference. What's up with that?  

Cool regards!
JzB

Tuesday, April 18 2017, Jeffrey Wechler

Theme: Size Matters

17. Mom-and-pop stores : SMALL BUSINESSES
 

29. Alfalfa, Darla and friends, with "the" : LITTLE RASCALS
 

39. "God bless us, every one!" Dickens character : TINY TIM
 

47. Game with windmills, ramps and such : MINIATURE GOLF

62. Waterspout climber of song : ITSY BITSY SPIDER


Melissa here. This was probably the fastest Tuesday solve I can remember. I held back on a few guesses waiting for perps to be certain. Only one word I wasn't sure of - FILIAL, and one misspell. Theme was simple and obvious - and still a fun solve. The first two theme answers are plural and the rest are singular - but still a tight theme.

Across

1. Valuable stone : GEM
 

4. Hamilton and Burr, notably : FOES

 

8. Find incredibly funny : ROAR AT

 

14. Word for a Latin lover : AMO

 

15. Cookbook author Rombauer : IRMA
. Not ERMA.
 

16. Not certain : UNSURE



20. Vietnam's capital : HANOI

 

21. Part of MST: Abbr. : STD
. Waited for this one to fill in, since it could have been anything.
 

22. FDR's successor : HST

 

23. Serpent's tooth : FANG
. At first I misread this as Serpent's tongue - and wondered why there weren't enough letters for FORKED.
 

26. Irreverence : IMPIETY



33. Biblical verb ending : ETH
.
 

34. Quick hellos : HI'S

 

35. Curbs, with "in" : REINS
. This was my mispell, my fingers wanted to type REIGNS and the G got entered before I could stop them.
 

38. Blackjack half : ACE



42. Wedding notice word : NEE

 

43. What hares and mares do : RHYME
. Sneaky.
 

45. Long, long time : EON

 

46. La Brea __ Pits : TAR



52. Coiffures : HAIRDOS
. Those are both great words.

54. Move, in real estate lingo : RELO
. Relocate.
 

55. Part of MST : ESS
. Also sneaky (and clever), especially after 21A.
 

56. Tango maneuver : DIP

 

58. Higher than : ABOVE

 

67. California's San __: Hearst Castle locale : SIMEON

 

68. Filming locales : SETS

 

69. 401(k) kin : IRA

 

70. Six times cinq : TRENTE

 

71. VCR insert : TAPE

 

72. Gov. Cuomo's domain : NYS

 

Down
 

1. Deep cut : GASH

 

2. 2016 Best Actress Stone of "La La Land" : EMMA

 

3. Pained sound : MOAN

 

4. Like a child's love for a parent : FILIAL
. "Of or due from a son or daughter."
 

5. Heavenly sphere : ORB

 

6. Grounded bird : EMU

 

7. Fresh talk : SASS

 

8. Pioneering hip-hop trio from Queens : RUN DMC


9. Single : ONE

 

10. Beast of burden : ASS

 

11. Does without much thought : RUSHES INTO

 

12. "Give it __!" : A REST

 

13. Cantankerous : TESTY

 

18. Barn storage space : LOFT

 

19. "How sweet __!" : IT IS

 

24. Classic grape soda : NEHI

 

25. Smile that may be silly : GRIN

 

27. Eggplant __: Italian entrée, briefly : PARM

 

28. L'eau land? : ILE

 

29. Shakespearean king with three daughters : LEAR

 

30. Nagging desire : ITCH

 

31. College freshman's comment about why his parents call so often :  THEY MISS ME
. Aw.
 

32. Until now : AS YET

 

36. Patricia of "Hud" : NEAL


 

37. Medieval laborer : SERF

 

39. Take care of : TEND

 

40. Vacation option : TOUR

 

41. Memo heading : IN RE

 

44. Defunct Soviet space station : MIR

 

48. First-aid fluid : IODINE

 

49. "__ happens ... " : AS IT

 

50. Pass, as time : ELAPSE

 

51. Mongolian desert : GOBI


52. Bank holdup : HEIST

 

53. No longer sleeping : ASTIR

 

57. "Hey, get a load of this" : PSST

 

59. Chief Norse god : ODIN

 

60. Quite : VERY

 

61. Significant periods : ERAS

 

63. Kyoto cash : YEN

 

64. Droid : BOT

 

65. Positive vote : YEA

 

66. Gas additive brand : STP

Monday, April 17, 2017 Bruce Haight

Theme: Change Lanes to Pass - but as always, keep to the right.

17A. Friends of man's best friend: DOG LOVERS. Lovers Lane.

24A. Sport involving some rolling on the grass: LAWN BOWLING. Bowling lane.

