Six fifteen-letter answers constitute the main feature of this friendly Friday crossword:
BACKWARD MESSAGE(17A. “Turn me on, dead man,” supposedly in the Beatles’ “Revolution 9”), here's a short video and a long … PIANO-PLAYING CAT(36A. Subject of a 2007 YouTube sensation) BE AT A STAND-STILL(56A. Go nowhere) SECRET HANDSHAKE (3D. Order confirmation?) IN DRIBS AND DRABS (7D. Little by little) CLAIRE MCCASKILL (11D. Missouri’s first elected female senator)
DON’T SWEAT IT(60A. Reassuring words … or a hint to 17-, 25-, 35- and 48-Across), along with the antiperspirant brands of Secret, Ban, Degree, and Sure found inSECRET PANEL (17A. The library in an old mansion may have one),BAN THE BOMB(25A. ‘60s protest sign),DEGREE OF FREEDOM (35A. Extent to which you may do as you please) andSURE-HANDED(48A. Having firm control) constitute the interrelated group of this airy Thursday crossword.
Other — ASSAIL, BE SEATED(1D. “Take your chairs“),BLOUSE, DINETTES, ENROBE, INCOME, LARIAT, LOCAL RAG(3D. Small-town paper, informally),MAKE IT SO, OPEN LATE, OVER-RIPE(39D. Like a mushy banana, say),PINBOY (11D. Old-time bowling alley worker),PRIDES, RAISED, SUTURE, TATTOO.
Five — AGAIN, AGUES, AROMA(49D. It might whet your appetite),ASPIC, BOLAS(1A. Whirled weapons),CAPRA, CARTE, DITTO, EMOTE, EPOCH, ESSEN, MASON, NANOS, PASEO, PAYEE, PREPS, RUN AT, TEETH.
Short stuff — ABA,Peek-A-BOO, ACR, ALLA, ARA, ASTR, AUD, BEABernaderet, DEM and DEW, Johnny DEPP, DIVA, ENA, EPEEdu combat,ESL, ETAT, ETCH, IER and IRE, INN, “LESAmants“, LOT, MERE, NCR, OFT, ONE K, PIE, SHELSilverstein,SRO, STIR, TAB, TARS, TRI, UFO.
Remaining clues — ACROSS: 8. Brasserie list; 11. Buster Keaton missile; 14. Notable time span; 15. Malaria may cause these; 16. “The Fair Mad of the ___” (Renaissance comedy); 18. Initials seen at a checkout counter; 20. Doe in a Disney film; 21. One thrown from a horse?; 23. Penne ___ vodka; 27. Besmirches; 28. Check information; 29. State of France; 30. Top of a wardrobe; 41. Dragon in a 2008 best seller; 42. Demanding sort; 43. Certain jelly; 47. Brief race distance, briefly; 54. Simple;55. Direction in a bartender guide; 56. Like Braille characters; 58. Numerical prefix; 59. C.P.A. at times: Abbr.; 62. It may make the face turn red; 63. Not act subtly; 64. Readies; 65. Louis Malle’s “___ Amants”; 66. Foundation layer; 67. Sporty 1990s Toyota. — DOWN: 2. Like many a restaurant drive-thru; 4. Unlike this clue: Abbr.; 5. Silverstein of kid-lit; 6. “State of the Union” director, 1948; 7. “Let’s take it from the top”; 8. Charge; 9. Where crowns go; 10. Night school subj.; 12. 1040 figure; 13. Get dressed; 18. Q neighbor; 22. Law school-sanctioning org.; 24. Sci. major; 31. Place for parking; 32. Many a time; 33. Amateur film subject, maybe; 34. Sign of success; 36. Prepare a plaque, perhaps; 37. Ancient land around today’s Jordan; 38. Some furniture sets; 40. Catchphrase of Jean-Luc Picard on “Star Trek: T.N.G.”; 43. Attack; 44. Stitch up; 45. Safari sightings; 46. Suffix with bombard; 50. Some iPods; 51. “I’ll second that”; 52. Steel city of Germany; 53. Drops on the field?; 57. Co-star of DiCaprio in “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape”; 60. J.F.K. or F.D.R.; 61. Constellation next to Scorpius.
