Theme: Is she out there? Letter in.
Or,This LINK.(1:03).
Each of the four theme answers are recognizable two word phrases with a single letter inserted and attached to the final word to create a new and whimsical phrase. I just had one of Mr. Holland's puzzles in April where he entertained us with a punny one; this time he has an add on with four solid entries. To accomplish that we have many more than a Friday worth of 3,4 and 5 letter fill. I liked OBSOLETE, DOODLER, STEAMS UP and some others but there there were some really hard short ones. Let's explore.
17A. Spontaneous camera adjustment? : SUDDEN F-STOP. (11). A quick stop becomes the misunderstood action which basically controls how much light comes in through the lens.
26A. Electronic device for some singles? : BACHELOR I-PAD. (12). The single man's cave becomes his tablet.
43A. Oversized cleaning tool? : GENEROUS Q-TIP (12). Just keep it out of your ear.
57A. Kid's sport played in costume? : MASKED T-BALL. (11). My favorite one as I picture all the little kids in their masks swinging away.
Across
1. Brown shade : ECRU. Continuing my shade theme from last week.
5. Authentic : LEGIT.
10. Yale Law students, until 1918 : MEN. He tried tricking you into putting in ELI.
13. Move furtively : SLINK.
15. Muse for Byron : ERATO. A repeat performance from yesterday, and not the only one as we also have, 38D. Belligerent son of Zeus : ARES. War god.
16. Cry of support : OLE. This is a lot of bull.
19. URL ending : GOV. You have to wait for peeps.
20. Unemployed? : OBSOLETE. This was not easy clued this way.And we have and antoclecho 45D. Employed : USED.
21. Car buyer's choice : COUPE. DeVille?
23. In one's cups : LIT.
24. One at a dull meeting, perhaps : DOODLER. I doodle at all opportunities.
31. Alberta NHLer : OILER. Edmonton, Alberta Canada, which suggests Mr. Holland has some ties as he also includes, 8D. 1989 World Champion figure skater : ITO. She also won the OLYMPIC (6:48) gold in Alberta, Canada. Every figure skating clue brings back fond memories of dear CA and our other past posters who skated. We miss you dear Clear Ages.
32. It often includes a bio : OBIT. Uary
33. Unfavorable : BAD. Not my first thought.
36. "The Man Show" co-host Carolla : ADAM.
37. Ship's anchor hole : HAWSE. I love the definition in the dictionary, "Where the hawsehole is on the ship." Apparently from Old Norse for neck? Jerome, SB?
39. Decree : RULE. Which is also a Law which rhymes with
40. Green : RAW.
41. Gun barrel measurement : BORE. Which has nothing to do with 26D. Tusked mammal : BOAR.
42. Like staying in the Bates Motel : EERIE. If you do not know the movie Psycho, they have a tv series now.
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46. Lets out early : PAROLES. Last day of school in Florida, so the traffic gets better.
49. Halifax hrs. : AST.In Nova Scotia, more Canada, and Atlantic Standard Time, I hour earlier than EST.
50. Something to aspire to : IDEAL.
51. Angers : STEAMS UP. Nice fresh fill.
56. Captain's record : LOG. How many have seen the new Star Trek movie, I still have not gone, but I can always here Shatner's voice, "Captain's Log, stardate..."
60. Jazz ___ : ERA. Which was when JzB?
61. Dangerous snake : ADDER. My favorite is the BLACK (2:42) one.
62. "...could ___ lean" : EAT NO. Poor Mrs. Sprat.
63. Retreat, perhaps : DEN. Unless it one of iniquity...I think they are now media rooms, or family rooms.
64. Pries (into) : NOSES. Such a nice literal usage, as you see people actually inserting their face, nose first...
65. Ticket word : SEAT.
Down:
1. Exxon, previously : ESSO. Classic crosswordese.
2. Bridge ___ : CLUB. I used to play often, but not in a long while.
3. Clears : RIDS.
4. Command following a mistake : UNDO.
5. Gave, as in a will : LEFT TO. To many legal terms slowed me down here.
6. Gaelic tongue : ERSE.
7. Rod : GAT. Hard boiled detective fiction words, Mickey Spillane, etc.
9. Fall wear : TOP COAT.
10. Trump, for one : MOGUL. I will avoid comment on this man except to ask if anyone has seen the ESPN show where Trump is credited with destroying the USFL? I know his attorney from those days.
11. Use a ladder stereotypically : ELOPE.
12. "___ My Love": 1967 hit : NEVER. My teenage years from the ASSOCIATION.(2:46).
14. Sullivan's student : KELLER. I have always been fascinated by the story of HELEN.(2:59). The Movie the Miracle Worker was also wonderful.
18. Diamond on many charts : NEIL. He was at Fenway Park to support Boston after the Marathon Massacre.
22. Vegas bet : ODD.
24. Informal claim : DIBS. Like the ubiquitous call, "shotgun."
25. Expectant father in "Return to Mayberry" : OPIE. A reunion show, with all the old characters, here is the entire SHOW. (1:36:08).
27. "O patria mia" singer : AIDA. H\ow many opera fans do we have?
28. Nail that's often curved : CLAW. Kitty lovers?
29. Moment of hesitation : HEM. Haw, he got them.
30. Trireme mover : ROWER. The three rows of oars in this ancient VESSEL. Very hard fill.
33. Eponymous beekeeper Shavitz : BURT. This was very obscure, while the company kept his name, he sold out to his partner who made a success of BURT's BEESWAX products.
34. Et ___ : ALII.
35. Serious : DEEP. Like all those conversations in college where we were able to....
37. Fine-tune : HONE. are seductive ways.
39. What an asterisk means on some forms: Abbr. : REQ. Uired. You can't finish the form unless you fill it in.
41. Luggage lugger : BELL MAN. Bell Cap?
42. Fancy spread : ESTATE. Not food, dirt.
43. India's smallest state : GOA. I had no clue, but perped it in.
44. Some of their scenes were filmed in deserts : OATERS. I knew this immediately was referring to old westerns.
46. In a stack : PILED.
47. Be gaga over : ADORE.
48. Lear daughter : REGAN. Clearly Goneril and Cordelia would not do.
51. Arcade game word : SKEE. Balls!
52. Work force entrants' assets, briefly : MBAS. Master of Business Administration.
53. Fill to capacity : SATE.
54. Prismatic bone : ULNA. I never really thought about PRISMS.
55. Scheme : PLOT.
58. Flurry : ADO.
59. Radical campus org. : SDS. Students for a Democratic Society.
Well another Friday done and an odd experience, with some very hard fill in a grid with primarily short words but a very clever theme. Until next time, I am either in a storm or playing in golf tournament as you read this; live long and prosper. Lemonade out.