37A. Forgetting the unpleasant parts: SELECTIVE MEMORY. Memory lane.

47A. Tidy sum that doesn't sound like much: PRETTY PENNY. "Penny Lane" Beatles (Back story)

58A. Highway segment for slower traffic ... and, literally, what 17-, 24-, 37- and 47-Across each has: RIGHT LANE

Argyle here(in the middle lane, usually). Except for two corners, NE and SW, everything is well interconnected and a fun solve.

Across:

1. Drop a line from the dock, say: FISH

5. Normandy battle town: ST. LO

9. Massage targets: ACHEs

14. Together, musically: A DUE. (in Italian)

15. Chips __!: cookies: AHOY

16. Formal-sounding will?: SHALL

19. Columbus craft: PINTA. The actual name of Pinta is unknown. Wiki link

20. For each one: APIECE

21. Diving lake bird: LOON. Our crossword bird.

22. Knight's title: SIR

28. QB-to-receiver six-pointer: TD PASS. Touchdown pass.

30. Rent-a-car giant: AVIS

31. Landed: ALIT, leading to 43. Sitting on: ATOP

32. TV show shown before: RERUN

34. Banned bug spray: DDT. The U.S. banned DDT for agricultural use in 1972.

41. "Good" cholesterol initials: HDL. (High-Density Lipoprotein)

42. Wishes: HOPES

44. List of computer options: MENU

45. "Movin' right along ... ": "ANYHOO...". Humorous alteration of ANYHOW.

52. Overhead trains: ELS. Shortening of elevated trains.

53. Steak order: RARE

54. Contemporary radio station named for its former "easy listening" playlist: LITE FM. (generic name)

56. Leaves out: OMITS

61. Used up: SPENT

62. "So THAT'S what you mean": "I SEE"

63. Physics particle: ATOM

64. Bacon work: ESSAY

65. Lysol target: GERM

66. Drive-__ window: THRU

Down:

1. Craze: FAD

2. Knot-tying words: I DO

3. Drug test placebo: SUGAR PILL

4. Beatles' second film: "HELP!"

5. File-renaming command, at times: SAVE AS

6. "Supernatural" network: THE CW. The "CW" name is an abbreviation derived from the first letters of the names of its two parent corporations (CBS and Warner Bros). OK then.

7. Oscar winner Sophia: LOREN. In 1962, she won a Best Actress Oscar for "Two Women", a foreign-language film.

8. Kvetching cries: OYs

9. Nile snake: ASP

10. Flu symptoms: CHILLS

11. Asian capital: HANOI

12. "Tiny Dancer" singer John: ELTON

13. Much street talk: SLANG

18. Many Rembrandts: OILS

22. Squirrel away: STASH

23. Loafed: IDLED

25. Exposes: BARES

26. Reproductive cell: OVUM

27. Cellar reds and whites: WINE

29. Gobbled down: ATE

32. Tear to pieces: RIP UP

33. New Year's __: EVE

34. "Duh ... figure it out!": "DO THE MATH"

35. Slobber: DROOL

36. Printing goofs: TYPOs

38. Newscaster Huntley: CHET

39. Broadway award: TONY

40. Possibly will: MAY

44. Medit. volcano: MT. ETNA

45. Song before the game: ANTHEM

46. Vladivostok veto: NYET. Russian.

47. Narrative writing: PROSE

48. Boat launching aids: RAMPS

49. Great Lakes natives: ERIES

50. Beethoven dedicatee: ELISE. Für Elise(3:38)

51. Algeria neighbor: NIGER

55. London apartment: FLAT

57. Muddy pen: STY

58. Fix, as a fight: RIG

59. Neither here __ there: NOR

60. Down Under bird: EMU

Argyle

Sunday, April, 16, 2017, C.C. Burnikel

TITLE: ACTION FIGURES

The prolific ringmaster of our site has hidden some lovely eggs for us on this Easter Sunday that combines her usual blend of a fun theme and clever cluing. XWordinfo gives it a high "Freshness Factor" which I certainly think it deserves. 

C.C. has taken the names of famous people and added a word between their first and last name. The added word satisfies the silly clue when used after the first name and then serves as the first word of a common phrase when paired with the last name. Six of her entries were horizontal and two were vertical. Ya gotta love it!

