LA Times Crossword 17 Jul 20, Friday

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Constructed by: Nancy Stark & Will Nediger
Edited by: Rich Norris

Today’s Reveal Answer: Imitation of Life

Themed answers are common phrases, but with the first word replaced with an IMITATION of the original:

  • 65A 1934 Oscar-nominated film whose title hints at the wordplay in three other long answers : IMITATION OF LIFE
  • 17A Minty green cocktail? : ASTROTURF HOPPER (from “grasshopper”)
  • 27A Easier to swallow? : ASPARTAME-COATED (from “sugar-coated”)
  • 49A Puritan preacher involved in the Salem Witch Trials? : POLYESTER MATHER (from “Cotton Mather”)

Bill’s time: 9m 58s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

1 Sticking point? : CRAW

“Craw” is another name for “crop”, a portion of the alimentary tract of some animals, including birds. The crop is used for the storage of food prior to digestion. It allows the animal to eat large amounts and then digest that food with efficiency over an extended period. The expression “to stick in one’s craw” is used when one cannot accept something, cannot “swallow” it.

10 Surveillance network, briefly : CCTV

Closed-circuit television (CCTV)

14 Adonis : HUNK

In Greek mythology, Adonis is a beautiful young god loved by Aphrodite. Adonis dies in a hunting accident (gored by a boar), but not before he gives Aphrodite a child. Adonis was originally a Phoenician god “absorbed” into Greek lore (Phoenicia is modern day Lebanon). The child born of Adonis to Aphrodite was called Beroe, after which is named Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon. We also use the term “adonis” to mean “beautiful male”.

16 Vibe : AURA

An aura (plural “aurae”) is an intangible quality that surrounds a person or thing, a “je ne sais quoi”. “Je ne sais quoi” is French for “I don’t know what”.

17 Minty green cocktail? : ASTROTURF HOPPER (from “grasshopper”)

“AstroTurf” is the trademarked name of an artificial playing surface suitable for many ball sports. AstroTurf was invented in 1965 and originally went on the market as ChemGrass. The first really big application was in 1966 in the Houston Astrodome, so the name “AstroTurf” was applied and has remained ever since.

A grasshopper cocktail is usually served martini-style, and is a mix of equal parts (green) crème de menthe, crème de cacao and cream. I just found a corny joke about the drink that I think is worth repeating:

A grasshopper walks into a bar and hops up onto the counter. The bartender says “we have a drink named after you”. The grasshopper replies “You have a drink named Carl?”

21 Island chain : LEI

“Lei” is a Hawaiian word meaning “garland, wreath”, although in more general terms a lei is any series of objects strung together as an adornment for the body.

23 Not an exact fig. : EST

Estimate (est.)

25 __ King Cole : NAT

Nat King Cole’s real name was Nathaniel Adams Coles. Cole made television history in 1956 when his own show debuted on NBC, a first for an African-American. Cole couldn’t pick up a national sponsor, so in order to save money and possibly save the show, many guest artists worked for no fee at all – the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Harry Belafonte and Peggy Lee. The show survived for a year, but eventually Nat King Cole had to pull the plug on it himself.

27 Easier to swallow? : ASPARTAME-COATED (from “sugar-coated”)

The amino acids glutamic acid and aspartame are used in the food industry. The sodium salt of glutamic acid is monosodium glutamate (MSG), a flavor enhancer that imparts a savory taste. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener composed of aspartic acid and phenylaniline joined by a peptide bond.

36 Panache : ELAN

Our word “élan” was imported from French, in which language the word has a similar meaning to ours, i.e “style, flair”.

Someone exhibiting panache is showing dash and verve, and perhaps has a swagger. “Panache” is a French word used for a plume of feathers, especially one in a hat.

37 Número after cero : UNO

In Spanish, “dos” (two) minus “dos” (two) is “cero” (zero).

38 “Gypsy” (2008) Tony winner : LUPONE

Singer Patti LuPone won Tonys for playing Eva Peron in “Evita ” and Rose in “Gypsy”.

“Gypsy” is a 1959 musical stage show with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The show is loosely based on the memoirs of famous striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee, published in 1957. The stage show focuses more on Gypsy’s mother Rose.

41 Pinnacle : TOP

Our word “pinnacle”, meaning “lofty peak”, comes from the Latin “pinna” meaning “peak, point”.