X PLUS Y IS SIXTEEN (17A. Start of an algebra problem),X MINUS Y IS FOUR (36A. The rest of the algebra problem) and X IS TEN AND Y IS SIX (58A. Answer to the algebra problem) constitutes the interrelated group of this anathematically obtuse Wednesday crossword.
Other — ENDORSE (27D. Throw one’s support behind),IDEA MEN (50A. Think tank types), I’M IMPESSED (25D. “Wow!”), SAUTEED (52A. Like stir-fry),THE GRADUATE (11D. Mrs. Robinson’s movie) , TRITEST (23A. Least fresh).
Mid-size — ADMIRE, ALIENS, AS YET, BAGEL, DIOXIN (45D. Compound in Agent Orange),ENRAGE, EQUATE, ESSEX, I’M EASY, IRAQI, LISLE, MEANER, METAL, SALARY, SENSES, SESTET, STASIS, TIE TO, UNITE, YEATS, YES YOU.
Short stuff — AH ME, ALE, AOL, ARP, To A TEE, BIXBeiderbecke,DART, DST, EFT, EGOS and ENOSSlaughter, “L’ETATc‘est moi“, ETD, GAL, GAS, IOTA, IRED,“TakeIT AS a sign“, ITE, LSD, MRE, NAYS, NEDS NOEL, OAT, OMS, ONTO, OTIS, OUI, POT, RARE, REST,MessengerRNA, RODE, ROSA, ROUX, SES,“SOMEnerve!”,STDS, TDS, TNT, TESS and TOSS, TSO, UNI, URSA, XED, XOX.
Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Goose egg; 6. “Major” beast; 10. Porter’s regretful Miss; 14. From Basra, say; 15. Time to stuff stockings; 16. [sigh]; 20. Toby filler; 21. To ___ (perfectly); 22. Heating option; 30. Poet with a “fanatic‘s heart“; 32. Passage preventers, often; 33. Québec assent; 34. Jettison; 35. Outgoing flight stat; 41. Kitty; 43. Alternative to Yahoo!; 45. It has feathers and flies; 47. Black Sabbath’s genre; 49. Benchmarks: Abbr.; 54. Meditation sounds; 55. One-in-a-million; 64. Steaming; 65. Causes of some celebrity clashes; 66. Link with; 67. Fictional Flanders and Devine; 68. Kind of day for a competitive cyclist; 69. Historic English country. — DOWN: 1. Beiderbecke of jazz; 2. Dadaist Jean; 3. Guy’s mate; 4. Regard as identical; 5. Fine cotton thread; 6. Prefix with -form; 7. Parks in front of a bus?; 8. Sonnet part; 9. Xenophobes’ fear; 10. Muesli morsel; 12. “Fine with me”; 13. Classic quintet; 18. Response to “Who, me?”; 19. Marked, in a way; 23. Menu general; 24. Gumbo thickener; 26. Actress Harper of “No Country for Old Men”; 28. Savvy about; 31. Until now; 34. Cause of a boom and bust?; 35. Young newt; 37. Smidge; 39. Subject of a cap, in sports; 40. Didn’t go by foot; 44. “Dropped” drug; 46. Venerate; 47. More Scroogelike; 48. Tee off; 49. Equilibrium; 51. Battlefield fare: Abbr.; 53. Pull together; 56. Slaughter in baseball; 59. Some highlight reel features, for short; 60. Summer hrs.; 61. Parisian’s possessive; 62. Ore suffix; 63. Affectionate sign-off.
JIMI HENDRIX (56A. Musician born 11/27/42), ALL ALONG THE / WATCH TOWER (19A. With 32-Across, song by 56-Across),PURPLE HAZE (42A. Song by 56-Across),FOXY / LADY (5A. With 67-Across, song by 56-Across), FIRE (11D. Song by 56-Across),HEY / JOE(9D. With 60-Down, song by 56-Across) and “The Wind CriesMARY” constitute the interrelated group of this fine 70th birthday Tuesday tribute crossword.
