L.A.Times Crossword Puzzle January 26, 2022 Darryl Gonzales

Theme:  We'll Get Along Swimmingly or This Puzzle Is All Wet.   You can choose.

It will make more sense if we start with the unifier.

39. '70s-'80s series about the Drummond family ... and what the starts of four long answers are: DIFF'RENT STROKES.  This was 

an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978, to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985, to March 7, 1986. 

[From IMDB] "

Two black kids from Harlem, Arnold Jackson and older brother Willis, are welcomed into the family of wealthy New York businessman Philip Drummond when their mother, his housekeeper, passes away. The two brothers become part of the Drummond family and learn various lessons about life."  I wasn't a regular watched, but did see this show occasionally.  It was pretty good.

Back to the puzzle: the first word of each theme answer is a specific stroke used in swimming.

17 A. Oxymoronic '80s sci-fi film title: BACK TO THE FUTURE.  This is classic.

The BACK STROKE: Lie on your back and flutter your legs while circling your arms in a windmill motion. You swim on your back and propel yourself backwards. 

28 A. Out-of-the-way access: SIDE ENTRANCE.  Possibly good for sneaking in or out.

Although not one of the official four strokes in competitive swimming, the sidestroke is a great survival technique. This is commonly used by lifeguards because you can hold onto another person and keep them above water while you swim. Lie on your side and scissor your legs to propel yourself forward.

47 A. Place for a pen: BREAST POCKET.  A pocket on the front of a shirt or jacket, located over the chest.

The BREAST STROKE: Float with your stomach facing down, then move your arms in a half-circle motion in front of the body. Bend your legs, then kick back with good timing, and you’ll propel yourself up and forward. This is a great workout and is recommended for those who swim for exercise.

65. Seafood order: BUTTERFLY SHRIMP.  To butterfly a shrimp means to do a lengthwise incision on the front or back of the shrimp in a symmetrical way. Since it should be symmetrical or equally alike, both sides of the shrimp must have the same form when opened – like the shape of a butterfly with wings extended.

The BUTTERFLY STROKE: An excellent workout and common competitive stroke–possibly because it tests a mature swimmer–the butterfly is performed by bringing your arms up above your head, then pushing them down into the water to propel yourself forward. Your legs perform a dolphin kick, in which they stay together and kick simultaneously in a bobbing fashion. 

[Stroke descriptions]

Hi, gang, JazzBumpa on duty.  I'm not much of a swimmer, but lets dive right in to the puzzle.

Across:

1. Natural sand bank: BERM.  A flat strip of land, raised bank, or terrace bordering a river or canal.  I guess it could be sand.

5. Historic times: AGES.  As, free, the jazz AGE.

9. Standing at attention, say: ERECT.  Upright, as a good soldier should be.

14. Diva's solo: ARIA.  From operas and oratorios.  If Game of Thrones were an opera there could be an Arya ARIA.

15. Meter starter: DECI-.  Meaning one tenth of.

16. Cookie maker's tool: MIXER.  To blend all the ingredients

20. "Jeopardy!" contestant: ASKER.  That's the way this show works.   Answers must be in the form of a question.

21. Cub slugger: SOSA.  Samuel Peralta Sosa [b 1968]  is a Dominican American former professional baseball right fielder. He played in Major League Baseball for 19 seasons, primarily with the Chicago Cubs. After playing for the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox, Sosa joined the Cubs in 1992 and became regarded as one of the game's best hitters. [Wikipedia]

22. Paradise: EDEN.  The perfect place, if you can keep it.

23. Anasazi home setting: MESA.  A table land in the American South-west.  The Ancestral Puebloans, also known as the Anasazi, were an ancient Native American culture that spanned the present-day Four Corners region of the United States, comprising southeastern Utah, northeastern Arizona, northwestern New Mexico, and southwestern Colorado.  [Wikipedia]

25. "__ the season ... ": TIS.  To be jolly, so cheer up, dammit!

27. Crowd no., often: ESTimation.

33. It's its own square: ONE.  Also the loneliest number.

34. Nice water?: EAU.  French.  Do you think it's nice?

35. Lanai greeting: ALOHA.  Welcome to Hawaii

44. Enjoying a scone, maybe: AT TEA.  We have tea at 4:00 every afternoon.  Sadly, though, I have to watch my carbs.

45. Call to Jude?: HEY.

 

 46. RN workplaces: ORS. Operating Rooms.

52. African snake: ASP.  As Cleopatra well knew, as the story goes.  But historians dispute the manner of her death

55. Major NJ airport: EWR.  Newark - Liberty International Airport.

56. Prepare to mail: SEAL.  As an envelope.

57. Small deer: ROES.  These are small deer native to Europe, reddish and grey-brown, and well-adapted to cold environments.

59. NYC's __ River: EAST.  A salt water tidal estuary in New York City. The waterway, which is actually not a river despite its name, connects Upper New York Bay on its south end to Long Island Sound on its north end.  Who knew?

61. Salamanca snacks: TAPAS.  Salamanca, in northwestern Spain, is the capital of Salamanca province, part of the Castile and León region.  Appetizers or snacks in Spanish cuisine.

68. Frisky swimmer: OTTER.  Some aquatic creatures are fish.  others are otters.  Either way, they're all wet.

69. "The Clan of the Cave Bear" protagonist: AYLA.  The Clan of the Cave Bear is a 1980 novel and epic work of prehistoric fiction by Jean M. Auel about prehistoric times. It is the first book in the Earth's Children book series, which speculates on the possibilities of interactions between Neanderthal and modern Cro-Magnon humans.

70. Fencing tool: EPEE.  A sharp-pointed dueling sword, designed for thrusting and used, with the end blunted, in fencing.

71. Feature of Mike and Ike candy?: RHYME.  Oblong, chewy, colorful candies coming in many flavors.  The only rhyming aspect I can figure out is in the name.

72. Pour: TEEM.   TEEM means to be full of or swarming with.  I can't relate it to pour.

73. Look after: TEND.  As sheep or children.

Down:

1. Quick Draw's sidekick __ Looey: BABA.

 

 2. Historic times: ERAS.

3. "Casablanca" hero: RICK.  Also classic.

 

 4. Bully's challenge: MAKE ME.

5. Turmoil: ADO.  A state of agitation or fuss, especially about something unimportant.

6. Enjoys the beach, say: GETS A TAN.  Don't forget your sunblock.  You want a TAN, not a burn.

7. Canyon comeback: ECHO.

8. Afternoon break: SIESTA.  Nap in Spanish

9. Long-legged runner: EMU.  Big bird.

10. Serious ceremony: RITE.  By definition

11. Radiate: EXUDE.  

12. Roman goddess of agriculture: CERES.  In ancient Roman religion, Ceres was a goddess of agriculture, grain crops, fertility and motherly relationships.  [Wikipedia]

13. Stoke-on-__: English city: TRENT.  Known for its pottery.

18. Plant with a trunk: TREE.

19. Gladly, to Shakespeare: FAIN.  Archaic word meaning done with pleasure.

24. Old-time knife: SNEE.  A large knife.  The word has cognates in other Germanic languages. 

26. Sign of surgery: SCAR.

28. Pop at a counter: SODA.  Pop in some regions, soda in others.  or even soda pop.  What do you say?

29. Down but not out: IN IT.  As, for example, the Chiefs with 14 seconds left.

30. Slick: DEFT.  Said of something done in a neatly skillful and quick manner, as for example Matthew Stafford to Cooper Kupp, as can be seen here.

