February 25

Title: What the "H" is going on? Of course you can use her reveal if you prefer.

Welcome to the LAT debut puzzle from Karen who already has two published puzzles: August 25, 2021 in the American Values Crossword Club (AVCX) and earlier this year the NYT on January13, 2022. She is " a comedy and game show writer" who used the at home time of the pandemic to try her hand and making crosswords. Here is the PICTURE she provided the NYT for her publication. An example of her writing is the sadly accurate MEMO  on the workplace. It is extra fun to have this creative female constructor to balance Wednesday's other creative female. I smell change in the air; I hope it more than nickels.

She presents us with a familiar A/B/B/A theme with a reveal. The other longish answers are limited BAD LUCK,  IN CHECK,  IT'S LATE and RESHOOT but she does include 26 five letter fill, a surprise gift for all the WORDLE players. I solved this after a terrible day where it took me all 6 guesses to get the word. Players, can you pick which one it was? So lets begin the fun...

20A. Aroma of a freshly grilled steak?: NEW CHAR SMELL (12).

I am not sure I would have associated a new CAR smell with food.

32A. Horror film writer's mantra?: PUT A SHOCK IN IT (13). I really like this multi-word variation.

40A. What Stanford University catchers' gear protects?: CARDINAL SHINS (13). Shin guards were not my first catchers' protective thought, but then I realized they do all that kneeling both on the field and in Church.

55A. "Always dust before you vacuum" and others?: CHORE BELIEFS (12). The parentheses signify the basic nature of this CORE belief which makes perfect sense - I think.

And the reveal:

51D. Cold War concern ... and what created 20-, 32-, 40- and 55-Across?: HBOMB (5). This is a variation of the PHOTOBOMB which has become a ritual in modern life, with the lonely letter jumping into all the phrases. 

Across:

1. Go on or come off: OCCUR. Did the strike go on? Did they get it to come off?

6. Had a bite: ATE. Unless it is a worker's head?

9. Checks: BILLS. Sure they are; a good Friday combination.

14. Prize money: PURSE. This usage goes all the way back to the 1400s when both men and women carried purses.

15. Jorja of the "CSI" franchise: FOX. She is back in the reboot of the CSI: Las Vegas series. Everytime my wife sees her on screen she says the Jorja is "ไม่สวย" No s̄wy. Use your imagination, or ask me.

16. Something bid: ADIEU. More nice Friday misdirection.

17. Agenda entries: ITEMS. Getting a condo board to prepare an agenda and then stay with the items is a challenge.

18. Brief plan for the future?: IRA. Brief suggesting an abbreviation and this is your retirement plan, or part of it. 

19. Artful evasion: DODGE. My favorite was introduced by in Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens. A young pickpocket named Jack Dawkins who most people refer to him as "the Artful Dodger" The nickname describes his skill at his trade: his mind is cunning, his fingers are sly, and he's quick on his feet. 

23. Hosp. areas: ERS. 

24. Sweet little sandwich: OREO. Despite the endless clues used for this fill, this version is brand new.

25. Employs a hard sell: PUSHES. I do hate a pushy salesperson.

29. Nemesis, say: FOE. Did she get a bad rap, she was just doing her job. In ancient Greek religion, Nemesis, also called Rhamnousia or Rhamnusia (Ancient Greek: Ῥαμνουσία, romanized: Rhamnousía, lit. 'the goddess of Rhamnous'), is the goddess who enacts retribution against those who succumb to hubris, arrogance before the gods.

30. Third of a game?: TIC. I bet you all got this one

31. "These __ the times ... ": Paine: ARE.  "These are the times that try men's souls: the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country..." Written in Dec. 1776 by Thomas Paine who wrote the COMMON SENSE pamphlets which were so important during the revolution.
They also were just recognized in "Seth Bisen-Hersh's puzzle on Tuesday. The world my be folding in on itself.

36. Paralyze with surprise: STUN.

38. Beige cousin: TAN.

39. García Lorca wrote them to Whitman and Dalí: ODES. This the ONE to Whitman.

45. Stein filler: ALE. My first thought TOKLAS would not fit.

46. Choice word: NOR. Nicely phrased. 

47. Native suffix: ITE. I think I may be related to the WORDNIK site.

48. Laundry room supply: BLEACH.

50. Some Drs.: PHDS.

52. Small Indian state: GOA. So happy to see my birth twin Vidwan back; perhaps he will expand on this. 

58. Papier-__: MACHE. Staying in India, papier-mâché was introduced to India in the 14th century by the Persian mystic Mir Syed Ali Hamdani. He was visiting the Kashmir region from Persia, and brought along skilled artisans and craftsmen.

61. 2008 Visa event, briefly: IPO. Initial Public Offering.

62. Be bratty: ACT UP.

63. Worshiper of the rain god Tlaloc: AZTEC. Tlaloc, (Nahuatl: “He Who Makes Things Sprout”). He was the eighth ruler of the days and the ninth lord of the nights.

64. PIN point: ATM. Another cute clue.

65. Mock: TEASE.

66. "Find out": GO ASK. Such simple advice to give your children; parents, you do not need to know everything so stop lying to your kids.

67. Loft: LOB. Tennis or hand grenades?

68. Fruity-smelling compound: ESTER. But she was helluva fun girl at parties.

Down:

1. Express views: OPINE.

2. More like a puppy: CUTER. Mine is cuter than yours.

3. Teams: CREWS. The mafia likes calling their teams crews as did the recent fat tuesday celebrants.

4. Mil. branch: USMC. United States Marine Corps.

5. Result of a botched line: RESHOOT. Do not say this near Alec Baldwin.

6. Lit: AFIRE. An A word. 

7. Tailor's dummy, e.g.: TORSO.

8. Skills barometer: EXAM.

9. Gambler's concern: BAD LUCK. 

10. Stars watched by many: IDOLS.  Season 20 is on. I am not a Ryan Seafrest fan.

11. Shadow target: LID. Make-up your mind.

12. Part of a journey: LEG.

13. WNBA star Bird: SUE. Another University of Connecticut Husky star. Her story.

21. Land measure: AREA.

22. Sweeping: EPIC.

26. Jazz __: dance technique: HANDS.

27. Pennsylvania city on I-90: ERIE. Like Oreo, Erie is also always here.

28. Establishes: SETS.

29. Back: FUND.

30. A whole bunch: TONS.

32. Tomato product: PUREE.

33. Night light: STAR.

34. Shakespearean prince: HAL.

35. Actress Skye: IONE.

36. Healing sign: SCAB.

37. Unlikely: TALL.

41. Under control: IN CHECK.

42. NYC neighborhood above Houston Street: NOHO.

43. Obscure: HIDE.

44. "I should probably get going": IT'S LATE.

