Merl Reagle
[Note: This is the puzzle that appears in the Sunday L.A. Times newspaper. If you don't get the paper, you can find the puzzle here. Scroll down to see today's syndicated puzzle.]
Everything Else — 1A: Plants in a Fugard title (ALOES).; 6A: Somewhat (A BIT).; 10A: Downfall (RUIN).; 14A: A tug may tow it (SCOW).; 18A: Part of a cell, the ___ body (GOLGI).; 19A: Three-trio combo (NONET).; 21A: Reverse (UNDO).; 28A: "What have we here?!" ("OHO!").; 29A: Goose genus (ANSER).; 30A: Commandment verb (STEAL).; 31A: Conscripted one (DRAFTEE).; 35A: Toothpaste amount (DAB).; 48A: Unctuous (OILY).; 49A: Actress Susan (DEY).; 50A: Hard hike (TREK).; 51A: Phony handle (ALIAS).; 52A: Nuts (GAGA).; 53A: Pages and pages (REAMS).; 55A: Supreme Court duds (ROBES).; 60A: It'll never fly (EMU).; 61A: Minotaur's home (CRETE).; 63A: ___ budget (ON A).; 64A: Juan's conclusion? (-ITA).; 65A: Baby-sitters (WATCHERS).; 67A: Clubber, opposite Rocky (MR. T).; 68A: b, d, f, h, k, or l (ASCENDER).; 73A: Subtle tone (HUE).; 74A: James Clavell's "___-Pan" (TAI).; 75A: Jumped between electrodes (ARCED).; 76A: Outside prefix (EXO-).; 82A: Intensify (REV UP).; 84A: All-out attack (BLITZ).; 85A: Upside-down, e.g. (CAKE).; 86A: Francis, e.g. (SAINT).; 88A: Like some loads (WIDE).; 89A: Dune buggy: abbr. (ATV).; 90A: "No thanks, ___ already" (I ATE).; 97A: Red or White follower (SOX).; 98A: Piano pieces (SONATAS).; 99A: Selassie disciple (RASTA).; 103A: "Chestnuts roasting ..." melody writer (TORMÉ).; 108A: Old boob-tube adjunct (VCR).; 118A: Ready to serve (OPEN).; 119A: "Great!" ("SUPER!").; 120A: "The Family Circus" cartoonist Bil (KEANE).; 121A: "___ see it ..." (AS WE).; 122A: Greek letter (ZETA).; 123A: Brit's intro (I SAY).; 124A: Strikes speechless (STUNS).; 1D: All ___ (excited) (AGOG).; 2D: Baritone-sax note (LOW A).; 3D: Five Norwegian kings (OLAFS).; 4D: Florida flyer (EGRET).; 5D: Come (up to) slyly (SIDLE).; 6D: Actress Pier of "The Silver Chalice" (ANGELI).; 7D: Sty guy (BOAR).; 8D: Vacancy venues (INNS).; 9D: Lou's clueless anchor (TED).; 10D: Tiebreaker of a sort (RUN-OFF).; 11D: Spanish article (UNA).; 12D: Cards with photos (ID'S).; 13D: "___ a problem" (NOT).; 14D: Mex. miss (SRTA.).; 15D: "All the Way" lyricist Sammy (CAHN).; 16D: Items (ONES).; 17D: Unlike Joan's hangers (WIRE).; 20D: Tough to solve (THORNY).; 23D: Sound heard at the beginning of camp? (HARD C).; 25D: "___ no idea!" (I HAD).; 27D: Use a surgical beam (LASE).; 31D: Lama lead-in (DALAI).; 32D: Like some basins (TIDAL).; 33D: The Axis, to the Allies (ENEMY).; 34D: Ice cream brand (EDY'S).; 36D: "So that's it!" ("AHA!").; 37D: Not-so-hairy Norse god? (BALDER).; 39D: Sitter in a eucalyptus tree (KOALA).; 40D: Forecast extreme (HIGH).; 41D: Scatter (about) (STREW).; 42D: Bakery beckoner (AROMA).; 43D: Counter (an argument) (REBUT).; 44D: A Clanton at the OK Corral (IKE).; 45D: Runs amok (RIOTS).; 46D: Olympic swimmer's slot (LANE).; 47D: Final extension? (-IST).; 52D: Decent chap (GENT).; 53D: For mature viewers (RATED R).; 54D: Joie de vivre (ELAN).; 56D: Creator of "the little round-headed kid" (SCHULZ).; 58D: Column style (DORIC).; 59D: Fuzzy hangups (DICE).; 62D: Barn-dance dance (REEL).; 66D: Shoot the breeze (CHAT).; 67D: Farm female (MARE).; 68D: Bandleader Shaw (ARTIE).; 69D: Script sections (SCENES).; 70D: Dickens (DEVIL).; 71D: Ooze (EXUDE).; 72D: Cowboy, at times (ROPER).; 74D: Relax (TAKE 5).; 75D: Quickly, quickly (ASAP).; 77D: Clipped conjunction (ALTHO).; 78D: "Stairway to Heaven" star David (NIVEN).; 79D: Lots (SCADS).; 80D: Filmmaker Jacques (TATI).; 81D: Tempe sch. (ASU).; 83D: Farm female (EWE).; 84D: Is up (BATS).; 87D: Ring outcome, briefly (TKO).; 90D: Comrades ___ (IN ARMS).; 91D: Hog's milieu? (ROAD).; 92D: Additional (EXTRA).; 94D: Cigar city (HAVANA).; 95D: Hankering (ITCH).; 96D: Cantankerous (ORNERY).; 100D: Saturates (SOAKS).; 101D: Play hard ___ (TO GET).; 102D: Pianist Claudio (ARRAU).; 104D: Hedron intro (OCTA-).; 105D: Reformer Jacob (RIIS).; 106D: Persian comment (MEOW).; 107D: Ye olde Anglo-Saxon serf (ESNE).; 109D: Bikini parts (TOPS).; 110D: Purview (AREA).; 111D: Author of "The Magic Mountain" (MANN).; 112D: After 6 p.m., in ads (EVES).; 113D: Actress Russell, to pals (ROZ).; 114D: Jungle groomer (APE).; 115D: Namath was one (JET).; 116D: Paris accord? (OUI).
