L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday March 23, 2022 Tim D'Alfonso

Theme: Lacking subtlety, I can't do any better than today's reveal.

58. Music industry advisory ... and a warning that may result from misinterpreting this puzzle's theme?: EXPLICIT CONTENT.  The phrase "explicit content" is written as a warning that media (pictures, films or music) contains adult content. This is often sexual or pornographic. It may be bad language. The explicit content warning is for parents who want to sensor what their children see. 

The  first word of each theme fill gives an example.

17. 42-U.S.-gallon containers: CRUDE OIL BARRELS.  Petroleum, also known as crude oil and oil, is a naturally occurring, yellowish-black liquid found in geological formations beneath the Earth's surface. It is commonly refined into various types of fuels.  Crude can also indicate the use of unrefined language or though processes.

27. Cocktail with a splash of olive juice: DIRTY MARTINI.  I prefer mine to be a crystal clear combination of gin and vermouth, garnished with olives.  Dirty can also mean indecent and vulgar, generally due to sexual content or implication.

44. "Maus" is the only one to win a Pulitzer Prize (1992): GRAPHIC NOVEL.  "Graphic Novel" is a format, not a genre. Graphic novels can be fiction, non-fiction, history, fantasy, or anything in-between. Graphic novels are similar to comic books because they use sequential art to tell a story. Unlike comic books, graphic novels are generally stand-alone stories with more complex plots. Graphic also means giving a vivid picture with explicit detail.

So - here is today's theme song.

Across:

1. Alaskan islander: ALEUT.  A member of a people inhabiting the Aleutian Islands, other islands in the Bering Sea, and parts of western Alaska.

6. Bar flier: DART.  Stay on target.

10. Early garden spot: EDEN.  I've heard it was a nice place.

14. Like the yolk in Eggs Benedict: RUNNY.  The recipe calls for a poached egg and Candian Bacon over an English muffin with Hollandaise sauce.  Simmering the eggs for four minutes should give the right yolk consistency.  It's not clear why this needs to be done with stolen eggs, though.

15. MLB Triple Crown category: RBIS.  Runs Batted In.

16. Govern: RULE. Democracies are governed.  Autocracies are ruled.

20. "Try this": HERE.  Have some.

21. Flying geese formation: VEE.  This formation allows for the greatest energy efficiency for the group.

22. Hall partner: OATES.  Daryl Hall and John Oates are an American pop rock duo formed in Philadelphia in 1970. Daryl Hall is generally the lead vocalist; John Oates primarily plays electric guitar and provides backing vocals. The two write most of the songs they perform, separately or in collaboration.   I was never a fan.

23. Tries to make a point?: SERVES.  

on certain sports like tennis or volley ball. Nice clue.

25. Tilt: LEAN.  Be in a sloping position.  You don't need to be skinny.
 
32. Sierra Nevada resort: TAHOE.  This clue is inexact.  Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, straddling the border of California and Nevada. It’s known for its beaches and ski resorts. 

35. Places for hoops, maybe: EARS.  Hoop ear rings.

They're not always this large - or this pricey.

36. Crime boss: DON.  A person in charge of a criminal organization, aka a crime master, big boss, gang lord, kingpin, godfather, mafia boss, terrorist commander or mob boss.

37. Eagerly excited: AGOG. full of intense interest or excitement 

38. "The Martian" star Matt: DAMON.

40. Word with print or note: FOOT.  Foot prints and foot notes.  Nice!

41. Word of dissent: NAY.

42. Late NBA legend, familiarly: KOBE.  Kobe Bean Bryant [1978 - 2020] was an American professional basketball player. A shooting guard, he spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association, where he won championships and other honors.  He, his daughter Gianna and seven others died in a helicopter crash into a mountain side in heavy fog. 

43. Mopey states: SULKS.  Being silent, morose, and bad-tempered out of annoyance or disappointment.

48. Caps, e.g.: HATS.

49. Certain agent's area: REALTY.  Land and/or buildings.

52. Corrective surgery acronym: LASIK.   The acronym for Laser Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis which refers to creating a flap in the cornea with a microkeratome and using a laser to reshape the underlying cornea.

55. Took a load off: SAT.

56. The Beatles' "__ Leaving Home": SHE'S.

I don't recall ever hearing this sad song.

62. Doorstep delivery, at times?: NOEL.  I guess the refers to the old custom of going door to door singing Christmas carols.  Am I missing anything.

63. October birthstone: OPAL.

64. Main line: AORTA.  The main artery of the body, supplying oxygenated blood to the circulatory system. In humans it passes over the heart from the left ventricle and runs down in front of the backbone.

65. One of Snoopy's brothers: ANDY.

Little-known Snoopy facts.

