Peter Koetters

Title: Shake that booty

Peter who has had 13 of his 16 major puzzle publications with the LAT, is back after zero 2020 puzzles in one of the papers. I blogged his FIRST and a few others over the years. Today is a simple scramble with the three-letter second word of the phrase being anagrammed to create a different and visually amusing picture. This seemed easy for a Friday but I got lots of sleep while Oo was working. We had some funny ones.

17A. Beneficial tree tapping?: HEALTH SAP. HEALTH SPA. As a Floridian, we have many spas around here; we used to take the sap from the maple trees and boil a whole bunch to make maple syrup. Of course, those who spend a fortune on all those TV ads promising eternal youth...

29A. Wildebeest with a habit?: SMOKING GNU (10). Who knew? 
I do not think they can shoot, but it seems unlikely- for the original words -SMOKING GUN. I do like the picture of cultured wildebeest.

47A. Hoop site?: END OF AN EAR (10). End of Era, not a simple earring.

11D. Hawaiian wedding accessory?: WHITE LEI. Oh my, there are so many inappropriate comments I could make and upset for our current PG-rated blog, but it is a fun twist on a WHITE LIE.  No pictures needed.

37A. Top for a Japanese dish?: SUSHI BRA. Another challenge, but the internet is always there. We also have so many sushi bars in SoFla.

And a reveal:

61A. Reversed, in a way ... and a hint to the creation of five puzzle answers: INSIDE OUT(9). Meh, unnecessary and not helpful for me. But the interspersed 7 letter fill really helped me in getting this done. They are EMINENT, I LOST IT, INHERIT, MATINEE,  REALITY, RIHANNA, and ROTUNDA. 

Now that we have sussed the theme and identified the longer, fill, let's go.

Across:

1. It's found in a lock ... or a loch: OAR. A most enjoyable play on words to start the action. 

4. Founder of one of Israel's Twelve Tribes: JUDAH. Jacob's first wife, Leah, bore him six sons: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. Two other tribes, Gad and Asher, were named after sons born to Jacob and Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant. Two additional tribes, Dan and Naphtali, were named after the sons of Jacob born of Bilhah, the maidservant of Rachel, Jacob’s second wife. Rachel bore Jacob two sons, Joseph and Benjamin. In modern Judaism, it is the descendants of Aaron - the Cohanim and Levites who survived to matter with everyone else part of ISRAEL. Confused yet?

9. Multilevel marketing giant: AMWAY. Is it a PYRAMID SCHEME, there are many pro and con links all taking to multi-level marketing "businesses." Tell me your experiences.

14. "WALL-E" FX: CGI. Computer-Generated Imagery; in the joy of blogging, I had the pleasure of the flipbook- the beginning generated movement.

15. __ territory: ENEMY. Not all meanings are related to war. Ask Cubs and White Sox fans.

16. Lake near Squaw Valley: TAHOE. Still one of the most beautiful places on earth. 

19. Leaning: ATILT. A dreaded "A" word.

20. Vex: RILE. Vex comes from the Latin VEXARE to disturb, and they said those six years of Latin study would never come in handy.

21. Come into: INHERIT. Part of my current business, probating estates and seeing who inherits, a word that comes from - you guessed it - the Latin INHEREDITARE. I could go on.

23. Willing subject?: ESTATE. A pun lost because of its juxtaposition making it a really obvious fill.

26. Renowned: EMINENT. Not to be confused with IMMINENT.

32. Wells' Weena et al.: ELOI. Would like another picture of Yvette Mimeux?

33. Mississippi river to the Mississippi River: YAZOO. The Yazoo River was named by French explorer La Salle in 1682 as "Rivière des Yazous" in reference to the Yazoo tribe. It is created by the Tallahatchie River Yalobusha River to form the Yazoo River. Remember the bridge?

34. The Aire runs through it: LEEDS. Alex, rivers for $2,000. LINK. 

35. Common online interruptions: ADS.

38. Domed building: ROTUNDA. Recently in the news, sadly this ONE.

41. "Give or take" ending: ISH.

42. Actress Tierney: MAURA.

44. Projectionist's stack: REELS.

46. Otherwise: ELSE.

52. One-named "Unapologetic" singer: RIHANNA.
RiRi.

54. Pang: TWINGE.

55. "That completely overwhelmed me!": I LOST IT. It has happened to me 4 times in my life. My father, who I adore, and who was a remarkable man was a rageholic and I have at least a piece of that genetic code.