49. Soreness: ACHES.

50. __-Bismol: PEPTO.

52. Insinuate: GET AT.

53. Valuable: OF USE.

54. According to: AS PER.

56. Iranian bread: RIAL.

57. Street fair treats: ICES.

58. E-__: MAG.

59. Nitrogenous dye: AZO.

60. Commuter org. in the Loop: CTA.

jeffrey w

 Title: No Duh!

FRAGMENT, SUBTRACT, FOR A PRICE, GEOMETRIC, GONE TO POT, RAY LIOTTA

21A. Yogi's barber?: BEAR D TRIMMER (11).

1. "Smooth Operator" artist: SADE. "Shaday" is a very impressive performer LINK.

5. Play groups: CASTS. A performance for an audience not just kids.

10. Pop of punk: IGGY. A one-time icon 

14. Miso go-with, often: UDON. Udon noodles are made out of wheat flour; they are thick and white in color. Best as fresh, they are soft and chewy. On the other hand, soba noodles are made out of buckwheat, with a strong nutty flavor. Many though have wheat in them also, which means they are not gluten-free.

15. Sean who played Samwise: ASTIN. He is the step-son of actor John Astin and his mother Patty Duke who appeared here recently.

16. Many August births: LEOS. Not all, I am a Virgo.

17. Panache: ZING. 

18. Grand __: PIANO. So many five letter choices.

19. Unique: LONE.

20. Desire: YEN. Do Japanese Yen for Yen?

23. Cheesy Mexican appetizer: QUESO. Per WikiDiff: As nouns the difference between cheese and queso is that cheese is (uncountable) a dairy product made from curdled or cultured milk or cheese can be (slang) wealth, fame, excellence, importance while queso is melted cheese, used for instance as a dipping sauce.

25. One found among blocks: STREET. Nice misdirection, again not kids toys.

26. Related on mom's side: ENATE.

30. Tiffs: SETTOS.

32. Break into pieces: FRAGMENT.

35. Troy, N.Y., campus: RPI.

36. Tusker as tutor?: BOAR OF EDUCATION (15).

40. "Nice __!": TRY.

41. Do the math, perhaps: SUBTRACT.

42. Light courses: SALADS.

46. "A moveable feast," to Hemingway: PARIS.

47. They work in lofty places: PILOTS.

49. Scratching (out): EKING.

53. Function of a straw man?: CROW CONTROL (11)

57. Ginza agreement: HAI.

58. Formality: RITE.

59. California coastal county: MARIN.

60. Super star: NOVA.

61. It precedes Romans: ACTS.

62. Hardly a libertine: PRUDE.

63. Word with season or mind: OPEN.

64. Vanquished: BEAT.

65. Trim and graceful: SLEEK.

66. Bench press muscle: DELT.

Down:

1. Bygone Devil Dog competitor: SUZYQ.

2. One-consonant parting: ADIEU.

3. "Any man's death diminishes me" writer: DONNE.

4. University dept.: ENG.

5. __ May: CAPE.

6. K2 locale: ASIA.

7. Leading: STAR.

8. Adds sepia to, say: TINTS.

9. Is bullish?: SNORTS.

10. "__ by moonlight, proud Titania" : Shak.: ILLMET.

11. Like art using circles, squares, etc.: GEOMETRIC.

12. Failed: GONETOPOT.

13. River in Flanders: YSER.

21. Old coffeehouse drum: BONGO.

22. Choler: IRE.

24. Blacken a bit: SEAR.

27. Big letters in bowling: AMF.

28. Begins a round, with "off": TEES.

29. Eventually become: ENDUP.

31. Envy, say: SIN.

32. "... but it isn't free": FORAPRICE.

33. Shoeless Joe Jackson portrayer in "Field of Dreams": RAYLIOTTA.

34. Low wind: TUBA.

36. Band with members Jimin and Jin: BTS.

37. QB feeder: CTR.

38. Prospero's servant: ARIEL.

39. Something to do: TASK.

43. Division with A's: ALWEST.

44. Bugs address: DOC.

45. Energetic dances: STOMPS.

48. Tie-up: SNARL.

50. "Fingers crossed": IHOPE.

51. __ orange: NAVEL.

52. Fairy tale figure: GIANT.

53. Maryland catch: CRAB.

54. Not subject to debate: TRUE.

55. Wheels: RIDE.

56. Short jog: ONEK.

60. Silent assent ... or, in two parts, a hint to three long answers: NO D.

Dan Schoenholz

 Welcome to Dan Schoenholz' world where things always fit together; or do they? 

This is his 9th LAT publication along with 26 NYTs of which 11 are Sundays. He started here with a Sunday back in 2010 and has never ventured into end of the week themeless grids. He has commented that he likes "interlocking" theme answers and this is a doozy. (Maybe?) How to "suss" his fill? 

We start with 

16A. Reason for a robot's knee trouble?: JOINT RUST (9). Well that makes sense, but JOINT TRUST is also a real method of Estate Planning. You just need to borrow the T. hmm.

