11.25.10 — J, K, Q, X and Z…

Thursday, November 25, 2010 — Thanksgiving Day

Puzzle by Bill Thompson, edited by Will Shortz

ONE (65A. Number of tiles per Scrabble set for the letter at the end of the answer to each starred clue), e.g., J, K, Q, X and Z, appearing as the last letter of LL COOL J, SPECIAL K, AVENUE Q, MALCOLM X and GENERATION Z, are the interrelated group of this holoalphabetic Thursday crossword.

Other — ANGELINA (14A. Woman’s name that means “messenger of God”) , EEL SKIN (39D. Some wallet material), 38A. Plessy v. FERGUSON (landmark Supreme Court decision), FT MEADE (38D. Where the N.S.A. is headquartered), GRASPING (36D. Comprehending), IN A MOOD (12D. Feeling gloomy, say), MUSCATEL (62A. Sweet wine), OYEZ OYEZ (11D. Courtroom cry), SUCCEEDS (35A. Follows), TEASETS and TETANUS (41A. Afternoon services; 13D. Lockjaw).

Six-letter — AKIMBO, ANCIEN régime, DAMAGE, DINNER (61A. Many a campaign fund-raiser), ENGINE, ERES TU (31D. Mocedades hit subtitled “Touch the Wind”), ETHYNE, GOTOIT, INANER, INMATE, OGLING, ONLY YOU (32A. 1955 Platters hit), RANKLE, SLIPUP, STOLEN, STRATO, TOREAT.

Five — GENOA (23A. Ligurian capital), ITSME, JETTA, QUAIL, ROSAS, SNOUT, TAXCO (7D. Mexican silver center), TONAL.

Short stuff — ANIT, BEN, CCS, DIO, ECTO, ELIA, EOS, EPPS, ERG, ESPO, GET, KEGS, KER, LACS, LRON, MLS, ONE, OON, ORE, OTO, OZMA, SWIT, RESP, SAN, SLO, SNL, SSR, STIR, THRO, WILL, VEE, YENS.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The First Thanksgiving by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris c 1912 1915

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Click on image to enlarge.

Puzzle available on the internet at

THE NEW YORK TIMES — Crossword Puzzles and Games.

Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. The Divine, in 23-Across; 4. “M*A*S*H” co-star; 8. Get started; 16. Simple hydrocarbon; 17. *Omaha-born human rights activist; 18. Mauled; 19. Pick ___ (quibble); 20. Supérieur et Érié; 22. Baum princess; 25. Have harmony; 28. Suffix with ball; 29. Physics unit; 30. Tee follower; 32. 1955 Platters hit; 34. Plunk preceder; 36. *Today’s kids, demographically speaking; 38. Plessy v. ___ (landmark Supreme Court decision); 40. Gate opener for Apollo; 42. Drew Barrymore hosted this show at age 7: Abbr.; 43. Est., e.g., once; 46. Approximately 946 of these makes a qt.; 47. Bouquet : pheasants :: covey : ___; 49. Volkswagen model; 51. Hockey’s Phil, to fans; 53. Hubbub; 55. “Dianetics” author ___ Hubbard; 56. How some gym instructors stand; 59. *Brand with the challenge to lose one inch from your waist in two weeks; 63. It goes in front of a coal tender; 64. Hayes portrayer in “The Mod Squad,” 1999. DOWN: 1. Split or crack; 2. More asinine; 3. Viewing with elevator eyes; 4. ___-pitch; 5. It may be good or free; 6. Con; 9. Chiwere-speaking tribe; 10. “And ___ the field the road runs by”: Tennyson; 12. Feeling gloomy, say; 15. ___-1 (“Ghostbusters” vehicle); 21. Part of a pig; 24. *“What Do You Do With a B.A. in English?: musical; 27. *Performer born James Todd Smith; 33. Urges; 34. Gunpowder holders; 35. Japanese surname follower; 37. Latin lover’s bouquet, maybe; 42. Blunder; 434. Prefix with cumulus; 44. Like some kisses; 45. Irk; 48. “Hello ___” (Todd Rundgren hit); 50. Director Kazan; 52. Bygone science/sci-fi magazine; 54. Sued party in a legal case: Abbr.; 57. Michael Jackson’s first #1 solo hit; 58. Calif. Neighbor; 60. Hosp. units.