FRIDAY, June 18, 2010 — Doug Peterson

Theme: Tie-In — Theme answers are familiar phases with the word TIE added to them, creating new wacky phrases clued "?"-style.


Theme answers:

• 20A: Ones wearing designer hospital gowns? (FANCY PATIENTS).
• 32A: Massive marina protectors? (JUMBO JETTIES).
• 42A: Plaza with many levels? (TIERED SQUARE).
• 55A: More passionate language? (SWEATIER WORDS).
• 69A: Marketing ploy, and a hint to this puzzle's theme (TIE-IN).

I'm always happy to see Doug's byline when I open up a puzzle. And there's nothing really wrong with this puzzle except that it's way too easy for a Friday. It seemed like the LAT was ratcheting up the difficulty at the end of the last couple weeks and I was looking forward to that trend continuing. Not much to say about the theme, a type that's been done a million times. I do appreciate it when a reason is pointed out for the word string being added to the base phrases, like today's TIE-IN reveal. Other than that, smooth fill with a few notable words, some dorky popular culture references and not too much crosswordese. Pretty much what I expect from Doug. And I mean that in the nicest possible way.

Highlights:

• 6A: "Big Brother" host Julie (CHEN). Never heard of her.

• 19A: Princess who battled Callisto (XENA).
• 31A: Recipients of authors' gratitude, briefly (EDS.). EDS. is short for EDITORS, whom authors often thank in the forwards of their books.
• 37A: Three-time Clooney title role (OCEAN). I love these movies. I know they're not first-tier cinema, but for entertainment value I'm going with these guys.
• 45A: Tape deck button (REC). Wasn't sure if this would be REC or REW so I waited for the cross.
• 49A: "Family Matters" misfit (URKEL). So bizarre. I entered URKEL right away and then thought "I have no idea what show he was on, why did I immediately think of him?" so I erased my answer, only to enter it again later.
• 60A: Arrange logically (SORT). One of my proudest moments. The first time PuzzleDaughter sorted her candy the day after Halloween. That's my girl!
• 68A: Play a round (GOLF). Timely, considering this weekend's U.S. Open. (Go, Lefty!)
• 5D: Supercell product (TORNADO). I have no idea what this means.
• 33D: "Just the Way You Are" singer (JOEL). Here's the thing. I like a lot of Billy Joel songs. A Lot. But this one is on my list of Most Hated Songs of All Time. I don't know why, but I don't like Anything about it. (Also on the list, "The Lady in Red" and "Send in the Clowns.")
• 39D: Popular fund raiser (BAKE SALE). Not popular for the moms who are almost never informed of the expectation that they'll bake something until the night before!

• 45D: Grapple with, in the sticks (RASSLE). Heh.
• 53D: Metz moniker (NOM). Metz must be a place in France. There seem to be a lot of places in France that don't sound at all French to me and this is one of them.

Crosswordese 101: OREM is, indeed, a 40D: Central Utah city. It's apparently on Utah Lake, next to the Uinta National Forest, and near (possibly next to) Provo. The city's nickname is "Family City, U.S.A."

Other crosswordese in the puzzle that we've already covered:

• 36A: Basilica section (APSE).
• 38A: Slender wind (OBOE).
• 8D: Book before Nehemiah (EZRA).
• 41D: They may be shockers (EELS).

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Everything Else — 1A: Watch for (AWAIT); 10A: Zinger (BARB); 14A: Extremely, in slang (MONDO); 15A: Likely to loaf (LAZY); 16A: Like zero (OVAL); 17A: "M" star (PETER LORRE); 22A: Petting zoo sound (BAA); 24A: Some quick pitches (ADS); 25A: Salad oil pourer (CRUET); 26A: Pungent (ACRID); 28A: Out of the woods (SAFE); 48A: Disparage (SLUR); 50A: Deck out (ADORN); 52A: Genetic ID (DNA); 54A: Accident scene initials (EMS); 61A: Heavily favored squads (DREAM TEAMS); 64A: Nuts (LOCO); 65A: Disney president Robert (IGER); 66A: __ Island: NY/NJ landmark (ELLIS); 67A: Starting place? (EDEN); 1D: Band booster (AMP); 2D: Distress (WOE); 3D: Colonies with tunnels (ANT FARMS); 4D: Brainchild (IDEA); 6D: Is too sweet (CLOYS); 7D: Emblem of Ireland (HARP); 9D: Uh-uh, in Ufa (NYET); 10D: Ring competitor (BOXER); 11D: One of 17 Monopoly properties (AVENUE); 12D: Blustered (RANTED); 13D: Great times (BLASTS); 18D: Type of screen, briefly (LCD); 21D: Frozen drink brand (ICEE); 22D: Tijuana's region (BAJA); 23D: Lingerie size (A-CUP); 27D: Skeptical comment (I BET); 28D: Direct (STEER); 29D: Not much (A TAD); 30D: Underwater directors (FINS); 34D: Stationery shade (ECRU); 35D: Grumpy (SOUR); 43D: Fails to be (ISN'T); 44D: Many a pop group (QUARTET); 46D: "Plan 9 From Outer Space" director (ED WOOD); 47D: Put the squeeze on (COERCE); 51D: Inform against (RAT ON); 52D: Khuzdul speaker, in Tolkien (DWARF); 56D: "Cool, man!" ("I DIG!"); 57D: So (ERGO); 58D: Line holder (REEL); 59D: Ham salad seller (DELI); 62D: DI doubled (MII); 63D: Three-part fig. (SSN).