So we moved on to 

29A. Drinking espresso before bed, say?: NIGHT ERROR. another simple fill as strong coffee  will keep most awake, but NIGHT TERROR is also very real as night terror, also called sleep terror, a sleep disorder causing feelings of panic or dread. (I had my sleep study on Monday, results in 10 days). hmm2

Next we find

36A. Flushing problem?: TOILET ISSUE would be a difficulty if you could not flush, but TOILET TISSUE is very much an important concept in the loo. hmm3

Next

43A. Babe who never lied?: HONEST RUTH; I never heard that about the ballplayer but I do know of the phrase HONEST TRUTH which is a bit redundant. hmm4

Finally 

57A. Mom and dad's rhythmic genre?: PARENT RAP, my kids have never needed to fear hearing that from their parents but the Movie  PARENT TRAP (twins seperated at birth) did further Haley Mills' career and then spawn the Patty Duke Show (identical cousins). hmm5

Thank you C.C. for teaching me how to deal with the new rules for using the XWord info site which allowed me to show these long non-theme fill: ARSENAL, PGA TOUR, PODCAST, SPHERES, TREEBOA, ON PATROL, SANTA ANA, BEG FOR MERCY and NINTENDO WII. An impressive array. If Dan does not stop by we are our own, and may never know what he had in mind, but I had fun.

Across:

1. Exhibit wanderlust: ROAM. It was for me and many others I guess a joy to start with filling 1A.

5. Graceless sort: OAF. Boom, there was 5A and we are going great.

8. Settled things: DEBTS. Oops, time to begin to work. The noun not the verb.

13. Revolution site: AXLE. The Wheels on the Bus Go Round and Round Now we already are confronting Friday misdirection, not a coup, but a coo.

14. Church niche: APSE. If you have been in a church you know the  large semicircular or polygonal recess where the altar is. If not, now you do.

15. Beethoven wrote just one: OPERA. The STORY.  The music.

                            

18. Behind bars: CAGED. This is easy fill if you think of historic zoos; a bit dicey thinking about human prisoners; not very popular thse days for either group. mb, thoughts?

19. Figure (out): SUSS. A word crossword solvers could not exist without that was stolen by a famous constructor...

20. "Gross!": ICK. This first appeared in this quotation in 1965. "Together we dragged [the fish] flopping on the grassy bank, where it smacked its tail and made Lecia sidestep with an odd daintiness. She actually said ick. "— Mary Karr. ICKY goes back to 1929.

22. Gratified: FED. If you think of an ego this makes more sense.

23. Run things: MANAGE. That is why they are called managers.

26. Ad for a good cause, briefly: PSA. Public Service Announcement.

27. Japanese port city: KOBE. We leave out basketball and beef for this old CITY.

28. Yellowfin tuna: AHI. Aha! Ahi is back. All you need to know to be a bit more informed and confused. LINK.

32. Orange County seat: SANTA  ANA. The double A caught my eye but was not part of the theme.

35. Tibetan priest: LAMA. The one "L" one; hello Dahli.

39. Hang: PEND. Many judges do not rule on the spot. 

40. Like beat cops: ON PATROL. This concept dates back to the 1690s and is from the French words meaning "to go the rounds in a camp or garrison, march about as a guard," from patrouiller ‘paddle in mud.'

46. Greek X: CHI. So much to know about a single LETTER.

47. Chances: ODDS. 

48. Vacuum's lack: AIR. Or hoses.

49. Biological catalyst: ENZYME. A substance produced by a living organism which acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction. Dictionary.

52. Sgt., e.g.: NCO. Non-Commissioned Officer.

53. Little mischief maker: IMP. The definition of an imp is a young demon (historically) or a child (in modern times) who misbehaves just for the fun of misbehaving. An example of an historic imp is a very small mythical creature that plays tricks on people. An example of a modern imp is a five year old child who hides from their mother in a grocery store.

54. Penélope who is the only Spanish actress with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame: CRUZ.

55. Georgia rivals of the Tide: DAWGS. Georgia won the big game this year.

62. Like many elephants: ASIAN. Both species are endagered.  In Africa, there are approximately 415,000 individuals left whilst in Asia, a mere 40,000.

                                    

63. Former partners: EXES. 
                                        

64. Flow like lava: OOZE. 

65. Clown elevator: STILT. I really like this clue.

66. Source of early glistening: DEW. 

Dew Is Glistening

dew is glistening, morning Sun

caressing Earth where we are one

step away from feeling something new

by Lawrence

67. Low-level worker: PEON. I hope I never get peed on.

Down:

1. Indian friend of Sheldon and Leonard: RAJ. Koothrappali. In real life he married a beauty queen.

2. Big name in kitchenware: OXO. A very common fill.

3. Ring master: ALI. Not the circus but the boxing ring. Muhammed and his daughter Laila.

4. Organization name that means "table" in Latin: MENSA. The word mensa translates “table” in Latin; similarly, mens means “mind” and mensis means “month.” The name “Mensa” is reminiscent of “mind, table, month."

5. Magnum __: OPUS. The plural is opera.

6. Animal in some fables: ASS.  Aesop's moral of the ass who dressed in a lion skin to scare other, "A fool may deceive by his dress and appearance, but his words will soon show what he really is."

7. Amulet: FETISH. This is an inanimate object worshiped for its supposed magical powers or because it is considered to be inhabited by a spirit. Similar: juju, talisman, charm, totem, icon, idol or image. Think about that when you look at your icon.

8. Park on the water?: DOCK. Another fun clue/fill. 

9. Clean Air Act org.: EPA. Environmental Protection Agency.

10. Seek leniency: BEG FOR MERCY. This fill is a debut for the LA Times. 

11. Amazonian arboreal snake: TREE BOA. This appeared in the LA Times only in a Sunday, February 24, 2013.

12. Further down?: SADDER. So true.

14. Longtime Tottenham football rival: ARSENAL. Do we have many football fans here besides or British contingent?

17. Pull: TUG.

21. Popular adoptee: CAT. What you need to KNOW.

23. Miguel's more: MAS. Spanish lesson.

24. Reaction to a light bulb turning on?: AHA. Metaphorically? An idea? Or finding your partner in someone else embrace?

25. GameCube successor: NINTENDO WII. Wiki's HISTORY.

26. Gp. with many of the best drivers: PGA TOUR. Gold for HG, Moe and others.

27. Brat go-with: KRAUT. A bad word in the 30s and 40s.

30D. Like Beethoven's Sonata Op. 109: IN E.