66. Bunyan's blue ox: BABE.

Wikipedia

67. Fishing tool: SPEAR.  Takes a keen eye and a steady hand.

Down:

1. Principal: ARCH.  As in enemy or rival.

2. Fishing gear: LURES.  A type of artificial fishing bait which is designed to attract the attention of predatory fish, using prey-like appearances, movements, vibrations, bright reflections and flashy colors to appeal to the fish's predation instinct and entice it into striking.

3. Habituate: ENURE. Get used to.

4. Expected loser: UNDERDOG.  A competitor thought to have little chance of winning a fight or contest.

5. Sheridan of "Ready Player One": TYE.  Tye Kayle Sheridan [b 1996] is an American actor and producer. He is best known for playing the young Scott Summers / Cyclops in the reboot X-Men film series, as well as Wade Watts in Ready Player One and Ben Goudy in Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse.

6. Most arid: DRIEST.  

7. Fit: ABLE.  Sufficiently skilled to do the job.

8. Bone in the torso: RIB.

9. Screeners at LAX: TSA. Transportation Security Administration.

10. Not on target: ERRANT.  Erring or straying from the proper course or standards.

11. Daft Punk, for one: DUET.  A two-person performing group.

12. Fashion magazine since 1945: ELLE.

13. Condition suffix: -NESS.  As in, frex., smuttiness. 

18. One more time: OVER.  Another repetition.

19. Stadium sounds: ROARS.  Crown noises.

24. Contend: VIE.  Compete with someone for a prize or achievement.

25. ROFL cousin: LMAO.  Text speak for humorous responses.  ROFL is Rolling on the Floor Laughing.  LMAO is the ore anatomical Laughing My Abdomen Off.  YMMV.

26. Bring in: EARN.  As one's paycheck.

28. Coastal Arab country: YEMEN.  Officially the Republic of Yemen, it is a country in Western Asia, on the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It borders Saudi Arabia to the north and Oman to the northeast and shares maritime borders with Eritrea, Djibouti, Somaliland and Somalia.

29. One on a fan site: IDOL. A person or thing that is greatly admired, loved, or revered.

30. Cozy spot: NOOK.  A corner or recess, especially one offering seclusion or security.

31. DBs' stats: INTS.  In American football a Defensive Back is a defender against passing plays.  If he can grab the ball away from the intended receiver, he is credited with an INTerception.

32. Little kick: TANG.  This involves the taste buds, not the feet

33. Petri dish filler: AGAR.  A gel-like substance used for growing cultures.

34. Georgetown athlete: HOYA.  The team name is derived from the mixed Greek and Latin chant "Hoya Saxa" (meaning "What Rocks"), which gained popularity at the school in the late nineteenth century. The name "Hoyas" came into use in the 1920s. Most teams have their athletic facilities on the main campus of Georgetown University.

38. "Just __!": DO IT.   A trademark of shoe company Nike, and it is one of the core components of Nike's brand. The slogan was coined in 1988 at an advertising agency meeting.   Also, a short motivational speech by Shia LaBeouf.

39. Basics: ABCS.

40. Brit's period: FULL STOP.  That little dot following these words.

42. Bold-sounding trouser material: KHAKI.  This was puzzling, since in my pronunciation, it does not sound like cocky.

43. Coral __: SEA.

45. City famous for cheesesteaks, informally: PHILLY.  I understand the original version is made with Cheese Whiz.

46. Soothsayer: ORACLE.  One who can foretell the future

47. Kill, as a bill: VETO.  A power grants to the President of the United States and a U.N. Security Council Member.

50. "Voila!": THERE.  Indicating a success at something.

51. Gossip spreader: YENTA.  A woman who is a gossip or busybody

52. "Master of None" Emmy-winning writer Waithe: LENA.  [b 1984] An American actress, producer, and screenwriter. She is the creator of the Showtime drama series The Chi and the BET comedy series Boomerang and Twenties. She also wrote and produced the crime film Queen & Slim and is the executive producer of the horror anthology series Them.

53. Nerve cell part: AXON.  A portion of a nerve cell (neuron) that carries nerve impulses away from the cell body. A neuron typically has one axon that connects it with other neurons or with muscle or gland cells. 

54. Hustled: SPED.  Hied.

55. Guess: STAB.  Informally.

57. Common flag feature: STAR.  On the flags of many countries.

59. Corn throwaway: COB.

60. Pub pick: IPA.  India Pale Ale. A hoppy beer style within the broader category of pale ale. The style of pale ale which became known as India pale ale was widespread in England by 1815, and would grow in popularity, notably as an export beer shipped to India and elsewhere. 

61. "King's Disease" Grammy-winning rapper: NAS.  Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, [b 1973] better known by his stage name Nas, is an American rapper, songwriter, and entrepreneur. Rooted in the New York hip hop scene, he is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all time.

That's all there is for another Wednesday Folks.  Hope you found it arousing.

Cool regards!

JzB