Other — FOTOMAT(5D. Bygone company with yellow-roofed kiosks), LATENCY (43D. Period of inactivity),LEGAL ACTION (4D. Lawsuit),TRUTH OR DARE (25D. Sleepover game, maybe) and music references, ARIA, A TRAIN(28A. Conveyance in an Ellington song),BANJO, EMI and TINA(17A. Ike’s partner in 1960s-’70s music).
Mid-size — ABFAB, “You can’t teachAN OLDdog …”,ARDOR, ARSON, BEDLAM, DIAL O, EERIE, ELECT, EXPEL, IRATE, LATHE, LYCRA, MAJOR, Esther ROLLE, SET IN, SMELL, STEEP, TACOMA, TIRADE, YEATS (8D. “A Full Moon in March“ poet).
Short stuff — ARALSea,ARCS, ASAP, ASEA,Rat-A-TAT, BONE, Abba EBAN, ELAN, ENOL, ESPN, FAS, FLOG, HAFT, HAND, HEAR, INDS, ILIA, INEZ, LILITaylor, LINC, NAPE and NAPS, NATO, ODIE and ODIN, PAPI, ROLE, SECT, SEM, TALC, TEAM, TOFU, USNA, WAR, WILT, RR XING.
Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. ___ Sea (inland body with high salinity); 9. Sword part; 13. Radius, e.g.; 14. Comic strip dog with a long tongue; 15. Spine-tingling; 16. Lash; 17. Ike’s partner in 1960s -’70s music; 18. Bicycle shorts material; 22. Half a school year: Abbr.; 23. Chaos; 24. Splinter group; 37. Pres. Carter’s alma mater; 38. Having throbbing temples, maybe; 39. Fourth notes; 40. Expensive; 41. Actress Taylor of “Six Feet Under”; 44. City SSW of Seattle; 46. Peacekeeping grp.; 47. Afternoon refreshers; 49. Long rant; 53. London-based record label; 59. “Deliverance” instrument; 61. Panache; 62. Lickety-split, in a memo; 63. Passion; 64. Pete and Julie’s “Mod Squad” partner; 65. Job for an actor; 66. Where to buy GM and GE; 68. Compound with a double-bonded carbon atom. — DOWN: 1. Former sitcom on the Beeb; 2. “Good Times” actress Esther; 6. Thor’s father; 10. Three-point lines in basketball, e.g.; 12. Word after mule or school; 15. Choose; 20. Tool that turns; 21. Catch, in a way; 27. Sukiyaki ingredient; 29. Where sailors go; 30. 1966 hurricane; 31. A ponytail hangs over it; 32. What picked flowers may do; 33. Prima donna’s delivery; 34. After-bath powder; 35. Card game for two; 36. “Pardon the Interruption” airer; 40. Arrive, as darkness; 42. Big ___ (baseball’s David Ortiz); 43. Period of inactivity; 45. Biology or English; 48. What bloodhounds and dead fish do; 50. Bad ignition?; 51. Connect with an operator; 52. Kick out; 53. Abba of Israel; 55. Neither Dems, nor Reps.; 57. Hip parts; 58. 13 cards, maybe.
Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Dull-colored; 5. Financial reserves for later years, in brief; 9. Von ___ family (“The Sound of Music” group); 14. Wife of Charlie Chaplin; 15. Top of the Capitol; 16. Floor machine; 17. Fish propellers; 18. Of a church flock; 19. Chilling, as Champagne; 23. Firmament; 24. What a barber must cut around; 25. Escargot; 27. Wee-hours periods, for short; 30. Salsa or guacamole; 32. Denigrates; 36. Rolaids competitor; 38. Chaz’s mother; 40. Spooky; 44. Rarely visited room; 45. Western alliance since 1949; 46. One of 18 on a golf course; 49. Finish; 51. Feb. follower; 52. Large amounts of bacon; 54. Walton of Walmart; 56. Ave. intersectors; 64. Bananalike fruit; 66. Algerian port; 67. Give everyone a hand; 68. Wahine’s greeting; 69. F sharp major and others; 70. Bordeaux buddies;71. Change the price on; 72. Popeye’s ___’ Pea; 73. Distinctive Marilyn Monroe facial feature. — DOWN: 1. Remove, as a hat; 2. Stir up; 3. She was the “I” in “The King and I”; 4. Moisten, as a turkey; 6. Horse color; 7. Not quite right; 10. Sought office; 11. Line of rotation; 12. Amount for Peter Piper; 13. Rabbits, to eagles, e.g.; 21. Wee bit; 22. Dubai’s federation: Abbr.; 26. Bloodsucker; 27. Up, in baseball; 28. Prefix with task; 29. Struck down, biblically; 33. Virginia Woolf’s “___ of One’s Own”; 34. Nabisco’s ___ wafers; 35. Passover supper; 37. Big swallows; 39. Greek vowel; 42. Scamp; 48. Dallas cager, for short; 50. “Law & Order” figs.; 53. Scatter, as seeds; 56. Trade punches in training; 57. Scheherazade offering; 58. Good name for a Dalmation; 60. Funny Martha of old TV; 61. Paxar’s “Finding ___”; 62. Homophone for 57-Down; 65. “I see it now!”
Cryptic Crossword by Jeffrey Harris / Edited by Will Shortz
Across — 1. In Canaan, he spied cold beer bottle’s top (5), CALEB; 4. Bit of fiction with a different sort of reality! (5, 4),FAIRY TALE; 9. Greek character pitching Pine-Sol (7), EPSILON; 10. Parrot flying around island where you can see lots of birds? (7), AIRPORT; 11. Say “attack,” grabbing Ronald (9), PRONOUNCE; 12. Type part of nasty letter (5), STYLE; 13. “Calvin and Hobbes” girl settled issue (5), SUSIE; 15. I fell asleep after taking lithium on a pedestal (8),IDOLIZED; 18. Eccentric sat, drank mugs of beer (8), TANKARDS; 20. Words of praise about land near Britain (5), KUDOS; 22. Al Roker’s debut interrupting morning wake-up call (5),ALARM; 23. As a result, it’s picked out after a Denis Leary comedy (9), THEREFORE; 25. Old actor groomed his pets (7), THESPIS; 26. John, George and Ringo live near guitarist Paul (7),BEATLES; 27. Habitat for Humanity champion embracing pokey builder (9), CARPENTER; 28. Simplifies some contracts after removing Latin (5),EASES.
Down — 1. Lowest-quality copy in box (8),CHEAPEST; 2. Reportedly moderates teaching sessions (7),LESSONS; 3. Lead characters in “Bend It Like Beckham” or “The Hobbit” (5), BILBO; 4. Enthusiast taking in major lender (9),FINANCIER; 5. One game in motion picture (5),IMAGE; 6. Germany’s last king taking awfully drastic measure (9),YARDSTICK; 7. Painkiller annoyed bum (7),ANODYNE; 8. Cosmetician Lauder is in France and center of Greece (5), ESTEE; 14. English boy from Mayberry eating low-fat ice cream treat (6, 3),ESKIMO PIE; 16. Seafood restaurant rebuilt by a resort (6, 3),OYSTER BAR; 17. Sizes up jennies? (8), ASSESSES; 19. A strangely mature beginner (7),AMATEUR; 21. Scribbles down scores (7),DOODLES;22. Not a fan of clown’s first trick (5), ANTIC; 23. Vanadium inserted into upside-down test tube (2, 3), TV SET; 24. Periods of history we ultimately wipe from memory (5),ERASE.
A LITTLE EXTRA, Puzzle by Jeff Chen / Edited by Will Shortz
A note accompanies this clever Sunday crossword: Fourteen symmetrically placed answers in this puzzle are each missing a part … which can be found elsewhere in the grid.