31. Snow queen in "Frozen": ELSA. My granddaughters have been obsessed with the sisters.

33. Eases, with "down": TONES. If you are going to complain, do it readonably; tone down your attack.

34. Helps out: AIDS. From the French.

37. Acct. earnings: INTerest.

38. Ranges of influence: SPHERES. Your sphere of influence (“SOI” or “sphere”) are people in your personal and professional network with whom your opinion holds some weight.
More to it in politics.

39. Online entertainment: PODCAST.

41. Omega, in physics: OHM. Ohm on the range.

42. Fail to be straight: LIE. A bit obscure. 

43. Pilots on the road: HONDAS. Where else would you find an automobile?

44. One might be doffed in Dundee: TAM. Tam o'shanter cap.

45. Muscular: RIPPED.

50. "The Sound of Music" extra: NUN. 

51. "Tres Hombres" band: ZZTOP. The full album.

53. Ain't proper?: ISNT. An old favorite clue/fill.

54. Captain's help: CREW.

56. Milk purch.: GALlon.

58. Let go: AXE. Fire, a spray deodorant, or my old band client.

59. Anonymous plaintiff in a landmark case: ROE. Will this decision be overturned by the current court? No politics! 

60. __ dye: AZO. They create pretty colors but are DANGEROUS.

61. Home near a barn: PEN. Do not be a pig about it.

Gary Larson January 14

Title: Let's go to the movies and talk about the plot!

One of our regular Friday Fixtures, Gary Larson has presented a moviecentric puzzle which requires some thought and some cinema knowledge. It is a bit heavy on the 3 and 4 letter fill with 42 of the 77 words offset only by the 4 themers and AU NATUREL, CLEAN IT UP, MARIO KART and ORATORIES each 9 letters. What brought this effort to Friday is the very tricky but enjoyable theme where part of the clue (in BLUE) is a synonym for a movie and part (in PINK) suggests the plot. I liked that very much. We will begin with the themers...

17A. "Back to the Future"?: TIME RELEASE (11). The movie is a TIME travel variation which mirrors much of what H.G. Wells brought us. 

29A. "March of the Penguins"?: WALKIE TALKIE (12). The Talkie revolutionized movies and not only tell made up stories but can show remarkable documentaries like this where the 'stars' walk.

46A. "Titanic"?: WATER FEATURE (12). This movie is the now very popular retelling of actual events but in a mostly fictional account which does spend its time on the water as the feature film.

60A. "Star Wars"?: SHOW OF FORCE (11). Here the SHOW comes first and the plot last but even if you have avoided seeing the movie the Force has become a force in the modern world. I love it and am caught up on the Mandelorian and the Book of Boba Fett.

So much excitement, but now to the rest...

Across:

1. Name in Cold War news: TASS. We baby boomers knew them well but I will let Wiki EXPLAIN.

5. Lampoon: SATIRE. A big part of puzzles and blogs. 

11. Ones presenting acts: MCS. Master of Ceremonies.

14. "Hard __!": captain's order: ALEE. The command used in coming about to inform the crew that the helm is being pushed hard to leeward, turning the boat into the wind, LA Times.

15. Ended an engagement, in a way: ELOPED. Funny, as getting married does end it.

16. Larter of "Resident Evil" films: ALI. You can decide if she is EVIL.

19. Gym unit: REPititon.

20. What a choir may sing in: UNISON. The chancel? A church, opera house, or school hall? Nope.

21. Bhopal locale: INDIA. Most famous for this horrible TRAGEDY. Some pictures may be upsetting.

23. Tablelands: MESAS. We have had pictures recently showing how flat they are.

24. Tacks on: ADDS. Like that hidden tip on your bill in the restaurant.

27. The last Mrs. Chaplin: OONA. 

32. Brazil map word: SAO. Saint in Portugese and part of the name of many city, just as saint is here in the US.

35. Butler's last word: DAMN. He kept it and did not give it to Scarlett.

36. "Groovy!": NEATO. 50s beatnik talk.

37. Some pitches: CURVES. Sliders, sinkers, cutters...

40. Evasive tactic: END RUN. Both in American football and politics.

41. "We're live!" studio sign: ON AIR. 

                            

42. Limo destination: PROM. Two abbreviations.

45. Performs a Halloween prank, briefly: TPS. Toilet Papers.

50. Warehouse: STOW. The American desire to make every noun a verb.

51. Sleep and Comfort: INNS. Two national chains.

52. Spiral-horned antelope: ELAND. 

56. Bear genus: URSUS.

58. "Out of Africa," for one: MEMOIR. A book and a movie.

59. Vince's agent in "Entourage": ARI. A TV show and a movie.

64. Prepare to drive, with "up": TEE. HG is perhaps our most dedicated golfer considering the Nebraska weather.

65. "Gracias" reply: DE NADA. It means “you have nothing to thank me for” (that full phrase being “no tienes nada [de] qué agradecerme”).  Spanish lesson

66. 66 and others: Abbr.: RTES. Cute the route and the clue number.

67. Pair of gallons?: ELS. There are two "l"s in gallon.

68. Play areas: ARENAS. For sports and entertainment not your back yard.

69. Listening devices: EARS. Very simple and cute.

Down:

1. Stride pianist Art: TATUM. You want to learn HOW?

2. Classic Dior style: A LINE.

3. Weigh station line-up: SEMIS. As a kid I never understood the weigh stations and why all the big trucks pulled off the highway.

4. Vacillate: SEESAW. We know a seesaw goes up and down...

5. Gone out with: SEEN. Many were and are arranged just for the publicity.

6. "__ in": "Jeopardy James" bet: ALL.

                                

7. Pirouette pivot point: TOE. Some ballet...

8. Draft choice: IPA. Not for a sports team but for a beverage from a tap.

9. Stand up to: RESIST.

10. Prime real estate?: EDEN. Another fun clue.

11. Racing game with Yoshi and Bowser: MARIO KART. I played this with my boys and their friends for many hours. I was better at some of the other NES games. 

