JW our resident Friday wizard comes back to back and presents us with a vertical challenge in which EM is added four 2 word phrases, changing the meaning and clued for whimsy. Each theme answer and the reveal are in Down answers. Overall I found this easier once I gave in to the theme existing only in the Downs. The two symmetrical grid spanners surround two 12 letter fill with a 9 letter reveal which mirrors 1 down, which tantalized me with the ME therein. But it makes no sense, so I move on without thinking of it as part of the theme.
The grid is an unusual one, and checking the NYT database (I do not know of one for the LAT) it is unique. The double sevens bracketing the 15 letter theme fill and triple sixes under a seven in the SW and NE corners with a bunch of stacked three letter fill. The longer non-theme fill is typical JW with many multiple words. IN A CAGE, ESCORTS, UP TO NOW, SCENE VI, GROANER, STORMED IN. HOME ALONE. EURO COINS. Okay off we go....
3D. Lining with raised decorations? : EMBOSSING AROUND (15). My least favorite, while the underlying phrase is fun (bossing around) and embossing is a fine transformation, I do not get lining or AROUND.
6D. Mideast leader's personal CPA? : EMIRS AUDITOR (12). This however is very cute and the IRS auditor goes to work in Saudi Arabia.
22D. Snoopy starting a trip? : EMBARKING DOG (12). Simple and sweet.
11D. Insurance for royalty? : EMPRESS COVERAGE (15). Press coverage is a basketball term that may not familiar to all, but the perps were very fair.
36D. Robber's demand ... or what to do to solve four long puzzle answers? : STICK 'EM UP(9). Again, with all the three letter fill this was not hard.
I also want you to watch for classic clues/fill from the Greek/Roman world.
Across:
1. "For __ had eyes, and chose me": Othello : SHE. Sweet Desdemona begins our Friday journey.
4. Utterly failed at : BLEW. A somewhat modern usage/
8. With great urgency : DIRELY.
14. Gobbler : TOM. What cool trivia; only the adult male turkey makes the gobble, gobble sound. The adult male is called the "tom" turkey. The female or hen turkey makes a gentle clucking or clicking sound. The hen never gobbles.
15. Blue-skinned deity : RAMA. Interesting HISTORY. But why BLUE? Worth a read.
17. Fed. financial agency : OMB. Office of Management and Budget works for the President.
18. "Metamorphoses" poet : OVID. I studied this WORK in Latin, a very influential piece.
19. How pooches' smooches are delivered : DAMPLY. Cute especially if you like dogs and have been slobbered.
20. Model T contemporary : REO. Named after Mr. Olds. Then, 33D. Bygone small car : GEO.
21. "The Iliad" subject : WAR.We also have this important Greek TOME.
22. Goes with : ESCORTS. No DF here.
23. Ancient theater props : MASKS. More from the Classics.
27. Bellicose deity : ARES.More from the classics. Ares is the Greek god of war, one of the Twelve Olympian gods and the son of Zeus and Hera.
28. Pitcher of milk? : ELSIE. For Borden.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TXzyebLmbk
29. It may include a model, briefly : APB. All Points Bulletin??????A model?
30. Pumped item : GAS.
31. "Now!" : DO IT.
32. Storm consequence : OUTAGE. Power, phone and cable.
34. French possessive pronoun : SES. In French this is outright wrong; ses is the possessive adjective that must be attached to a noun. The possessive pronouns in French are like 45D. Yuma : Yours :: Toulouse : à ___ : TOI. In English the pronouns and the adjectives are the same word. Of course this is all from memory from 55 years ago, so Kazie, C. C. tell me if I am wrong...
my mon ma mes
your ton ta tes
his, her, its son sa ses
our notre notre nos
your votre votre vos
their leur leur leurs
37. Priceline options : INNS. They hired Shatner back.
38. Have a special place for : ADORE.
39. __ work: menial labor : SCUT. This comes either from the Irish word for meaningless or maybe the medical profession.
40. Batt. terminal : NEGative.
41. Plastered : STINKO.
42. Amos with eight Grammy nominations : TORI.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSGMjB3HbGM
43. "Castle" producer : ABC. About to be cancelled.
46. Ruination : HAVOC. It is listed as a synonym but not my first thought.
47. __-dieu : PRIE.
49. Hair care brand since 1930 : BRECK. You remember this Breck girl?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XbxNnebCzlI
50. Pun, sometimes : GROANER.
52. Motor Trend's 1968 Car of the Year : GTO. By Pontiac. My brother's was blue.
55. Diverted : AMUSED.
56. Dutch export : EDAM. Cheese again.
57. Desired result : AIM.
58. Swiss city, to most locals : GENEVE. Geneva to the rest of us.
59. The Taj Mahal, e.g. : TOMB. It is a mausoleum with a specific tomb as its inspiration, I think. LINK.
60. African bovine : GNU.
61. Turns out to be : ENDS IN. This was really a struggle.
62. Elements in vital statistics : AGES.
63. Dubious communication method : ESP.
Down:
1. Entered angrily : STORMED IN.
2. Huge holiday film : HOME ALONE. Where are you Macaulay? This is more than 25 years old.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK2Btk6Ybm0
4. Window-shop : BROWSE.
5. Kilauea sight : LAVA.
7. Singles group, e.g.? : WAD. Funny, especially with other meanings aside from "a large amount of paper money, usually in a wallet or pants pocket. Sometimes referred to as "a wad of dough.'"
8. June honorees : DADS.
9. Visiting the vet, maybe : IN A CAGE.
10. Suckerfish : REMORA. These hitchhikers....
12. Light melodies : LILTS.
13. Appreciative shouts : YAYS.
24. They encourage modeling : KITS.
26. As yet : UP TO NOW.
32. Word with meal or cake : OAT.
35. Change overseas, maybe : EURO COINS. They introduced a new one last week. LINK.
39. George Clooney, for one : STAR.
41. When in Act I Duncan arrives at Macbeth's castle : SCENE VI. Double Shakespeare this week.
44. Slants : BIASES.
46. Cold War threats : H BOMBS.
47. Spin docs : P R MEN.
50. "Eleni" author Nicholas : GAGE.
51. Perfect place : EDEN. If you like gardens.
53. Not that exciting : TAME.
56. H-like letter : ETA. The seventh letter of the Greek alphabet, only the capital looks like ( Η, η).
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