Theme: "Sidelined" — DL (the abbreviation for Disabled List) is added to familiar phrases. Wackiness ensues.
[Note: This is the syndicated L.A. Times puzzle. It does not appear in the actual newspaper, but is available for free at cruciverb.com.]
Theme answers:- 24A: Spoiled meat? (CURDLED HAM).
- 25A: Equestrian nobleman? (MARQUIS DE SADDLE).
- 43A: Sweet scent source? (CANDLE SUGAR).
- 48A: "Oink oink" jokes? (PIGGYBACK RIDDLES).
- 62A: Con man's strategy with a lonely widow? (PEARLS BEFORE SWINDLE).
- 84A: Sells shorts? (HANDLES UNDERWEAR).
- 88A: Horse's headgear left out in the sun? (BAKED BRIDLE).
- 103A: Lanky crustaceans? (SPINDLY LOBSTERS).
- 111A: Sidelined by injury, in baseball lingo, and a hint to how this puzzle's theme puns are formed (PUT ON THE DL).
Crosswordese 101 Roundup:- 14A: Epps of "House" (OMAR).
- 113A: Nobel-winning Holocaust chronicler (ELIE WIESEL).
- 117A: Cold war gp. (SSRS).
- 65D: Biblical birthright seller (ESAU).
- 85D: Caught congers (EELED).
Everything Else — 1A: Fanatical (RABID); 6A: Beatnik? (COP); 9A: Great service providers (ACERS); 14A: Epps of "House" (OMAR); 18A: Be wild about (ADORE); 19A: "Strange to see __ good dinner and feasting reconciles everybody": Pepys (HOW A); 20A: "D'oh" moment, slangily (BRAIN CRAMP); 22A: Men's ideals (DREAM GIRLS); 27A: Looks the wrong way? (LEERS); 28A: Arranged to pay later (RAN A TAB); 29A: __ Haute (TERRE); 30A: Wane (ABATE); 34A: Trouble (STATIC); 38A: "Big Love" airer (HBO); 39A: Psychedelic desk item (LAVA LAMP); 51A: The Bee Gees, e.g. (TRIO); 52A: WWII vessel (LST); 53A: 1964 Tony Randall title role (DR. LAO); 54A: Old Russian council (SOVIET); 56A: Jerk (ASS); 57A: Academic figure (EDUCATOR); 60A: Without warmth (ICILY); 69A: Skin care prefix (DERMA); 70A: Flamenco clicker (CASTANET); 71A: Singer DiFranco (ANI); 72A: One interested in spreads (BOOKIE); 78A: Skating event (PAIRS); 79A: OAS part: Abbr. (ORG.); 82A: Donald, to his nephews (UNCA); 90A: Prized (ESTEEMED); 91A: Antique auto (REO); 92A: Equipped with machinery (TOOLED); 95A: Seed coverings (ARILS); 96A: Eccentric (LOOPY); 98A: Fashionable Manhattan eatery (ELAINE'S); 102A: W.C. Fields persona (SOUSE); 113A: Nobel-winning Holocaust chronicler (ELIE WIESEL); 114A: Graph that influences bond buyers (YIELD CURVE); 115A: 100 Iranian dinars (RIAL); 116A: Delta preceder (GAMMA); 117A: Cold war gp. (SSRS); 118A: Complete (UTTER); 119A: From Jan. 1 to now (YTD); 120A: Bikini event (N-TEST); 1D: USN brass (R. ADM.); 2D: Historic Spanish port (ADRA); 3D: Afrikaner (BOER); 4D: 1990 Kuwait invader (IRAQ); 5D: In an affectedly shy way (DEMURELY); 6D: Una __: using the soft pedal (CORDA); 7D: Barn babies (OWLETS); 8D: Volkswagen sedan (PASSAT); 9D: Start of a tots' song (ABCD); 10D: Gunk (CRUD); 11D: 1970s-'80s bowling great __ Anthony (EARL); 12D: Fair feature (RIDE); 13D: TV show with recurring "Killer Bees" sketches (SNL); 14D: Eschew cooking at home (ORDER OUT); 15D: "Politically Incorrect" host (MAHER); 16D: 2003 NBA Rookie of the Year Stoudemire (AMARE); 17D: Tach readings (RPMS); 19D: Boonies possessive (HIS'N); 21D: Glitterati (CELEBS); 23D: Supermodel Carangi (GIA); 26D: Basic counters (ABACI); 29D: The ones right in front of us (THESE); 30D: Matterhorn, e.g. (ALP); 31D: Get-out-of-jail money (BAIL); 32D: Batters' nos. (AVGS.); 33D: Wrestling duo (TAG TEAM); 35D: Smidgens (TADS); 36D: Prefix with Aryan (INDO-); 37D: Caesar's 455 (CDLV); 40D: DeGeneres's "Idol" predecessor (ABDUL); 41D: Chagall and Anthony (MARCS); 42D: Graphic design school feature (PC LAB); 44D: Muumuu accessory (LEI); 45D: Last Supper cup (GRAIL); 46D: Window alternative (AISLE); 47D: Optimistic (ROSY); 49D: Petruchio's wife (KATE); 50D: Shakes setting (ROOF); 55D: Prong (TINE); 58D: Olive shade (DRAB); 59D: Bird of myth (ROC); 61D: Site of many jewel cases (CD TOWER); 62D: Quaker St. (PENNA.); 63D: Angels shortstop Aybar (ERICK); 64D: Criticizes (RAPS); 65D: Biblical birthright seller (ESAU); 66D: "Fear Street" series author (STINE); 67D: Hospital sections (WARDS); 68D: Atlas blowup (INSET); 69D: Apply amateurishly (DAUB); 73D: "Now the fun starts!" ("OH BOY!"); 74D: Row (OAR); 75D: Heal, in a way (KNIT); 76D: Meatloaf's "__ Anything for Love" (I'D DO); 77D: Spanish pronoun (ELLO); 80D: Do followers (RE MI); 81D: Player of the field hockey-like sport