12. "Don't leave a mess": CLEAN IT UP. Sounds bossy.

13. Modest intake: SIP. My first thought was nip.

18. Actress Salazar of "Maze Runner" movies: ROSA. An obscure clus for me but I have seen this ACTRESS.

22. Allotted: DOLED.

24. Abbr. between names, perhaps: A/K/A.

25. Lower: DIM. 

26. Pride's place: DEN. Seems a bit homphobic...

28. Very long time: AEONS.

30. Mormon letters: LDS. Latter Day Saints.

31. Gothic fiction pioneer Radcliffe: ANN. Ann Radcliffe, née Ann Ward, (born July 9, 1764, London, England—died February 7, 1823, London), the most representative of English Gothic novelists. She was a pioneer in developing a literature of terror, and her influential novels stand apart in their ability to infuse scenes of terror and suspense with Romantic sensibility. Britannica.

32. Barges and such: SCOWS. These are examples of a flat-bottomed boat with sloping ends used as a lighter and in dredging and other harbor services. Dictionary

33. In the buff: AU NATUREL. Our titillating French lesson. Dressed as you were born.

34. Private chapels: ORATORIES. I am not familiar with this as a small chapel, especially for private worship. 

38. Lookout offerings: VIEWS.

39. Blunder: ERR.

40. Ostrich relative: EMU. Don't hate the bird just Liberty Mutual.

42. Write: PEN.

43. Commanded: RAN.

44. NHL tiebreakers: OTS. Overtimes. 

47. Price partner: FISHER. Before Legos...

48. Coral __: REEF.

49. "Get Shorty" novelist __ Leonard: ELMORE.

53. Blood line: AORTA. It is the most important of them all.

54. Like sunny weather, vis-à-vis rainy: NICER. Silly.

55. Toggery: DRESS.

57. Food stamp?: USDA. 

                                    

58. Degs. for playwrights: MFAS.

59. Eroded, with "into": ATE. Particularly nest eggs.

61. Low digit: ONE.

62. Pallid: WAN. 

63. "Ghost" psychic __ Mae Brown: ODA. The renowned psychic...

Jeffrey W

Title: Merry Christmas from a Beautiful Mind

Moe is back from visiting his adorable grandbaby, yet here I am doing a back to back for Christmas. First, I want to wish you all the best of holidays this year, be it Christmas, Festivus, Kwanza or those that have already passed. I also want to wish the world better health for the rest of this year and all of next. I especially want to bring a year of good tidings to all the Cornerites starting with C.C. and Boomer. I won't be back here to blog until January 14, 2022. I also want to wish myself less dyslexic and other typing issues. 

On with the show. As is often a hallmark of JW's puzzles this has much going on with some diabolic cluing and a visual theme wrapped inside a word theme. All of this in his not uncommon 16 x 15 grid to allow room for all that is going on. And surprise, it all relates to Christmas.  The first level is the yuletime classic:

3D. Start of a seasonal title: THE TWELVE. 6D. Title, part 2: DAYS OF. 9D. End of the title: CHRISTMAS.

39D. With the contents of this grid's circles, part of the refrain in 3-/6-/9-Down: PARTRIDGE.

                     THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

I really love this innovative interpretation by PENTATONIX. We also have the first verse PARTRIDGE IN A PEAR TREE which becomes the visual theme of the Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum) come to life by joining the circles with the central clues/fill like this:

That is brilliant work which he augments with some new and fun fill  BIG MOMENT,  INLAND SEA, I'VE SEEN IT, MADE A RULE and PAPERLESS none of which have ever been in the LAT and the only one to appear in the NYT in 1971 was INLAND SEA. I hope he tells us how long this construction took.

Across:

1. Tbsp., for example: AMT. Abbreviation begats abbreviation.

4. Touchy monarch?: MIDAS. Touchy feely, watch out for the Me Too movement, gold or no gold. 

9. "United States of Al" network: CBS. Unless you knew the show it is all perps.

12. "Very droll": HA HA. Ho ho!

14. Representation: IMAGE. Or perhaps ICON?

15. Edible seed: CHIA. Chia seeds contain quercetin, an antioxidant that can reduce your risk of developing several health conditions, including heart disease. But, they may cause an increased risk of choking

16. Port near the Red Sea: ADEN.  It is a city of Yemen and its temporary capital. It is situated along the north coast of the Gulf of Aden and lies on a peninsula enclosing the eastern side of Al-Tawāhī Harbour. This area is beset by pirates.

17. To date: AS YET.

18. Wild party: ORGY. This was wilder than the rave I began with.

19. Near-EGOT winner Midler (she's missing the O): BETTE. The O is for Oscar but she is special.

21. Org. with admirals: USN. United States Navy.

22. Reviews briefly: SKIMS. Or a politicians retirement plan.

23. Gets gasps from: AWES. 

24. Bit of rebar: ROD. I thought of him as a douche bag not a rebar.

25. Philippine currency: PESO. The long term influence of the Spanish in the Philippines. Remember, one L two Ps.

26. Word often contracted: ARE.  We're challenged here. 

27. Text lead-in: PREFACE. A literal clue/fill.

30. "Oversharing!": TMI. Too Much Information.

32. Home of the Green Wave: TULANE. I began my days as a poster at the Corner because someone suggested all college sports team mascots were plural.

34. Shrewdness: ACUMEN. Business skills which is guess why it was used to name this COMPANY.

36. Inventing middle name: ALVA. I doubt his middle name invented anything. 

37. Short two-pointer: TIP IN. This was a stumbling block as I wanted LAY UP. The crossing letters just would not work.

41. "Critique of Judgment" author: KANT. This was his third "Critique" and in it he distinguishes the beautiful from the sublime. Paraphrasing, the appeal of beautiful objects is immediately apparent, while the sublime holds an air of mystery and ineffability. A  statue or a pretty flower is beautiful, the movement of storm clouds or a massive building is sublime: they are, in a sense, too great to get our heads around. 