43 “The Goldfinch” novelist Donna : TARTT

Novelist Donna Tartt won a Pulitzer for her 2013 novel “The Goldfinch”. That same novel was adapted into a 2019 film, which sadly bombed at the box office.

44 Code prohibiting singing? : OMERTA

“Omertà” is a code of honor in southern Italian society. The term has been adopted by the Mafia to mean a code of silence designed to prevent a Mafioso from becoming an informer. For example, the famous Joe Valachi was someone who broke the code of silence in 1963, informing on the New York Mafia. Valachi’s story was told in the movie “The Valachi Papers”, with Charles Bronson playing the lead.

46 Trashy newspaper : RAG

A low-quality newspaper is often referred to as a “rag”. There are lots of rags out there …

49 Puritan preacher involved in the Salem Witch Trials? : POLYESTER MATHER (from “Cotton Mather”)

In a general sense, a polyester is any polymer containing the ester functional group in the main chain. In this sense, the list of polyesters includes naturally occurring compounds as well as synthetics. More specifically, the term “polyester” is often synonymous for the synthetic compound polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is the main constituent of the manufactured fibers Dacron and Terylene.

Cotton Mather was a New England Puritan minister who played a central role in the Salem witch trials, and not in a good way …

The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings held in 1692 and 1693 in colonial Massachusetts, most famously in Salem. As a result of mass hysteria, twenty people were convicted of practicing witchcraft and were executed. The events were deemed to be a terrible injustice almost immediately. As early as 1696, there was a legal ruling by the Massachusetts General Court that referred to the outcome of the trials as a tragedy. In 2001, the Massachusetts legislature officially exonerated all of those convicted.

52 Old records : LPS

The first vinyl records designed to play at 33⅓ rpm were introduced by RCA Victor in 1931, but were discontinued due to quality problems. The first long play (LP) 33⅓ rpm disc was introduced by Columbia Records many years later in 1948, with RCA Victor following up with a 45 rpm “single” the following year, in 1949.

53 Bobs and weaves : DOS

A bob cut is a short hairstyle in which the hair is cut straight around the head, at about the line of the jaw. Back in the 1570s, “bob” was the name given to a horse’s tail that was cut short, and about a century later it was being used to describe short hair on humans. The style became very popular with women in the early 1900s (as worn by actress Clara Bow, for example), with the fashion dying out in the thirties. The style reemerged in the sixties around the time the Beatles introduced their “mop tops”, with Vidal Sassoon leading the way in styling women’s hair in a bob cut again. Personally, I like it …

Hair weaves are used to add length and body to hairstyles. Extensions, made from human or synthetic hair, are usually clipped, glued or sewn into natural hair to achieve the effect. Most of the human hair used in extensions comes from India and China, with a lot sourced from religious institutions. In some traditions, the believers shave their heads as an act of devotion, after which the temple sells the hair at auction.

58 “Barry” channel : HBO

“Barry” is a dark comedy TV series starring Bill Hader as an Ohio hitman who questions his life of crime. Veteran actor Henry Winkler plays an award-winning supporting role as the teacher of an acting class that the hitman joins.

60 Major religion of Indonesia : ISLAM

Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world, and is the country with the largest population of Muslims. And, Indonesia has an amazing 17,508 islands.

65 1934 Oscar-nominated film whose title hints at the wordplay in three other long answers : IMITATION OF LIFE

“Imitation of Life” is a 1933 novel by Fannie Hurst. It was adapted for the big screen in 1934 and 1959. The 1934 movie stars Claudette Colbert and Warren William, and the 1959 film stars Lana Turner and John Gavin.

69 Yankee Candle emanation : AROMA

Yankee Candle is a manufacturer most associated with its line of scented candles. Located in South Deerfield, Massachusetts, it is the largest candle manufacturer in the country.

70 Retailer with a meatball recipe to make at “höme” : IKEA

Every IKEA store features a restaurant that serves traditional Swedish food, including Swedish meatballs and lingonberry jam. Each store also has a Swedish Food Market where customers can purchase specialty foods from Sweden.

72 Frisky swimmer : OTTER

Sea otters actually hold hands while sleeping on their backs so that they don’t drift apart. When sea otter pups are too small to lock hands, they clamber up onto their mother’s belly and nap there.

