SUNDAY, April 18, 2010 — Kathleen Fay O'Brien (syndicated)

Theme: "T for Two" — One T is removed from a word that contains two Ts in a familiar phrase.

[Note: This is the syndicated L.A. Times puzzle. It does not appear in the actual newspaper, but is available for free at cruciverb.com.]


Theme answers:

• 23A: Outwitting a Plymouth parent? (MIND OVER MATER).
• 29A: Loony misanthrope? (MAD HATER).
• 44A: Japanese sleuth who always follows you around? (PERSONAL MOTO).
• 67A: Farm child of destiny? (FATED CALF).
• 88A: Reservation about smoking? (CIGARETTE BUT).
• 103A: Like an Idaho farmer? (IN TATERS).
• 113A: Recollections of an aggressive dog? (BITER MEMORIES).
• 37D: Bulletin board hardware blueprint? (PLAN OF A TACK).
• 42D: Muppet monster quote about a more adorable snack? (COOKIE CUTER).

Everything Else — 1A: Hides with evil intent (SKULKS); 7A: Take by force (HIJACK); 13A: "Grease" doo-wop group (SHA NA NA); 20A: Surfing at one's desk (ONLINE); 21A: Singer Ray with the Glenn Miller Orchestra (EBERLE); 22A: Eastern Mediterranean city (TEL AVIV); 25A: Go in for (REPLACE); 26A: Pilot's announcement, briefly (ETA); 27A: Fuse (WELD); 28A: Boundary: Abbr. (LIM.); 30A: Abbr. on a store door (HRS.); 31A: Rots (GOES BAD); 33A: Farm crawler (ANT); 34A: Pre-knotted tie (CLIP-ON); 38A: 19th Greek letter (TAU); 39A: "Do it, __ will!" (OR I); 40A: Abalone products (NACRES); 43A: AA co-founder (BILL W.); 47A: Lanchester of "Bride of Frankenstein" (ELSA); 48A: Source of "Once more unto the breach" (HENRY V); 49A: Relevant (ON TOPIC); 53A: Clancy hero (RYAN); 54A: Daisy lead-in (UPSY-); 55A: Man with a respected thumb (EBERT); 59A: Cub Scout leader (AKELA); 60A: Online "Jeepers!" (OMG); 62A: Borneo sultanate (BRUNEI); 63A: Drink from a press (CIDER); 64A: "Mazes and Monsters" novelist (JAFFE); 70A: "Steppenwolf" writer (HESSE); 71A: Perp's red herring (ALIAS); 72A: Perps need good ones (ALIBIS); 73A: Present mo. (DEC.); 74A: Fountain treats (MALTS); 75A: Made higher (UPPED); 76A: Pre-1917 Russian ruler (TSAR); 79A: Native Americans with a Sundance ceremony (UTES); 83A: Pick a lock, say (BREAK IN); 85A: "Does no one else think this way?" ("IS IT ME?"); 87A: Anklebones (TALI); 92A: H.S. health class (SEX ED.); 93A: Chat with (TALK TO); 96A: Hard lumber (ASH); 97A: Son of, in Arabic names (IBN); 98A: Flourish (THRIVE); 99A: Transfer __ (RNA); 100A: Menu listing (OPTIONS); 102A: Detective's cry (AHA); 107A: Bounced check letters (NSF); 108A: Gazed at (EYED); 109A: Electronic surveillance gp. (NSA); 112A: Lands (ALIGHTS); 116A: Having teeth (DENTATE); 117A: Spotted wildcat (OCELOT); 118A: "Dallas" dynasty (EWINGS); 119A: Mussel eater (SEASTAR); 120A: Crystal-lined stones (GEODES); 121A: Magnate (TYCOON); 1D: Indefinite amount (SOME); 2D: Sweater choice (KNIT); 3D: Forearm bone (ULNA); 4D: Flipped top? (LID); 5D: Expertise (KNOW-HOW); 6D: Shropshire's river (SEVERN); 7D: Roundup group (HERD); 8D: Apple alternative (IBM); 9D: "All the fun you think they had": Erica Jong (JEALOUSY); 10D: Clarinetist Shaw (ARTIE); 11D: South Carolina university (CLEMSON); 12D: Plunk opener (KER-); 13D: Pricey strings (STRAD); 14D: Listen to (HEED); 15D: Coleridge's "sacred river" (ALPH); 16D: Simba's mate (NALA); 17D: Rama, to Vishnu (AVATAR); 18D: __ Creed (NICENE); 19D: Wards off (AVERTS); 24D: Ernie of the PGA (ELS); 29D: Post office sackful (MAIL); 31D: Comic Shandling (GARRY); 32D: Victoria's Secret buy (BRA); 34D: Trucker with a handle (CB'ER); 35D: Flower with a pad (LILY); 36D: "You used to be a much better liar, Sam" speaker (ILSA); 38D: Addition column (TENS); 40D: Start to stop? (NON); 41D: Diplomatic specialist (ATTACHE); 44D: Energy (PEP); 45D: Went too far (OVERDID IT); 46D: Central theme (MOTIF); 48D: Show of affection (HUG); 50D: Brand of women's socks (PEDS); 51D: Guadeloupe has cinq (ILES); 52D: Give a hoot (CARE); 56D: Florida pros (BUCS); 57D: Bambi's aunt (ENA); 58D: Cath. or Luth. (REL.); 61D: Portable utensils set (MESS KIT); 62D: Loyal Nixon friend Rebozo (BEBE); 64D: Door feature (JAMB); 65D: Banned fruit spray (ALAR); 66D: Manicurist's need (FILE); 67D: Flora's partner (FAUNA); 68D: Mont Blanc, e.g. (ALP); 69D: Helpful hint (TIP); 73D: Rap's Dr. __ (DRE); 76D: 1970 Poitier title role (TIBBS); 77D: Wow (STUN); 78D: Qty. (AMT.); 80D: Shout to a driver (TAXI); 81D: Contour map no. (ELEV.); 82D: Potato salad, say (SIDE); 84D: "__ Crazy": Paul Davis hit (I GO); 86D: Self-named sitcom (SEINFELD); 89D: Chats (RAPS); 90D: Body shop fig. (EST.); 91D: Precarious place, metaphorically (THIN ICE); 92D: Like late-afternoon castings (SHADOWY); 93D: Basic chords (TRIADS); 94D: Mother of the Shakers (ANN LEE); 95D: Selena, for one (LATINA); 98D: Lincoln Center landmark (THE MET); 100D: Skater Brian (ORSER); 101D: Bony prefix (OSTEO-); 102D: Sailor's okay (AYE); 104D: FBI personnel (AGTS.); 105D: "How about __!" (THAT); 106D: James of jazz (ETTA); 108D: CPR pros (EMTS); 109D: Bolivian boy (NIÑO); 110D: Type of 35-Down (SEGO); 111D: Part of AMA: Abbr. (ASSN.); 113D: Cranberry source (BOG); 114D: Shad delicacy (ROE); 115D: Rocker Ocasek (RIC).