Theme entries:

23. Doris during a workout? : TRAINING DAY - America's sweetheart Doris Day in the gym or a 2001 American neo-noir crime thriller

29. Director Oliver working on pizza dough? : ROLLING STONE - Gainful employment for Oliver Stone at Pizza Hut or the free wheeling print or digital magazine that focuses on pop culture

59. Comical Samantha busy stitching? : QUILTING BEE - Dextrous work for comedian Samantha Bee or a product that might wind up in the Lincoln, NE International Quilt Study Center & Museum

78. Nicolas taking a swing? : BATTING CAGE - Nicholas Cage's turn at bat or where Billy Crystal and Bruno Kirby might take some swings

106. Singer Al making a strike? : BOWLING GREEN - Al Green in the alleys or an Ohio university where the Falcons play

3. Sally having fun? : PLAYING FIELD - Sally Field with some Legos or where the Bowling Green Falcons play

115. Nathan at quarterback? : PASSING LANE - Fabulous Nathan Lane playing against type as a QB but NOT this:

65. Lucille on a trampoline? : BOUNCING BALL - The Lucy we all love doing back flips or each of these

Now let's see what C.C. has for us in our logophilic Easter Basket


Across

1. Quaker in the wind : ASPEN - Populus Tremuloides. First cousin of the cottonwood, Nebraska's state tree - Populus Deltoides

6. Little bite : TASTE

11. "House" actor Omar : EPPS

15. Full house, e.g. : HAND - Fourth best hand

19. Pond flower : CALLA - Lily

20. Navel type : OUTIE

21. Selectively remove : CULL

22. Butterlike topping : OLEO - Remember, "It's not nice to fool Mother Nature"?

25. Maker of Regenerist skin care products : OLAY

26. 'Vette roof option : T-TOP

27. Claims : SAYS

28. Greenwich Village sch. : NYU

32. Cymbals with a pedal : HI-HAT - Hey you've only got two sticks

34. Tire for emergencies : SPARE

36. Perfect Sleepers, e.g. : SERTAS



37. Yoga class greeting : NAMASTE

39. Place for a bud? : EAR

41. Deepest, as feelings : INMOST - or INNER MOST

44. Tiny bit : FIG - Bing sang, "If you don't care a feather or a FIG, You may grow up to be a pig!"

46. Many a pizza slice : OCTANT - Oliver, don't cut that pizza into 8 pieces, my family can only eat 6.

48. Subj. for Janet Yellen : ECON(omy)-  The Dismal Science

51. Diaper cream additive : ALOE - Also Zinc Oxide and Vitamin E

52. Labor day deliveries : INFANTS - Clientele for 51 Across

54. Quisling's crime : TREASON - Vidkun lectured about "The Jewish Problem In Norway" and sent Hitler a 50th birthday card

57. 1688 coffeehouse founder Edward better known in the insurance world : LLOYD - Lloyd's of London famously insured Betty Grable's legs for $1M. Dolly Parton got a $4M policy there on her, uh, best features as well.

58. Cause of some lines : AGING

61. Look for : SEEK

62. Masterful move : COUP

64. Ski resort sight : GONDOLA

65. Avoid, as an issue : BEG -  After three years of emceeing the all-school reunion, I BEGGED off for another encore

68. Some battered rings : CALAMARI - Calamari seems to be a little chewy for me

70. Mumbai mister : SRI - Ravi gets two SRI's

71. Baker's gluten-free choice : OAT FLOUR 

73. JFK : New York :: __ : Chicago : ORD - ORcharD field in Chicago retained its 3-letter designation even when it was renamed for WWII hero Navy pilot Edward O'Hare

74. Singer Laine : FRANKIE - Jezebel is his most requested song on iTunes. I'd pick Rawhide or High Noon

76. Troubles : ILLS 

77. Lara's love : YURI - Dr. YURI Zhivago 

80. Big 112-Down : FINAL 112. See 80-Across : TEST

81. Painter of dancers : DEGAS

84. Lacking variety : ONE NOTE - Regardless of the party, they can sing that ONE NOTE forever

85. Silkscreen aid : STENCIL - You can get some to help carve your pumpkins too

87. Computer with a Magic Keyboard : IMAC

88. Disc golf obstacle : TREE and 96. One of 18 on a disc golf course : TEE PAD - This looks like a "hole in one" from the TEE PAD to me.

89. Dürer, e.g. : ETCHER

91. They, in Cognac : ILS  and 99. French sponge cake : GATEAU - ILS ont servi de GATEAU éponge (They served sponge cake)

92. One typing a's and z's : PINKIE - Wonderful clue

94. Used a bench, say : SAT

97. Certain triathlete : IRONMAN - Don't look for me in these pix!

102. Linguine sauce : PESTO - Sauce that originated in Genoa, Italy

104. Squalid : DINGY

109. Spanish pronoun : ESO - Hit song ESO Besso (That Kiss) by 53. Ottawa-born songwriter Paul : ANKA - We had the entire title last week

111. Provide a bank floor plan for, say : ABET which will make you run 120. Clashing with, with "of" : AFOUL of the law

113. Eurasian border river : URAL

114. Alpha __ : MALE

118. Inconsequential : MERE

119. Exiled Roman poet : OVID - OVID was banned and Jesus was born during the time of Augustus Caesar 

121. Sheds : MOLTS

122. Florist's creation : POSY

123. State of disarray : MESS

124. "Spider-Man" actress : DUNST - How 'bout a wet kiss, Spidey?

