In my current fog I have not located the record for the most use of the letter "U" in the LAT 15x15 puzzles, but the NYT record is 19. This puzzle has 34 "U"s. This I guess is as close to a rebus as Rich will allow, sort of an antonym to rebus with a letter spread into two spaces instead two squeezed into one. Anyway, white rabbit, white rabbit and welcome to the new month. May 1 has so many histories two examples LINK, and LINK.
We appear to have yet another debut puzzle, with his previous published work maybe in a college paper. Anyway, the puzzle was a gridding challenge to not only fit in 34 "U"s but to match up the perps. Max also gives us some lively intermediate fill, ACCUSE, ALAMOS, ANORAK, ARAFAT, BIKINI, BRETON, ERES TU, EUCLID, MOUNDS, YEASTY, ALGEBRA, CRITERIA, DICAPRIO, RENOUNCE and TOLERANT, which are nice contrasts. With theme answers ranging from 3 letters to a grid spanner and 18 of them we have work to do. (18 is a lucky number to some.) I look forward to the comments as without understanding the theme this would be impossible, and I know some do not like fill that is not a real word, yet creativity must be rewarded....
17A. Tennis shot delivered from between one's legs : TUUEENER (8). TWEENER. Not familiar with the term in tennis so the start was slow
20A. Duo : TUUO (4). TWO. Obviously the cluing cannoy be too deceptive.
22A. Conference, informally : POUU UUOUU (9). POW WOW. The visual is so cool.
37A. Blogosphere backdrop : UUORLD UUIDE UUEB (15). WORLD WIDE WEB. This also is awesome, finding a 15 letter one.
44A. Quarterback's target: Abbr. : UUR. (3) WR, wide receiver. (Not part of the theme but a clecho) 46A. One targeting the quarterback : CENTER.)
48A. Socially inept : AUUKUUARD (9). AWKWARD. As is the look of the fill.
58A. Slapstick performer : CLOUUN (6). CLOWN.
2D. Sad : LOUU (4). LOW. Feeling down. (Not part of the theme but a clecho follows)
3D. Sad : GLUM. This fill was key to my unlocking the theme.
6D. Really let loose : RAN UUILD (8). RAN WILD. One of my favorites of the theme fill.
7D. All over again : ANEUU (5). ANEW. With this many themers we were bound to get an A word.
10D. Declare : AVOUU (5). AVOW.
25D. High-profile caucus locale : IOUUA (5). IOWA. Election time coming soon along with the robocalls.
33D. Function : UUORK (5). WORK. Needed perps.
36D. Rod with power : UUAND (5). WAND.
38D. Court case : LAUUSUIT (8). LAWSUIT.
45D. Pigtailed redhead in a restaurant logo : UUENDY (6). WENDY. Dave Thomas' little girl.
48D. Leather craftsperson's beltful : AUULS (5). AWLS.
50D. Hospital division : UUARD (5). WARD.
And the reveal, 64A. Letter that hints at how 18 answers in this puzzle should be filled in : DOUBLE U (7).
Well with well over 100 spaces of theme let's see what he managed with the rest.
Across:
1. Math course : ALGEBRA. We also have Geometry below.
8. Oslo Accords participant : ARAFAT.
14. Broad-minded : TOLERANT.
16. Ranks : LEVELS. In the UK, students used to take O levels and then A levels to determine their academic future.
18. Cold-climate coat : ANORAK. In the US we usually call them parkas.
19. "Sounds good!" : YUM. Look good as well.
21. Almond Joy cousin : MOUNDS. Some days you feel like a nut....
24. Suit at a shoot : BIKINI. Nice word string in the clue, but I wondered if I am the only one who thought of this use of the ATOLL and the inclusion of 8D. Los __, New Mexico : ALAMOS, the home to the Manhattan project and site of many tests. Coincidence?
27. Nine-digit no. : SSN.
28. Secretly send a dupe email to : BCC.
31. Unique : LONE.
32. Large moth : LUNA. Now this feels like a John Lampkin. He clued them as pale green moths in 2012 NYT.
35. Spicy Indian dish : CURRY. I will curry favor with my wife and mention her delicious versions of this Asian DISH.
40. Oklahoma city : TULSA.
41. Marriott competitor : OMNI. OMNI is luxury...
42. One way to get a hand : ANTE.
43. IBM-inspired villain : HAL.
51. Point one's finger at : ACCUSE. A reminder from Monday's puzzle/write up, and a very disturbing silent movie about war. J'ACCUSE.(5:42).
54. Apartment manager, for short : SUPE. Short for Super, short for superintendent.
55. Chronological start? : CEE. The old first letter trick.
59. Ceremoniously ushers : MARSHALS. Parades?
61. Geometry giant : EUCLID. I leave commentary to Fermat and Bill G and others more qualified. I was a math major for three months.
62. Yardsticks : CRITERIA.
63. Like the smell of rising dough : YEASTY.
Down:
1. ABA member : ATTY.
4. Broad shoe size : EEE.
5. Jacques Cartier or Jules Verne, e.g. : BRETON. I found this FACT very obscure, but I was aware of the Celtic influence in France.
9. Formally abandon : RENOUNCE. I really liked this next to AVOW.
11. Fronded bit of flora : FERN.
12. "__-in His Lamp": Bugs Bunny cartoon : A LAD. A Jerome worthy movie pun.
13. Impatient utterances : TSKS.
15. Slacks, briefly : TROUsers. Drop trou has so many connotations....
22. Strolling areas : PIERS.
23. Bolt with great speed : USAIN.
24. "Arrested Development" surname : BLUTH.
26. Hillock : KNOLL.
28. Main impact : BRUNT.
29. Minos' kingdom : CRETE.
30. Modern crime head? : CYBER.
34. O.T. book : NUM. The beginning of a biblical mini-theme with 57 and 60D.
39. "The Wolf of Wall Street" star : DICAPRIO.
xxxx
47. 1974 Mocedades hit : ERES TU. I had heard the song but had no idea of the ARTISTS. (3:14)
49. DOD branch : USMC. Semper Fi CSO to Argyle Dennis and all who served.
51. __-deucey : ACEY.
52. Footprint, maybe : CLUE.
53. Partner of Caesar : COCA. Imogene. A wacky woman who had a turn in the Vacation movies.
55. Swedish King __ XVI Gustaf : CARL.
56. "Night" author Wiesel : ELIE.
57. Isaac's hirsute son : ESAU. From Genesis, Old Testament to Christians, simply Torah to Jews.
60. N.T. book : HEBrews. New Testament, i.e. Christian TEXT.
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