Theme: "Punjabbing" — Indian puns.
Theme answers:
- 22A: Co-star of "Apu of Mayberry"? (RANI HOWARD).
- 24A: Publisher of Indian Gourmet magazine? (GANDHI NAST).
- 26A: Ravi Shankar's band? (THE RAGA FELLERS).
- 38A: Most popular word game in India? (SIKH AND FIND).
- 41A: "What will you be wearing in Poona, Oona?" (SARI CHARLIE).
- 57A: "Okay, you can visit that Indian city, but come right home!" (DON' T DELHI DALLY).
- 77A: What 1987's "The Untouchables" had? (AN ALL-STAR CASTE).
- 91A: Indian dancer of the 1930s? (RUPEE KEELER).
- 93A: Most popular race in India? (THE HINDI 5OO).
- 109A: Film about an Indian restaurant? (TANDOOR MERCIES).
- 113A: Actor in Indian spy films? (RAJAH MOORE).
- 117A: What you might feel while solving this puzzle? (AGRAVATION).
Everything Else — 1A: Plants in a Fugard title (ALOES).; 6A: Somewhat (A BIT).; 10A: Downfall (RUIN).; 14A: A tug may tow it (SCOW).; 18A: Part of a cell, the ___ body (GOLGI).; 19A: Three-trio combo (NONET).; 21A: Reverse (UNDO).; 28A: "What have we here?!" ("OHO!").; 29A: Goose genus (ANSER).; 30A: Commandment verb (STEAL).; 31A: Conscripted one (DRAFTEE).; 35A: Toothpaste amount (DAB).; 48A: Unctuous (OILY).; 49A: Actress Susan (DEY).; 50A: Hard hike (TREK).; 51A: Phony handle (ALIAS).; 52A: Nuts (GAGA).; 53A: Pages and pages (REAMS).; 55A: Supreme Court duds (ROBES).; 60A: It'll never fly (EMU).; 61A: Minotaur's home (CRETE).; 63A: ___ budget (ON A).; 64A: Juan's conclusion? (-ITA).; 65A: Baby-sitters (WATCHERS).; 67A: Clubber, opposite Rocky (MR. T).; 68A: b, d, f, h, k, or l (ASCENDER).; 73A: Subtle tone (HUE).; 74A: James Clavell's "___-Pan" (TAI).; 75A: Jumped between electrodes (ARCED).; 76A: Outside prefix (EXO-).; 82A: Intensify (REV UP).; 84A: All-out attack (BLITZ).; 85A: Upside-down, e.g. (CAKE).; 86A: Francis, e.g. (SAINT).; 88A: Like some loads (WIDE).; 89A: Dune buggy: abbr. (ATV).; 90A: "No thanks, ___ already" (I ATE).; 97A: Red or White follower (SOX).; 98A: Piano pieces (SONATAS).; 99A: Selassie disciple (RASTA).; 103A: "Chestnuts roasting ..." melody writer (TORMÉ).; 108A: Old boob-tube adjunct (VCR).; 118A: Ready to serve (OPEN).; 119A: "Great!" ("SUPER!").; 120A: "The Family Circus" cartoonist Bil (KEANE).; 121A: "___ see it ..." (AS WE).; 122A: Greek letter (ZETA).; 123A: Brit's intro (I SAY).; 124A: Strikes speechless (STUNS).; 1D: All ___ (excited) (AGOG).; 2D: Baritone-sax note (LOW A).; 3D: Five Norwegian kings (OLAFS).; 4D: Florida flyer (EGRET).; 5D: Come (up to) slyly (SIDLE).; 6D: Actress Pier of "The Silver Chalice" (ANGELI).; 7D: Sty guy (BOAR).; 8D: Vacancy venues (INNS).; 9D: Lou's clueless anchor (TED).; 10D: Tiebreaker of a sort (RUN-OFF).; 11D: Spanish article (UNA).; 12D: Cards with photos (ID'S).; 13D: "___ a problem" (NOT).; 14D: Mex. miss (SRTA.).; 15D: "All the Way" lyricist Sammy (CAHN).; 16D: Items (ONES).; 17D: Unlike Joan's hangers (WIRE).; 20D: Tough to solve (THORNY).; 23D: Sound heard at the beginning of camp? (HARD C).; 25D: "___ no idea!" (I HAD).; 27D: Use a surgical beam (LASE).; 31D: Lama lead-in (DALAI).; 32D: Like some basins (TIDAL).; 33D: The Axis, to the Allies (ENEMY).; 34D: Ice cream brand (EDY'S).; 36D: "So that's it!" ("AHA!").; 37D: Not-so-hairy Norse god? (BALDER).; 39D: Sitter in a eucalyptus tree (KOALA).; 40D: Forecast extreme (HIGH).; 41D: Scatter (about) (STREW).; 42D: Bakery beckoner (AROMA).; 43D: Counter (an argument) (REBUT).; 