Quicklink
Jump to a complete list of today’s clues and answers
CROSSWORD SETTER: Dan Gagliardo
THEME: Synonyms, and Antonyms … as we proceed down the grid, the starting word for each themed answer is a synonym of the preceding themed answer. When we reach the bottom of the grid, we find that the last of our synonyms is actually an antonym of the starting word in the first themed answer. Very, very clever …
16A. What each successive starting word of the answers to starred clues is to the starting word that precedes it SYNONYM
19A. *Popular clubs HOTSPOTS
20A. *Ty Cobb specialties STOLEN BASES
31A. *Dressed down TAKEN TO TASK
38A. *Didn’t allow to remain in, as political office REMOVED FROM
46A. *It’s ancient history DISTANT PAST
50A. *They might be knocked down in a bar COLD ONES56A. What the start of 50-Across is to the start of 19-Across ANTONYM
BILL BUTLER’S COMPLETION TIME: 13m 51s
ANSWERS I MISSED: 0
Today’s Wiki-est, Amazonian Googlies
Across
14. Annabella of “Jungle Fever” SCIORRA
The actress Annabella Sciorra played Tony Soprano’s lover on HBO’s “The Sopranos”. I also remember Sciorra as the tormented mother in “The Hand That Rocks the Cradle”.
The 1991 film “Jungle Fever” is a Spike Lee project. Set in New York City, it is a romantic drama about an extramarital, interracial relationship between an architect (played by Wesley Snipes) and his secretary (played by Annabella Sciorra).
17. Equestrian’s head cover HAIR NET
I did not know this until now. Apparently equestrians with long hiar routinely hold their tresses in place using a heavy-duty hair net under a helmet.
18. Newscaster Lindström PIA
Pia Lindström is a retired television journalist who was born in Sweden, but who lived most of her life in the US. Lindström is the oldest child of actress Ingrid Bergman.
20. *Ty Cobb specialties STOLEN BASES
Ty Cobb was one of the richest baseball players of all times. When he retired, Cobb was a major stockholder of the Coca-Cola Corporation. By the time he passed away in 1961, Cobb had an even bigger investment in General Electric. He left an estate after his death worth about $86m (in 2008 dollars).
24. The last Mrs. Chaplin OONA
Oona Chaplin is an actress from Madrid in Spain. Chaplin is getting a lot of airtime these days as she plays Talisa Maegyr on HBO’s hit fantasy series “Game of Thrones”. Oona is the granddaughter of Charlie Chaplin, and is named for her maternal grandmother Oona O’Neill. the daughter of playwright Eugene O’Neill.
26. Pros with schedules CPAS
Certified public accountant (CPA)
30. Save BUT
For example, my day would have been boring but for this crossword, save for this puzzle.
31. *Dressed down TAKEN TO TASK
To give someone a “dressing down” is to give a reprimand, a scolding. One suggestion is that the phrase has nautical roots. Sails that had become old and dry were “dressed down” to make them more useful. They were taken down and dressed with oil and wax so that they performed better in the wind. Similarly, a sailor might be given a figurative dressing down in order to improve his effectiveness.
35. Closing words EPILOG
Our word “epilog”, meaning an addition at the end of a play or other literary work, ultimately comes from Greek. “Epi-” is a prefix signifying “in addition”, and “logos” is the noun for “a speech”.
37. Hut SHANTY
Our word “shanty” is used for a rough cabin. It comes from the Canadian French word “chantier”, which is a “lumberjack’s headquarters”.
44. Box “b” on a W-2: Abbr. EIN
Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Form W-2 is provided by US employers to their employees by January 31 each year. The form reports wages paid to the employees and taxes withheld from them.
45. Magazine that published advance excerpts from Stephen King’s “Firestarter” OMNI
I used to enjoy reading the science magazine “OMNI”, a very entertaining yet interesting read. It was founded in 1978 by Kathy Keeton, wife of Bob Guccione the publisher of “Penthouse”. The print magazine folded in 1995, and a web version continued for a few years, until Keeton passed away in 1998.
Stephen King’s novel “Firestarter” was adapted into a movie of the same name in 1984 starring Drew Barrymore.
