TUESDAY, May 11, 2010 — Jeff Chen

Theme: In the Loop — Theme answers are two-word phrases with the initials CC.


Theme answers:

• 17A: Cough cause (COMMON COLD).
• 27A: Courtside coverage (COLOR COMMENTARY).
• 41A: Captain's concern (COLLISION COURSE).
• 55A: Contract clone (whose abbreviation hints at this puzzle's theme) (CARBON COPY).

Overslept this morning, so let's get right to it. A solid Tuesday offering from Mr. Chen. Did you notice that the theme clues are all CC phrases as well? Nicely done. A little bit of crosswordese here and there, which you expect in an early week puzzle, and then you come across some sparkle like DITZY and GAUDY (34A: Like a birdbrain / 40A: Flashy). Throw in LEMON LAW and CASBAH (3D: Statute that protects car buyers / 41D: Section of Algiers) and you've got yourself enough interesting fill to call this a decent puzzle. You know what's coming. And I know you know what's coming. And you know I know you know what's coming. So we're all in agreement, right? Excellent.

• 62A: Red Rose (PETE). Great clue for Charlie Hustle.
• 63A: More than chunky (OBESE). All I could think of was peanut butter. There's creamy and there's chunky and … there's something else?

• 12D: Loan shark (USURER). Have you been paying any attention to the "payday lenders'" opposition to financial reform? The guy who's leading the charge — arguing that the payday lender industry is too poor to be regulated — is absolutely and completely filthy rich. On one of his properties he even built himself a football stadium. And hosted a college football there! Really!
• 25D: Legendary female warrior (AMAZON). Also an online book retailer that I think might really take off one of these days.
• 36D: Multicountry union using the same currency (EUROZONE). Don't recall seeing this in a puzzle before.
• 55D: One with a beat (COP). And now, ladies and gentleman, your antidote to the Clash.

Crosswordese 101 round-up:

• 15A: Rod in a hot rod (AXLE).
• 20A: Ambient music pioneer Brian (ENO).
• 50D: Double-reed woodwind (OBOE).

Everything Else — 1A: Pinochle plays (MELDS); 6A: Lure (BAIT); 10A: Arced line connecting two musical notes (SLUR); 14A: Construction girder (I-BEAM); 16A: Sniffer (NOSE); 19A: School reunion attendee (ALUM); 21A: Madeline of "Blazing Saddles" (KAHN); 22A: Cathedral top (SPIRE); 23A: Not at any time, in verse (NE'ER); 25A: Flew a plane (AVIATED); 31A: Sources of fiber (BRANS); 32A: Blackens, as tuna (SEARS); 33A: Puts in stitches (SEWS); 35A: Rip (TEAR); 39A: Grand Canyon pack animal (BURRO); 46A: Consecrates with oil (ANOINTS); 47A: Germany's von Bismarck (OTTO); 48A: Police operation (STING); 49A: Central points (FOCI); 51A: Microwave (ZAP); 54A: Insect wound (BITE); 58A: Agreement from the flock (AMEN); 59A: Two-tone cookie (OREO); 60A: Office machine powder (TONER); 61A: One of a matching pair (HERS); 1D: Scampering squeakers (MICE); 2D: Black, in verse (EBON); 4D: Public works project (DAM); 5D: Camel users? (SMOKERS); 6D: "Goldberg Variations" composer (BACH); 7D: Neural transmitter (AXON); 8D: Not well (ILL); 9D: Bill's "excellent adventure" partner (TED); 10D: Be short with (SNAP AT); 11D: Nabokov nymphet (LOLITA); 13D: Cure (REMEDY); 18D: 55-Down in a bust (NARC); 22D: Breaks a commandment (SINS); 24D: Ages and ages (EONS); 26D: Quite (VERY); 27D: Its eye is on TV (CBS); 28D: Refinable rock (ORE); 29D: Egyptian god of the dead (OSIRIS); 30D: Part of MGM (METRO); 34D: Pledge target (DUST); 35D: Lacking slack (TAUT); 37D: Promos (ADS); 38D: Deli loaf (RYE); 39D: Soft-voiced Crosby (BING); 40D: Started liking, as a hobby (GOT INTO); 42D: Prompt (ON TIME); 43D: Hang around (LOITER); 44D: Tablecloths and more (LINENS); 45D: Designer Chanel (COCO); 49D: Guitar ridge (FRET); 52D: Big galoots (APES); 53D: Combustible pile (PYRE); 56D: "We __ the World" (ARE); 57D: Corn unit (COB).