In order, with the missingX added, across and then down:
X FACTOR(46A. Je nais sais quoi) PROFESSOR X(58A. Four-time role for Patrick Stewart) X CHROMOSOME (60A. Almost every man in the world has one) GENERATION X(65A. Followers of a boom?) X-ACTO KNIFE(72A. More precise alternative to scissors) APOLLO X (88A. Lunar mission commanded by Thomas P. Stafford) LEO X (4D. Excommunicator of Martin Luther) MALCOLM X (7D. 1992 Denzel Washington title role) PLANET X (13D. Quest of the astronomer Percival Lowell) GAS-X (15D. Beano competitor) X-RAY SPEX (91D. Novelty glasses) X RATING (94D. G’s opposite) X-MEN (112D. Comic book mutants) XBOX (114D Wii alternative)
Other — CALLIGRAPHY(10D. Script writer‘s study?), DISREPAIR, END OF AN ERA, ENEMY LINES (111A. A spy will often cross them),EUROPEAN, GANYMEDE(80A. Largest moon in the solar system),HAVE AT IT, HITS BOTTOM, IGLESIAS, ITALIAN ICE, LEGALISTIC, MISSHAPEN, NOT ABOVE, OBEISANT, ONION ROLLS, PETE ROSE, POPEMOBILE (113A. Widely used term declared “undignified“ by John Paul II), T MINUS ZERO (3D. Liftoff point),YOSEMITE SAM(63D. Mustachioed cartoon character).
Mid-size — ABSCAM, AMOURS, EddieARCARO, ENTICE, EZEKIEL, HAZERS, HORATIO (53A. To whom it is said “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark“),LIANAS, NABBED, NYALAS (67D. South African antelopes),ORDAINS, RECENT, REEK OF, REGALIA, SABLES, SAUCER, TIMBALE (87A. One of a pair of drums).
Short stuff — ABEL and ABES, ADS, AMID, AZUR, CORP, DAM, DAVE, EINS, ENL, ETES and EYES, EVEN, FILE, FOTO, GAIT, GARP, GLOM, GOA, HEEP, HEM, LAS, LEI, LOY, MAA, MAGI, MOLE, NAG,“What NEXT?”, NOTA, NUN, OISE, OVIS, PIN, PRO, RAP and RIP, REA and REM, RENI and RENO, RNA, ROE and ROI, SAUR, SEES SET, SLIP, SOR, SRAS, SST, STAR, SUM, TAT, TIC (52D. One of the X‘s in X-X-X), YEA.
Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. It might appear on a spine; 6. In the thick of; 10. The “C” of FDIC: Abbr.; 14. Muslim moguls; 19. “The Wrestler” actress; 20. Trio on camels; 21. The brother in “Am I my brother’s keeper?”; 22. Monosyllabic state; 23. Bialys; 25. Fussy about rules 27. Wrestling achievement; 28. Cup holder; 29. Rain forest flora; 30. Contrail source, once: Abbr.; 31. Jurassic suffix;33. Novel writing, e.g.; 34. Key in a chain, maybe; 35. Two of them make a sawbuck; 36. Having everything one needs; 38. Victoria’s Secret purchase; 39. Walk, e.g.; 40. Whiz; 41. Tormentors of a sort; 44. Goat’s cry; 45. Carrier letters?; 49. His tomb is a pilgrimage site for both Muslims and Jews; 51. Occupy, as a booth; 54. Danish, e.g.; 56. Grave letters; 57. Big Red Machine hustler; 62. Myrna of “Cheaper by the Dozen”; 64. Indeed; 81. Bottom line, maybe; 83. “you try!”; 84. Decrees; 85. Neighbor of Niger; 89. Ad ___; 90. Frat.’s counterpart; 92. Cousins of honey badgers; 93. Morgan le ___ (Arthurian sorceress); 94. “The Labors of Hercules” painter Guido; 95. Marquee name; 97. Kauaian ring; 98. Mmes. of España; 100. Wipe out, in surfing lingo; 101. Converted into bundles for a loft; 103. Thwarter of HAL; 106. Spank but good; 107. Allure; 108. 