58. Favorable points: PROS. let's argue the Pros and Cons.

59. Range: AMBIT. ambit (n.) late 14c., "space surrounding a building or town; precinct;" 1590s, "a circuit;" from Latin ambitus "a going round, a circuit, circumference." 

64. Garçon's handout: CARTE. A French waiter gives you a menu. 

65. Go on the stump: ORATE. An 1848 dictionary mentioned "to stump it" was a phrase "borrowed from the backwoods," as it referred to speaking from atop a tree stump.

66. Oklahoma native: OTO. Native American tribe.

67. Binge-watching mealtime aids: TRAYS. So you can sit in the tv room.

68. Not cool at all: NERDY.

69. Mint holder: TIN. 

Down: 

1. Earth tones: OCHRES. A word I learned watching my father oil paint.

2. Fair-hiring problem: AGEISM. No problem here though we are trending younger.

3. Venetian marketplace: RIALTO. An interesting HISTORY.

4. Contrail source: JET. This is a trail of condensed water from an aircraft or rocket at high altitude, seen as a white streak against the sky. 

5. John Irving alma mater: Abbr.: UNH. He not only went to the University of New Hampshire, but that is where he was BORN.

6. Lucy's guy: DESI. Do you love Lucy? 

7. "__ Called Ove": 2015 film: A MAN. Based on a novel by Swedish author Fredrik Backman which Tom Hanks has optioned to do an English language version.

8. Honky-tonk line?: HYPHEN. Such a cute clue.

9. Big name in games: ATARI. The first.

10. Play before supper: MATINEE. Another cute clue, not stickball in the backyard.

12. Early internet co.: AOL. I still have my AOL account among my five accounts.

13. Still: YET. Again. 

18. Needing caulking: LEAKY. Maybe that is what I need...

22. LiMu __: ad bird: EMU. Feel free to vent here; not my favorite. 

24. Prom queen topper: TIARA. I would have guessed Prom King but there were not enough letters.

25. Carmaker Ferrari: ENZO. The namesake creation. 

27. Subtle approvals: NODS.

28. Morticia, to Gomez: TISH. 

30. Came down with: GOT. Hopefully no COVID.

31. Melon, e.g.: GOURD. have you ever tried WIKIDIFF?

MELON VS. GOURD all melons are gourds but not all gourds are melons unless you are using eupemisms.

34. Bochco series: LA LAW. 63D. 34-Down actress: DEY.

35. OAS part: Abbr.: AMER.

36. Surrealist friend of García Lorca: DALI.

39. Prefix with con: NEO.

40. Dexterous: DEFT.

43. "Survivor" genre: REALITY. There is precious little reality in reality TV.

45. Wading bird: SNIPE. Didn't we have this?

47. Half of nine?: ENS.

48. One with an anthem: NATION.

49. Plant deeply: ENROOT. meh.

50. Rainforest rodent: AGOUTI.

51. Lie atop: REST ON. See 24D, supra.

53. Score in a score: NOTES. Lovely play on words.

56. Memo intro: IN RE.

57. Old despot: TSAR.

59. Pretend to be: ACT.

60. Deface: MAR.

62. "__ be fun!": IT'D. Was it? I had a great time

Jeffrey Wechsler

 

Across:

1. Adopted gradually, with "in": PHASED.

7. Sandpiper family birds: SNIPES.

13. One of two sound recommendations for a light sleeper?: EARPLUG.

15. Shunned one: PARIAH.

16. African Queen, for one: STEAMER.

17. "Don't doubt my abilities!": ICANSO.