44D: A Clanton at the OK Corral (IKE).; 45D: Runs amok (RIOTS).; 46D: Olympic swimmer's slot (LANE).; 47D: Final extension? (-IST).; 52D: Decent chap (GENT).; 53D: For mature viewers (RATED R).; 54D: Joie de vivre (ELAN).; 56D: Creator of "the little round-headed kid" (SCHULZ).; 58D: Column style (DORIC).; 59D: Fuzzy hangups (DICE).; 62D: Barn-dance dance (REEL).; 66D: Shoot the breeze (CHAT).; 67D: Farm female (MARE).; 68D: Bandleader Shaw (ARTIE).; 69D: Script sections (SCENES).; 70D: Dickens (DEVIL).; 71D: Ooze (EXUDE).; 72D: Cowboy, at times (ROPER).; 74D: Relax (TAKE 5).; 75D: Quickly, quickly (ASAP).; 77D: Clipped conjunction (ALTHO).; 78D: "Stairway to Heaven" star David (NIVEN).; 79D: Lots (SCADS).; 80D: Filmmaker Jacques (TATI).; 81D: Tempe sch. (ASU).; 83D: Farm female (EWE).; 84D: Is up (BATS).; 87D: Ring outcome, briefly (TKO).; 90D: Comrades ___ (IN ARMS).; 91D: Hog's milieu? (ROAD).; 92D: Additional (EXTRA).; 94D: Cigar city (HAVANA).; 95D: Hankering (ITCH).; 96D: Cantankerous (ORNERY).; 100D: Saturates (SOAKS).; 101D: Play hard ___ (TO GET).; 102D: Pianist Claudio (ARRAU).; 104D: Hedron intro (OCTA-).; 105D: Reformer Jacob (RIIS).; 106D: Persian comment (MEOW).; 107D: Ye olde Anglo-Saxon serf (ESNE).; 109D: Bikini parts (TOPS).; 110D: Purview (AREA).; 111D: Author of "The Magic Mountain" (MANN).; 112D: After 6 p.m., in ads (EVES).; 113D: Actress Russell, to pals (ROZ).; 114D: Jungle groomer (APE).; 115D: Namath was one (JET).; 116D: Paris accord? (OUI).
93A and 74D use the character '5' at their intersection leading to the solutions 'THE HINDI 500' and 'TAKE 5'
ReplyDeleteAnonymous has to be correct. ThehindiF00 and takeF make no sense.
ReplyDeleteCowboyBob
I get the 5, but then the two characters after "5" are the letter O, not zeros if they're to work with the down clues. Doesn't work for me and it seems to be cheating a bit.
ReplyDeleteReally too difficult for me. Don't know Hindi and some puns were really a stretch - i.e. Sikh and Find, Gandhi Nast (have no idea what they mean). I'm disappointed with Merl.
ReplyDeleteJust looked up "Seek and Find" games on line. They are NOT "word games".
ReplyDeleteCrossword purists would say having a 5 in the puzzle is blasphemy, but I kinda like it. I'd like to see more numbers in crosswords.
ReplyDeleteChanneling RP for a moment, the ASCENDER/ROPER cross was truly vile. Having them both in the puzzle is bad but crossing each other...?
Have you not heard of Conde Nast?
ReplyDeleteAggravation has two "g"s in the dictionary.
ReplyDeleteI loved it. Being Indian, I thoroughly enjoyed the puns, stretched though they were. Let's get together one day and make a crossword out of this burl beagle.
ReplyDeleteUgh, I don't remember the last time I DIDN'T want to finish the Sunday crossword puzzle.
ReplyDeletePippin: Agra-vation was another pun ... Agra is a city in India.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Mary. This was the first puzzle in 2+ years that I quit in frustration. I'm glad that Edan enjoyed it, but really?
ReplyDeleteWhat's next?....Icelandic folk songs? Vietnamese slang words that don't rhyme with Pho? Cub fan excuses?(these I would know but what about the other 98% of your audience?)
Horrible!
I've been doing crosswords for several years: Isn't using a number (in this case, "5") considered breaking the fourth wall of puzzles?!?
ReplyDeleteReagle sucks again!
ReplyDelete