1970s-’80s F.B.I. sting; 110. Xanthippe, e.g.; 115. Liquefy; 116. Part of N.B.; 117. Squared up; 118. Nutcases; 119. Centuries, e.g.; 120. Grab, with “onto; 122. Wield, as influence. — DOWN: 1. Features of some sports cars; 2. Area conquered by Alexander the Great; 5. German one; 6. Dangerous liaisons, often; 8. Spanish churches; 9. Sorry state; 11. Like a good butler; 12. King’s things; 14. Athos, Porthos and Aramis, e.g.; 16. Reaches a nadir; 18 Quakers and Shakers; 24. Snoop Lion’s genre; 26. Muscle below a delt; 32. Smell like; 35. Triple Crown jockey Eddie; 37. Rubbish; 40. Cuts back on; 41. Dickens schemer; 42. Shade of bleu; 43. Dates; 46. Pic; 47. Seine tributary; 48. Sushi bar topping; 50. Part of U.N.L.V.; 53. Hesitate in speech; 55. Nick of “Cape Fear”; 57. Hunt in the wrong place?; 59. Révolution target; 61. Actor Stephen; 65. Fictional writer in a John Irving best seller; 66. Historical transition point; 68. Simon & Garfunkel’s “For ___, Whenever I May Find Her”; 69. City near Virginia City; 70. YouTube video lead-ins; 71. Hebrew N; 73. Bit of ink, slangily; 74. Sheep’s genus; 76. Caught; 77. Summer cooler; 78. Clichéd prison contraband item; 79. Verb with “vous”; 80. Indian tourist haven; 82. Malformed; 85. Pamper, say; 86. Willing to consider; 89. Vitamin A; 96. Fresh; 98. Measures; 99. Accumulated; 100. Print option: Abbr.; 102. Part of a horse’s pedigree; 104. Knight’s attribute; 105. Discharge; 107. Observes; 109. Plant, maybe.
If it’s possible for a crossword to have a dangerous psychosis, this gleeful Saturday’s variegated and angst-ridden presentation with its vivid range of vagaries and viciousness goes a fair way to confirm that that may very well be so …
Across — 1. Shaggy dog,AFGHAN; 7. It’s gone over with poles,SKI JUMP; 14. African country with a namesake lake,MALAWI; 15. Rival of Paris, MENELAUS; 17 Contemptuously bold,BRAZEN; 18. Self-doubting, INSECURE; 19. Extra desire?, LINE; 20. Prefix with -zoic, ENTO; 22. O.K. for another season, RENEW; 23. Stop going,END;24. “Fiddlesticks!”, POOH; 25. Eastern melody, RAGA; 26. Like many a romance hero,DASHING; 28. Raiders org.?,ATF; 31. Call LOG; 322. Secret weapon,ACE IN THE HOLE; 35. 1978 sequel set in a shopping mall,DAWN OF THE DEAD, check out the 2004 remake; 37. It might pop up at a nursery,JACK IN THE BOX; 38. Crumb, ORT; 39. These, in Toulon,CES; 40. Charge, ARRAIGN; 44. Far from whole,SKIM;46. Like refreshing aqua, FRIA; 47. Fellow in a counting-out rhyme?,MOE; 48. Senator of Watergate fame,ERVIN;50. “South Park” co-creator Stone, MATT; 51. Hustle, SCAM; 52. Like four ill-fated popes, it’s said,POISONED; 54. Spike, IMPALE; 58. Where things might pop up in a nursery,HOT HOUSE; 57. He took Rehnquist’s seat, SCALIA;58. Home of Mandalay,MYANMAR; 59. Ones given money to waste?,HIT-MEN.