31. Babe and a doctor: RUTHS.  Baseball star George Herman Ruth, Jr. [1895 - 1948] and Dr. Karola Ruth Westheimer. [b. 1928]

32. "Do Ya" rock gp.: ELO.  Electric Light Orchestra.

 

 36. "That's enough!": OK OK.  TMI; stop it already.

37. "You are __": mall map info: HERE.

38. Exec.'s helper: ASST.  Assistant.

40. Big mo. for chocolate purchases: FEB.  Thank you, St. Valentine.

41. Steakhouse order: RARE.  Style of cooking.

42. Established method: SET STYLE.  I'd call a standard operating procedure, but OK.

43. Work at a keyboard: TYPE.  As I am doing right now.

48. Pretty pitcher: EWER.  A large jug with a wide mouth.  Might or might not be pretty as a picture.

49. 1994 Peace co-Nobelist with Rabin and Peres: ARAFAT.  Mohammed Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf al-Qudwa al-Husseini [1929 - 2004] popularly known as Yasser Arafat or by his kunya Abu Ammar, was a Palestinian political leader. 

50. Solemn vow: OATH.

51. Brit's Bordeaux: CLARET.  Unofficial reference to red Bordeaux wines.

52. Garden recess: ARBOR.  A shady garden alcove with sides and a roof formed by trees or climbing plants trained over a wooden framework.

53. TV's "__ Park": SOUTH.

 

 54. Tom of the Traveling Wilburys: PETTY.  Thomas Earl Petty [1950 - 2017] was an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, and actor. He was the lead vocalist and guitarist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, formed in 1976. He previously led the band Mudcrutch, and was also a member of the late 1980s supergroup the Traveling Wilburys.

 

 58. Stop, as a flow: STEM.

60. Roy Rogers' birth name: SLYE.  Leonard Franklin Slye [1911- 1998] aka Roy Rogers was an American singer, actor, and television host. Following early work under his given name, first as co-founder of the Sons of the Pioneers and then acting, the rebranded Rogers then became one of the most popular Western stars of his era.

62. Plumbing part: PIPE.

63. "Right you are!": AMEN.

64. Went too fast: SPED.

66. Before, to a poet: ERE.

67. Yosemite __: SAM.

This wraps up another Wednesday.  Hope you didn't flounder.

L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday, January 12, 2022 Craig Stowe

Theme: This puzzle is for the birds!  You'll soon see why.

17 A. 1994 Best New Artist Grammy winner's winged pet?: SHERYL'S CROW.  Sheryl Suzanne Crow [b. 1962] is an American musician, singer, songwriter and actress. Her music incorporates elements of pop, rock, country, jazz and blues. She has released ten studio albums, four compilations and two live albums, as well as contributed to several film soundtracks.  She took home not just the GRAMMY Award for Best New Artist, but also Record Of The Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for “All I Wanna Do.”

A crow is a bird of the genus Corvus, a widely distributed genus of medium-sized to large birds in the family Corvidae. The genus includes species commonly known as crows, ravens and rooks.

28 A. "La La Land" actor's winged pet?: RYAN'S GOSLING.  Ryan Thomas Gosling is a Canadian actor. He began his career as a child star on the Disney Channel's The Mickey Mouse Club, and went on to appear in other family entertainment programs, including Are You Afraid of the Dark? and Goosebumps.  I'm not an expert in such things, but I think he is generally considered to be a hunk.

My abs do no look like this.

A GOSLING is a young goose that has not yet developed flight feathers.  Don't we all start out that way?

44. "Shake It Off" singer's winged pet?: TAYLOR'S SWIFT.   Taylor Alison Swift [b 1989] is an American singer-songwriter. Her discography spans multiple genres, and her narrative songwriting, which is often inspired by her personal life, has received widespread media coverage and critical praise.\

The swifts are a family, Apodidae, of highly aerial birds. They are superficially similar to swallows, but are not closely related to any passerine species. Swifts are placed in the order Apodiformes with hummingbirds.

58 A. "Network" Oscar winner's winged pet?: PETER'S FINCH.  Frederick George Peter Ingle Finch [1916 – 1977] was an English-born Australian actor.  He is best remembered for his role as crazed television anchorman Howard Beale in the 1976 film Network, which earned him a posthumous Academy Award for Best Actor, his fifth Best Actor award from the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, and a Best Actor award from the Golden Globes.

The true finches are small to medium-sized passerine birds in the family Fringillidae. Finches have stout conical bills adapted for eating seeds and nuts and often have colourful plumage. They occupy a great range of habitats where they are usually resident and do not migrate.

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa here to guide this bird watching excursion.  I hope it's not more than we can swallow.  So stay eagle-eyed.

Across:

1. Gauchos' gear: BOLAS.  A bolas is a type of throwing weapon made of weights on the ends of interconnected cords, used to capture animals by entangling their legs.  

6. Postpone: DEFER.  delay for an unspecified time.

11. Shakespearean possessive: THY.  If yours is thine, then what is mine?

14. Pass a test with flying colors: ACE IT. I have my first stress test early next month.  How should I study for it?

15. __ Lodge: ECONO.   A cheap [supposedly] motel.

16. Tint: HUE.  Color

19. Noteworthy time: ERA.  As, free. jazz, Elizabethan.

20. Drives up the wall: IRKS.  Angers, annoys.

21. Word with filter or field: OIL.  The original fossil fuel.

22. Google __: EARTH.  A mapping app.

24. Retirement fund: NEST EGG.  What you have saved for later.

26. Causing the heebie-jeebies: EERIE.  Strange or frightening.

32. "1984" antagonist: O'BRIEN.  An agent of the thought police who tricks the protagonist, Winston Smith, into believing that he opposes the totalitarian state.  It does not end well.

35. Got the pot: WON.  In some game or gambling event.

36. Also: TOO.  In addition.

37. Backing-up warnings: BEEPS.  Required of large vehicles as a safety measure.

38. Auntie, to mom: SIS.  Family ties.

39. Sheepish?: OVINE.  Literal.

41. "__ say!": I'LL.  Indication of strong agreement.

42. Quagmire: BOG.  Marsh, fen, swamp.

43. Sees, and then some: RAISES.  Increases the bet in a poler hand.

48. Arctic abode: IGLOO.  A type of shelter built of snow.   They were traditionally used only by the people of Canada's Central Arctic and Greenland's Thule area.

