6.20.2011

06.20 Mon

M O N D A Y
June 20, 2011
Kelly Clark


Theme: Ouch! — Each theme answer is a familiar phrase that begins with a word that can mean a form of bodily assault.

Theme answers:

  • 17A: It's roughly between a batter's chest and knees (STRIKE ZONE).
  • 39A: Maynard G. Krebs of old TV, notably (BEATNIK).
  • 64A: Begin traveling (HIT THE ROAD).
  • 11D: Whence fruity drinks are ladled (PUNCH BOWL).
  • 34D: Pie-throwing comedy (SLAPSTICK).
  • 1A: "Yipe!" (or an apt title for this puzzle?) ("OUCH!").
I guess we're starting the week off with a little violence. Good thing we're all desensitized to it. This is a super smooth puzzle and perfectly pitched for a Monday. It's a simple concept for a theme (in fact, I'm pretty sure I've seen it before), but the theme phrases are colorful and the fill is really really nice. I'm late getting started this morning (I should actually be on my way to work right now!) so let's get to the bullets.

Bullets:
  • 10A: "__, sesame!" (OPEN). I did not know there was a comma in this phrase.
  • 23A: Polynesian wrap (SARONG). I know we just learned another word for SARONG in a puzzle recently, but I can't remember what it is!
  • 46A: __-ran: loser (ALSO). Haha!
  • 62A: Expensive fur (SABLE). Why oh why do I always want STOLE here. It's never right. Probably because it's a terrible answer.
  • 4D: Abominable, as a crime (HEINOUS). Great word that I don't believe I've ever seen in a puzzle before.
  • 6D: Stretch out in the recliner, say (LAZE). With the L in place, you would be forgiven for trying LOLL or LOAF.
  • 24D: Kelly of song and dance (GENE). I like how Kelly got her name in here.
  • 26D: "What the __!" (HECK). Solved this entry from the bottom up so it definitely caused some concern along the way.
  • 36D: Giant Mel of Cooperstown (OTT). Watched "Field of Dreams" with the kids the other night. I forgot how much fun that movie is. Cheesy at the end, but that's okay.
  • 44D: Like a cornered cat (UP A TREE). Great phrase. Besides the theme answers, this is my stand-out entry of the day.
Oh, by the way, you all know about Lollapuzzoola 4, right? It's a really, really super fun crossword puzzle tournament. I don't even like to call it a tournament really. It's more like getting together with a bunch of puzzle people and having a blast, so you really shouldn't let the competitive aspect of the word "tournament" scare you off. It's not very expensive and I'd love to see you there. Sign up now!

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:
  • 63A: Arab ruler (EMIR).
  • 71A: Europe's highest active volcano (ETNA).
  • 12D: Old Norse poetry collection (EDDA).
  • 36D: Giant Mel of Cooperstown (OTT).
  • 51D: Church recess (APSE).
  • 53D: __ Park, Colorado (ESTES).
  • 61D: To be, in Bordeaux (ÊTRE).
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Everything Else 5A: San Antonio shrine (ALAMO); 14A: Skin cream ingredient (ALOE); 15A: Popular plastic wrap (SARAN); 16A: Without a stitch on (NUDE); 19A: Terminates (ENDS); 20A: Ryan who played Granny on "The Beverly Hillbillies" (IRENE); 21A: Cornerstone abbr. (ESTD.); 22A: "Shoo!" ("SCAT!"); 25A: Quarter half (EIGHTH); 27A: Puts to work (USES); 29A: Within view (SEEABLE); 32A: Put in the "circular file" (TOSS); 35A: Recent: Pref. (NEO-); 37A: Sing soothingly (CROON); 38A: Actor Holbrook (HAL); 42A: "Ease on Down the Road" musical, with "The" (WIZ); 43A: Self-mover's rental (U-HAUL); 45A: 2,000 pounds (TON); 47A: Visible means of __ (SUPPORT); 50A: Pesky little biter (GNAT); 52A: Mad magazine specialty (SATIRE); 54A: Play in the pool (SPLASH); 58A: Brad of "Ocean's Thirteen" (PITT); 60A: Attorney's matter (CASE); 66A: Doily material (LACE); 67A: Like neon and xenon (INERT); 68A: Crisscross pattern (GRID); 69A: Toddler (TYKE); 70A: Slalom curves (ESSES); 1D: Desert refuge (OASIS); 2D: Extreme (ULTRA); 3D: Gadget to remove apple centers (CORER); 5D: Enzyme suffix (-ASE); 7D: Stood up (AROSE); 8D: "Praying" insect (MANTIS); 9D: Tense (ON EDGE); 10D: Poor movie rating (ONE STAR); 13D: Bird's home (NEST); 18D: Barbie counterparts (KENS); 28D: Dead __ Scrolls (SEA); 30D: Superman's Lane (LOIS); 31D: Automaker Ferrari (ENZO); 32D: Therefore (THUS); 33D: Pearl Harbor's island (OAHU); 39D: Sponge up (BLOT); 40D: Yuletide cupful (NOG); 41D: Travelers' havens (INNS); 46D: Not yet captured (AT LARGE); 48D: "Hello" singer Lionel (RICHIE); 49D: Lionels under the tree (TRAINS); 55D: Scrub the launch (ABORT); 56D: Done in, as a dragon (SLAIN); 57D: Hopper of old gossip columns (HEDDA); 58D: Animal hide (PELT); 59D: "If __ make a suggestion ..." (I MAY); 65D: Elevs. (HTS.).

