In this edition of 'Jeffrey stumps the crowd', we have the double letter RR added to known phrases - that simple. Of course rooting out that SOY SAUCE, BUS TICKETS, BAY LEAVES and SQUARE FEET might have a common denominator is where the thought comes in. The reference to Aaron Burr opened the door for me. Unlike many JW creations, we have a reveal - not completely helpful, but it is Friday. 55 theme spaces leaves some room and we get AERATES, ALIGHTS (not yesterday's ALIT?) , NEAREST, YOGA MAT, BARBARIAN and SETS A TASK.
17A. Really bad béchamel? : SORRY SAUCE (10). Béchamel (a white sauce) and soy sauce could not be any further apart, so I guess if you burn it it might look like soy sauce.
20A. Unpaid stack for scofflaw Aaron? : BURR'S TICKETS (12). I find Burr to be a very interesting character, especially as portrayed in Gore Vidal's NOVEL.
35A. What happens at the end of a Manilow concert? : BARRY LEAVES (11). This was the hardest because while I got the Barry part - which made me secure in my thinking the RR connection - the concept was too simple for my aging brain.
51A. Furry creature that isn't cool? : SQUARE FERRET (12). I cannot find any reasonable link for this mental picture.
and the reveal:
56A. Convicted hastily and unfairly ... or, in a way, like the four other longest puzzle answers? : RAILROADED (10). Like the confusing semi-detached house....
On with the show.
On with the show.
Across:
1. Branch : LIMB.
5. Advisory group : BOARD.
10. Big name in luxury retailing : SAKS. Not so big anymore.
14. About 30% of Earth's land area : ASIA.
15. More fitting : APTER. Meh.
16. Thing with rings : TREE. Somewhat obscure but witty.
19. Letters facilitating sorting : ATTN.
22. Something to stretch out on : YOGA MAT. This was hard suss.
25. Comedian dubbed "Mr. Television" : BERLE. So easy for those of us over 65.
26. Mitchell protagonist : O'HARA. Frankly Jeffrey, I don't give a damn.
27. Bone holders : PAWS. Cute.
30. With 61-Across, "Yer darn tootin'!" : YES. 61A. See 30-Across : SIREE.
31. Seaweed for sushi : NORI.
32. Puts down : ALIGHTS.
38. Most closely related : NEAREST.
39. Educational period : TERM.
42. Letters with Arizona or Maine : USS.
45. Made tracks : FLED.
46. One of composer John Williams' five : OSCAR.
47. Harlem Renaissance writer Zora __ Hurston : NEALE. Thank you high school English for having my sons read her work.
49. Does some lawn maintenance : AERATES. I hate it when I get to the first green...
55. Bee in Mayberry, e.g. : AUNT.
62. Confucius, by reputation : SAGE.
63. See 29-Down : ELSE. 29D. With 63-Across, "Is there more?" : WHAT.
64. Fashionista's concern : TREND.
65. __-how : KNOW.
Down:
1. __ Cruces : LAS. We have been here before.
2. Prefix with metric : ISOmetric.
3. Defunct space station : MIR. Interesting LINK.
4. Conan, for one : BARBARIAN. Arnold...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwdYd_RdLCQ
5. Iraqi port : BASRA. Did you KNOW.
6. Dazzling style : OP ART.
7. Vince Gill's "Look __" : AT US.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qObQhcpewig
8. Certain quadrilateral: Abbr. : RECTangle.
9. Half of sechs : DREI. Six/three - German.
10. Simple sign holder : STAKE. Another witty/tricky.
11. Major thoroughfare : ARTERY. The traffic arteries...
12. Mother's whistler? : KETTLE. Who else but JW gives us a Whistler's Mother clue.
13. Familiar fivesome : SENSES.
18. City about 150 miles east of San Diego : YUMA. 171 miles.
21. "NCIS" airer : CBS TV.
22. It's other than hither : YON.
23. "So that's your game!" : O HO.
24. Apparel : GARB.
27. Accumulated, with "up" : PILED.
28. Many years : AGES.
32. Decimated sea : ARAL.
33. Erato's instrument : LYRE.
34. Assigns work (for), as students : SETS AT ASK. So teachers, what do you think.
36. Cite, with "to" : REFER.
37. Religious subgroup : SECT.
40. "Norma __" : RAE.
41. Union title? : MRS. Funny three letter clue/fill.
42. Risky : UNSAFE.
43. "The Bourne Supremacy," e.g. : SEQUEL.
44. Hot spots : SAUNAS.
46. Dunked snack : OREO. Dunkin' Donuts? No, Starbucks.
48. Barista's offering : LATTE.
49. "Over the Rainbow" composer : ARLEN. The whole HISTORY.
50. Misspoke, say : ERRED. ? EED? Misspoke again.
52. While lead-in : ERSTwhile.
53. Cloudless : FAIR.
54. The Auld Sod : EIRE.
57. "SNL" castmate of Gilda and Chevy : DAN. Ackroyd.
58. Swellhead's problem : EGO.
59. Wet blanket : DEW. A strong finish, as the dawn shows us the cover on the morning.
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