Paul Coulter

 Theme: Beware of Star Warts

I am back for week three of my most recent activity as Friday sherpa, which for an unknown reason, I predicted last Friday. Tom F., who does so much for the blog and the bloggers has decided to retire from blogging which leaves you all stuck with me. This will help those who were getting their "thank yous" wrong. At least until Chairman Moe gets to his first Friday frolic. 

I enjoy Paul, his puzzles, his visits, and his family updates. I am puzzled by this puzzle which has a decidedly Monday/Tuesday feel. 53 of the 78 words are 3 or 4 letters long, separated with 40 black squares. I love humor 'from pun' puzzles, but these seemed a bit forced, speaking of which I think this would have fit better with STAR WARS DAY, May the 4th. On the other hand, this should keep you all happy on a Friday, so off we go. 

The puns are all consistent with the first word a sound-alike to a Star Wars character. Like the famous latex and corn syrup hero

I found them to be a stretch. It did not take away from enjoying the solve, but it required more imagination. Let's look at the themers.

17A. Solo's favorite sandwiches?: HAN BURGERS (10). The Millenium Falcon skipper and father of Kylo. 

27A. Vader's favorite treat?: DARTH CHOCOLATE (14). An example of the use of "TH" to replace "K" not!

47A. Wookiee's favorite dessert?: CHEWIE BROWNIES (14). Chewbacca gets the only nickname.

63A. Hutt's favorite beverage?: JABBA JUICE (10). A slight variation as this character is "the Hutt," not Jabba Hutt. I was not sure how well known the juice franchise is, but they are almost everywhere. LINK.

While we already have Darth, there is a dearth of long fill HOUSEPLANT, PARTICULAR, REDCOATS, and TEETOTAL being the crop. 

Across:

1. Ticket category: ADULT. Not an infraction.

6. Goggle: GAPE. There are lots of G words for this.

10. Request to a prospective guest: RSVP. Respondez S'il Vous Plait.

14. "Paint It Black" instrument: SITAR. The song is older than my wife. They dropped the Sitar over the years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flSmiIne-4k

15. "That's a shame": ALAS. For our Friday Shakespeare quotation, we could clue ______ poor Yorick.

16. "East of Eden" director Kazan: ELIA. His birthday will be Monday. 

19. "The Persistence of Memory" painter: DALI.

20. 1914 battle river: YSER. It was a turning point for the Belgian soldiers and part of the inspiration for Hercule Poirot.

21. Side in some all-star games: EAST. They have also been known to West, North, and South.

22. Didn't dawdle: ACTED.

23. __ loss for words: AT A.

25. Digging: INTO. Like music, man!

34. Automne preceder: ÉTÉ.

35. Refrain: CHORUS. Don't stop, but sing along.

36. Cabeza, across the Pyrenees: TÊTE.

38. Busy, busy, busy: AT IT.

40. "Friendly Skies" co.: UAL.

41. X-rated material: SMUT. 

42. Jasmine __: RICE.

43. Not on the level: ASLANT.

46. BlackBerry, e.g.: PDA.

50. Protective cover: TARP.

51. Canapé topper: ROE.

52. Hit gently: TAPON.

55. Actor Hemsworth: LIAM.

58. Soak up the sun: BASK.

62. Rapper with a beverage-like name: ICE-T. All 457 episodes. Odaphin

65. No ally of Asta: FLEA. Don't feel bugged by all the references to this dog?

66. Uptight: ANAL. Be still my, heart that is a scandalous word. Does anyone watch the mini-golf show HOLEY-MOLEY?

67. Put to rest: ALLAY. Your fears.

68. What "F" may mean: FULL. On a gas tank.

69. Modest response to praise: I TRY. My mantra when I do my write-up.


70. Brigantine's pair: MASTS.

Down:

1. Far from ruddy: ASHY. At least it isn't Arthury...

2. "Buenos __": DIAS. Bon Jour. Guten Tag.

3. "Cure Ignorance" online anthology: UTNE. Very popular in the CW world.

4. Unwitting test taker: LAB RAT. That seems unfair. They may know what is going on but like the treats.

5. Capote nickname: TRU. True. 

6. "Born This Way" Lady: GAGA.

7. Tavern pours: ALES. 

8. Hard to please: PARTICULAR.

9. Double curve: ESS.

10. Revolutionary soldiers: REDCOATS.

11. Deck chair piece: SLAT.

12. Beneath contempt: VILE.

13. Treated: PAID.

18. Part of a boxer's "tale of the tape": REACH.

22. The NHL's Thrashers: ATL.

24. Cannabis compound: THC.

26. Discouraging words: NOS.

27. Honey: DEAR.

28. Room at the top: ATTIC.

29. 1990s Labor secretary: REICH.

30. Boston fern, e.g.: HOUSEPLANT.

31. Sonicare rival: ORALB.

32. Piano practice concerns: TEMPI.

33. Piano practice piece: ETUDE.

37. Share-a-ride updates, briefly: ETAS.

39. Stay dry: TEETOTAL.

43. Balloon filler: AIR.

44. Bellini opera: NORMA.

45. Wee hour: TWO.

48. Blanched: WAN.

49. One of six awards for Ursula Le Guin: NEBULA.

52. Minor argument: TIFF.

53. Free speech org.: ACLU.

54. Zest: PEEL.

56. Support beam: IBAR.

57. Well: ABLY.

59. Is home sick, maybe: AILS.

60. "Go on, git!": SCAT.

61. Custodian's ringfull: KEYS.

63. __ alai: JAI.

64. Improv session: JAM.