49. Biblical shout of praise: HOSANNA.  Evidently derived from an Aramaic root meaning save, rescue or savior, possibly indicating a special kind of respect.

 

 53. Lost strength: WANED.  Decreased in vigor, power, or extent; became weaker.

 55. It may be called: BET. As, for example, in a poker game.

56. Defensive ditch: MOAT.  A deep, wide ditch surrounding a castle, fort, or town, typically filled with water and intended as a defense against attack.

57. "I need a __": HUG.  Comfort and warmth

62. Kerfuffle: ADO.   A state of agitation or fuss, especially about something unimportant.

63. "Superman" actor: REEVE.   Christopher D'Olier Reeve [1952 - 2004] was an American actor, director, and activist, best known for playing the titular main character in the film Superman and its three sequels. 

64. Start of el año: ENERO.  First month of the year.

65. Bronze component: TIN.  Mostly copper, with about 12% tin.

66. Gives the green light: OKAYS.  Allows to proceed. 

67. Sees: DATES.  Goes out with.

Down:

1. Tidal low area: BASIN.  An area that is only navigable at high seas.

2. Yellowish shade: OCHRE. A light brownish yellow produced by clay containing ferric oxide and sand.

3. Onion relatives: LEEKS.   Hardy biennial plants of the amaryllis family (Amaryllidaceae), grown as vegetables.  The plant is related to the onion and has a mild, sweet, onionlike flavour. 

4. Landing site: AIRSTRIP.  An airport runway.

5. Farm structure: STY.   Home for pigs.

6. Pattern: DESIGN.  A regular repeating form.

7. Bk. after Proverbs: ECCL.   Ecclesiastes written c. 450–200 BCE, is one of the Ketuvim of the Hebrew Bible and one of the "Wisdom" books of the Christian Old Testament. 

8. In favor of: FOR.  I had "pro."  Oh, well.

9. Music producer Brian: ENO.  Brian Peter George St John le Baptiste de la Salle Eno RDI [Royal Designer for Industry] is a British musician, composer, record producer and visual artist best known for his pioneering work in ambient music and contributions to rock, pop and electronica. 

10. Coxswain's charges: ROWERS.   In a race setting, the coxswain is tasked with motivating the crew as well as steering as straight a course as possible to minimize the distance to the finish line. 

11. Pointer's proclamation: THERE IT IS.   

12. Damage: HURT.

13. "Uh-huh": YEAH.  

18. Easternmost major U.S. airport: LOGAN.  In Boston.

23. Plague: AIL.  

25. Seers?: EYES.  

26. Big heads?: EGOS.

27. Dog's age, so to speak: EON.   I am not familiar with this usage.

29. Gulps: SWIGS.   Drinking increments.

30. Squat: NONE.  Zip, nada

31. Leaves: GOES.  Exits.

32. Last bio: OBIT.  A notice of a death, especially in a newspaper, typically including a brief biography of the deceased person.

33. Horror film first name: BELA.   Béla Ferenc Dezső Blaskó [1882 - 1956] known professionally as Bela Lugosi, was a Hungarian-American actor best remembered for portraying Count Dracula in the 1931 film, Ygor in Son of Frankenstein and his roles in many other horror films from 1931 through 1956. 

34. Putting one's faith in: RELYING ON.  

38. Middling: SOSO.  Not so hot

39. Big galoots: OAFS.  A stupid, uncultured, or clumsy person.

40. Nutrient abundant in liver: VITAMIN A.

42. Dude: BRO.  Homie.

43. Rolling-in-the-aisles causes: RIOTS.  A laugh riot, not a violent disturbance of the peace by a crowd.

45. Tee size: Abbr.: LGE.   Large.

46. Seasoned expert: OLD PRO.

47. Waldo forerunner?: WHERE'S.  The word placed in front of Waldo's name in children's picture books.  This is a strained use of the word "forerunner."

50. Large chamber ensemble: NONET.   Nine musicians

51. Mother-of-pearl: NACRE.   An organic–inorganic composite material produced by some molluscs as an inner shell layer; it is also the material of which pearls are composed. It is strong, resilient, and iridescent. 

52. Oldest Musketeer: ATHOS.  I did not know this.

53. "__ now?": WHAT.  Inquiry into ensuing events.

54. Volkswagen subsidiary: AUDI.    A German automotive manufacturer of luxury vehicles headquartered in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany. As a subsidiary of its parent company, the Volkswagen Group, Audi produces vehicles in nine production facilities worldwide.

55. Bunch of beauties: BEVY.   A large group of people or things of a particular kind.

59. Comics shriek: EEK.  As, free., on the occasion of a rodent sighting.

60. Green or black beverage: TEA.

61. Sustained: FED.  Supplied nourishment for.

That puts another Wednesday in the nest.  Hope this flight of fancy was just eggciting enough.

Cool regards!

JzB

P. S. On proofreading I detected a little game of chance sub-theme.  Did you catch it? 

L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday, December 15 Matt Skoczen

Theme: Mountain Range.  Each theme entry contains the name of a mountain range, and in each case it begins and ends with the first and last letters that name - hence the use of "range" in the unifier clue.  Let's start there.

37 A. What each set of circled letters spells ... and depicts: MOUNTAIN RANGE.  Self explanatory.  But could be baffling if you didn't get the circles.

17A . Enforcement arm of the fed. courts: U.S. MARSHALS.  It is a bureau within the U.S. Department of Justice, operating under the direction of the Attorney General, but serves as the enforcement arm of the United States federal courts to ensure the effective operation of the judiciary and integrity of the Constitution.

The URALS are a mountain range that runs approximately from north to south through western Russia, from the coast of the Arctic Ocean to the river Ural and northwestern Kazakhstan. The mountain range forms part of the conventional boundary between the regions of Europe and Asia.

24 A. Streaming service whose logo ends with a math symbol: APPLE TV PLUS.  A streaming device for Apple devices, smart TVs and more.  It features new, original programming every month.

The ALPS are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately 1,200 km across eight Alpine countries: France, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Liechtenstein, Austria, Germany, and Slovenia.

48 A. "What I Like About You" co-star: AMANDA BYNES. [b. 1986]   is an American actress. She is best known for her work in television and film throughout the 1990s and 2000s. 

The ANDES, running along South America's western side, is among the world's longest mountain ranges. Its varied terrain encompasses glaciers, volcanoes, grassland, desert, lakes and forest. The mountains shelter pre-Columbian archaeological sites and wildlife including chinchillas and condors. From Venezuela in the north, the range passes through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile.

58 A. Family CBS series set on a self-named mountain: THE WALTONS. The life of a Depression-era family in Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains is the subject of this wholesome series. The show is seen from the point of view of eldest son John Boy, who eventually goes to college, serves in World War II and becomes a novelist.