18. January temps, often: TEENS.

19. Do lunch?: CATER.

21. London's __ Gardens: KEW.

22. Longtime senator Thurmond: STROM.

23. Battery parts: ANODES.

25. History: PAST.

26. Short on manners: RUDE.

27. Fraternal order: ELKS.

31. Coil in a garden: HOSE.

32. Prepares for takeoff: TAXIES.

34. Extravagant: BAROQUE.

38. Lot: FORTUNE.

39. Buttonhole: ACCOST.

40. Function: WORK.

41. Campus figure: DEAN.

42. Storytelling singer Guthrie: ARLO.

43. Declared: SAID.

47. Like some ornate doorways: ARCHED.

50. Fixes tears: DARNS.

51. Firepit residue: ASH.

54. Speak publicly: ORATE.

55. Advice from colleagues, say: INPUT.

56. With 58-Across, savory base for a canapé ... and the function of a black square in four puzzle rows?: CHEESE.

58. See 56-Across: CRACKER.

60. Afternoon service: TEASET.

61. One held for ransom: HOSTAGE.

62. Force (upon): IMPOSE.

63. Allowed paid use of: LEASED.

Down:
1. Pre-euro coin: PESETA.

2. Critics who can't be pleased: HATERS.

3. Childish denial: ARENOT.

4. Jerk, e.g.: SPASM.

5. West __: upscale store: ELM.

6. Sufficient grounds for action, in law: DUECAUSE.

7. Used bugs, perhaps: SPIED.

8. Shell material: NACRE.

9. Rollover acronym: IRA.

10. __ lady: gin and grenadine cocktail: PINK.

11. Fluency: EASE.

12. Make an appearance: SHOW.

14. Starbucks size: GRANDE.

18. Baking powder amt.: TSP.

20. Sock part: TOE.

24. Hot message: SEXT.

26. Beat decisively: ROUT.

28. Lucy of "Kill Bill": LIU.

29. Tennis great Rosewall: KEN.

30. Orlando-to-Miami dir.: SSE.

31. Main bases: Abbr.: HQS.

32. Deere rival: TORO.

33. Ararat craft: ARK.

34. Shoddy: BAD.

35. Top player: ACE.

36. TV pioneer: RCA.

37. Actress Chaplin: OONA.

38. Utter nonsense: FOLDEROL.

40. Deplorable sort: WRETCH.

42. "Eureka!": AHA.

43. Some decafs: SANKAS.

44. Lanvin scent since 1927: ARPEGE.

45. Accustomed (to): INURED.

46. Summer hrs.: DST.

48. Blush wines: ROSES.

49. Minos' kingdom: CRETE.

50. Formal decrees: DICTA.

51. When Lear disowns Cordelia: ACTI.

52. Young passenger on the 33-Down: SHEM.

53. Rattletrap: HEAP.

57. Spanish "that": ESO.

59. Enzyme suffix: ASE.

Jeffrey Wechsler

 

Gary Larson

Title: We have a reveal today, which is probably what the author considered his title so I will not compete...

55A. Paperback designed to simulate animation ... and a hint to the answers to starred clues: FLIPBOOK (8). Yes, it is one word. We used to create our own when I was young, but they were nothing like the ones featured in the link.

This is a back to back for me blogging Gary who is one of the many very productive newer constructors. Each theme fill is a theoretical book with a title that corresponds to an in the language two-word expression. However, if you "flip" the words you get a very different well know entity. Fun. We also have NEW CARS, PERSIST, REASONS, ENLARGER,  ORE CARTS, PAW PRINT, WHITE TIE and STARTED to challenge the solvers. 

17A. *Reference work for canine lovers?: DOG GUIDE (8). We all are familiar with GUIDE DOGS 

21A. *Instructional work for expectant mothers`?: LABOR MANUAL.

33A. *Fictional work about a pick-up artist?: APPROACH NOVEL.

49A. *Illustrated work for bullpen pitchers?: RELIEF COMIC.

Across:

1. Hybrid cycle: MOPED. We had a minibike, but not a MOPED.

6. Technology that uses polarized light, briefly: LCD. Liquid Crystal Display.

9. Boo-boo: OWIE. Not a favored fill here.

13. Baba ghanouj ingredient: TAHINI. The description has Tahini as ground, toasted sesame seeds. A mildly Friday word.

14. Yellowfin tuna: AHI. Tuna or salmon? Both contain the same number of calories, but yellowfin tuna (sometimes referred to as “ahi”) is less fatty, offers eight more grams of protein than wild salmon, and is prized for its mild but not fishy flavor. Although wild salmon contains more fat, it also has more heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids

15. "That was close!": PHEW. This word is from the 17th century and is an onomatopoeia: the sound of rapid exhalation one makes when some trying situation is over.

16. Preserve, in a way: EMBALM. Ugh. This somewhat inappropriate breakfast test word comes from the French word baum meaning balm, like an ointment.

