10.19.09 -- OOH and AAH

Monday, October 19, 2009

Puzzle by Lynn Lempel, edited by Will Shortz

OOH AND AAH (61A. Gush over … or sounds shared by the answer to each starred clue), BOONDOCKS (16A. *Backwoods locale), NEUTRON (27A. *Particle with no electric charge), GOULASH (49A. *Stew made with paprika), MOONSHOT (3D. *Apollo 11, 12 or 13, e.g.), HOOPLA (10D. *Commotion), BOUFFANT (39D. *Teased hairdo) and TUCSON (48D. *Home of the University of Arizona) are the interrelated group of this Monday crossword.

Other seven- and eight-letter entries -- EASE OUT (28D. Tactfully remove from a job), EGOISTS (21D. Selfish sorts), PET STORE (44A. Place to buy a dog or dog food), PICKETS (56A. Marches in protest outside a workplace), SERAPES (20A. Colorful shawls south of the border), STEEPLE (24D. Church bell holder).

Six-letter -- EDISON (47D. The “Ed of Con Ed), EGRETS (43D. Long-feathered wading birds), INDEED (11D. Truly), 8D. LESSER of two evils and MESSES (12D. Bungles, with “up”), NEPALI (46D. Katmandu native), SHRANK (15D. Got smaller), UNSOLD (50D. Still on the market).

Five -- ASSETS (60A. Liability’s opposite); 22A. COSTA Rica; DRANK (17D. Guzzled), HOODS (18A. Parts of parkas), LOONS (65A. “Crazy” birds); NORMS (19A. Averages); ORFEO (54A. Monteverdi opera hero who descends into Hades); 4. “Ready OR NOT, here …”; RIDES (55D. Roller coaster and bumper cars), SERIF (58A. Tiny flourish on a letter), and the trio of SHEDS (36A. Outbuildings), SHONE (15A. Glistened) and SHORN (45D. Lacking its wool coat, as a sheep).

Short stuff -- ABCS, ABED, ADA and ADS, ASH, BAWL, BOOM, CABS, CST, DEA, DECO, DRAT, EAT and EAST, EDU, ENDS, ERSE, HST, IDO, IKE, INNS, KENS, LEE and LEIS, LIMO, LOB, NET, OBOE and ODOR, OER, OSLO, RUNE, SEGA, SHIA, SOTS, STAT, TEE, UGH, USC, WHIM, WHOA, WOK.

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Remaining clues -- Across: 1. V.I.P.’s vehicle; 5. Cry one’s eyes out; 9. Sudden impulse; 13. Tracking dog’s clue; 14. Double-reed instrument; 24. Nintendo competitor; 25. Spike who directed “Crooklyn”; 26. Fireplace residue; 30. Commercials; 33. 1950s prez; 35. Boozers; 38. Sleeping, most likely; 42. Golf peg; 46. Badminton court divider; 51. L.A. campus; 52. Ending on a campus e-mail address; 53. Anglo-Saxon writing symbol; 66. Hawaiian garlands; 67. To the ___ of the earth; 68. B&B’s; 69. “Fiddlesticks!”; 70. Immediately, to a surgeon. Down: 1. High tennis hit; 2. Altar vow; 5. Ka-blam!; 6. “Sesame Street” lessons; 7. Stir-fry cooker; 9. Cowboy’s “Stop!”; 22. Taxis; 23. Nobel Peace Prize city; 29. “Yuck!”; 32. Winter hours in Minn.; 34. Sup; 37. U.S. anti-trafficking grp.; 40. Gaelic; 41. Art ___ (1920s-’30s style); 57. Male companions for Barbies; 58. Branch of Islam predominant in Iran; 59. Sunrise direction; 62. Above poetically; 63. Tooth decay-fighting org.; 64. F.D.R.’s successor.