Theme: Does this puzzle go both ways?
In another variation of the letter substitution puzzle, Robin removes the letter "H" from some common phrases and inserts an "IT" in its place, and the resulting new phrases are skillfully clued. The clincher is the very witty reveal which reparses Switch Hit to Switch H IT. As you all know by now, for me the reveal is critical to the enjoyment of this style of puzzle, and I love IT! Robin has been with the LAT for many years going back to this PUZZLE She also is active on Twitter, and commenting on puzzles as well as having her own SITE promoting her puzzles and some books she has authored. This puzzle for me had the feel of a Friday with a low word count, no classic crosswordese and some fun 7 and 8 letter fill. ACETONE, ADOPTEE, ASUNDER, CELESTE, FERRARO, ROBERTS, CHATROOM, ETRUSCAN, LOIS LANE, SUGAR PEA.
17A. Imp who annoys the webmaster? : SITE DEVIL. S
24A. Security group at a protest? : SIT IN GUARDS. S
34A. Quote from "Guerrilla Warfare"? : CITE GUEVARA. C
49A. Improved Gemini missile? : BETTER TITAN. BETTER T
57A. Swing both ways, and a literal hint to how four puzzle answers were created : SWITCH HIT.
Across:
1. 1980s Vicki Lawrence TV role : MAMA. The much younger Vicki played Carol Burnett's mother first on Carol's variety show and then on MAMA's FAMILY.(6:12).
5. Baylor University site : WACO. Where RG III and Brittney Greiner starred.
9. Cul-__ : DE SAC. We do not always want to use literal translations of French phrases incorporated into English. Not to be confused with 18D. Make potable, as seawater : DESALT.
14. Org. created in Baghdad in 1960 : OPEC. Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
15. Emperor after Galba : OTHO. He was one of the 4 in the year of 4 Emperors, which I learned abot from my Classics studying son. No operation or salad named for this one.
16. Taken : IN USE. I doubt the movies would have done very well with this title.
19. Person of influence : MOGUL. If you ever wondered, the name comes from the Great Mogul, Mongol emperor
of India after the conquest of 1520s,
20. Steel plow pioneer : DEERE. A company built on a very simple. premise. HISTORY.
21. Amy Adams' "Man of Steel" role : LOIS LANE. Why do the movies and TV shows always get it wrong; Lois is a brunette and Lana Lang the red-head. Once again a ginger.
23. "Baudolino" author : ECO. Author Umberto is becoming a favorite of constructors.
27. Mondale's running mate : FERRARO. Geraldine, if you forgot.
29. Cheesecake ingredient? : GAM. Pulp fiction word for an attractive female leg, probably from the Italian Gamba. Splynter are you out there? A classic.
30. Fondle : PET. Sounds weird.
31. Tasteless : BLAND. Ah, tasteless, not tasteless.
33. "Where __ you?" : WERE. A bad question to ever here.
38. Cheers : RAHS.
40. "On the Record" host Van Susteren : GRETA. No way to link this Fox news star without it ending up in political discussion.
41. Mozart's "L'__ del Cairo" : OCA.
42. Humanities degs. : MAS.
45. Oliver Twist, e.g. : ADOPTEE. Not my first or second thought.
52. __ mission : ON A. A Gemini one?
53. Ancient Po Valley dweller : ETRUSCAN. With a son who majored in Roman Archaeology, the pre-Roman Italian people is another gimme.
54. Classics, e.g. : I-PODS. I am too old to understand this.
56. Underground network : ROOTS. This clue/fill will grow on you.
60. CD alternative : T-NOTE.
61. Fleming and McKellen : IANS. An Odd Couple? James Bond and Magneto? Or Gandalf?
62. Hawk's foe : DOVE. A very vocal comparison from the 60s when the Vietnam War raged.
63. Certain car carriers : SEMIS.
64. Span. miss : SRTA.
65. Hip follower? : STER. This is an accepted suffix (mob, trick etc.) even if you do not like this type of fill. My personal favorite is easy. LOB.
Down:
1. Rapper Yasiin Bey, formerly : MOS DEF. I know him only from his films, certainly not his most recent name. He was born Dante Terrell Smith. Not a 60s reference.
2. Pricing word : A PIECE.
3. Astronomer's sighting : METEOR.
4. Aspire maker : ACER. Computer.
5. Distress : WOE.
6. Beach transp. : ATV. All Terrain Vehicle.
7. It may be seen on a dog : CHILI.
8. Chinese tea : OOLONG. Did you know the HISTORY? It ties into the ...
9. Chinese dish served on small plates : DIM SUM. An odd sort of Clecho.
10. __ Gay : ENOLA.
11. Edible pod : SUGAR PEA. These are a form of snow or snap pea, not a sweet pea.
12. In bits and pieces : ASUNDER. Divorced anyone?
13. Pizza-For-One maker : CELESTE. A CSO to my son's MIL.
22. Supermarket letters : IGA. Independent Grocers Alliance.
25. Requiem Mass hymn word : IRAE.
26. Half a patio pair : TONG.
28. MLB stats : RBIS. It should never be "RBI's" as the plural is Runs Batted In, still RBI.
32. Grooved on : DUG. here we go back to the 60s; I am home.
33. Trendy sandwich : WRAP. So last year.
34. Place to practice netiquette : CHAT ROOM.
35. Latin 101 word : ERAT.
36. Sacred Hindu text : VEDA.
37. Not accented, as syllables : ATONIC.
38. 1955 Fonda role : ROBERTS. Hey MISTER. (2:18) A wonderful romp with Hank Fonda, Jimmy Cagney, Bill Powell and a young Jack Lemmon (no relation).
39. Polish remover ingredient : ACETONE.It is where the smell comes from. If you smell that in someone's breath getr them immediately to a hospital as it is likely caused by diabetic ketosis. Or too many orange certs.
42. Diddles (around) : MESSES. Not my first thought, nor likely Dennis'.
43. Hyperbola part : ARC. Not an exaggeration.
44. Equilibrium : STASIS.
46. One of Goldilocks' complaints : TOO HOT.
47. Vitamin K source : ENDIVE.This is the one vegetable I do not like.
48. __ egg : EASTER.
50. __-frutti : TUTTI. We have to go here: LINK. (2:05).
51. "__, truth is the first casualty": Aeschylus : IN WAR. Another topic I will avoid for non-political political reasons.
55. Third degrees? : PHDS. Philosophiae Doctor(s).
58. Bank acct. entry : INTerest.
59. PC-checking org., at times : TSA. Transportation Safety Administration.
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