Down — 1. Showed no hurry in getting somewhere,AMBLED; 2. Breakfast bowlful, FARINA; 3. The endocrine system, essentially,BLANDS;4. Break a pledge?,HAZE; 5. State at a spectacle,AWE;6. It might be hard-pressed to get assistance,NINE ONE ONE; 7. Expert on forgery?,SMITH; 8. Vegas game,KENO; 9. Hookups,INS;10. Razz,JEER; 11. Inside trouble, ULCER; 12. Peak east of Captain Cook,MAUNA LOA; 13. Killer source material for a comedian, say,PURE GOLD; 16. Pollution concern,SEWAGE;21. Invitation stipulation,NO GIFTS; 24. It might be put on a blanket,PICNIC; 27. Atlanta cager,HAWK; 28. Fundamentally,AT HEART; 29. Who “are coming,” in a historical declaration,THE BRITISH; 30. Part of a Freddy Krueger costume,FEDORA; 33. Math ordinal,NTH; 24. One meter start?,HEXA; 35. Developing area,DARK ROOM; 36. Goings-on,ACTIVITY;37. Patron saint of the Catholic Church,JOSEPH; 41. Response to “Don’t panic!”,I’M CALM; 42. Hands-on position?, GOALIE; 43. Like the beast in Hercules’ first labor, NEMEAN; 45. Diminutive for Baryshnikov,MISHA; 46. Radio knob,FADER; 49. Showdown time,NOON; 50. Southwest city founded by Mormon pioneers, MESA; 51. Run-in, SPAT; 53. Book before Deut.,NUM;55. Old long-distance letters,MCI.
Across — 1. Call an end to a hike,START BACK; 120. Biblical prophet who railed against idolatry, MICAH; 15. Big-eyed toy, CHIHUAHUA; 16. Mythological lyrist, ERATO; 17. Kids whose parents fight?,ARMY BRATS; 18. On delivery?,NATAL; 19. Hammered, BEATEN; 20. “ODES et Ballades” (Victor Hugo work); 22. Sitcom characters Borland and Bundy,ALS; 23. Evan’s best friend in “Superbad”, SETH; 24. Box for a drill, SPAR; 25. Form a mass,CLOT; 26. Minor-league team of Toledo, MUDHENS; 29. Mr. Hockey’s surname,HOWE; 30. Keep up,SUSTAIN; 32. More interested, KEENER; 34. 1960s-’70s dance partner of Nureyev, FONTEYN; 35. Leaf bisectors,MIDRIBS; 36. What excellence is the best deterrent to, per Oprah Winfrey,RACISM; 37. Like some Mideast movements, PAN-ARAB; 38. Grp. That may call on its reserves?,OPEC; 39. French ACADEMY (language overseer); 41. TV character who said “K.O.” instead of O.K.”, MORK; 42. Kylver Stone letter, RUNE; 43. Glance over, SCAN; 47. Prone,APT; 48. Cockney pal of Mary Poppins, BERT; 49. Lighter compound, BUTANE; 51. Pick on,TEASE; 53. Instruments also known as mellophones,ALTO HORNS; 55. He could walk on water, in myth,ORION; 56. Think through,REASON OUT; 57. Musician/radio host Steven Van ZANDT; 58. White trash?,EGGSHELLS.
Alto horn in F by Franz G. Kaiser, Cincinnati, Ohio, ca. 1858
Down — 1. Union enemies, SCABS; 2 Rule of THREE (comedy writer’s maxim); 3. Target,AIM AT; 4. Elementary school percussion,RHYTHM STICK; 5. Poster mailer’s need,TUBE; 6. One raised in Amish country, BARN; 7. It may result from a discovery, AHA; 8. Make a slit in,CUT OPEN; 9. Lawrence KASDAN who wrote the screenplay for “Raiders of the Lost Ark”; 10. MEN’S chorus; 11. Org. that disarmed in 2005,IRA; 12. Barcelona is its capital, CATALONIA; 13. Way down,AT A LOW EBB; 14. Piece keepers,HOLSTERS; 21. ERSKINE Bowles of the Simpson-Bowles commission; 24. Tibia’s place, SHIN; 25. Pit that’s sometimes spit,CHERRY STONE; 27. Black Hawk War combatants,UTES; 28. Fright when it’s light?, DAYMARE; 30. Never-ending story?,SOAP OPERA; 31. Up in the air,UNCERTAIN; 33. Queso relleno cheese,EDAM; 34. Missing nothing,FROM A TO Z; 35. In the Mafia, MADE; 37. 24-Down cover,PAN LEG; 40. Blowgun dart poison,CURARE; 44. Go door to door, possibly,CAROL;45. Void,ANNUL;46. Gets settled, NESTS; 48. Crooked,BENT; 49. Decision-maker,BOSS;50. “This could get ugly”,UH OH; 52. Nursery purchase,SOD; 54. Graffitize,TAG.