The TETONS are located in Wyoming, and are a sub-range of the Rockies.  I once read a quip that only a French man would look at these peaks and be reminded of his mistress's bosom.

Hi, Gang - JazzBumpa here to lead this expedition.  No Himalayas, so we won't need a Sherpa guide.  Let's get our climbing boots on a start the ascent.

Across:

1. "Sleepy Hollow" actress Christina: RICCI. [b 1980] is an American actress. She is known for playing unconventional characters with a dark edge.

6. Scenic overlook offering: VIEW.  As of, free, those grand Tetons.

10. Tools with teeth: SAWS.  Pliers have jaws.

14. Broadcast warning sign: ON AIR. Admonition to avoid making vagrant sounds.

15. Included in the email loop, briefly: CCED.  indicating those who are also sent a copy.

16. See 19-Across: CLEF.  I've been playing since 1960, and still want to spell this word with 2 f's.

19. With 16-Across, staff symbol for viola music: ALTO.  Presumably, this abomination exists to avoid the use of ledger lines.  In reality, there is no rational excuse for it. /rant

20. Oopsy on the keys: TYPO.  I love the German word for this: Fingerfehler.

21. Feel out of sorts: AIL. 

22. Somali-born supermodel: IMAN.  Iman Abdulmajid [b 1955] is a Somali-American fashion model, actress and entrepreneur. A muse of the designers Gianni Versace, Thierry Mugler, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan and Yves Saint Laurent, she is also noted for her philanthropic work. She is the widow of English rock musician David Bowie, whom she married in 1992.

23. 67.5 deg.: ENE.  The direction East-northeast.

28. Curtain material: SCRIM.  A woven material, either finely woven lightweight fabric widely used in theatre, or a heavy, coarse woven material used for reinforcement in both building and canvasmaking.

30. Vegas opening?: VEE.  A spelt-out letter.  Meh!

31. "How We Do (Party)" singer Rita: ORA. [b 1990] About whom I know nothing.

 

 32. German suffix with Konzert: MEISTER.  Auf Englisch, the concertmaster is the leader of the first violin section in an orchestra and the instrument-playing leader of the orchestra. After the conductor, the concertmaster is the second-most significant leader in an orchestra, symphonic band or other musical ensemble. 

36. Technical sch.: INSTitute.

40. Works with hide: TANS.

41. "This tastes awful!": I HATE IT.

42. CPR provider: EMT. Emergency Medical Technician.

43. Darth, as a youth: ANI.  Anakin Skywalker.

44. Green stuff: DOUGH.  Money

53. In favor of: PRO.  As opposed to Anti

54. Sciences partner: ARTS.

55. "I do not see why I should __ turn back": Frost: E'ER.  Ever, metrically force-fit.

“I do not see why I should e’er turn back, 

Or those should not set forth upon my track 

To overtake me, who should miss me here 

And long to know if still I held them dear. 

They would not find me changed from him they knew — Only more sure of all I thought was true.”

56. Where many a stuck thing sticks: CRAW. To be so offensive or disagreeable that one cannot swallow it. This expression is the modern version of stick in one's gizzard, gullet, or crop, all referring to portions of an animal's digestive system.

57. Paris gal pal: AMIE. 

61. Prejudice: BIAS.  pre-existimng attitude pro or anti some person or thing.

62. Pole at sea: MAST.  Support for the ship's riggings.

63. Undercut: ERODE.  A gradual wearing away, as by wind or water.  Undercut does not strike me as a good fit.

64. Is too busy, say: CANT.  Is unable or unwilling.

65. Texter's disclaimer, briefly: IMHO.  In My Humble Opinion.

66. Change: ALTER. Typically in a small but significant way.

Down:

1. Google Maps offerings: ROUTES.  To get you from point A to point B

2. On the same page: IN SYNC.  Synchronized.

3. RV park vehicle: CAMPER.  A large motor vehicle with facilities for sleeping and cooking while camping.

4. Vatican farewell: CIAO.  Hello or good bye in Italian.

5. Like some bargain bin mdse.: IRR.  Irregular - having some small flaw.

6. Blocker in a TV: V-CHIP.  A computer chip installed in a television receiver that can be programmed by the user to block or scramble material containing a special code in its signal indicating that it is deemed violent or sexually explicit.

7. "Show your cards": I CALL.   To call is to match a bet or match a raise. A betting round ends when all active players have bet an equal amount or everyone folds to a player's bet or raise. If no opponents call a player's bet or raise, the player wins the pot.

8. Sushi bar fare: EEL.  

9. Part of wpm: Abbr.: WDS.  Words per minute.

10. Rogue: SCAMP.   Someone mischievous in an amusing way.  Equivalent?  I have my doubts.

11. The whole time: ALL ALONG.  

12. Professional who breast-feeds another's child: WET NURSE.

13. NorCal airport: SFO.  The call letters for San Francisco International Airport.

18. Syrup source: SAP.  From maple trees.

22. "__ got it!": IVE.  Do you have it?

24. "You said it!": AMEN.  Statement of affirmation.

25. The Oscars, say: EVENT. A planned public or social occasion.

26. __ Haute: TERRE.  A city in and the county seat of Vigo County, Indiana, United States, only 5 miles east of the state's western border with Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 60,785 and its metropolitan area had a population of 170,943.

27. Grabbed a chair: SAT.

29. Don of talk radio: IMUS.  John Donald Imus Jr., [b 1940] also known simply as Imus, was an American radio personality, television show host, recording artist, and author. His radio show Imus in the Morning was aired on various stations and digital platforms nationwide until 2018.

33. Singer Turner's memoir: I TINA.  Written in 1986

34. Indian "master": SAHIB. A polite title or form of address for a man.

35. Barcelona aunt: TIA.  Spanish

36. Really enjoying: INTO.  

37. ABBA musical: MAMMA MIA. A story built around a collection of their songs.

 

 38. Quebecer's neighbor: ONTARIAN. All Canadians, eh.

39. Helps: AIDS.  Assists

40. __ cozy: TEA.  A thick or padded cover placed over a teapot to keep the tea hot.

43. Common online interruptions: ADS.  Short for annoyances.

45. Yank from the soil: UPROOT.  Violent

46. "Thank U, Next" singer Ariana: GRANDE.  Ariana Grande-Butera [b 1993] is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Her music, much of which is based on personal experiences, has been the subject of widespread media attention, while her four-octave vocal range has received critical acclaim.

 

 47. Doctor Doogie: HOWSER.    An American medical drama that ran for four seasons on ABC from September 19, 1989, to March 24, 1993, totaling 97 episodes. The show stars Neil Patrick Harris in the title role as a teenage physician who balances the challenge of practicing medicine with the everyday problems of teenage life.

49. Desert trial: N-TEST.  Nuclear bomb explosion carried out in a remote location.

50. "Oy!": YEESH. A non-word, and poor fill.