19. Range in the home, maybe: AMANA. While this company now owned by WHIRLPOOL eventually began making ranges, they started in the Amana Colonies in Iowa making the first stand-up freezer. 

20. Keep going: PERSIST. From the Latin Persistere.

23. Punk rock offshoot: EMO. This history of the MUSIC.

26. Calculating: SLY.

27. Grunts, so to speak: GIs. The term G.I. has been used as an initialism of "Government Issue", "General Issue", or "Ground Infantry", but it originally referred to "galvanized iron", as used by the logistics services of the United States Armed Forces

28. Got going: STARTED.

30. Simmons competitor: SERTA. 

32. Cork's place: EIRE. Not in a wine bottle for Moe, but a County in Ireland.

38. Requiem Mass word: IRAE. Serious crosswordese.

39. Layers: TIERS. Like cakes.

40. There are lots of them: NEW CARS. Without perps this is impossible, but it is a new fill.

44. Beats by __: DRE. 

45. Some tags: IDS.

48. Afternoon refresher: NAP. I am almost ready to get used to naps. I have always appreciated the 20-minute power nap.

52. Tries to influence, with "with": REASONS. From a child's POINT OF VIEW. Or, 60A. Unbending: STRICT.

54. Worship: ADORE. Je t'aime, je t'adore!

57. Tried and true: PROVEN.

58. Choice: A-ONE. Steak sauce?

59. Parrot: APE. Parrots are not simians!

61. Written reminder: NOTE. Generally sticky now.

62. "The Spanish Tragedy" dramatist: KYD. Beginning the revenge tragedy.

63. Strong point: ASSET.

Down:

1. Cat, say: MAMMAL. Another vague Friday means to challenge.

2. "Yowza!": OH BABY.  1930s (as yowzah ): perhaps representing a regional or colloquial pronunciation of yes sir 

3. It can be grand: PIANO. Distraction is the key.

4. Darkroom gear: ENLARGER. 

5. Skeptical, as a view: DIM. Parents often have a dim view
of their kids' ideas.

6. Weighed down: LADEN. Since they are burdened with their preconceived notions.

7. Group that blends well: CHORUS. Very important in the theatre of the 1500s.

8. Tries to unearth: DIGS AT. My meh clue/fill.

9. Major work: OPUS. Latin; no more pictures of the Penguin.

10. Formal wear: WHITE TIE. The CODE.

11. Mil. roadside hazard: IED. Improvised Explosive Device (IED), a homemade bomb, constructed from military or nonmilitary components, that is frequently employed by guerrillas, insurgents, and other non-state actors as a crude but effective weapon against a conventional military force.

12. Sweater material source: EWE. But not me.

13. Shades of blue: TEALS. At least 260 shades of blue are documented.

18. River to the Colorado: GILA.

20. Noodles: PASTA.

22. Barcelona-born surrealist: MIRO.

24. Cruciverbalist Reagle of "Wordplay": MERL.

25. Words of praise: ODE.

29. Guns: REVS.

30. What many writers work on: SPEC.

31. Be in a cast: ACT.

33. Specialty: AREA.

34. Rin Tin Tin autograph, e.g.: PAW PRINT.

35. Leather sources: HIDES.

36. Soft ball material: NERF.

37. Mine vehicles: ORE CARTS.

38. Keeper's concern: INN.

41. Spirited horse: ARAB.

42. Saturate again: RESOAK.

43. "Hang on __": 1965 #1 hit: SLOOPY.

45. Apple video-editing app: iMOVIE.

46. Run: DIRECT.

47. Chanel product: SCENT.

50. Signed: INKED.

51. Dinnertime draws: ODORS.

53. Duel tool: EPEE.

55. __ club: FAN.

56. WC: LOO.

57. Smokey Bear TV spot, for one: PSA.

GARY LARSON

 

Title: A pun puzzle for the openminded. 

We welcome back Gary Larson who in just over three years on the big stage has numerous publications here, at the NYT, the WSJ, and the Universal puzzle. I blogged one last October, and Gary does like wordplay. All the "J"s are now "CH." It creates some fun fill and starts us on our way, as they are very gettable once you grasp the concept. The sparkly fill includes ADOPTED, ESTELLE, HEROINE, MOLIERE, ONE LOVE, STANLEY, KALAMATA, and THE OPERA a diverse knowledge base required. 

