SUNDAY, March 14, 2010 — Don Gagliardo (syndicated)

Theme: "Why Not" — Theme answers are familiar phrases with the final Y missing. Wackiness ensues.

[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: Attire at the UN? (WORLDWEAR).
• 25A: Loaner policeman? (COURTESY COP).
• 40A: Final step in a marksman's manual? (FIRE WHEN READ).
• 53A: Fairway shot that goes in the hole? (DRAMATIC IRON).
• 71A: Autograph candy for the Halloween visitor? (SIGN A TREAT).
• 74A: Lawyer's sure thing? (MIGHTY CASE).
• 87A: "Grey's Anatomy" leading man? (CLINICAL STUD).
• 102A: Unexpected piece in a chicken order? (SURPRISE PART).
• 119A: Russian rodent's approval? (GROUND HOG DA).
• 122A: Dentistry expo? (TOOTH FAIR).

Crosswordese 101 Round-Up:

• 1A: Heathrow landers until 2003, briefly (SSTS).
• 27A: Ontario-born hockey legend (ORR).
• 31A: River of Germany (EDER).
• 49A: B'way sellout sign (SRO).
• 78A: Sch. that had a Roger Williams Dining Center (URI).
• 112A: Bird that probes mud for food (IBIS).
• 114A: Scatter supreme (ELLA).
• 44D: Kaffiyeh-clad ruler (EMIR).
• 65D: Sigma follower (TAU).

Everything Else — 1A: Heathrow landers until 2003, briefly (SSTS); 5A: Cookbook meas. (TBSP.); 9A: Hunt down (TRACE); 14A: "All Day Strong" medication (ALEVE); 19A: Without __: riskily (A NET); 20A: Discipline (AREA); 21A: Tranquil disciplines (YOGAS); 22A: Pesto herb (BASIL); 27A: Ontario-born hockey legend (ORR); 28A: Suffix with Capri (-OTE); 29A: Film doctor with 7 faces (LAO); 31A: River of Germany (EDER); 32A: Scale sequence (SO LA); 33A: Tolkien ringbearer (FRODO); 35A: National park near Springdale, Utah (ZION); 37A: Blastoff follower (ASCENT); 39A: Abode: Abbr. (RES.); 43A: Liqueur in a godfather cocktail (AMARETTO); 45A: Rope loops (NOOSES); 46A: Hoot (RIOT); 48A: '60s-'70s hot spot (NAM); 49A: B'way sellout sign (SRO); 52A: Barre move (PLIE); 58A: Peerage member (EARL); 60A: Rajiv's mother (INDIRA); 62A: "Boola Boola" singer (ELI); 63A: Pull up stakes, slangily (RELO); 64A: Dolts (IDIOTS); 66A: Uncertain word (MAY); 67A: __ about: meddles (NOSES); 70A: Enero, e.g. (MES); 76A: Longtime Tom Petty label (MCA); 77A: Putting to work (USING); 78A: Sch. that had a Roger Williams Dining Center (URI); 79A: "Swan Lake" swan (ODETTE); 80A: Pet food brand (IAMS); 82A: 401, in old Rome (CDI); 83A: Five-time speed skating gold medalist Eric (HEIDEN); 86A: Neutral hue (ECRU); 91A: Rainbow goddess (IRIS); 93A: Sam-I-Am's meat (HAM); 94A: Digital comm. method (ASL); 95A: FEMA part: Abbr. (EMER.); 96A: Quixote's squire Panza (SANCHO); 98A: Some cigarette boxes (FLIPTOPS); 107A: Terhune dog (LAD); 108A: Quick court contest (ONE SET); 110A: Multi-talented Danny (KAYE); 111A: First name in fragrances (ESTÉE); 112A: Bird that probes mud for food (IBIS); 114A: Scatter supreme (ELLA); 115A: Scribble (down) (JOT); 116A: Followers of mis (FAS); 118A: Little amphibian (EFT); 125A: Corner (HEM IN); 126A: Hi-fi pioneer Fisher (AVERY); 127A: Mark's successor (EURO); 128A: Pres. Carter's alma mater (USNA); 129A: Flavor (TASTE); 130A: Frawley role (MERTZ); 131A: Tease (RIDE); 132A: English horn, e.g. (REED); 1D: Said "Bon voyage!" to (SAW OFF); 2D: "Edda" author __ Sturluson (SNORRI); 3D: Holy one? (TERROR); 4D: N.L. cap letters (STL); 5D: Verb for Tweety (TAWT); 6D: Arrives casually (BREEZES IN); 7D: Vast expanse (SEA); 8D: Settee settings (PARLORS); 9D: Big name in little trains (TYCO); 10D: Milne baby (ROO); 11D: Fits of fever (AGUES); 12D: Bygone library feature (CARD CATALOG); 13D: Admiration (ESTEEM); 14D: Toning targets (ABS); 15D: Chip brand (LAYS); 16D: Arm offerer (ESCORT); 17D: Bath salts scent (VIOLET); 18D: City near Ciudad Juárez (EL PASO); 24D: Street corner genre (DOO-WOP); 26D: Elvira's lover, in a Verdi opera (ERNANI); 30D: Hydrocarbon suffix (-ANE); 34D: Place for a La-Z-Boy (DEN); 36D: "__ a vacation!" (I NEED); 37D: 1998 Sarah McLachlan song (ADIA); 38D: __ II razor (TRAC); 41D: New Age gurus (HOLISTS); 42D: It may be imposing (ARRAY); 44D: Kaffiyeh-clad ruler (EMIR); 47D: "__: The Final Conflict": 1981 horror sequel (OMEN III); 49D: Groundbreaking? (SEISMIC); 50D: Groundbreaking (RADICAL); 51D: Paper tiger, perhaps (ORIGAMI); 53D: "Fiddlesticks!" ("DRAT!"); 54D: Gomez's wife, affectionately (TISH); 55D: Chance to get even (REMATCH); 56D: Fat substitute (OLESTRA); 57D: Tiny gnat (NO-SEE-UM); 59D: Chaney of horror (LON); 61D: Poetry movement promoted by Amy Lowell (IMAGISM); 65D: Sigma follower (TAU); 68D: Some athletic shoes (ETONICS); 69D: Chaplin's half brother (SYD); 72D: Costa __ (RICA); 73D: 1981 Ross/Richie duet (ENDLESS LOVE); 74D: Wilbur's horse (MR. ED); 75D: 2.0 (CEE); 78D: Freedom, in Swahili (UHURU); 81D: Cinch (SNAP); 84D: Book with a key (DIARY); 85D: "Sixteen Tons" singer (ERNIE FORD); 88D: "This __ certify ..." (IS TO); 89D: Duplicated (CLONED); 90D: Driving need? (TEST); 92D: "Jeepers!" ("SHEESH!"); 96D: Frying pan mishap (SPATTER); 97D: Word after photo (OPS); 98D: Standby's desire (FLIGHT); 99D: Tar pits locale (LABREA); 100D: Language learner's challenges (IDIOMS); 101D: The "P" in P.G. Wodehouse (PELHAM); 103D: Studio that made nine of the ten Astaire/Rogers films (RKO); 104D: Feeling no stress (AT EASE); 105D: Make genteel (REFINE); 106D: Monopoly's railroads, e.g. (TETRAD); 109D: Psyched up (EAGER); 113D: Exec (SUIT); 115D: Rapper who co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records (JAY-Z); 117D: Stub __ (A TOE); 120D: 22.5 deg. (NNE); 121D: "__ & the Women": 2000 Gere film (DR. T); 123D: Non's opposite (OUI); 124D: It may fly in a fight (FUR).