42. Animals drawn in the Lascaux caves: DEER. This fits the fill but I believe they were APEX.

43. Opposite of après: AVANT. Simple after and before en francais.

44. Madrid pronoun: ESTO. On to some masculine Spanish.

45. Like email notifications: PAPERLESS. I get some free stuff for going paperless.

48. 33-Down members: Abbr.: SRS. 33S. Organization for 48-Across: AARP. I was disappointed during my time as a member.

51. Update follower, perhaps: RESTART. Yes, the plight of modern technology; they keep updating which makes your restart your computer which requires that you forget what you know how to do. This blog is a perfect example.

52. "'And when I __ my lips let no dog bark!'": "The Merchant of Venice": OPE. It is a trademark of Jeffrey's to include some Shakespeare but now it seems all the Friday constructors do it.

55. Old TWA competitor: PAN AM. Who cares?

57. Coastal raptor: ERN. Birds and dinosaurs.

58. Shady place: ARBOR. You can ask Ann.

60. Signs: OMENS. Do you take them seriously?

61. __ al-Fitr: end-of-Ramadan feast: EID. Eid is an Arabic word meaning "festivity", while Fiṭr means "to break fast"; and so the holiday symbolizes the breaking of the fasting period, after the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, on the first day of Shawwal.

62. Greek letter: THETA.

63. Apple product: i-PAD.

64. "Therefore ... ": AND SO.

66. Natural resources: ORES. When is an ore a rock? The BBC says an ore is a rock that contains enough of a metal or a metal compound to make extracting the metal worthwhile: low-grade ores contain a small percentage of the metal or its compound. high-grade ores contain a larger percentage.

67. "Star Wars" role: LUKE. If you do not know Skywalker you probably do not know...

68. Star in Orion: RIGEL. This is a big boy Star

69. "That's that!": DONE. Not quite.

70. 1974 CIA spoof: S*P*Y*S. This was a failed attempt to capitalize on the popularity of Gould and Sutherland in M*A*S*H.

71. Word with home or bed: STEAD. Homestead I know not beadstead:the framework of a bed on which the mattress is placed.

72. Tiny crawlers: ANTS.

Down:

1. Obsessed mariner: AHAB. Poor guy, they never leave him alone.

2. Added to the official playbook: MADE A RULE. This was vey hard to parse but the perps were fair.

4. Fla. NBA team, on scoreboards: MIAmi. A gimme for which...

5. "Not a doubt in my mind": I'M SURE.

7. Chair's prep job: AGENDA. The Chairman of the Board has his/her/their staff prepare it, let's be honest.

8. Wimbledon division: SET. Tennis anyone? I do worry about Peng Shuai.

10. Drumroll follower: BIG MOMENT. 

11. Comments: SAYS. Says you...

13. Part of a pot: ANTE. Followed by ...

15. Smelting fuel: COKE. Hmm.

20. "Around the Horn" airer: ESPN. 

22. It's risky to work on it: SPEC.

26. Slightly: ATAD.

28. Fix a messy package, say: RETAPE.

29. Certain rider's pace: CANTER.

31. Grooving on: INTO.

35. Short strings?: UKES.

38. Comment about a familiar film: I'VE SEEN IT.

40. Salton, for one: INLAND SEA.

46. __ control: ARMS.

47. RBI, e.g.: STAT.

48. Booty: SPOILS.

49. Increase: RAMP UP.

50. Not at all up-front: SNEAKY.

52. Puck handler?: OBERON.

53. Strong: POTENT.

54. Gets rid of: ERASES.

56. Long range: ANDES.

59. Mary's upstairs neighbor: RHODA.

64. MGM motto word: ARS.

65. Stale: OLD.

Gary Larson

 Title: Cinderella, what are you wearing to the ball? (See later inspiration)

Today our constructing phenom, Gary don't call me Far Side Larson,  presents me with his 6th Friday that I have blogged in 2021 (along with 2 for Moe) to go with his 7 Sundays. We have slang for 'clothing' which are the second word in a two-word in the language expression as the theme. I would say this is a whimsical effort overall. I am sure you missed Gary since his most recent LAT was all the way back on Sunday. In keeping with modern Fridays, this has more words and fewer empty spaces but the theme is tight and the amusement factor high. The longish non-themers BETRAYS,  BLAME ME, CALYPSO, CAPSULE, DINGBAT. DOGBANE,  ECOCIDE, ENDRUNS, FASTENS. FLAILED, LABORED, MADISON,  RISES UP  and TEHRANI are quite a diverse field. They are each 7 letters long. So we start:

15A. Outfits for a climber?: HIGH GEAR (8). A climber goes up wearing his climbing gear and his friend cruises in his car in high gear. LINK

18A. His-and-her outfits?: BINARY NUMBERS (13). The binary numbers (0 and 1) are how computers work. Per the Oxford English Dictionary, “number” has been used to mean “an article of clothing." gender specific clothing is binary. LINK

35A. Outfits for tourist town natives?: LOCAL  RAGS (9). When I was in boarding school the locals were the "townies." I think of our hometown newspaper as the local rag, but it can also be a worthless piece of cloth, especially one that is torn or worn. rags, ragged or tattered clothing.

56A. Outfits for the masses?: COMMON THREADS (13). Know your threads will not help you here. This is the simplest of the fill.

62A. Outfits for dairy farmers?: MILK DUDS (8). My favorite and the silliest. Duds as clothing come from Middle English dudde, originally meaning worn-out or ragged clothing. Dairy farmers milk their cows and we all know

MILK DUDS Candies were introduced by F. Hoffman & Co. of Chicago in 1928. The Candiesgot their name because their maker found it impossible to get the chocolate-covered caramels to form perfectly round balls, so he called them “duds.” He wanted candy symmetry but failed. Gary did not. This very symmetrical set of five themers has 51 spaces of the 225 in this 15x15 with no reveal. 