The theme:

16A. Levi's alternatives in the bargain bin?: CHEAP WRANGLERS (14). Wrangler jeans, Jeep Wrangler. 

23A. Bright red semi?: CHERRY RIG. This is the biggest stretch for me. First, I learned the term as Jury-rigged, which does indeed have historical precedence, over jerry-rigged, with citations in the Oxford English Dictionary all the way back to 1788. Do non-truckers think about their big rig?

36A. Dog collar for obedience school?: PRACTICAL CHOKER. A sad but apt replacement for a practical joker. 

48A. Kibbles 'n Bits?: CHUNK FOOD. Well, I never thought of dog food like junk food, nor the little pieces as chunks but you must do what you must do.

57A. Inept patsy on water skis?: CHUMP IN THE LAKE. On that note, I won't suggest you go jump in the lake but get on with the rest of the puzzle.

ACROSS:

1. Supplies food: CATERS. Not the easiest of starts for me. 

7. Lord with a namesake sports trophy: STANLEY. Requires knowledge of Hockey's Stanley Cup.

14. Showy bloom: DAHLIA.  Sometimes sad.

15. "The Miser" playwright: MOLIERE. Studying French in school helped with this "comedy" L'avare. Molière modeled the protagonist in The Miser on a character in Aulularia (Pot of Gold), a comedy by the ancient Roman playwright Plautus (254-184 BC), according to the nineteenth-century French scholar Eugène Benoist. 

18. Rial spenders: OMANIS. The currency of the country, and two others- Yemen and Iran.

19. Ascended: ROSE. To great heights.

21. Humdinger: PIP. A colloquialism defined by another. US origin, perhaps a blend of hummer (“something that moves fast”) +‎ dinger (“something outstanding”). First attested in a newspaper article in the Daily Enterprise of June 4, 1883, at Livingstone, Montana.

27. Song heard in the film "Marley & Me": ONE LOVE.
Don't cry...okay cry. 

31. Sign of success: VEE. Winston and a clecho.

32. Sign of success: SRO. Standing Room Only.

33. Arte who co-owns MLB's Angels: MORENO. A CSO to Lucina.

34. Prayer __: BEADS. And yet, a second CSO.

41. Sported: HAD ON. She sported a Givenchy at the Oscars.

42. Steamed cantina dish: TAMALE. Followed by the third and major CSO to our maven on the Mexican delight, Ms. Lucy Dale.

43. I in Innsbruck: ICH.

46. Mogadishu is its cap.: SOMalia. I like the word Mogadishu.

47. Getty of "The Golden Girls": ESTELLE. She was the youngest of the actresses and the first to leave us; only Betty White carries on. Young Estelle.

51. Petition: ASK.

52. Relaxation: EASE.

53. Smarts: WISDOM.

63. Captain Marvel, for one: HEROINE. The current ONE.

64. Walking on air: ELATED. A favorite word of our own C.C.

65. Taken in: ADOPTED.

66. Parlor pieces: DIVANS.

Down:

1. Govt. agency in many 2020 headlines: CDC. Center for Disease Control. Did you ever notice dis-ease actually means the opposite of ease, like disenfranchisement?

2. Spa emanation: AAH. Oooh.

3. Title Marx Brothers setting: THE OPERA.

4. Jack of "Rio Lobo": ELAM. He was a scary-looking dude.

                                                    
5. Gifford's "Live" successor: RIPA. Kathie Lee and Kelly. 

6. Like logs: SAWN.

7. Huge hit: SMASH.

8. Passel: TON. Passel supposedly comes from a mispronouncing of "parcel". Ya think?

9. Niger neighbor: Abbr.: ALG. There is a sad STORY here.

10. Nothing: NIL. Important for hockey and football (soccer) fans.

11. Suspicious: LEERY. Not Timothy...

12. E on a scoreboard: ERRORS. Along with R and H.

13. Private aye: YES SIR. A little humor in the clue.

17. Often-steamed serving: RICE. Do all of you here have your own RICE COOKER?

20. It may be inflated: EGO.

21. Ceremonial display: POMP.

22. "__ out?": IN OR. Every pet owner knows this game.