51. Not familiar with: NEW TO.

52. Big Band __: ERA.  A period spanning roughly the mid 3930's to mid 40's, when poplar music was dominated by the big bands of the day.

 

 56. Lower left PC key: CTRL.   A modifier key which, when pressed in conjunction with another key, performs a special operation 

57. It can replace "pie" in an idiom: ABC.  It's just that easy.

58. "Enough!" in texts: TMI.  Too Much Information.

59. Bad actor: HAM.

60. Grassy expanse: LEA.  

We have reached the apex - if not necessarily the day - then, at least this puzzle.  As in any good MOUNTAIN RANGE, there were high points and low pints. Hope you found the climb exhilarating.

Cool regards!

JzB

L.A. Times Crossword December 1, 2021 Joe Deenney

 Theme: HOME is where you find it.  Hope you got the circles, because they are the place setters for the word HOME, which is hidden in each theme answer, can be found.  Let's have a look.

17A. Craven endeavor:  HORROR MOVIE.  Wes Craven has directed a few of them.  You can find the letters of the word HOME distributed across this fill.

22A. Like energy efficient buildings, for example:HIGH PERFORMANCE.  Well insulated with efficient HVAC systems.  Is your HOME one of them?

38A. Territorial Complex dissolved during the Napoleonic Wars: HOLY ROMAN EMPIRE.  It was established on Christmas Day in 800 C.E. when Pope Leo III crowned Charlemagne emperor.

Acclaimed 2016 Broadway soundtrack, with "The": HAMILTON MIX TAPE.  This is more than a little bit strained.  Is a sound track a mix tape?  Really?  And TAPE?  By 2016 that would have been very old school.  But, it does give us the letters we need.

Final leg ... and a hint to each set of circles:  HOME STRETCH.  This is the last straight away section of a race on an oval track, leading to the finish line.  In each theme fill the letters of HOME are STRETCHED across the words, in each case beginning with H and ending with E.  The O and M are internal ,in order, and non-adjacent.  So there is a nice consistency to the construction.  Sadly, there are some vagrant E's and O's lurking in there also, which strikes me as a flaw.  In this type of theme there is no relationship among the theme fill other than accommodating the needed letters.  This is clever, well thought through, and pretty well designed, but I am less than delighted.

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa here, evidently in a nit-picking mood.  Let's see what else we can find.

Across

1. Surpasses 21, in blackjack:  BUSTS.  This is a betting card game where face cards count ten points, spot cards according to their numbers, and aces as either 1 or 11 at the player's discretion.  The point is to accept cards in order to get a count close to 21 without going over

6. Top-level performance:A GAME.  I remember my son saying when his kids were little that when they were at our house they had their A Game on. Alas, they are all adults now.

11. NBA legend familiarly: Dr. J. Julius Winfield Erving II (b. 1950), commonly known by the nickname Dr. J, is an American former professional basketball player.  During his 16 years in the NBA, none of his teams ever missed the post-season.

14.  Company that's proud of it quacks?  AFLAC.  This insurance company has a quacking duck in its commercials.  Cf. the Liberty Emu and Geico Gekko.  I hate them all.

15. Chopper topper: ROTOR.  The rotating blades on a helicopter.

Like the top half of Monaco's flag: RED.

16. In the style of: A LA.

20 A. Solar panel spot.  ROOF.  Where the sun shines.

21. Blockhead: TWIT.

29. Together in music: A DUE.  This refers specifically to the situation where a staff is carrying parts for two players, but they then play one part together.  From the French [of course] meaning "for two."

30. Acid found in olive oil.  OLEIC.  It is a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid, and the most common fatty acid found in nature.

31.  34 Across has one of them: TILDE.   The tilde  ˜ or ~, is a grapheme that changes the sound of the letter associated with it.  CF the next entry. The name derives from the Latin for superscript.

34. Historic ship: NIÑA.  One of the ships that Christopher Columbus used to pillage the new world.

35. QG's try: ATT.  Abrev.. for ATTEMPT - a football quarterback's pass intended for a receiver.  If he catches it, it's called a completion. 

41. Senator Klobuchar: AMY.  Like our own C. C., she represents Minnesota.

42. Orator's art: Abbr: RHET.  Short for rhetoric, the art of persuasion, which along with grammar and logic is one of the three ancient arts of discourse. Rhetoric aims to study the techniques writers or speakers utilize to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations.

43. WWI President: WILSON. Thomas Woodrow Wilson (1856 –1924) was an American politician and academic who served as the 28th president of the United States from 1913 to 1921. 

44. Dough: MOOLA.  Slang terms for money.

45. Resistance units: OHMS.  The standard unit of electrical resistance in the International System of Units (SI),  It is named after German physicist Georg Ohm.

52 By Jove: EGAD.  A mild oath, probably derived as a euphemism to avoid sayin, "Oh, God." in polite society.  Jove was the supreme god of Roman mythology, so it makes sense.

53.  Ticket datum:  GATE.   The total number of paying ticket holders. The amount they paid is gate receipts.

54. ___ Country:  ALT. Abrv for "alternative" - a sub genre of country music influenced by alternative rock.

62. Cartoonist Chaz: ROZ.  Rosalind "Roz" Chast is an American cartoonist and a staff cartoonist for The New Yorker. Since 1978, she has published more than 800 cartoons in The New Yorker. She also publishes cartoons in Scientific American and the Harvard Business Review.  

63.  Precipice: BRINK.  The edge [of something.]

64,  Like an egg: OVATE.  An oval expanded into the third dimension.

65.  Table for ___: TWO.  An intimate dining situation.

66. Passing words: OBITS.  Short for obituaries, brief writings about those who have recently departed.

67. Tranquilizing brand:  XANAX.   A prescription medicine used to treat the symptoms of anxiety, panic disorder, and anxiety associated with depression. Xanax may be used alone or with other medications.

Down

1. Harrumph: BAH.  Expressions of disgust or displeasure.

2. Eerie sky light:  UFO. Unidentified Flying Object.  Who knows what they are?

3. Canon letters: SLR.  What kind of Canon is this: a brand name camera, of course.  Single Lens Reflex refers to the specific construction.

4. Pitch.  Another word with many potential meanings, but here is is TAR.

5.  Organization whose income taxes are passed through to shareholders.  S CORP.  An S corporation, for United States federal income tax, is a closely held corporation that makes a valid election to be taxed under Subchapter S of Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code. In general, S corporations do not pay any income taxes.   And that is more than I know about them.

6. Tanks and such: ARMOR.  In this context, military vehicles sheathed with metal plate for protection.

7. Digress:  GO OFF ON A TANGENT.  I try not to do that.  You be the judge.

8.  Dune buggy, briefly: ATV. An All Terrain Vehicle -- a small open motor vehicle with one or two seats and three or more wheels fitted with large tires, designed for use on rough ground.