shinty (GAEL); 83D: Sprays from cans (AEROSOLS); 85D: Caught congers (EELED); 86D: Transfer (REASSIGN); 87D: Fork sites: Abbr. (RDS.); 89D: Count (on) (DEPEND); 93D: Queen of mystery (ELLERY); 94D: Like a sunny room (DAYLIT); 96D: Justice Brandeis (LOUIS); 97D: __ space (OUTER); 99D: 24-part epic (ILIAD); 100D: House-to-house number (NOEL); 101D: "Charlotte's Web" monogram (EBW); 102D: 1974 Gould/Sutherland spoof (SPYS); 103D: Closed (SHUT); 104D: Smart-alecky (PERT); 105D: "... comin' __ baked a cake": old song lyric (I'D'VE); 106D: Buc or Phil (NL'ER); 107D: Suckling spot (TEAT); 108D: Salinger title teenager (ESME); 109D: Radiation units (REMS); 110D: Thin strip (SLAT); 112D: Ft. Worth campus (TCU).
14 comments:
Another excellent and droll puzzle by the late Dan Naddor. Though I love doing Naddor's puzzles, I regret that each one means one fewer in the dwindling queue.
Didn't like CCLV or SSRS.
Liked BOOKIE, LOOPY, TOOLED, RANATAB and all the theme answers.
holy cow... is this really a 132-word grid with nine theme answers? unbelievable.
SW corner was crushed by 1974 Gould/Sutherland spoof - of course that would be MASH! Funny how you squeeze in crosses on top of that
77d spanish pronoun
He is El
She is ELLA
They is ELLAS or ELLOS
I never heard of ELLO.
Happy Easter!
I feel like I'm being rather shallow to be critiquing a mere CWP on such a sacred day, but here it is anyway:
Great Naddor puzzle... sort of easy, but as Joon said "unbelievable" that Dan could pack in 9 theme entries, and still do his usual fun puns and fresh fill. A nice prelude to my Easter afternoon nap. Only one snag for me... I had PEDDLES UNDERWEAR until KNIT proved me wrong.
Can someone clue me in on why Beatnik = COP?
I find it interesting that in Texas they say a business is SHUT and not closed.
6D Beatnik? got me by being COP vs mop.-/
75D: Heal, in a way (KNIT) - apparently is via "mend".
Regarding Gomer about 102D: 1974 Gould/Sutherland spoof (SPYS), I assume he means
"SW corner was crushed by 1974 Gould/Sutherland spoof - of course that would NOT be 'MASH'!"
Commencing much during the early 1960s, I didn't recall nary 1 of
the 7 Faces of DR. LAO for 53A: 1964 Tony Randall title role
as via http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/index.jsp?cid=9054
Searched out, found Dan's "pun key" at 111A, PUT ON THE DL, and was off for a fun Easter 'pun' hunt.
The 9 themes were all typical DN puns. My fave was the "Pearls before swinDLe."
OK, let's get it out of the way.
Had 'drunk' @102A for W.C. Fields persona until I realized that was me, he was just a SOUSE! LOL
Also liked that above it was LOOPY.
Other snafu was @61D, had 'dresser' before the CD TOWER write-over.
@Gomer: With my 'drunk' SPYS in the SW was DP-- and I knew I was not going to get that obscure movie.
@JNH: A COP walks a beat (that got a well deserved Naddor groan). Also had that same 'Peddle' before the KNIT prob.
@Van55, Caesar 455 was CDLV, RN don't get any easier.
My problem is remembering the Greek Alphabet in order. GAMMA, 116A, Delta follower, took awhile.
Also liked the4 I'D DO, 76D and I'D'VE, 105D.
UNCA,82A, Donald to his nephews, couldn't remember.
@PG I glad you didn't spend any more time than just posting the grid and themes. I look forward to your Tuesday write-up.
captcha: weeves (as in my tangled web?)
@JNH. A cop walks a beat. Hence he is a beatnik. At least that's the way I got the link between clue and answer.
@Tinbeni. You're right. If you have to resort to a RN, at least make it straight-forward with the clue. Tiny nit for me to pick with an otherwise exceptional puzzle, but I thought I made that clear in my original post.
@Van55
You and I both know that the Roman Numerals are going to show up.
To me thay are always a groan gimmie.
The SSRS and some of the other trite fill are probably necessary to hold some puzzles together.
Todays clue was at least in an original fashion.
Like you, when I see it is Dan Naddor, in one sense I'm happy because I know it will be Punny.
Sad because I know in about a year or so we will get the last one.
I never questioned that you like this fun Easter offering.
Can anyone explain 100D to me? Don't get the reference.
"number" here means song. in crossword puzzles, NOEL is a noun meaning a generic christmas carol.
Thank you, Joon! That makes sense now.
Post a Comment