54. Hamlin’s caveman OOP
“Alley Oop” is a comic strip that ran for four decades starting in 1932. “Alley Oop” was drawn by V. T. Hamlin. The title character lived in the prehistoric kingdom of Moo, although for much of the strip’s life, Alley Oop had access to a time machine. Alley Oop also had a girlfriend called Ooola. I had assumed that Ooola’s name was a play on “hula hoop”, but that wasn’t invented until the 1950s (a kind blog reader informs me) …
55. Like bogeys OVER PAR
The term “Bogey” originated at the Great Yarmouth Golf Club in England in 1890, and was used to indicate a total round that was one-over-par (and not one-over-par on a particular hole, as it is today). The name Bogey came from a music hall song of the time “Here Comes the Bogey Man”. In the following years it became popular for players trying to stay at par to be “playing against Colonel Bogey”. Then, during WWI, the marching tune “Colonel Bogey” was written and named after the golfing term. If you don’t recognize the name of the tune, it’s the one that’s whistled by the soldiers marching in the great movie “The Bridge on the River Kwai”.
56. What the start of 50-Across is to the start of 19-Across ANTONYM
An antonym is an “anti-synonym”. A synonym is word having the same sense as another, and an antonym the opposite. For example, “love” is an antonym of “hate”, and “stop” is an antonym of “go”.
Down
1. Some email enders PSS
One adds a PS (post scriptum, or simply “postscript”) at the end of a letter (ltr.). A second postscript is a post post scriptum, a PPS.
3. Writer who said “The only abnormality is the incapacity to love” NIN
Anaïs Nin was a French author, famous for her journals that she wrote for over sixty years from the age of 11 right up to her death. Nin also wrote highly regarded erotica and cited D. H. Lawrence as someone from whom she drew inspiration. Nin was married to banker and artist Hugh Parker Guiler in 1923. Decades later in 1955, Nin married former actor Rupert Pole, even though she was still married to Guiler. Nin and Pole had their marriage annulled in 1966, but just for legal reasons, and they continued to live together as husband and wife until Nin passed away in 1977.
4. Hullabaloo HOOPLA
The word “hoopla” means “boisterous excitement”. The term probably comes from “houp-là”, something the French say instead of “upsy-daisy”. Then again, “upsy-daisy” probably isn’t something said very often here in the US …
Our word “hullabaloo” meaning a “commotion” is a derivative of an older term “hollo-ballo”. “Hollo-ballo” was a word used for an uproar in the north of England and Scotland.
5. Els with clubs ERNIE
Ernie Els is a South African golfer. Els a big guy but he has an easy fluid golf swing that has earned him the nickname “The Big Easy”. He is a former World No. 1 and won four majors: the US Open (1994 & 1997) and the British Open (2002 & 2012).
6. Ancient Indo-European ARYAN
The term Aryan can be used to describe the Indo-European languages or the peoples who speak them. The underlying assumption in this grouping is that Indian languages (based on Sanskrit) and the major European languages all have the same root.
9. Five-time world champion skater Carol HEISS
Carol Heiss was a very successful American figure skater, winning five World Championships and an Olympic gold in 1960. Heiss was the first female skater to land a double axel jump.
10. 1994 Costner role EARP
The legendary Western gunfighter and lawman Wyatt Earp has been portrayed on the big and small screen many, many times. Kevin Costner played the title role in 1994’s “Wyatt Earp”, and Val Kilmer played Earp in 2012’s “The First Ride of Wyatt Earp”. Joel McCrea had the part in 1955’s “Wichita”, and Kurt Russell was Earp in 1993’s “Tombstone”.
11. 5 for B or 6 for C AT NO
The atomic number of an element is also called the proton number, and is the number of protons found in the nucleus of each atom of the element.
Boron (B) and carbon (C)
12. Orpheus, for one POET
Orpheus is a figure from Greek mythology, very often associated with poetry, singing, music and the lyre in particular. In ancient Greece there was even an Orphic cult that in effect adopted the poetry ascribed to Orpheus as central to the cult’s belief system. The adjectives “Orphic” and “Orphean” describe things pertaining to Orpheus, and because of his romantic, musical bent, the term has come to describe anything melodious or enchanting.
13. Scraps ORTS
Orts are small scraps of food left after a meal. “Ort” comes from Middle English, and originally described scraps left by animals.
23. __ choy BOK
Bok choy is a variety of Chinese cabbage. “Bok choy” translates as “white vegetable”.
26. Windy City travel org. CTA
Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
It seems that the derivation of Chicago’s nickname as the “Windy City” isn’t as obvious as I would have thought. There are two viable theories. First that the weather can be breezy, with wind blowing in off Lake Michigan. The effect of the wind is exaggerated by the grid-layout adopted by city planners after the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. The second theory is that “windy” means “being full of bluster”. Sportswriters from the rival city of Cincinnati were fond of calling Chicago supporters “windy” in the 1860s and 1870s, meaning that they were full of hot air in their claims that the Chicago White Stockings were superior to the Cincinnati Red Stockings.