9. L'étate, à Louis XIV: MOI.   "I am the State," he claimed,  expressing the spirit of a rule in which the king held all political authority. His absolutism brought him into conflict with the Huguenots and the papacy, with damaging repercussions.

10 Bard's before: ERE.

11. Outlined, maybe: DRAWN.  As with pen or pencil.

12. Museum piece: RELIC.  An object surviving from an earlier time, especially one of historical or sentimental interest.

13. Website for Jewish singles: J DATE.   Where one can connect with successful, like-minded Jewish singles. 

18.  Sushi topper:  ROE.   Fish eggs.

21. Half a Northwest airport: TAC.  Serving Seattle and Tacoma, This airport is coded SEA-TAC.  [Bah!]

22. Yoga term meaning "force":  HATHA.

23. "Under the weather," say:  IDIOM.  A group of words whose meaning is not literal.

24. Water-formed ditch:  GULLY.

25. Actress Lamarr: HEDY.  Hedy Lamarr, born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler; [ 1914 – 2000) was an Austrian-born American film actress and inventor. Read abut her here.

26.  Director of many "This is us" episodes: OLIN. Ken [b. 1954]

27.  What people who need People might do?  RENEW.  For those who subscribe to the magazine.

28.  Cocoanut Grove city.  MIAMI.   This is an upscale neighborhood on Biscayne Bay.

32. Swashbuckling Flynn: ERROL.  [1909 - 1959] After a checkered early life, he turned to acting, and became famous for his leading roles in adventure movies.

35. Tyler of Archer: AISHA.  [b 1970]  An American actress, comedian, director, and talk show host. 

36. Tread heavily: TROMP.

37. Future, e.g.: TENSE.   A grammar term used to indicate whether a sentence (or verb) is an action in the past, the present or the future. 

39. Ten time NBA All-Star Anthony, to fans:  MELO.  Carmelo Kyam Anthony [b 1984] is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. He has been named an NBA All-Star ten times and an All-NBA Team member six times. 

40. Story arc: PLOT.

44. Prefix with day: MID-.  Close to noon.

46. Symbol of affection:  HEART.  Indicating love.

47. Lit up: AGLOW.  As the heart of someone in love.

48. Passover staple: MATZO.  An unleavened flatbread that is part of Jewish cuisine and forms an integral element of the Passover festival, during which chametz [leavening] is forbidden. 

49. Masks: HIDES.  As an ingedient with a strong flavor might mask the presence of another ingredient.

50. Wednesday kin: ITT.  A cousin from the Addams family TV show.

51. Copy, in a way: XEROX.  Where the brand name of a document copying machine is used generically for copying.

55. "Industry" network: HBO. "Industry" is British-American television drama series created by Mickey Down and Konrad Kay.  It follows a group of young graduates competing for a limited set of permanent positions at Pierpoint & Co, a prestigious investment bank in London.

56. Celestial sphere: ORB.  A round object in the sky.

57.  Cusomizable Nintendo avatar: MII.  It's how you can represent yourself in games on the Wii gaming system.

58.  Green of "Casino Royal."  EVA.  Eva Gaëlle Green [b. 1980] is a French actress and model. The daughter of actress Marlène Jobert, she started her career in theatre before making her film debut in Bernardo Bertolucci's "The Dreamers."

59. Share at the beach. TAN.   A skin tone you might develop from exposure to sun light.

60.  Windy City train letters: CTA.  Chicago Transit Authority. Also this.

61. Curse:  HEX.  An evil magic spell.

So ends the HOME STRETCH of another Wednesday, and begins the month of December.  Rabbit, rabbit!

Cool regards!

JzB

L. A.Times Crossword -- Wednesday, November 17, 2021. Paul Coulter

Theme: Done, but not with E's.  Theeclues would need a long "E" sound added at the end for the theme fill to make sense.  And even better, the "i.e." in the clue, suggesting "for example" is also the letter combo that needs to be added to the base clue to supply that sound.  Quite elegant.

17. Cook, i.e.?: BAKED TREAT.  Add the "E" sound for the COOKIE, not the baker.

23. Pink, i.e.?: LITTLE FINGER.  Not a Game of Thrones character, but add the "E" sound to get your PINKIE.

37. Rook, i.e.?: FIRST YEAR PLAYER.  With the added "E" sound a chess piece becomes a newly minted pro athlete.

61. Sort, i.e.?: AIR MISSION.  With the added "E: sound we get, not a separation and arrangement of things, but rather a SORTIE, defined as a deployment or dispatch of one military unit, be it an aircraft, ship, or troops, from a strongpoint - or something of that SORT. The term originated in siege warfare.  So the fill is a bit too specific for the clue.

50. E'er, i.e.?: BONE CHILLING.  When you add the "E"sound, it's not a Great Lake nor a response to seeing an elephant, but rather a reaction to something strange and frightening. 

Hi Gang, JazzBumpa here to E's us through this puzzle.  This is a clever theme, but a bit gimmickEE for my taste.  Let's see what else is going on.

Across:

1. "Encore!": AGAIN.  A request for another tune at the end of a performance.

6. Small strings: UKES.

 

Mandatory

 10. Big zero: NADA. Nothing in Spanish, adopted into American slang

14. Ballet bend that's a homophone for a cheese dish: FONDU. Watch this video - which is not at all cheesy -  and you can have fun doing it.

 

 15. One chip, maybe: ANTE. Start of a poker hand.

16. Love, in Lima: AMOR.  Spanish

19. Canceled: NO GO.

20. 1953 Alan Ladd classic: SHANE.

 

 21. Many a dictator's quality: EGOMANIA.  

25. Actress Ryan of "Courage Under Fire": MEG.   Meg Ryan [b 1961] is an American actress and producer. Ryan began her acting career in 1981 in minor roles before joining the cast of the CBS soap opera As the World Turns in 1982.

 

 28. Nickname of 1950s Reds slugger Ted: KLU.  Theodore Bernard Kluszewski [1924 - 1988] also known as "Big Klu", was an American professional baseball player known for his bulging biceps and mammoth home runs in the 1950s decade. He played from 1947 through 1961 with four teams in Major League Baseball.

29. Meds-approving agcy.: FDA. Food and Drug Administration.

30. Climbing vine: IVY.

31. Brian of Roxy Music: ENO.    Brian Peter George Eno [b. 1948] is a British musician, composer, record producer and visual artist best known for his pioneering work in ambient music and contributions to rock, pop and electronica.

33. Upright: ON END.

42. Elevator stop: FLOOR.

43. Leaves in small bags: TEA.  Then boiled in water - just that.

44. Pitcher's stat: ERA.

45. Univ. dorm mentors: RAS. Resident Assistant is a live-in position held by students. Generally, the goal of an RA is to create a safe and comfortable environment for the residents of a dorm.