24. First name in daredeviltry: EVEL. He's back!

25. Takes the bait, say: REACTS.

26. Software subsidiary of IBM since 2019: RED HAT.

28. Peace Nobelist Walesa: LECH.

29. Focused, jobwise: ON TASK.

30. Entirely without: VOID OF compassion?

34. Outlaw: BAN. Or a deodorant.

35. To a degree: SOME.

37. Villa-studded Italian lake: COMO. Or our old friend Perry the barber; I get him often.

38. Greek city known for olives: KALAMATA.

39. Building additions: ELLS.

40. Strongly suggest, with "of": REEK. I will again LINK this scene from Game of Thrones, but please do not watch, it is awful and disgusting.

43. Bar staple: ICE. Not at Tinbeni's house.

44. Onomatopoeic dance: CHA CHA. This reminds me of the Cuchi Cuchi girl Charo and somehow really fits with a J to CH theme.

45. Quieted: HUSHED.

47. Touch up, perhaps: EDIT.

49. Surgeon's opening?: NEURO.

50. Dominated in competition: OWNED. When did this become the phrase?

54. Threw off: SHED.

55. Where to find a hero: DELI. These days, maybe the only place to find one.

56. Norse patron: OLAV.

58. Unruly head of hair: MOP.

59. Trading place: PIT. Chicago Board of Trade, the NYSE ...

60. Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 __ minor: IN E. An ending E to match a beginning one.

61. First "Jeopardy!" guest host after Alex: KEN. WOW! We are really up to date, Ken is okay but he seems nervous to me.

62. Harris and a horse: EDS. Ed Harris who I featured for his role in ENEMY AT THE GATES.

There are 5 Fridays in January so you will see me again this month, GWATCDR. This was not the first week I blogged two puzzles, but my first Monday Friday sandwich. I hope it was tasty. Lemonade out. 

Jeffrey

Who needs a title- IT'S CHRISTMAS with Jeffrey. What we need is some music!

So much for my sincere "see you next year!" This Friday tag team is back with the holiday spirit. This a classic Friday that demands you deduce a theme, which will displease many but otherwise you would be forced to solve all the downs to finish. We also have a group that dislikes referential cluing so...To begin, recognize that this is a special puzzle for the day (Merry Christmas to all!). Then examine all the effort to make this work: a 16x15 grid to allow the one grid spanning theme fill; 15 cheater squares to make it work without conventional symmetry. The Joy! 

21A. Seasonal favorite: DECK THE HALLS (12). 40A.
With 43-Across, 21-Across chorus line: FALALALALA. 43A. See 40-Across: LALALALA. 

63A. Seasonal favorite: LITTLE DRUMMER BOY. 66. 63-Across chorus line: PARUMPUMPUMPUM.

Across:

1. Oft-heard disembodied voice: SIRI. The apple of our ears. You can make some choices now but there may be a big CHANGE soon.

5. Fauna component: ANIMAL. Flora's partner in the forest.

11. [It vanished!]: PFFT. It's magic!

15. Turkmenistan neighbor: IRAN. They are bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north and east, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the south and southwest, and the Caspian Sea to the west.

16. Ford's second commercial success: MODEL A. First sold on December 2, 1927, it replaced the Model T which had been in production for 18 years. The new Model A was designated a 1928-year model and was available in four standard colors

17. Senator's helper: AIDE. Did any watch VEEP?

18. One standing before the king and queen: PAWN. I love this tricky clue. And I loved 

19. Frederick Douglass, notably: ORATOR. This impressive MAN is not to be confused with the one "s" senator who debated Lincoln.

20. European border range: URAL. These MOUNTAINS were an important part of Hitler's plan for a pure Europe.

24. Maneuver: STEER. This word has many possible ORIGINS.

26. Circle dance: HORA. Not a Christmas dance.

27. Fabric-dyeing process: BATIK.

30. Sycophant: TOADY.

31. Toss insults (at): SNIPE. Sadly the actor died; oops that was SNAPE.

32. Sport for swingers?: POLO. Golf fits so much better.

33. They're often seen on slides: AMEBAS. Are they?

39. Don't have to guess: KNOW.

44. Entertains: HOSTS.

48. Part of BPOE: ELKS. Benevolent Protective Order of Elks so soon after yesterday's reference.

49. Phase: STAGE. 

54. Fit to serve: ONE-A. Selective service designation.

55. Seriously off the mark, as a throw: WILD.

56. Show appreciation to: THANK. I want to take the time to thank all of the wonderful talents who have created 52 entertaining and challenging puzzles. 