73 Whimper : MEWL

To mewl is to cry weakly like a baby, with “mewl” being somewhat imitative.

Down

1 Libya neighbor : CHAD

The landlocked African country called Chad takes its name from the second largest wetland on the continent, which is known as Lake Chad.

4 Sitcom radio station : WKRP

The sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati” was produced by MTM, the production company established by Mary Tyler Moore and her husband for the “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”. “WKRP” was a successful enough show when it originally aired, but then became a blockbuster in syndication. It became MTM’s most-watched program, even outstripping the original “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”.

5 Brave adversary? : MET

The New York Mets baseball team was founded in 1962 as a replacement for two teams that the city had lost, namely the Brooklyn Dodgers and the New York Giants. For several years the Mets played very poorly, finishing no better than second-to-last in their division. Then along came the “Miracle Mets” (aka “Amazin’ Mets”) who beat the Baltimore Orioles in 1969 to claim the World Series in a huge upset.

9 E-cig’s lack : ASH

An electronic cigarette (also called an “e-cigarette”) is a battery-powered device that resembles a real cigarette. The e-cigarette vaporizes a solution that contains nicotine, forming a vapor that resembles smoke. The vapor is inhaled in a process called “vaping”, delivering nicotine into the body. The assumption is that an e-cigarette is healthier than a regular cigarette as the inhaled vapor is less harmful than inhaled smoke. But, that may not be so …

11 Starbucks stack : CUPS

Starbucks is a coffee company based in Seattle, Washington. It is the largest coffeehouse company in the world and has over 19,000 stores. In the 1990s, Starbucks was opening one new store every single day! Starbucks is named after the chief mate on the Pequod in Herman Melville’s book “Moby Dick”.

24 Early Beatle Sutcliffe : STU

Stu Sutcliffe was one of the original four members of The Silver Beatles (as The Beatles were known in their early days), along with John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison. Sutcliffe apparently came up with the name “Beatles” along with John Lennon, as a homage to their hero Buddy Holly who was backed by the “Crickets”. By all reports, Sutcliffe wasn’t a very talented musician and was more interested in painting. He went with the group to Hamburg, more than once, but he eventually left the Beatles and went back to art school, actually studying for a while at the Hamburg College of Art. In 1962 in Hamburg, Sutcliffe collapsed with blinding headaches. He died in the ambulance on the way to hospital, his death attributed to cerebral paralysis.

26 Oft-torn knee part : ACL

The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of four major ligaments that support the knee.

27 “Lion’s share” originated from a story of his : AESOP

Aesop wrote several fables in which a lion takes a large share by force. These tales give rise to our idiomatic expression “the lion’s share”.

29 Group of pundits : PANEL

A pundit is a learned person to whom one might turn for an opinion. “Pundit” is derived from the Hindi word “payndit” meaning “learned man”.

31 Demi of “Ghost” : MOORE

Demi Moore was born Demetria Guynes and took the name Demi Moore when she married her first husband, Freddy Moore. Moore’s second husband was Bruce Willis. She changed her name to Demi Guynes Kutcher a few years after marrying her third husband, Ashton Kutcher. However, Kutcher and Moore split in 2013.

The fabulous film “Ghost” was the highest-grossing movie at the box office in 1990, bringing in over $500 million, despite only costing $21 million to make. Stars of the film are Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg. You might want to check out the stage musical adaptation “Ghost The Musical”, which debuted in 2011 and is touring the UK and US.

33 Word from the Hebrew for “teaching” : TORAH

The Torah ark is found in a synagogue, and is the ornamental container in which the Torah scrolls are stored. The word “Torah” best translates as “teaching” or “law”, I am told.

34 __ nous : ENTRE

In French, something might perhaps be discussed “entre deux” (between two) or “entre nous” (between us).

40 Designer McCartney : STELLA

Stella McCartney is an English fashion designer. She is the daughter of musician Paul McCartney (of Beatles fame) and photographer Linda McCartney nee Eastman.

45 Egyptian viper : ASP

The asp is a venomous snake found in the Nile region of Africa. It is so venomous that the asp was used in ancient Egypt and Greece as a means of execution. Cleopatra observed such executions noting that the venom brought on sleepiness without any painful spasms. When the great queen opted to commit suicide, the asp was therefore her chosen method.

