Wednesday, July 1, 2009 Puzzle by David J. Kahn, edited by Will Shortz In an excellent wordplay tribute to MICHAEL JACKSON (10D. With 25-Down, this puzzle’s honoree), today’s crossword gives itself over completely to the KING OF POP (47A. Nickname for 10-/25-Down). For those demanding symmetry in crosswords, it can be had with the inclusion of DIS (31D. Bad-mouth) and BYE (69A. “Farewell”) as inferences, aplenty of both in the current news. MOONWALKING (3D. Classic part of a 10-/25-Down stage act) and a FALSETTO (67A. Vocal style of 10-/25-Down, at times) were only part of a much bigger act. THRILLER (15A. 1982 blockbuster by 10-/25-Down) headlines a selection of the artist’s works which include DANGEROUS (32A. 1991 hit album by 10-/25-Down), GONE TOO SOON (27D. Song on 32-Across), FOREVER (44D. With 10-Down, 1975 album by 10-/25-Down), and fragments of 40A. “Don’t you ASK ME for no favors” (42-Down lyric on 32-Across), SHE (11A. First word of 10-/25-Down’s “Billie Jean”) and JAM (42D. First song on 32-Across) -- LIONEL (14A. Richie who wrote “We Are the World” with 10-/25-Down) and MOTOWN (68A. First record label of 10-/25-Down) complete the visual balance of the crossword. The remaining entries are comprised of two eight-letter entries, ALOE VERA (59A. Skin cream ingredient) and SINCERER (18A. More honest); followed by six of seven-letters -- HUNTERS (28D. Bird dogs, say); NEDICKS (22D. Old fast-food chain); OVERLIE (23D. Be positioned above); PALMTOP (46D. Handheld device) REACHES (5D. Gets to); TSETSES (29D. Flies over Africa?). Six-letters -- ATCOST (64A. Less than wholesale); DELISH (35A. “Yum!”); ELMIRA (1A. City SW of Syracuse); SNOCAP (17A. Moviegoer’s chocolate bite); SPATES (45A. Deluges); SPINET (71A. Small piano).
Five -- ALPHA (6D. Greek leader?); AMORE (50A. Romeo’s love?); AUGHT (26A. Zero) sharing it‘s clue with NULL (52A. Zero); EVADE (30A. Give the slip to); GAPES (48D. Goggles); LEMUR (16D. Ring-tailed primate); LOAMS (53D. Rich soils); NACHO (19A. Kind of cheese); NO MAS (57A. Juan’s uncle?); 51A. Popeye creator Elzie SEGAR. Short stuff -- ACTI, AFB, AOK, CLI and CHI, COOL, ELS, ERR, FLOS, GOES, HADJ, HALF, HEE, INCA, IRKS, JETT, LAY (60D. Minstrel’s song), LIN, NNE, NOM and NOW, ODD and OSS, OHM, OLE, PEP, PETE, PUN, REEK, RTE, SCAM, SLR, SOP, STS, SWE, TNT. This timely crossword can itself be called a THRILLER! -----------------
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Remaining clues -- Across: 7. Ripoff; 21. Its symbol is omega; 22. Right away; 24. Trek to Mecca; 37. Air-conditioned; 38. Dir. From Gary, Ind., to Sault Ste. Marie; 39. Grates on; 42. Joan of rock; 43. Middle of the second century; 44. Ziegfeld and others; 54. Old spy grp.; 55. Vitality; 70. Stink up the joint. Down: 1. Some urban rails; 2. Writer ___ Yutang; 4. Atahualpa, for one; 7. City grid: Abbr.; 8. ___-Town; 9. River under the Ponte Vecchio; 11. Certain camera, for short; 12. Laugh syllable; 13. Miss the mark; 20. Quirky; 33. Jean Valjean, e.g.; 34. Takes off; 36. Either 50 of 50/50; 41. Appeasement; 49. Bit of wordplay; 56. Rose family member; 58. Play starter; 59. Vance in Okla., e.g.; 61. Arena cry; 62. Itinerary part: Abbr.; 63. Just dandy; 65. Riksdag locale: Abbr.; 66. Cable channel with the slogan “We Know Drama”.
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