58. Asian desert: GOBI.

62. King of Judea: HEROD. I really cannot discuss without getting into a religious discussion, but this name is also part of the Christmas story.

67. Rascal: SCAMP. Child of Lady and the Tramp.

68. Like Oscar of "The Odd Couple" or "Sesame Street": MESSY.

Down:

1. Opposite of guzzle: SIP.

2. Novelist Levin: IRA. You do not want to adopt one of his babies. 

3. Unfair outcome: RAW DEAL.

4. Demanding: IN NEED OF.

5. Uncontrolled: AMOK.

6. Word with due or true: NORTH. Also Oliver.

7. Yukon Gold source: IDAHO. The Potato, not the mineral. 

8. Poet's concern: METER.

9. Greeting in a state nickname: ALOHA.

10. Spencer of "Good Morning America": LARA. Everything and MORE.

11. '50s-'70s singer with 12 Billboard Top 10 hits: PAUL ANKA. Paul did many Christmas albums but I did not see our two featured tunes.

12. Inventory evaluation term: FIRST IN. First out. 

13. Org. that tests cosmetics: FDA. Ans COVID-19 vaccines.

14. Business card no.: TEL.

22. Yell: CRY.

23. Freight meas.: LBS.

24. Indy 500 initialism: STP. Mario Andretti.

25. Excessively: TOO.

28. Wall St. event: IPO. Initial Public Offering.

29. Royal Botanic Gardens locale: KEW.

33. Like: À LA. Near 35D. Mideast carrier: EL AL. 37D. Woeful word: ALAS. 38D. Mineo of "Rebel Without a Cause": SAL. 41D. Gore and Green: ALS. And 42D. __ Cruces: LAS. I will leave out the next two, even though they both have "AL" inside.

34. What Y can imply: MALE. Chromosome, baby!

36. Resist, with "at": BALK.

44. Lanford Wilson's "The __ Baltimore": HOTL.

45. Where impatient hands might be placed: ON HIPS.

46. Washington airport: SEATAC.

47. Hindu philosophy: TANTRA.

50. Annoying sorts: TWERPS.

51. Boeing competitor: AIRBUS.

52. Like Eeyore's outlook: GLOOMY.

53. Swirl: EDDY. Nelson?

57. "Project Runway" host: KLUM. Heidi made it back to AGOT. Still a pretty woman.

58. Econ. stat: GDP. Gross Domestic Product.

59. Tulsa sch. with a Prayer Tower: ORU.

60. Mooch: BUM. 

61. Pesky sort: IMP. Aren't they really elves?

62. Iron-rich blood pigment: HEME. It is more places than blood LINK.  I wonder if Wimpy would want an Impossible Burger?

64. Ruler of anc. Rome: EMPeror.

65. Silent: MUM. Not if you are from Britain, there the mums are seldom silent.

But fittingly, it is time for me to be silent and let you savor the flavor of JW's Christmas treat. It has been a year; my best to all who read, the posters, the lurkers, the constructors, and our own Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn- C.C. and Boomer. We have lost some followers, both literally and figuratively. We won't forget. We have had bloggers come and go, but we are here. COVID be damned. 

Lemonade out.

Robin Stears

 Title: It's my job man not my life.

I agree, not every title is a gem, but 2020 is almost over and I am worn out. Robin's debut at the LAT was this 2009 FRIDAY which is worth visiting because it tells us about Robin, and also shows the joy of a C.C. write-up which led to her being a preeminent constructor. Today's effort is substantially easier, with a wordplay gimmick that makes sense once you see it. After a brief struggle, the always helpful 17A filled and I was off to the races. There were some unknowns but the perps were all fair and the longer non-theme fill helped getting the solve. ARRANGE, AVONLEA, ENLARGE, IVORIES, MIDEAST, YIELDED, BROWN BAG, and COOLANTS. We end up with 5 fill in the theme symmectrically placed. 

First the themers, then the rest. 

17A. Organizer of a party for a mom-to-be?: SHOWER HEAD(10). The mandatory baby shower which is not just females any more in our new realities.