Across:

1. Follower of Jefferson: MADISON. President number 4 followed number 3.

8. Turn on: START. This works well for machines, but is more complicated with humans.

13. Polluter's crime: ECOCIDE. I put in ___CIDE  and ruminated for a while. 

14. Mountaintop home: AERIE. This variant of eyrie is the bird nest of an eagle, falcon, hawk, or other bird of prey.

17. Refuse: TRASH. I refused to be tricked.

21. The first "A" in A.A. Milne: ALAN. Alan Alexander was more than the creator of Winnie the pu pu platter (oops)...anyway, he studied under H.G. Wells and played cricket with J.M. Barrie, A.C. Doyle, and P.G.Wodehouse.

23. Fictional 1847 autobiographer: EYRE. Oh Jane you fictional woman.

24. __ Paulo: SAO. Brazil. 

25. Typographical ornament: DINGBAT. No this is not ...

but in the computer industry, a Dingbat font is a font that has symbols and shapes in the positions designated for alphabetical or numeric. Wingding is very popular.

29. Evasive tactics: END RUNS. To circumvent from the Football play.

31. Spot: SEE.  I got this right away.

32. Infuriates: IRES. I am irked.

34. Polynesian capital: APIA. Apia, town, port, and capital (since 1959) of Samoa. It is located on the northern coast of Upolu Island, in the South Pacific Ocean. Many famous athletes and actors come from Samoa. 

39. Jessica of "Dark Angel": ALBA. She played a genetically enhanced government superhuman prototype, Max Guevera who teamed with a journalist, played by Michael Weatherly (NCIS and BULL) in a post-apocalyptic Seattle to right wrongs. Seattle also was the home of iZombie another SciFi series. 

42. Long-gone time: YORE.

43. Tiger, e.g.: CAT. Deceptively simple.

46. Belafonte #1 album on which "Day-O" was the first track: CALYPSO. 

50. Turns on: BETRAYS.

52. Corp. alias letters: DBA. Doing business as.

53. Subway fare?: HERO. Not the price of travel...

55. Sword with a three-sided blade: EPEE.

61. They hold your horses: REINS. Literal but amusing.

65. Deejay, at times: EMCEE. DJ MC ...

66. Swung wildly: FLAILED. Facing a famed Twins pitcher...

67. Transfers, as a house: DEEDS. My bread and butter.

68. Secures: FASTENS.

Down:

1. Not so hot: MEH. The bloggers' safe word.

2. Handel's "__, Galatea e Polifemo": ACI. A most emotional TALE from the mists of myth. I will await comments from all of our musically educated posters.

3. Poisonous plant reputed to repel canines: DOGBANE. It is poisonous to dogs and looks like milkweed to which I am extremely allergic. It  does feel like a CSO to John Lampkin.

4. Chinese book of divination: I-CHING. My late brother David studied these rituals.

5. Register, with "up": SIGN. Be cause you ...

6. Music halls of old: ODEA. If you look up ODEA in the dictionary it tells you noun:the plural of odeum. Helpful.

7. Close: NEAR.
 
8. Ring bearer?: SATURN. A debut for this clue/fill combo. Very clever.

9. Called: TERMED.

10. Many an Omani: ARAB. And 12D. Like many "Argo" militants: TEHRANI. The capital of Iran.

11. Revolts: RISESUP. They have had their share in that part of the world.

16. White alternative: RYE. Just bread but it does rhyme with...

19. Emmy-winning scientist: NYE.

20. '90s-'00s Cubs star: SOSA. No indication of his being one of many being blackballed by the Hall of Fame voters. This ARTICLE is very long but should be of interest to our dedicated baseball fans.

21. GEICO highlights: ADS. Most of their's are funny. I see you LIMU!

22. Tell tales, maybe: LIE. Maybe, baby?

26. Book jacket text, often: BIO.

27. Semicircle, say: ARC. 

28. Leaves for a spot: TEA. A CSO to many at the Corner who enjoy a spot of tea, but not a cup. It is a more confusing IDIOM.

30. Student housing VIPs: RAS. Resident Assistants.

33. Wily: SLY. Sly E Coyote just didn't work.
 
35. Set down: LAY. Two versions: I set down the book on the desk. Or, I laid down stricter rules for my...

36. Take badly?: ROB. A now common clue/fill to deceive the audience.

37. "__ you done?": ARE. No, we have many clues left.

38. Perceive: GET. I perceived Gary's meaning.

39. Like some appliances: AC/DC.

40. Worked: LABORED.

41. Words of confession: BLAME ME. Meh. That is not a confession.

43. Tablet alternative: CAPSULE. Not computer but pills.

44. Supportive response: AYE. Nay!

45. "The Waste Land" monogram: TSE. The best link I could find for those interested in THOMAS STEARNS ELIOT.

47. Called: PHONED. Someday this to will be gone from the lexicon.

48. It's sometimes necessary to come to them: SENSES.

49. Food bit: ORT.

51. Website with "Ask Me Anything" interviews: REDDIT.

54. Unit of resistance: OHM.

57. Laptop navigation aids: MICE.

58. Jazz phrase: RIFF.

59. "Enchanted" movie girl: ELLA. Recently this version

60. Aliases: AKAS. Also Known As.

63. Thieves' place: DEN. A concept from the Christian Bible.

64. Radical '60s org.: SDS. Students for a Democratic Society. Very active at my college alma mater.

Jeffrey Diton

Title: A timely tribute to Broadway.

We all know (or should know) that puzzles are scheduled long before publication. However with the recent death of Broadway ICON Steven Sondheim, it seems some outside influence created this time slot for our entertainment and reflection. And dramatically none of the eight (8) huge hits were created by Sondheim. I am however, foreshadowing the write-up, so it is time to get to work.

My internet sleuthing located Jeffrey Diton both at the Crossword Collaboration Directory* and on Facebook.  It seems he is "retired and living the dream in Cary, North Carolina" though I know not his vocation.  This is his world wide debut puzzle so let's give him a round of applause. (too much foreshadowing)? Not unexpectedly this puzzle does not check all the usual Friday difficulty boxes - too many words, word lengths too short - but he does bring some pizzaz.  PET MD, ICEMAN,  KRAUSS, LOW-RES, MIDORI , YASGUR, ALL YEAR,  MISTRIAL and SLEEPERS are all solid fill. The ones in red are new. If you did not trek to Western NY on August 19, 1969, you probably don't know Max Yasgur and his farm in Bethel. N. Y. but those are stories for a different day. What he does do is include in each theme answer 2 one-word Broadway musicals. I find no commonality within the selection that determines which he chose, I hope he comes by and explains. 