27. Colombia neighbor PANAMA
The nation that we now know as Panama sits on an isthmus that formed about 3 million years ago. The isthmus was the result of a land bridge forming between North and South America as two tectonic plates of the Earth’s crust slowly collided. Man first attempted to create a waterway across the Isthmus of Panama in 1881, but the 48-mile long Panama Canal only opened for business in 1914.
28. Actors John and Sean ASTINS
The actor John Astin is best known for playing Gomez, the head of the household on “The Addams Family” TV series.
Sean Astin is best known for playing the title role in the 1993 film “Rudy” and the character Samwise Gamgee in the “Lord of the Rings” movies. You might also have seen Astin playing Lynn McGill in the 5th season of “24”. Astin is the son of actress Patty Duke.
31. Good, in Hebrew TOV
“Tov” is the Hebrew word for “good”, as in “mozel tov” meaning “good luck”.
33. Musical org. based in Kawasaki TSO
The Tokyo Symphony Orchestra (TSO) was founded just after WWII, in 1946. The orchestra is based in Kawasaki, a city located in the Greater Tokyo Area, and routinely performs in several Tokyo concert halls.
34. Electrical measure OHM
The unit of electrical resistance is the ohm (with the symbol omega) named after German physicist Georg Simon Ohm. Ohm was the guy who established experimentally that the amount of current flowing through a circuit is directly proportional to the voltage applied, (V=IR) a relationship that every school kid knows as Ohm’s Law.
36. __-eared LOP
A creature that is “lop-eared” has bent or drooping ears.
39. Much of Nevada DESERT
The official nickname of Nevada is the “Silver State”, a reference to importance of silver ore in the state’s growth and economy. The unofficial nickname is the “Battle Born State”. “Battle Born” is a reference to Nevada being awarded statehood during the American Civil War.
41. Strand under a microscope RNA
RNA and DNA are very similar molecules. One big difference is that RNA is a single-strand structure, whereas DNA is famously a double-helix. Another difference is that RNA contains ribose as a structural unit, and DNA contains deoxyribose i.e. ribose with one less oxygen atom. And that ribose/deoxyribose difference is reflected in the full name of the two molecules: ribonucleic acid (RNA) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA).
48. Good-sized combo NONET
A nonet is a piece of music requiring nine musicians for a performance. The term is also used for the group itself.
52. “__ Smile Be Your Umbrella”: old song
“Let a Smile Be Your Umbrella” is a song first published in 1927. The most successful recording was probably the 1957 version made by Bing Crosby.
56. Arkansas governor Hutchinson ASA
Asa Hutchinson is a Republican politician who took over as Governor of Arkansas in January of 2015. Hutchinson comes from a politically active family. Asa’s older brother Tim served a term as US Senator for Arkansas from 1997 to 2003. Tim’s identical twin sons were the first twins to serve alongside each other in the Arkansas General Assembly.
57. Actress Vardalos NIA
Not only is the delightful Nia Vardalos the star of the 2002 hit movie “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, she also wrote the screenplay. The film never made it to number one at the box office, but it still pulled in more money than any other movie in history that didn’t make it to number one. That record I think reflects the fact that the film wasn’t a blockbuster but rather a so-called “sleeper hit”, a movie that people went to see based on referrals from friends. The big fat mistake came when a spin-off TV show was launched, “My Big Fat Greek Life”. It ran for only 7 episodes.