47. Enero begins it: ANO.  January is the first month of the year in Spain and many other countries.

49. __ Jones: DOW.  Dow Jones & Company, Inc. is an American publishing firm owned by News Corp and led by CEO Almar Latour.  The company publishes The Wall Street Journal, Barron's, MarketWatch, Mansion Global, Financial News and Private Equity News.  Every day they publish the Dow Jones Industrial Average, a price-weighted measurement stock market index of 30 prominent companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States.  I have commentary on my blog every business day, if you are interested.

56. City north of Des Moines: AMES, IOWA.  The home of Iowa State University.

57. Must-haves: NEEDS.  Self explanatory.

60. Stare open-mouthed: GAWP.  Yes, this is actually a word, and this is what it means.

64. Inner: Prefix: ENTO-. Or endo-  always need perps.

65. USAF noncom: TSGT.  Technical Sargent.

66. Lombardy's land: ITALY.  Northern region

67. Smartphone call record, say: LIST.

68. Citi Field predecessor: SHEA.  CITI is the home of the Mets. It was completed in 2009.  It replaced SHEA, with was built in 1964

69. Pluralizers: ESSES.  English language word construction.

Down:

1. Edwards, in Calif.: AFB.  Air Force Base

2. Dress like, for the costume party: GO AS. Impersonate someone.

3. Egyptian cross: ANKH.

Symbol of life

4. Utopian: IDEAL.  Just about perfect.

5. Annoying sort: NUDNIK.  One who is a bore or a nuisance.

6. Old Mideast alliance: Abbr.: UAR.  United Arab Republics

7. Show respect, in a way: KNEEL.   A position in which the body is supported by a knee or the knees, as when praying or showing submission.

8. Eiffel Tower level: ETAGE.  Similar to the story of a house - in French.

9. Detonate: SET OFF.  Cause to explode.

10. Part of the "Hey Jude" refrain: NANANANA.  This goes on forever, and for my money, ruins an otherwise decent song.  YMMV.

11. "You're __ friends": AMONG.  Here among the cornerites.

12. Range rover?: DOGIE.  A motherless calf in a range herd

13. Loud, as a crowd: AROAR.  At a sporting event, frex.

18. Big name in 43-Across: TETLEY.   Founded in 1837 in Yorkshire, England. It is the largest tea company in the United Kingdom and Canada, and the second largest in the United States by volume.

22. Pain relief brand marketed to women: MIDOL.

24. Ditty: TUNE.  A simple song

25. Annoy: MIFF.  Be a NUDNIK.

26. Like villains: EVIL.  Well sure - they're the bad guys.

27. Greek lamb sandwich: GYRO.  The meat is a dense lamb meat loaf cooked on a rotating [hence gyro] vertical spit.

32. Breakfast cereal grain: OAT.

34. Checked out: EYED.  Leered or ogled, maybe.

35. Lyre-playing emperor: NERO.   Imperator Nero Cladius Divi Claudius filius Caesar Augustus Germanicus [37 - 68 CE] was the fifth emperor of Rome. He was adopted by the Roman emperor Claudius at the age of thirteen, and succeeded him to the throne. Nero seems to have been popular with his Praetorian guards, and with lower-class commoners in Rome and the provinces, but was deeply resented by the Roman aristocracy.

36. Sketch: DRAW.

38. Touchy subject: SORE SPOT.  Something difficult to talk about.

39. Singing sister of Toni Braxton: TRACI.  [b. 1971] is an American singer, reality television personality and radio personality. 

40. Authentic: REAL.  Not ersatz.

41. Pressed Italian sandwich: PANINI.  A grilled sandwich made with Italian bread.

46. Young hogs: SHOATS.  Weaned piglets.

48. Single-piece outfit for a baby: ONESIE.

50. Breakfast item: BAGEL.   A dense bread roll in the shape of a ring, made by boiling dough and then baking it.

51. Muscat native: OMANI.  Oman is a country on the south-east cleat of the Arabian peninsula.

52. Older efts: NEWTS. Semi-aquatic salamanders.

53. "If only": I WISH.  

54. Coffeehouse order: LARGE. Grande, perhaps.

55. Exploits: GESTS.  Adventures.

58. Sabado y domingo, por ejemplo: DIAS.  Saturday and Sunday, for example, are days of the week.

59. Exclusive: SOLE.  One and only - like a selected fish is a sole sole; or consider the bottom of a specific foot.

62. L.A. commuter org.: MTA.  Metropolitan Transportation Authority.    Not exclusive to L.A.

 

 63. Albany is its cap.: NYS.  Capitol of New York State.

That wraps up our Wednesday - not too hard and not too EEzy.  Did you brEEze through it?

Cool regards!

JzB

L.A. Times Crossword Wednesday, November 3, 2021 August Miller

Theme: Here it is from Hans and Franz.

 

Let's lift up the unifier first.  59 A. Overpowered ... or how the Across answers with circles might be described?: OUT-MUSCLED.  Out-manned and outgunned - unable to compete.  In the puzzle, significant muscles are abbreviated and featured as book ends in the theme fill.  Hence the use of "OUT" to indicate that the muscles are severed in the grid. [Ouch!]. So let's build them back up.

24 A. Opposite of a roast: GLOWING TRIBUTE.  In a roast, the guest of honor is humorously showered with [presumably] good-natured disrespect.  So, definitely the opposite.  GLUTES come in large, medium and small varieties, as illustrated in this cut away, and they follow you wherever you go.

Keep them strong

29. Fictional legal secretary: DELLASTREET.  From the old Perry Mason TV show, played by Barbara Hale [1922 - 1917].

Tribute

DELTS are shoulder muscles and also travel in threes.

Pump them up

42. Three-horned dinosaur: TRICERATOPS.  This behemoth wandered in North America between 66 and 68 million years ago.

Herbivore

The TRICEPS, as the name suggests, also are a trio, located in the back of the arm.

They extend the elbow joint

49. Job for the police: LAW ENFORCEMENT.   Responsibilities for enforcing laws, maintaining public order, and managing public safety.   The Latissimus Dorsi Muscle, aka, "LAT," is a large, flat triangular muscle that is not used strenuously in common daily activities but is an important muscle in many exercises such as pull-ups, chin-ups, lat pulldowns, and swimming.

Don't let them get too tight

Hi, Gang.  JazzBumpa here to do the heavy lifting.  Let's exercize our grey muscles and see what we can build up.

Across:

 1. Site-hop, Webwise: SURF.  You can find anything on the web.  Just be skeptical.

5. Watched closely: EYED.  

9. Beetle relative: JETTA.  Volkswagen Marques.

14. "Small world": OH, HI. Spoken at an unexpected meeting.

15. Fish that ought to go well with a cobbler?: SOLE.  An entrée, a desert, a shoe part and a shoe maker, all together in neat word play.

16. Paddled: OARED.  Moved a boat by arm power.  Which muscles are involved?

17. Not at all biased: FAIR.  

18. Yeast-free loaf: QUICK BREAD.  Bread made with a leavening agent (such as baking powder or baking soda) that permits immediate baking of the dough or batter mixture.