47 Controversial food letters : GMO

A genetically modified organism (GMO) is one with genetic material that has been altered by genetic engineering. One might argue that the oldest form of genetic engineering is selective breeding, the use of animals or plants with desired traits for the creation of the next generation.

50 Many a souvenir : T-SHIRT

A souvenir is a memento, a token of remembrance. We imported the word “souvenir” from French, in which language it has the same meaning. The term comes from the Latin “subvenire” meaning “to come to mind”, or literally “to come up”.

57 Handmade goods website : ETSY

Etsy.com is an e-commerce website where you can buy and sell the kind of items that you might find at a craft fair.

66 Eastern “way” : TAO

The name of the Chinese character “tao” translates as “path”, but the concept of Taoism signifies the true nature of the world.

67 Shell mover : OAR

A scull is a boat used for competitive rowing. The main hull of the boat is often referred to as a shell. Crew members who row the boat can be referred to as “oars”. And, a scull is also an oar mounted on the stern of a small boat. It’s all very confusing …

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Sticking point? : CRAW
5 Mixed __ : MEDIA
10 Surveillance network, briefly : CCTV
14 Adonis : HUNK
15 Finals, e.g. : EXAMS
16 Vibe : AURA
17 Minty green cocktail? : ASTROTURF HOPPER (from “grasshopper”)
20 Plunging neckline type : DEEP V
21 Island chain : LEI
22 Annoying : PESKY
23 Not an exact fig. : EST
25 __ King Cole : NAT
27 Easier to swallow? : ASPARTAME-COATED (from “sugar-coated”)
36 Panache : ELAN
37 Número after cero : UNO
38 “Gypsy” (2008) Tony winner : LUPONE
39 Airs : SONGS
41 Pinnacle : TOP
43 “The Goldfinch” novelist Donna : TARTT
44 Code prohibiting singing? : OMERTA
46 Trashy newspaper : RAG
48 Hard to find : RARE
49 Puritan preacher involved in the Salem Witch Trials? : POLYESTER MATHER (from “Cotton Mather”)
52 Old records : LPS
53 Bobs and weaves : DOS
54 Eye color : HAZEL
58 “Barry” channel : HBO
60 Major religion of Indonesia : ISLAM
65 1934 Oscar-nominated film whose title hints at the wordplay in three other long answers : IMITATION OF LIFE
68 Rackets : DINS
69 Yankee Candle emanation : AROMA
70 Retailer with a meatball recipe to make at “höme” : IKEA
71 Nervous : EDGY
72 Frisky swimmer : OTTER
73 Whimper : MEWL

Down

1 Libya neighbor : CHAD
2 Deceptive ploy : RUSE
3 Poker entry fee : ANTE
4 Sitcom radio station : WKRP
5 Brave adversary? : MET
6 Over the moon : EXULTANT
7 Take a risk : DARE
8 “Feeling good” : I’M FINE
9 E-cig’s lack : ASH
10 Sleeveless garment : CAPE
11 Starbucks stack : CUPS
12 Cause of blisters, perhaps : TREK
13 Your mileage may __ : VARY
18 Word after bowl or blow : … OVER
19 Decline to participate : OPT OUT
24 Early Beatle Sutcliffe : STU
26 Oft-torn knee part : ACL
27 “Lion’s share” originated from a story of his : AESOP
28 NBA replay aid : SLO-MO
29 Group of pundits : PANEL
30 Seeing red : ANGRY
31 Demi of “Ghost” : MOORE
32 Separated : APART
33 Word from the Hebrew for “teaching” : TORAH
34 __ nous : ENTRE
35 Discourage : DETER
40 Designer McCartney : STELLA
42 “Please repeat that?” : PARDON ME?
45 Egyptian viper : ASP
47 Controversial food letters : GMO
50 Many a souvenir : T-SHIRT
51 “That’ll be the day!” : AS IF!
54 Conceal : HIDE
55 Surrounded by : AMID
56 “Oh snap!” : ZING!
57 Handmade goods website : ETSY
59 Abrupt dismissal : BOOT
61 __ to none: bad odds : SLIM
62 Go for : LIKE
63 Several : A FEW
64 Event with courses : MEAL
66 Eastern “way” : TAO
67 Shell mover : OAR