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Sometimes a solver can outthink themselves...for Pearl Harbor's island I first put in Ford which is the island in the middle of the harbor (old seaplane field.). Battleship row is along it's Eastern edge.

Anonymous said...

Loved this puzzle. I am not very good at this, so it feels good to solve a smooth puzzle. I know, I know, it is Monday. Love this blog also. I check it daily after my solve (or not) and pick up on ideas and I learn a lot. Please keep it up PuzzleGirl. This makes my day.
JB in VA

Anonymous said...

This was crazy easy ... my fastest solve in history, by nearly half a minute (3:19).

Doug P said...

HEINOUS brought to mind "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure," so I give this puzzle two thumbs up.

San Dimas High School football rules!

mac said...

Smooth little Monday puzzle. Like beatnik and hit the road, seeable not so much. Also, a Polynesian wrap is a pareo.

Lollapuzzoola is wonderful, I signed up already!

Anonymous said...

what ever happened to @johnsneverhome, did he pass away?

Rube said...

Did the puzzle with zero writeovers. Heinous is a great word. Realized I didn't know how to spell EIGHTH, and the clue for 26D didn't help.

Thx Anon @6:18. I'd forgotten about Ford field, (or never knew).

No complaints about this puzzle... just a Monday quickie.

CoffeeLvr said...

@Anonymous at 7:43 am (JB in VA), just keep plugging at it. You will get better until you hit a plateau. Trust me, it won't be on Mondays. Get a Blogger ID and come back, or just keep signing your posts.

No quibbles from me today; a nice Monday, no pain despite the theme.

Just got a reminder call from my eye doctor. His name is Paauw. Now that would be great in a crossword, but he is not famous.

Nighthawk said...

Question: If 34D were clued: "Soupy Sales' schtick", would that be close enough to violate the spirit of the rule against having part of the answer in the clue? Or would it fail editorial muster?

Liked the cluing. It seemed fun and bouncy. Nice to be reminded of Zelda Gilroy, and, with a cracking voice, "Work?!!?"

And the hits just kept on comin'.

Steve said...

@CoffeeLvr - he is famous now :)

Nice clues, nice fill, good theme. Wasn't sure about the hint clue coming so early, but didn't bother me unduly.

CrazyCat said...

ULTRA smooth Monday solve with some great fill. HEINOUS is the word we often used to use in reference to my mother-in-law's cooking. Liked that BEATNIK right there in the middle. Seeing NUDE next to SARAN reminded me of that advice book that was out in the 60's or 70's that advised women to greet their husbands at the door with a martini, dressed in nothing but SARAN wrap. Was that by Marabel Morgan? Speaking of "ralph".....

C said...

Baby's bottom solve today. No complaints for a Monday. Some fun answers and clues, congrats to the constructor.

Sfingi said...

@Mac =PAREO seems like a good word for crosswords!

Had visiBLE before SEEABLE.

Minitheme: Lionel (RICHIE, TRAINS).

@Anon923 - Don't know, but miss John Hagstrom. He has >2000 pics on flickr. Maybe you can contact him through that. He likes to travel Route 66. Also, there are many John Hasgstroms!

CP said...

ALOE, SARAN (wrap)and NUDE all in a row, gotta love that ;-). I remember saran dresses (yeah, right).
Reading this blog and its counterparts will sharpen your skills. If there is a plateau or wall to hit, this past Saturday's puzzle was it for me.

brainylagirl said...

SEEABLE was ugly (I give it one star), but other wise fine for a Monday.

CrazyCat said...

@anon 9:23 Had a brief email conversation with JNH today. He's just fine.