For the sake of completion, here is a full listing of all the answers:
Across
1. Birdbrain PINHEAD
8. Crummy CHEAPO
14. Annabella of “Jungle Fever” SCIORRA
15. Producer CREATOR
16. What each successive starting word of the answers to starred clues is to the starting word that precedes it SYNONYM
17. Equestrian’s head cover HAIR NET
18. Newscaster Lindström PIA
19. *Popular clubs HOTSPOTS
20. *Ty Cobb specialties STOLEN BASES
24. The last Mrs. Chaplin OONA
25. Valuable extraction ORE
26. Pros with schedules CPAS
30. Save BUT
31. *Dressed down TAKEN TO TASK
35. Closing words EPILOG
37. Hut SHANTY
38. *Didn’t allow to remain in, as political office REMOVED FROM
42. Trouble AIL
43. Barely come (through) SEEP
44. Box “b” on a W-2: Abbr. EIN
45. Magazine that published advance excerpts from Stephen King’s “Firestarter” OMNI
46. *It’s ancient history DISTANT PAST
50. *They might be knocked down in a bar COLD ONES
54. Hamlin’s caveman OOP
55. Like bogeys OVER PAR
56. What the start of 50-Across is to the start of 19-Across ANTONYM
60. Playing the waiting game PATIENT
61. Resort site SEASIDE
62. Pass ELAPSE
63. Minimally AT LEAST
Down
1. Some email enders PSS
2. Dangerous, in a way ICY
3. Writer who said “The only abnormality is the incapacity to love” NIN
4. Hullabaloo HOOPLA
5. Els with clubs ERNIE
6. Ancient Indo-European ARYAN
7. Hydroelectric facility DAM
8. Pack up CRATE
9. Five-time world champion skater Carol HEISS
10. 1994 Costner role EARP
11. 5 for B or 6 for C AT NO
12. Orpheus, for one POET
13. Scraps ORTS
15. Elect CHOSEN
19. Leaping critter HARE
20. Sleeps it off, with “up” SOBERS
21. Theatrical piece? TOUPEE
22. As scheduled ON TIME
23. __ choy BOK
26. Windy City travel org. CTA
27. Colombia neighbor PANAMA
28. Actors John and Sean ASTINS
29. Naturally bright SKYLIT
31. Good, in Hebrew TOV
32. Golden __ AGE
33. Musical org. based in Kawasaki TSO
34. Electrical measure OHM
36. __-eared LOP
39. Much of Nevada DESERT
40. Emotional spells FITS
41. Strand under a microscope RNA
45. Resist OPPOSE
46. Birdbrains DOPES
47. Silly INANE
48. Good-sized combo NONET
49. Wreck big time TOTAL
50. Deal COPE
51. Roundish OVAL
52. “__ Smile Be Your Umbrella”: old song LET A
53. Boring type DRIP
56. Arkansas governor Hutchinson ASA
57. Actress Vardalos NIA
58. Abbr. near a tee YDS
59. Assembled MET
Interesting grid, and I agree with Bill, quite clever on the theme. When I figured it out, I ended up getting this grid. One error, 55-Across, I had ONRADAR, but knew it was a problem when I looked that clue up. Once I did, I got the rest.
On to see what Saturday brings.
I struggled with the NE corner for awhile, but eventually it came together after I got "cheapo" and then remembered that Costner played Earp as well as Ness.
Hope you all have a great Friday.
Indeed – an excellent Friday puzzle. Excellent because I was able to finish error free. Great theme too. SMUGDAY is back!
Couldn't get the NE initially, but when I doubled back at the end, I remebered ORTS which got me CHEAPO and then the rest. 11D ATNO is one that always gets me. I got it this time, but only after getting 3 of the letters so a moral victory only.
I've gotten to the point where Fridays are easily my favorite puzzles. Monday through Thursday I can almost always finish, Saturdays are hopeless, but Fridays are a real crapshoot. I always struggle and it's just a question of whether I can overcome what I don't know via crosses or not. Plus it's the one day of the week where the theme is almost always a crucial part of the solve which adds to the fun of it.
In honor of Carrie's and Bill's bdays which I missed last weekend, I'll probably have a few COLDONES this evening myself.
Best –
Clever theme that I never got until coming to Bill's blog.
so many ways to go wrong. TALL ONES, DOG-eared, CHEAPO I couldn't suss. Defeated again on Friday,
Yesterday was completed correctly, but never heard of STAR CHAMBER.
Have a nice weekend everyone!
Rather difficult. Had to lookup a couple of words. But I did get most of them on my own. Nice and enjoyable.
Removed ==(to)== distant ==(to)== cold …. I thought that was a stretch. But really a very clever bit of wordplay that I, fer sure, could never have thought of.
If the series of seminars I just attended, are accurate, ( and I have no reason to doubt that – ), the W-2's issued in 2016 ( for 2015 wages) will have twice as much information – mostly about the cost of the employer provided health care expenses. Obamacare mandates are getting into full swing. Finally.
Have a great day, and a great weekend, all.
Hey, this is weird ~~my Thursday comment didn't appear! I was sure I posted correctly, and I'm reasonably sure that Bill didn't delete it–Bill??! Say it ain't so!
I did pretty well on today's puzzle, tho of course it's a DNF since I cheated here and there. I actually got the theme early on (without cheating!!) but still had too many unknowns. Now, what's the deal with HAIRNET?! I rode horses for several years and I never wore one!! You wear a helmet! … Unless you're Wyatt Earp, I guess…
Be well~~
@Carrie (and others)
Thank for pointing out that your comment did not appear. It seems that the blog's spam filter was a little over-energetic over the past few days for some reason. I've fixed that now, and hopefully all legit comments are appearing again. Apologies!
Oh, thanks Bill, and no need to apologize! Looks like my post reappeared. Maybe it was blocked because I complained about the puzzle!! 😀