16A. Nightclub for seasonal workers?: ELF CABARET (10). Malls hire elves to accompany Santa and we all enjoy a night out at a cabaret, old chum. LINK 1 and LINK 2

22A. Reaction to opening a can of Whiskas?: CATS APPLAUSE 

(12). I do not know any kitties who applaud but maybe you all have videos. LINK 1 and LINK 2

47. Like the Charles River in February, to a local?: WICKED FROZEN (12). You need to know the Charles flows through Boston where wicked is a catch all adjective and its does get f.... I mean wicked cold. Watching WICKED  on Broadway starring Idina Menzel with my two sons is a great memory for me. This group also is the only one of the themers I know of in which a star (IM, not ours) stars in both. I have not seen the  FROZEN musical.

56A. Styling gel for a '50's teenager?: HAIR GREASE (10). HAIR with it's nudity was very bold for Broadway and GREASE  a wonderful tribute to WEST SIDE STORY a Stephen Sondheim musical.

And the unusual Friday reveal:

34. Hit shows, and a hint to four puzzle answers: BROADWAY SMASHES. I am not sure if this was Jeffrey's intention, but I parse the clue for the show with individual names as Broadway Smashes, but for the entire answer Broadway's Mashes. YMMV.

Across:

1. Some model home residents: DOLLS. A very cute beginning.

6. Wrinkle, as one's brow: KNIT. HISTORY.

10. Rocky greetings: YOS. From the movie, not a bad romance. 

13. '40s-'50s "Giant Brain": ENIAC. This is the 48th appearance of this fill in the LAT.

14. Streaming biggie: ROKU.  Read all about IT.

15. Gas station convenience: MART. This one was slow in coming for me. 

18. Capital on a fjord: OSLO. Norway here we come.

19. Easter supply: DYE. Of course EGG fits also.

20. Watson portrayer opposite Jonny Lee Miller's Holmes: LIU.

21. California athlete: ANGEL. Baseball in Anaheim.

26. Hardly well: RARE. Very nice Friday deception, not ill but not cooked much.

29. Surprise hits: SLEEPERS. This sense of the word may have originated in the world of gambling in the nineteenth century. When a card player unexpectedly drew a winning card, the card was called "a sleeper."

30. Pontificates: OPINES. C.C. has mostly eliminated that from this blog's posts.

33. Narrow strip of wood: LATH. The name derived from the spreading action, which is like pulling an accordion open. wiki

40. Top-notch: A-ONE. From astronauts HG?

41. Note in the key of B major: D-SHARP. I know nothing but B major (or the key of B) is a major scale based on B. The pitches B, C♯, D♯, E, F♯, G♯, and A♯ are all part of the B major scale. more wiki

42. Hung jury result: MISTRIAL. A victory for a criminal defendant.

46. Pop of pop music: IGGY. An 80's phenomenon.
                             

50. Nice thoughts?: IDEES. The French Connection.

51. What "W" may mean: WIN. L loss.

52. Pilot or Explorer: SUV. The world has been overrun by this vehicle choice. The fact that they now can get 30 to 50 mpg or are electric has helped.

55. Gold rush town where Wyatt Earp ran the Dexter Saloon: NOME.  LINK.

60. "Dagnabbit!": DRAT.

61. Wind from the French for "high wood": OBOE. The name oboe was originally hautbois, or "high, loud wood" in French, also sometimes spelled hoboy in English. The Italians transliterated the French name to oboè, and the English followed around 1770 with oboe. Oo has friends called Bo which leads me to many bad musical puns.

62. Baseball VIP: OWNER.

63. Half of a Chinese pair: YIN. I wouldn't YANG your chain about that.

64. Conference giveaways: PENS. I have so many free pens in my house but they do not last long as they are very...

65. Demanding attention: NEEDY.

Down:

1. Act: DEED. Do a good one. It

2. Just: ONLY. Takes a moment and can improve someone's

3. Long sentence: LIFE. A strined bit of incarceration humor.

4. Lakers rivals, on NBA scoreboards: LAC. The Clippers

5. Milan's La __: SCALA. Charlotte has her Ballet debut this coming Sunday.

6. Alison of bluegrass: KRAUSS. An intersting Duet.
                                        
7. Scand. land: NORway. It's back.

8. Prez after Harry: IKE. Nicknames noy initiala

9. Tsk relative: TUT. King?

10. Max who owned the Woodstock farmland: YASGUR. An interesting HISTORY.

11. Discount phrase: OR LESS. Is it ever less?

12. Pinched: STOLE.

15. "Hidden Figures" actress Janelle __: MONAE. This MOVIE

17. Tiny amount: BIT.

21. Top dogs: ALPHAS. They no longer are just males.

22. Wrestler-turned-actor John: CENA. Thank you all for last week, as I was unsure if "S" or "C."

23. Not seasonal: ALL YEAR.

24. Pod residents?: PEAS.

25. Website for animal owners: PET MD.

26. Hold up: ROB.

27. Fig. in lending: APR.

28. 2016 Olympics city: RIO.

31. Tinder outings: E-DATES.

32. There's a point to it: SWORD.

35. "It's not __, it's a when": AN IF.

36. __ guard: SHIN.

37. Crone: HAG.

38. Unit of energy: ERG.

39. Bond, for one: SPY.

42. Olympic skater Ito: MIDORI.

43. Certain clutch player, in sports parlance: ICEMAN.

44. Shooting competition: SKEET.

45. A bit fuzzy, as an image: LOW RES.

47. Blowing a lot: WINDY.

48. Evasive maneuver: ZIG.

49. 2001 scandal subject: ENRON.

52. Sound: SANE.

53. Secondhand: USED.

54. To a high degree: VERY.

56. Bunny __: HOP.

57. White House nickname: ABE.

58. Charged particle: ION.

59. Farm mom: EWE.