25A. Class clown at the prom?: DANCE CARD(9). If you call someone a card, it means they’re funny or quick-witted. This is discussed on a radio show.

34A. Musicians at a formal gala?: BALL PLAYERS(11). A CSO to our own Trombone master JzB. 

49A. The most amazing party guests ever?: DO WONDERS(9). Sussing this one was the most difficult. First you have to relate to throwing a  DO, meaning a party. The dictionary says this is a mostly British definition of a social event such as a party. The WONDER as a noun, oh my he is a Wonder!

58A. Radio hobbyists at a park outing?: PICNIC HAMS(10). This is very cute. 

Across:

1. HBO political satire until 2019: VEEP. The show that won Julia Louis-Dreyfus more Emmys.

5. Low areas: DALES. A CSO to dear Lucina.

10. __-deucey: ACEY. A card game I have not played in years which I have seen in rare visits to the casinos.

14. Limo bar: AXLE. I never get tired of a good misdirection.

15. Light __: Offenbach music genre: OPERA. This is a short, amusing musical play; an operetta. This is OFFENBACH. 

16. Love of "The Real": LONI. I knew nothing of this comedian, her show or the CONTROVERSY.

19. __ vault: POLE. What else would you call it?

20. Tree goo: SAP. Goo?

21. Collar: NAIL. Think police and a perpetrator.

22. Judaism : kosher :: Islam : __: HALAL.

23. Inuit relative: ALEUT. The same but DIFFERENT.

28. Depot worker: REDCAP. A train depot, as these are baggage handlers at the train station.

30. Orchestrate: ARRANGE. One could think about arranging as a type of musical composition, requiring the same skills and talents required of all composers. Orchestration is the art and craft of arranging a musical composition for performance by an orchestra or other ensemble. According to New Music Box.

31. "Kung Fu Panda" voice actress Lucy: LIU.

32. Health haven: SPA.

33. Dude who time-travels with Bill: TED. And they have excellent adventures.

38. Damage: MAR.

40. Sauce in a tiny packet: SOY.

41. Ergonomic kitchenware brand: OXO.

42. Keys for a music room?: IVORIES.

45. Words of emphasis: NO LESS.

52. Car company that owns SolarCity: TESLA.

53. Blah feeling: ENNUI.

54. German automaker: AUDI.

56. Prefix with gender: CIS. Another modern word added- cisgender.

57. Mass robes: ALBS.

61. Political goal: SEAT.

62. Field of conflict: ARENA.

63. Weapon with two accents: ÉPÉE. Both of which are French.

64. States' plates: TAGS.

65. She played Julia in "Julie & Julia": MERYL.

66. Major muddle: MESS.

Down:

1. Poughkeepsie campus: VASSAR. A famous once female only school, now COED.

2. Yoga class directive: EXHALE.

3. Got together quietly?: ELOPED.

4. Place to pray: PEW.

5. Bilingual toon explorer: DORA.

6. Rose pest: APHID.

7. "Futurama" woman with one eye and purple hair: LEELA. I could hear Katey Sagal's voice but my brain only got me as far as Leeza which I knew was wrong.

8. Detergent brand: ERA.

9. Pathetic: SAD.

10. Source of silky wool: ALPACA.

11. Radiator fillers: COOLANTS.

12. Blow up: ENLARGE.

13. Produced: YIELDED.

18. Necessitate: ENTAIL.

22. Part of HRH: HER.

24. Bruins' sch.: UCLA.

26. Valley with a Wine Train: NAPA.

27. Handout with a kids' menu: CRAYON.

29. Throbbed: PULSED.

32. Subtle: SLY.

34. There might be a lunch in it for you: BROWN BAG.

35. Prepare for a selfie: POSE.

36. Definitely not from around here: EXOTIC.

37. IMDb listing: ROLE.

38. Region spanning three continents: MIDEAST.

39. "Anne of Green Gables" setting: AVONLEA.

43. De-bunks?: ROUSTS.

44. "Here Comes the Hotstepper" singer __ Kamoze: INI.

46. Get away from it all: ESCAPE.

47. Coats with goo: SLIMES.

48. Gets lippy with: SASSES.

50. Danica Patrick, for one: RACER.

51. Fair: SUNNY.

55. Remote precursor: DIAL.

58. Cooking spray: PAM.

59. Fury: IRE.

60. Blind stitch: HEM.