20. Au courant, with "in": TUNED.  Aware, maybe even woke.

22. Common lunch hour: NOON.  

23. Instrument for Este Haim of the pop rock trio Haim: BASS.

27. "When They See Us" creator DuVernay: AVA.   Ava Marie DuVernay is an American filmmaker. She won the directing award in the U.S. dramatic competition at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival for her second feature film 'Middle of Nowhere," becoming the first black woman to win the award.   When "They See Us"  is a 2019 American crime drama television miniseries created, co-written, and directed by Ava DuVernay for Netflix, that premiered in four parts on May 31, 2019

28. Become less brilliant, as colors: FADE.

35. Org. impacted by the Real ID Act: DMV.  Department of Motor Vehicles.

38. "CHiPs" actor Estrada: ERIK.   Henry Enrique "Erik" Estrada [b 1949] is an American actor and police officer. He is known for his co-starring lead role as California Highway Patrol officer Francis (Frank) Llewelyn "Ponch" Poncherello in the police drama television series CHiPs, which ran from 1977 to 1983.

39. Kitten's cry: MEW.

40. Place in an overhead bin, say: STOW.

41. Not looking good: WAN.  Pale, so therefore not looking healthy.

46. Self-__: CARE.   The process of taking care of oneself with behaviors that promote health and active management of illness when it occurs.

48. Hoppy brew letters: IPA.  

56. DEA agent: NARC.  The Drug Enforcement Agency deals with narcotics, hence the ugly nick-name for their agents.

57. Valley: DALE.   The name is used when describing the physical geography of an area. It is used most frequently in the Lowlands of Scotland and in the North of England;

58. Application of small drops: SPRAY.  As paint or nasal decongestant.

62. Bends: ARCS.  Smooth curves. 

63. Surg. holding area: PRE-OP.  Last stop before surgery.

64. Save for later, as a TV show: TIVO.  A digital recording device. 

65. Pacific salmon: COHO.   One of 5 Pacific salmon species.

66. Puts in the work for: EARNS.   An honest day's work for an honest day's pay.

67. Appear: SEEM. Look like.

68. Suffix with Jumbo: -TRON.  A video display using large-screen television technology.   It is typically used in sports stadiums and concert venues to show close up shots of an event or even other sporting events occurring simultaneously. 

Down:

1. What Germany has that Greece doesn't?:  SOFT G.   Phonetics, peeps.

2. DIY mover: U-HAUL.  Commercial truck and trailer renting company.

3. Mighty mammal with keratin horns: RHINO.

4. Rite of passage involving hot embers: FIRE WALK.   Walk bare foot over hot embers.  Where does this happen?

5. Law firm abbr.: ESQ.   Esquire: a title appended to a lawyer's surname.

6. Kits and cubs: YOUNG.  Animal babies.

7. "Silas Marner" author: ELIOT.  George Eliot was the pen name of Mary Ann Evans [1890 - 1880.]

8. Interior design: DECOR.   The furnishing and decoration of a room.

9. Role: JOB.  Position in an organization chart?  I don't understand this.

10. iPod accessory: EAR BUD.  A very small headphone, worn inside the ear.

11. Showed, as a good time: TREATED TO.   Picked up the bill.

12. Rag on: TEASE.  I don't think so.  Teasing is playful, ragging on is hostile.

13. Puts into the mix: ADDS.

19. Carver's tool: KNIFE. 

21. Soprano superstar: DIVA.  A famous and highly regarded female singer in opera or pop music

25. Rapper Lil __ X: NAS.   Montero Lamar Hill [b. 1999), known by his stage name Lil Nas X, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter.

26. Upside-down sleeper: BAT.  They hang around in the day time and get active at night.

29. Dawn phenomenon: DEW.  Moisture condensing on grass and other plants.

30. Slice of history: ERA.  A period of time notable for some important person or characteristic.

31. Author who wrote the Thongor fantasy series: LIN CARTER.  Linwood Vrooman Carter [1930 - 1988] was an American author of science fiction and fantasy, as well as an editor, poet and critic. 

32. "That's enough!": TMI.  Too Much Information: tell me no more.

33. Word with hall or room: REC.  Short for recreation.

34. Woolly mama: EWE.  Female sheep.

36. Unruly head of hair: MOP.

37. 9-Across et al.: VWS.  Volkswagen vehicles.

40. Short-lived 1765 legislation: STAMP ACT.   The Stamp Act of 1765 was the first internal tax levied directly on American colonists by the British Parliament. The act, which imposed a tax on all paper documents in the colonies, came at a time when the British Empire was deep in debt from the Seven Years' War (1756-63) and looking to its North American colonies as a revenue source. 

42. Amount past due?: TRE.  Two and three in some European language.

43. Tears to shreds: RENDS.

44. Rocker Ocasek: RIC.   Richard Theodore Otcasek [1944 – 2019], known as Ric Ocasek, was an American singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. He was the primary co-lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, songwriter, and frontman for the rock band the Cars. 

 

 45. Goodall subjects: APES.  Jane Goodall is best known for her 60-year study of social and family interactions of wild chimpanzees since she first went to Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania in 1960, where she witnessed human-like behaviors among chimpanzees, including armed conflict.  The chimpanzee  is a species of great ape native to the forest and savannah of tropical Africa. I

47. "You gotta be kidding!": AW, C'MON.  Gimme a break.

49. Linney of "Ozark": LAURA.   Laura Leggett Linney [b. 1964] is an American actress and singer. She is the recipient of several awards, including two Golden Globe Awards and four Primetime Emmy Awards, and has been nominated for three Academy Awards and five Tony Awards.

50. Indisputable evidence: FACTS.   Things that are known or proven to be true.

51. Skateboard leap: OLLIE.   Here is how to do it.

 

 52. Christopher who played Superman: REEVE.   Christopher D'Olier Reeve [1952 - 2004] was an American actor, director, and activist, best known for playing the titular main character in the film Superman and its three sequels.

53. Boot on a diamond: ERROR.  Misplay a batted ball in base ball.

54. Cheesy chip: NACHO.  A dish of tortilla chips topped by or dipped into melted cheese and often also other savory toppings.

55. Cicely of "Roots": TYSON.   She [1924 - 2021] was an American actress and model. In a career which spanned more than seven decades, she became known for her portrayal of strong African-American women. 

56. "Ain't gonna happen": NOPE.  Slangy denial.

60. Market advances: UPS.  When the indexes are rising.  So far, so good, this week.

61. Bubbly title: DOM.  Part of the name of a champagne brand.

That does it for another Wednesday.   I had a rather difficult time finding footholds with this one, but it all worked out [so to speak] in the end.  Also had a couple nits, but overall, a fun puzzle.  Hope you didn't strain anything.

Cool Regards!

JzB