08.10.08 -- INSIDE JOKES

Reading Jester

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Sunday, August 10, 2008

INSIDE JOKES, Puzzle by Will Nediger, edited by Will Shortz

The meaning of the title of today’s crossword, INSIDE JOKES, is in the circles of its eight interrelated entries -- LEGALDRINKINGAGE (23. 21); ESCAPEROUTE (37a. Way out); MUSICRACKS (54A. Conductors’ aids); TOPRANKING (79A. Number one); YOURMAJESTY (95A. “Sire”); SWEEPUNDERTHERUG (109A. Ignore, as a problem); EQUIPMENTLOCKER (16D. High-school gym feature); and ATLANTICCHARTER (44D. Declaration of August 14, 1941) -- that’s right, GAG, CAPER, CRACK, PRANK, JEST, PUN, QUIP and ANTIC.

Beyond the title’s promise of humor, there’s not a great deal here to provoke mirth. Some of the entries with their clues, however, do draw a smile -- CRAW (4D. Sticking point); FORKERS (86A. Chopsticks eschewers, informally); GATEMAN (15D. St. Peter, e.g.?); KNEE (106D. Banjo supporter); NOSES (24D. Mr. Potato Head features); OCCAM (87A. Razor handle?); OVERLOUD (19A. Earsplitting); ERGOT (64A. Cereal killer); PRUNE (102D. Someone who just got out of a long bath, facetiously); PURITANS (7D. People who no what they like?); SOCCER (46D. Activity in which people get their kicks); TSURIS (31D. Woes, to a Yiddish speaker); VANCAMP (1A. Big name in baked beans); ZOWIE (98D. “Holy smokes!”). Today’s Shortzesque couple -- ITEM (81D. Couple) and TWO (113D. Couple).

Other than those bits of sly on wry, the puzzle offers a hefty crew of SIMIANS (45A. Humans, e.g.) and their ilk, some who do illustrate the title of today‘s crossword: ANN (10D. Brashares who wrote “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants”); ARETHA (14D. Self-titled album of 1980); ARNAZ (97A. The Desi of Desilu); 49. Rock’s BEN Folds Five; DOGES (13D. Old Venetian officials); ENYA (39D. “Watermark” vocalist); 89A. The ESTREET Band with guitarist Little Steven; a FOP (59A. Natty dresser); GATSBY (94D. “Great” guy); GEHRIG (93A. He played 2,130 consecutive games); GETZ (15A. Gilberto’s partner on “The Girl From Ipanema,” 1964); MONKEES (120A. 1967 pop sensation with “the”); NAS (73A. “N.Y. State of Mind” rapper); ORR (75A. Yossarian’s tentmate in “Catch-22”); PAQUIN (43A. Anna of “X-Men”); PERI (107A. Gilpin of “Frasier”); POETS (100A. Certain people buried in Westminster Abbey); 105D. Former shah REZA Pahlavi; BIGGS (103D. Jason of “American Pie”); a SENATOR (21A. Cicero or Publius); SHEMP (36A. One of an old film trio); SKIERS (74D. Their business is going downhill); TITUS (31A. Vespasian’s successor); TOSCA (71A. “Vissi d’arte” singer); a TURK (25A. Neighbor of a Georgian); and ZAK (18D. Ringo’s drummer son), along with an alien, JOREL (96D. Superman’s father); MELISSA (29D. Infamous 1999 computer virus with a woman’s name); and the CREATOR (104A. Divine epithet).

Remaining across: 8. Neighbor of Oakland; 22. Light shade; 26. Filled out; 27. Exchanged vows; 28. Knocker’s request; 30. Off-road wheels, for short; 33. Command ctrs.; 40. Los ALAMOS; 47. Like a butterfingers; 48. Temperaments; 50. Cries of agony; 52. Viva-voce vote; 53. Pastry shop treat; 57. Quick expression of gratitude; 58. Gets better; 60. Grant-giving org.; 61. Butterfly relative; 63. “ISNT She Lovely”; 66. Rather inclined; 68. Breakfast spot, briefly; 76. Curl performer; 77. Part of some three-day weekends: Abbr.; 82. Athos’s arm; 83. Ontario, par exemple; 84. “Generations of healthy, happy pets” sloganeer; 85. Small songbird; 92. Choir supports; 99. Middle of summer?; 101. Black-and-white broadcast?; 106. Cut made by a saw; 108. Sticks (out); 115. Assist in evil; 116. Freaky; 117. Dimming; 118. They may be revolutionary; 119. The very beginning.

The rest of the downs: 1. Europe’s longest river; 2. Turn aside; 3. Beersheba’s desert; 5. Unilever detergent; 6. Chic, in the ‘60s; 8. Emulates a reporter; 9. Kona keepsake; 11. Zine; 12. And others, in a list; 17. Chance to play; 20. Styled; 32. More aloof; 33. Target, with “on”; 34. Marmalade ingredients; 35. Stop: Abbr.; 37. On a par with; 38. Barbecue order; 41. Brightly colored fish; 42. Charon’s workplace; 43. Wears out the carpet?; 48. NuGrape competitor; 51. Call letters on 1970s-’80s TV; 54D. Pet cat, in British lingo; 55. “Once UPONA midnight dreary…”; 56. Betray, in a way; 59. Soda shop order; 62. Single malt, for instance; 64. Rachel Carson’s sci. 65. Hissy fit; 67. Joule division; 69. Raspberries; 70. Takes, with “for”; 72. Legs; 76. Explodes; 77. Aggressively promote; 78. Put the pedal to the metal; 80. Promising; 81. Couple; 82. Dampish; 86. Not burdened by; 88. Record list; 90. Nail site; 91. Not live; 101. Place with an eagle’s-eye view; 104. International baseball powerhouse; 107. Executive’s extra; 108. Paleontologist’s discovery; 110. Musician’s gift; 111. Active leader?; 112. Subject of a Keats ode; 114. Egg source.

That’s all folks!

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