Henry Andrews (18?-1868), William Pleater Davidge as Malvolio in Twelfth Night, c.1846
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Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Puzzle by David Kwong and Emily Halpern, edited by Will Shortz
"Be not afraid of greatness: some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them". - (Twelfth Night, Act II, Scene V, Wm. Shakespeare).
In today’s crossword, GREAT is replaced in the entries of THEDECENTGATSBY (17A. Mediocre F. Scott Fitzgerald novel?), GOODBARRIERREEF (27A. Mediocre place in scuba?), THENOTBADESCAPE (49A. Mediocre Steve McQueen film?) and OKAYBALLSOFFIRE (65A. Mediocre Jerry Lee Lewis hit?).
EITHEROR (10D. “Take you pick”) and SYNONYMS (40D. Roget’s listings) are INDEED (4D. “For sure!“) appropriate entries for a crossword’s CRAFTY (51D. Cunningly evil) clues, whether one CLOAKS (18D. Items of apparel for Dracula) or gives a PSEUDO (42D. False start?) to the solver.
With the exact same clue as his appearance in the June 23rd crossword, BOGIE (1A. “Casablanca” star, informally), headlines a parade of personages, ARLO (63D. Folkie Guthrie); BEA (66D. Arthur of “Maude”); BETH (1D. “Little Women” woman); ELO (23A. “Evil Woman” band, for short); ERICA (33D. “All My Children” vixen); EROS (39A. Bow-wielding god); GREG (Kinnear of “Little Miss Sunshine”); IONE (7D. Actress Skye); ITALO (70A. Novelist Calvino); KEN (69A. Barbie’s beau); LEEZA (21A. Gibbons of TV talk); LEON (64D. Trotsky of Russia); 25A. Daisy MAE, who went to Marryin’ Sam; 45D. Alley OOP; OPRAH (28D. First name in book clubs); 9A. Legendary cowboy PECOS Bill; RITA (43A. “Lovely” Beatles girl); and a mystery GUEST (27D. Spare room user).
Non-personage five-letter entries include ATEST (46A. Cold war-era blast, in headlines); CORAL (38A. Atoll makeup); EARNS (14A. Brings in); EATUP (34D. Thoroughly enjoy); FLARE (35D. S O S signal); INRED (32D. How mistakes are often marked); NYLON (73A. Hose material); 68A. In the PRIME of life; REHAB (30D. Place to get clean); RIATA (31D. Cowpoke‘s rope); RIGID (57A. Unyielding); SALSA (71A. Zesty dip); SANYO (44A. Sony competitor); SHARP (41A. Quick-witted); SKEIN (37A. Yarn buy); TIARA (16A. Bejeweled topper); and for those who tend to the romantic -- ONONE (29D. With 6-Down, ready to propose) and its four-letter partner, KNEE (6D. See 29-Down).
The remainders: ANTZ, ARAL, ARC, CASE, CUR, ELO, ESE, FIN, GAME, GLEE, HESS, HUGE, ILKS, ISNT,KIA, LBS, MOPS, MOWN, NON, OAHU, OKRA, OPE, ORBS, PTA, RIAL, SAYS, SET, TERA, TSK, UKR, UPN, WAIL.
This puzzle? Decent… Not bad… Good… Okay… GREAT!
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Click on image to enlarge.
Puzzle available on the internet at
THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games
If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery subscription.
Search information -- Across: 6. Rio automaker; 15. Dijon denial; 20. Whopping; 22. Gas company that sells toy trucks; 36. It merged with the WB to form the CW; 48. Mean mutt; 52. Unlock, to a bard; 53. Kiev’s land: Abbr.; 54. Like a trim lawn; 61. Asia’s ___ Sea; 72. Match part. Down: 2. Honolulu’s home; 5. Suffix with journal; 8. 1998 animated film with a queen; 9. Group that usu. Meets at a school; 11. Scope out, pre-heist; 12. Planets or stars; 13. Comes out with; 19. Willing to go along; 24. Barbell abbr.; 26. ___ welder; 45. Alley ___; 47. Terse reproof; 50. Trillion: Prefix; 54. Unruly dos; 55. Gumbo vegetable; 56. Banshee’s sound; 58. Types; 59. High spirits; 60. George Harrison’s “___ It a Pity”; 67. One of a snorkelers pair.
2 comments:
This puzzle was like doing a puzzle from People Magazine or one of the TV Guide type of publications. Names: Bogie, Leeza, Hess, Mae, Rita, Ken, Italo, Beth, Greg, Ione, Oprah, Erica, Oop, Arlo & Leon.
This was an interesting theme but it wasn't great it was somewhere between DECENT and OKAY!
alanrichard
You're right.
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