This Thursday crossword plays with the two initial letters of common phrases as abbreviations, e.g.: L.A., R.A., B.A., B.O. and P.R., changing LADIES MAN to L. A. DIES FIRST(18A. Cackling cry from a mad scientist before unleashing havoc on southern California; RAINCHECK to R.A. IN CHECK (33A. Dorm V.I.P. having to move is king?); BABY BOOMER to B.A. BY BOOMER (39A. Proud academic achievement of football star Esiason); BOONDOCKS to B.O. ON DOCKS(50a. Evidence of longshoremen without antiperspirant?) and PRISON BREAK to P.R. IS ON BREAK(64A. Why the press release has to wait?).
Other — ALL CAPS(1D. Indication of excitement in an e-mail),BAD SIGN, BIKE TIRE, COMPARE, CORONADO (8D. Early explorer of the Southwest),ENPLANE, FELINES, HERALDED, HUSKIES, ILIESCU(13D. Two-time president of Romania),MEAT PIE, NBA STAR, NEATENS, ROBERTS, STICKER, UNCLE LEO(24D. “Seinfeld“ character with the catchphrase “Jerry! Hello!”),VAN DYKE (14D. Vladimir Lenin had one).
Mid-size — AMBLE, AMBUSH, APISH, CLOSER, DECENT, DIE OF, E. J. DIONNE, LEAN-TO, NAMED, NL EAST, NOISY, OKAPI(57A. So -called “African unicorn”), PIGLET (31A. Hundred Acre Wood resident), SEE-SAW, SHILOH, SHIVER, SPEEDS, SULKED, SYNCS, TABOO.
Short stuff — Dark ARTS, AURA, BILKeane, CTS. DEA, DUE, FIT, HOPE, HOST, HULABowl, IN DC,“The devilIS INthe details“,LONIAnderson, METS, NCR, PRO, REST, RICK, ROO(67D. Hundred Acre Wood resident), RUT, SCUM, SEEP, SHIV (11A. Pen knife?),SPAS, STE and STEW, TARA, TEND, TERI Hatcher, TIVO, TLC, UNI, UPS.
Remaining clues — ACROSS: 1. Military tactic; 7. It may be found on a tank; 16. 2008 campaign theme; 17. ___ Bowl (former sporting event); 21. Small change: Abbr.; 22. Show stopper?; 23. Was a sore loser, say; 25. Imitative; 28. Look after; 30. Yelling, say; 33. Dorm V.I.P. having to move his king?; 35. Married mujeres; 37. “You’re on!”; 38. Go a-courting; 42. Big name in A.T.M.’s; 45. Actress Anderson; 46. Some prowlers; 53. Honorable; 54. Easy jaunt; 55. Get through the cracks; 57. So-called “African unicorn”; 58. Hits 100, say; 60. Actress Hatcher; 62. “Toddlers & Tiaras” network; 63. Fictional locale five miles from Jonesboro; 68. Dark ___ Voldemort’s practice in the Harry Potter books); 69. Air; 70. Political commentator E. J. ___; 71. Something to take lying down?; 72. Brood; 73. Sales expert. — DOWN: 2. Pastry in “Sweeney Todd”; 3. It’s not promising; 4. Prefix with valve; 5. Quebec’s Mont-___-Anne; 6. One having an affair; 7. [That’s creepy!]; 9. “Schedule a pickup” co.; 10. 51-Down team; 11. Civil War battle site; 12. Big East team; 19. Something thrown in anger; 26. Nonideal roommate; 27. Announced; 29. Not survive; 32. Don’t; 34. Appointed (to); 36. Matched uyp, as files; 40. 26” rubber band?; 41. “Here’s looking at you, kid” speaker; 42. LeBron James, e.g.; 43. Measure up; 44. Administerer of the oath of office to Obama; 47. Makes nice; 48. Board, in a way; 49. Price holder; 51 10-Down’s div.; 52. Vacillate; 56. Backing; 59. Places to wear robes; 61. Visiting the U.S. Capitol, say; 65. Grind; 66. Cartoonist Keane.