125. Shoelace protector : AGLET - Like zarf, rowel, etc.


HUGH DOWNS

1. Accomplishments : ACTS

2. 2002 skating gold medalist Hughes : SARAH

4. Cuthbert of "24" : ELISHA 

5. Editor Talese with her own Doubleday imprint : NAN - A triple play - three unknown names in a row for me

6. Stylish : TONY

7. Amen Corner golf course, familiarly : AUGUSTA - Of those three holes, the 12th is my favorite and the signature hole of the course

8. Benchmark: Abbr. : STD

9. Pageant sparkler : TIARA

10. Pooh's mopey pal : EEYORE

11. "Silent Spring" subj. : ECOL

12. Canines with corded coats : PULIS - Only the tongue tells me which end is which

13. Flier : PLANE - Many fly into and out of ORD

14. Con man's expression : SLY GRIN

15. Spicy steamed Mexican food : HOT TAMALE

16. "He Was Despised," in Handel's "Messiah" : ALTO SOLO - An Air not a Chorus

17. Strip gas : NEON

18. Suss (out) : DOPE

24. In one piece : INTACT - Otzi is an INTACT, 5,000 year old mummy found in the Otztal Alps in 1991

30. Grassy expanse : LEA

31. Amtrak stop: Abbr. : STN

33. "__ Schoolchildren": Tracy Kidder book : AMONG

35. Unreleased : PENT-UP - Should we all vent occasionally?

38. Google Maps lines: Abbr. : STS - Fords Theater was a brisk 8 minute walk from our Hotel via 10th ST

40. Varnish component : RESIN

42. Tofurky protein source : SOY

43. Newsman Koppel : TED - His show Nightline started as an update on the Iran Hostage crisis in November, 1979

44. Debacle : FIASCO

45. Engaged : IN GEAR

47. Hexa- halved : TRI 

49. Express sympathy (with) : CONDOLE - I'm more familiar offering my CONDOLENCES

50. Needing to be saved? : ON GOAL - In the 1980 Miracle On Ice, the USSR got 39 shots ON GOAL and we only managed 16 but got one more in the net than the Soviets

55. "View of Toledo" painter : EL GRECO

56. Yours, in Cognac : ATOI

57. Romaine bit : LEAF

59. Tonic ingredient : QUININE - U.S. - kwai' nine  U.K - kwi' neen

60. Layered lunches : BLTS

62. Golf course rental : CART - This is the golf cart of my dreams!

63. Soapbox user : ORATOR

66. Pass good in 28 countries : EURAIL

67. Tailgating fixtures : GRILLS

69. Degs. for writers : MFAS - Sigourney Weaver got her MFA from Yale in 1974



70. Something flashed by a catcher : SIGN - Some catchers even wear nail polish so the sign can be easier to see

72. The Eagles' "__ Eyes" : LYIN'

75. Prayer supports : KNEES

76. Following remark? : I GET IT

78. Place for shady transactions : BACK ALLEY

79. Had Subway fare : ATE - Subway has 3,000 more shops than McDonalds

80. Physics Nobelist of 1938 : FERMI - Creator of the first nuclear reactor

81. Tango move : DIP

82. London's Virgin __ Records : EMI

83. Turf disputes : GANG WARS - The bane of many cities

85. "Billions" network, briefly : SHO

86. Muscle-bone connector : TENDON - One good and one ruptured 

88. "16 and Pregnant" spin-off : TEEN MOM - An MTV production

90. King known for his wealth : CROESUS - Do you know the only two letters in his name that are not 1-point scrabble tiles?

93. "Lord, is __?": Matthew : IT I - Read from some pulpits this past week

95. Big primate : APE

98. Like sundials : ANALOG - A very high tech ANALOG sundial

100. __ nectar: sugar substitute : AGAVE - Other than used for tequila it's nectar is known as honey water

101. Wrinkly fruits : UGLIS

103. Major snag : SNAFU

105. Broadway matchmaker : YENTE - "For me, well, I wouldn't holler, If he were as handsome as anything" 

106. Speed deterrent : BUMP

107. Sister brand of Nilla : OREO - Have we had OREO as fill before? 

108. Wine list heading : REDS

110. Bank deposit : SILT

116. Scott Eastwood, to Clint : SON

117. "Today" alternative, for short : GMA

Now it's time for you to William Tell us what you think.

The Grid: