03.20 Sun

S U N D A Y
March 20, 2011
Ed Sessa

[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: "New B-ginnings" — The title says it all. Add a "B" sound to the beginnings of familiar phrases to get wacky theme entries.

Theme Entries:

• 24A: Result of the cock's crow? (BROOD AWAKENING). [rude awakening]
• 38A: "Bungling for Dummies," e.g.? (BONERS MANUAL). [owner's manual]
• 59A: Shindig for Swahili VIPs? (BWANA DANCE). [wanna dance?]
• 83A: Bedbugs on the Orient Express? (BERTH WORMS). [earthworms]
• 97A: Bird with a tan? (BROWNED ROBIN). [round robin]
• 119A: Hibernation luxuries? (BEAR MATTRESSES). [air mattresses]
• 3D: "$#%^*& geckos!"? (BLEEPING LIZARDS). [leaping lizards!]
• 47D: Prize for an inn's best guest? (BOARDER OF THE DAY). [order of the day]

Hey, everybody. This is Doug, reporting from the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. Actually, I'm not reporting yet. I'm too busy solving puzzles and hanging with the puzzle people. I hate to be a name-dropper, but last night I had dinner with Garson Hampfield. Interesting guy.

OK, today's puzzle. I liked it. Nice grid with some fun theme answers. BLEEPING LIZARDS is awesome, and I like BROWNED ROBIN too. No comment on BONERS MANUAL.

Sorry, no bullets today, but I'll be back with a full Sunday write-up next weekend. Have fun in the comments & I'll see you later.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 33A: At one time, once (ERST).
• 46A: "Voice of Israel" author (EBAN).
• 62A: Sch. whose mascot is Rhody the Ram (U.R.I.).
• 78A: Child expert LeShan (EDA).
• 86A: Toon Chihuahua (REN).
• 8D: Avis adjective (RARA).
• 40D: Oklahoma's "Wheat Capital" (ENID).
• 43D: "Young Frankenstein" role (IGOR).
• 54D: "My Way" lyricist (ANKA).
• 69D: Gator follower? (ADE).
• 115D: Canadian gas (ESSO).
• 121D: Past fast flier (SST).

02.04 Fri

F R I D A Y February 4, 2011
Ed Sessa

Theme: A Spot of T — The letter T is added as the second letter to words and phrases that begin with the letter S.

Theme answers:

• 17A: "Oklahoma!" prop? (STAGE BRUSH).
• 21A: Time off spent with Rover? (STICK DAY).
• 34A: Undercover operations where agents can bring guests? (STING-ALONGS).
• 42A: Dance for louses? (STINKER BALL).
• 52A: Taser switch? (STUN DIAL).
• 61A: Fancy shoes for the campaign trail? (STUMP PUMPS).

Can't say this puzzle really moved me one way or the other. Didn't love it. Didn't hate it. The theme answers don't seem particularly amusing or clever, but I had fun trying to figure them out once I understood the theme. And there were an awful lot of them, which is always kind of impressive in a grid, like this one, that doesn't rely on a lot of crosswordese and clunky fill. It's a shame that all the crosswordese is right up at the top of the grid. Seeing ETON, AGORA, and GAR right off the bat made me think we were in for a real CW-fest, but the rest of the grid thankfully steered clear.

My favorite grid entries include:

• 10A: Bloke (CHAP).
• 20A: Subject of a 2009 national tournament cheating scandal (SUDOKU). Great clue.
• 11D: Not easily topped (HARD TO BEAT).
• 45D: Mighty Dump Trucks, e.g. (TONKAS).

Bullets:

• 16A: Symbolic ring (HALO). Also an extremely violent video game.
• 28A: Fingers (ID'S). Tricky clue, in that I don't usually think of "fingers" as a verb.
• 56A: Mickey's "The Wrestler" co-star (MARISA). I haven't seen this movie, but I've heard it's good. I loved MARISA Tomei in "In the Bedroom" and, of course, "My Cousin Vinny."

• 65A: Lollipop, for one (SHIP). Wikipedia tells me that the "ship" in "On the Good Ship Lollipop" is actually an airplane. I did not know that.
• 1D: "Summertime" singer (BESS). From the Gershwin opera "Porgy and Bess."
• 5D: Rock collection? (ALBUM). Are ALBUMs still called ALBUMs today even though they're not really ALBUMs any more? I know I still call them ALBUMs but I wonder if that's just an oldster thing or if it held up the same way "dialing a phone" or "rolling up the car window" did.
• 27D: Penguins' home (PITTSBURGH). I believe there's another team in PITTSBURGH that's doing pretty well this year.
• 40D: Clear as mud (ABSTRUSE). I don't think I've ever used the word "abstruse," but I have occasionally explained things to the point where they are "clear as mud." Right here on this blog even!

• 53D: Hip Charlie, in ads (TUNA). I forgot that Charlie the TUNA was supposed to be hip. But he does where that rakish beret. And if a rakish beret isn't hip, then I don't know what is.
• 55D: "Kick, Push" rapper __ Fiasco (LUPE). Never heard of this guy, but that is one fantastic name.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 5A: Ancient meeting place (AGORA).
• 14A: School since 1440 (ETON).
• 46A: Head of government? (GEE).
• 6D: Needle-nosed fish (GAR).

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

Everything Else — 1A: In development, as software (BETA); 15A: Really enjoy (LAP UP); 19A: Heavenly bodies (ORBS); 23A: Star car (LIMO); 25A: Downsizing event? (DIET); 26A: Extend across (SPAN); 31A: Fumble (for) (GROPE); 37A: Tampa NFLer (BUC); 38A: Jobs, idiomatically (HATS); 39A: Tesla, by birth (CROAT); 40A: Sol lead-in (AERO-); 41A: Creative output (ART); 44A: "Beau __": Gary Cooper film (GESTE); 47A: Body shop figs. (ESTS.); 48A: Close connection (BOND); 50A: Water carrier (DUCT); 60A: "Young" reformer (TURK); 63A: "Young Frankenstein" lab assistant (INGA); 64A: Small thicket (COPSE); 66A: Cheers (RAHS); 67A: Exhaust (SPEND); 68A: A long, long time (EONS); 2D: Caesarean rebuke (ET TU); 3D: Warty hopper (TOAD); 4D: Luanda natives (ANGOLANS); 7D: Numbered piece (OPUS); 8D: Sign of age (RUST); 9D: Garden pest (APHID); 10D: Round jewelry item (CHOKER); 12D: Jessica of "Sin City" (ALBA); 13D: Bridal accessory (POSY); 18D: Scratching (out) (EKING); 22D: Butts (CIGS); 24D: Deepwater Horizon, for one (OIL RIG); 26D: Disconcerting look (STARE); 29D: Blackmore heiress (DOONE); 30D: Took a sinuous path (SNAKED); 32D: Knitting stitches (PURLS); 33D: Sci. concerned with biodiversity (ECOL.); 34D: Thick carpet (SHAG); 35D: Behave (ACT); 36D: Co. that merged into Verizon (GTE); 42D: Texting button (SEND); 43D: Newscast segment (RECAP); 49D: Saucers and such (DISCS); 51D: Made lots of calls, in a way (UMPED); 52D: Mix (STIR); 54D: At the peak of (ATOP); 57D: "As I see it," online (IMHO); 58D: Go a few rounds? (SPIN); 59D: Slithery threats (ASPS); 62D: Co. with a butterfly logo (MSN).

12.28 Tue

T U E S D A Y
December 28, 2010
Ed Sessa

Theme: Scat! — The last syllables of the theme answers can be put together to make a Frank Sinatra lyric.

Theme answers:

• 17A: *Amount of money to pay (BALANCE DUE).
• 24A: *Beach Boys hit with the line "the first mate, he got drunk" (SLOOP JOHN B).
• 30A: *Shaggy's dog (SCOOBY-DOO).
• 44A: *Aggressive African swarmer (KILLER BEE).
• 50A: *Drops on the grass (MORNING DEW).
• 62A: Trademark Sinatra lyric heard at the ends of the answers to starred clues (DO BE DO BE DO).

Howdy, folks. PuzzleGirl is still feeling a bit under the weather, so this is Doug blogging again. Get well soon, PG, and "Say boo to the flu" (see 29A).

I'm not a big Frank Sinatra fan, but I really liked this puzzle. Lots of theme answers and a nice reveal that I didn't see coming. I could hear Sinatra singing "Do be do be do" in my head, but I wasn't sure which song it was from. Let's go to the video:

Quite a musical puzzle today. Besides Ol' Blue Eyes, Ed Sessa referenced the Beach Boys, Beethoven, Eminem, Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, and Perry Como. And for good measure, he included the catch-all answer BAND (19A: Rock group). I'll give the puzzle 4 stars. It's got a good beat and you can dance to it.

Bullets:

• 15A: Cap'n Crunch, e.g. (CEREAL). My favorite selection from the Cap'n Crunch family of cereals is Peanut Butter Crunch. Delicious sugary peanut buttery balls.

• 20A: Popular tattoo spot (ANKLE). For women, right? I don't think many guys get ankle tattoos. Or maybe I'm just not looking at guys' ankles enough. The ankles on the right belong to Rex Parker's favorite crossword aficionado.
• 29A: "___ to the flu": vaccination slogan (SAY BOO). I didn't know there were any vaccination slogans. This one has its own website, so it must be legit. I never get a flu shot. I figure getting sick is better than getting a shot, but I'm kind of a baby.

• 38A: Supporter of Boris Godunov, say (TSARIST). Want to make a crossword with Russian movie puns? Here's your first theme entry: "The Accidental Tsarist."
• 44A: Aggressive African swarmer (KILLER BEE). The idea of swarming killer bees scares me to death. Even worse than getting a shot.
• 66A: Always, rarely or never: Abbr. (ADV). All three of those words are adverbs. Tricky, eh?
• 3D: Velvety smooth (SILKY). A shout-out to veteran constructor Barry C. Silk.
• 28D: NYC dance company (ABT). American Ballet Theatre. If it's American, why do they spell "theater" wrong?
• 43D: Batter's grip aid (PINE TAR). Baseball players smear this sticky stuff on their bats to get a better grip. It's well-known to anyone who remembers the infamous Pine Tar Incident involving Billy Martin and George Brett.
• 47A: Reds, on scoreboards (CIN). More baseball with the Cincinnati Reds. Trivia nugget of the day: During the McCarthy Era, the Reds changed their name to the Cincinnati Redlegs so people wouldn't think they were a bunch of Commies.

Everything Else —

W E D N E S D A Y December 1, 2010 Ed Sessa

Theme: We Have Met the Enemy …. — Hidden in each theme answer is the letter string NME, which sounds like the word "enemy" if you say it out loud.

Theme answers:

• 20A: Viral illness associated with a rash (GERMAN MEASLES).
• 35A: List that comes from the top (DROP-DOWN MENU).
• 43A: Possible response to "Gotcha!" (THAT'S ONE ON ME).
• 57A: Pie with a fluffy topping (LEMON MERINGUE).
• 56D: Foe hiding, in a way, in the puzzle's four longest answers (ENEMY).

Well, so far the day hasn't gone exactly as I had planned. PuzzleDaughter woke me up at 4:30 because her throat really hurt, but we had to wait until 8:00 to get to the doctor. Let's just say there was a lot of whining and whimpering between 4:30 and 8:00. Poor girl. Anyway. I assume she has strep but don't really know for sure because … she talked the doctor out of giving her the strep test. Man does she hate the strep test! She gave him these pouty eyes and he fell for it! Unbelievable! But he gave her a prescription anyway and now we're back home, she's sleeping on the couch, and I'm trying to catch up. So I'm just going to post the grid and the theme here and you guys can chat it up in the comments. See you back here tomorrow.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 65A: Humorist Bombeck (ERMA).
• 36D: Reed instrument (OBOE).
• 58D: Hot times in the cité (ÉTÉS).
• 63D: Year, in Yucatán (AÑO).

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

Everything Else — 1A: Chews the fat (GABS); 5A: "Here's to ..." tribute (TOAST); 10A: Lingerie size (C-CUP); 14A: Inuit word for "house" (IGLU); 15A: Like bighorns (OVINE); 16A: Obsessed fictional captain (AHAB); 17A: Modeler's aid (GLUE); 18A: More inclined to butt in (RUDER); 19A: Comes together (GELS); 23A: Paint base (LATEX); 24A: A major, e.g. (KEY); 25A: Healthful resort (SPA); 28A: 911 responder, for short (EMS); 29A: Lanchester of "Witness for the Prosecution" (ELSA); 33A: Like Fran Drescher's voice (NASAL); 38A: Cuba or Mallorca (ISLA); 41A: Thumper's friend (BAMBI); 42A: Agenda listing (ITEM); 46A: Like some waves (TIDAL); 47A: Have to have (NEED); 48A: Fond du __, Wisconsin (LAC); 51A: "School's out" response (YAY); 52A: "Eeeuuw!" ("ICK!"); 55A: Bloodsucker (LEECH); 62A: Tight (TAUT); 64A: Sister's daughter (NIECE); 65A: Humorist Bombeck (ERMA); 66A: "Going __, going ..." (ONCE); 67A: On the wrong side (of) (AFOUL); 68A: Track competition (MEET); 69A: Stir-fry cookers (WOKS); 70A: Full of juicy tidbits (NEWSY); 71A: Longings (YENS); 1D: Embarrassed reaction, maybe (GIGGLE); 2D: Shining brightly (AGLEAM); 3D: Exclaims suddenly, with "out" (BLURTS); 4D: "Do something about it! I dare you!" ("SUE ME!"); 5D: Betwixt and between (TORN); 6D: Egg, to Ovid (OVUM); 7D: Right-hand man (AIDE); 8D: Tiptoe (SNEAK); 9D: Succinct (TERSE); 10D: Place with bars (CAGE); 11D: Where to find four knights (CHESS SET); 12D: "Friendly skies" co. (UAL); 13D: "Masterpiece" airer (PBS); 21D: Hatchet man (AXER); 22D: "Coal Miner's Daughter" subject Loretta (LYNN); 26D: Glass section (PANE); 27D: Former senior, for short (ALUM); 30D: "Rio __": John Wayne film (LOBO); 31D: Wingspread, say (SPAN); 32D: Madison Ave. figures (ADMEN); 34D: Dijon honey (AMIE); 35D: Statistical input (DATA); 36D: Reed instrument (OBOE); 37D: Red, white or Blue Nun (WINE); 38D: Bitty start? (ITTY-); 39D: Islamic branch (SHIA); 40D: Gambler's favorite woman? (LADY LUCK); 44D: Svelte (SLIM); 45D: 1551, on monuments (MDLI); 48D: "Uncle Tom's Cabin" villain (LEGREE); 49D: Keen judgment (ACUMEN); 50D: Marked deck users (CHEATS); 53D: Movie barbarian (CONAN); 54D: Swiss Army __ (KNIFE); 58D: Hot times in the cité (ETES); 59D: Catty remark (MEOW); 60D: Old gold coins of France (ECUS); 61D: Bank (on) (RELY); 62D: Auto club service (TOW); 63D: Year, in Yucatán (AÑO).

T H U R S D A Y October 21, 2010 Ed Sessa

Theme: 3.14169.... — Familiar phrases are clued as if the first word is a type of pie.

Theme answers:

• 18A: Pie flop? (CHERRY BOMB).


• 23A: Pie taste-test site? (CHOCOLATE LAB).


• 39A: Pie to-do? (MUD FLAP).


• 50A: Pie charts? (APPLE RECORDS).


• 60A: Pie patter? (MINCE WORDS).

Mmmmm. Pie. Cute theme and I like how the clues are all short and to the point. Two elements of the theme are a little off to me. First, MINCE WORDS is, unlike the others, a verb phrase. And second, "Pie charts" is an actual thing while the other clue phrases are simply made up. Those two things definitely detract from the theme's elegance, but the puzzle is still enjoyable. At least it was for me.

Except down there in the southwest corner. I had a heckuva time down there. The trouble started with me wanting the first word of the 60A phrase to be an adjective and continued with my inability to think of anyone but Lola and Tony at the stupid Copacabana. (And, yes, thanks for the earworm. Really appreciate it.) Once I got MINCE in place, my guess of CRANIAL seemed wrong because of the consonant collision at the front of 56D, but when I got past that, the rest of the section fell pretty easily.



Bullets:

• 9A: Spring bloomer (LILAC). Tried ASTERS first.


• 14A: His epitaph reads "And the beat goes on" (BONO). That's pretty sweet.


• 17A: TV role for Bamboo Harvester (MR. ED). Wait, what? It never occurred to me that I didn't know the real name of the horse who played MR. ED. Horses, as I'm sure many of you know, are often named by combining the names of their "parents." Bamboo Harvester's sire's name was The Harvester, but his dam's name was Zetna Hara which doesn't look to me like it relates to bamboo, but maybe it does. I mean really. I don't know what I'm talking about half the time.


• 22A: Travelers' burdens (VALISES). Are you still burdened by VALISES? I usually carry a suitcase.


• 38A: Buckeyes' home: Abbr. (OSU). Boooo! (Nothing personal, I just always feel the need to boo all Big Ten teams other than the Hawkeyes.)


• 64A: Days of Hanukkah, e.g. (OCTET). Did I tell you all that PuzzleDaughter asked if we could celebrate Hanukkah this year? She swears it's not just about the eight days of presents. (Yeah, right.) I think we'll probably do it. We're not Christian and we celebrate Christmas every year so why not? Need to get myself a menorah.


• 1D: High-tech debut of 1981 (IBM PC). With the I in place all I wanted was a Mac product but couldn't get one to fit.


• 5D: 1980s-'90s slugger Fielder (CECIL). Unfortunately, he played first base. I wish he had been an outfielder.


• 9D: Clapton title woman (LAYLA). Maybe this will help get that awful Copacabana song out of our heads.





• 13D: Male swans (COBS). The things you learn!


• 29D: Tunnel entrance of sorts (GOPHER HOLE).


• 54D: Mild expletives (DANGS). Very mild indeed.

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 33D: Name meaning "hairy" in Hebrew (ESAU).


• 36D: Airline to Oslo (SAS).


• 62D: Grammy-winning Dr. (DRE).

[Follow PuzzleGirl on Twitter.]

Everything Else — 1A: A party to (IN ON); 5A: Quite the fashion plate (CHIC); 15A: Faulkner femme fatale Varner (EULA); 16A: BP merger partner (AMOCO); 20A: Italian deli sandwich (PANINI); 26A: X, at times (TEN); 27A: www bookmark (URL); 28A: Film director's headaches (EGOS); 32A: Luther's lang. (GER.); 34A: First Amendment lobbying gp. (ACLU); 36A: Numbers game (SUDOKU); 41A: Post- opposite (PRE-); 42A: One in distress? (DAMSEL); 44A: Slug or song ending (-FEST); 45A: Loft material (HAY); 46A: Apartment manager, familiarly (SUPE); 47A: Quaff for Andy Capp (ALE); 48A: Curling setting (ICE); 56A: Like the auditory and optic nerves, e.g. (CRANIAL); 59A: Aspen topper (SKI HAT); 63A: Prohibited thing (NO-NO); 65A: Flag (TIRE); 66A: First name in Olympics gymnastics (OLGA); 67A: Like beer halls, usually (NOISY); 68A: Eyewear, in ads (SPEX); 69A: Raid target (PEST); 2D: Grammy winner Jones (NORAH); 3D: Bridge opening (ONE NO TRUMP); 4D: "Fuggedaboutit!" ("NO DICE!"); 6D: "Whazzat?" ("HUH?"); 7D: Seine sight (ILE); 8D: Longtime ice cream cake brand (CARVEL); 10D: Wet one's whistle (IMBIBED); 11D: Johns, to Elton (LOOS); 12D: Top (ACME); 19D: "Too-Ra-Loo-Ra-Loo-__": Irish lullaby (RAL); 21D: Hardly distinguished (NO-NAME); 24D: Nostalgic song title word (AULD); 25D: Godiva product (TRUFFLE); 30D: Gumbo ingredient (OKRA); 31D: Chop __ (SUEY); 32D: Mars and Venus (GODS); 35D: __-de-sac (CUL); 37D: Slight market improvement (UPTICK); 40D: Disconcerting glance (LEER); 43D: Hand-holding events (SEANCES); 47D: Parcels out (ALLOTS); 49D: Requiring change, briefly (COIN-OP); 51D: Reverence (PIETY); 52D: A pad helps protect it (PAW); 53D: Elizabeth I's beloved (ESSEX); 55D: Brown ermine (STOAT); 56D: "Get real!" ("C'MON!"); 57D: Guy who "wore a diamond," in the song "Copacabana" (RICO); 58D: ABM component? (ANTI); 61D: Scary current (RIP).

SUNDAY, June 27, 2010 — Ed Sessa (syndicated)

Theme: "The Ends Justify the Meanings" — Not sure how to describe this succinctly. Theme answers begin with an adjective patterned X-and-X, then the next word is commonly used as the second half of a compound word with the second X. Clear as mud?

[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: Angler's go-to lure? (BREAD-AND-BUTTER FLY).
• 37A: Intermittent photo session? (ON-AND-OFF SHOOT).
• 67A: "Father Knows Best," to some (MOM-AND-POP CORN).
• 97A: Zigzags? (IN-AND-OUT LINES).
• 114A: Wavering conservative faction? (BACK-AND-FORTH RIGHT).
• 16D: Thrill from using a mouse? (DRAG-AND-DROP KICK).
• 43D: Fancy dance marathon? (HUFF-AND-PUFF BALL).

Crosswordese 101 Round-up:

• 32A: Sign that makes an angel happy (SRO).
• 66A: Palindromic Altar (ARA).
• 87A: Formerly, formerly (ERST).
• 13D: Franklin's 1936 foe (ALF).
• 54D: Retd. boomers (SST'S).
• 62D: "Time's Arrow" author (AMIS).
• 84D: DDE adversary (AES).

Everything Else — 1A: Long cold spell (ICE AGE); 7A: "The Whiffenpoof Song" words (BAAS); 11A: Big bang (BLAST); 16A: Mil. decoration (DSM); 19A: Grand Canyon nester (CONDOR); 20A: Quartet named for its singers (ABBA); 21A: Alice's husband in '50s TV (RALPH); 22A: Reine's spouse (ROI); 26A: Hole puncher (AWL); 27A: Dustin's "Kramer vs. Kramer" co-star (MERYL); 28A: "Jingle Bells" contraction (O'ER); 29A: Some nest eggs, briefly (IRAS); 30A: Mirrored (IMAGED); 33A: Religious symbol (ICON); 35A: "Hold on __!" (A SEC); 36A: Say over (ITERATE); 40A: __ White (SNOW); 41A: '90s Olds (ACHIEVA); 44A: Work at assiduously (PLY); 45A: Took potshots (SNIPED); 47A: Lugs (HAULS); 48A: "A Doll's House" heroine (NORA); 50A: Passé platters (LP'S); 52A: Candy named for its creators (M AND M'S); 55A: Overrun en masse, as ants (INFEST); 57A: Pedal pusher (CYCLER); 59A: Minsk's home (BELARUS); 60A: Where wildebeest roam: Abbr. (AFR.); 61A: Possess, to Burns (HAE); 63A: Two bells, at sea (ONE A.M.); 65A: Admission of defeat (I LOST); 71A: Ale servings: Abbr. (PTS.); 72A: Yorba __, Calif. (LINDA); 74A: Cockamamie (INANE); 75A: Here, to Pierre (ICI); 76A: Letters before a 76-Down (AKA); 77A: Blues Brothers toppers (FEDORAS); 79A: Like some outfield walls (PADDED); 82A: Quartz compound (SILICA); 85A: Quakers in the woods (ASPENS); 86A: These, to Thérèse (CES); 89A: Suitable spot for a statue (NICHE); 90A: Has the last of (USES UP); 92A: TV Guide abbr. (TBA); 93A: Director's do-overs (RETAKES); 95A: Sword handle (HAFT); 101A: 1980s-'90s N.Y. senator D'Amato (ALFONSE); 103A: "Denial __ just a river in Egypt": Twain (AIN'T); 104A: State with conviction (AVER); 105A: Sleep lab acronym (REM); 108A: Bump off (RUB OUT); 109A: Anthem starter (O SAY); 110A: Expected (DUE); 111A: Typical start? (PROTO-); 113A: GP's gp. (AMA); 118A: Where the Blues Brothers began, briefly (SNL); 119A: Taken as a whole (IN ALL); 120A: __ worlde: quaintly fashionable (OLDE); 121A: Echo (REPEAT); 122A: "Rebel Without a Cause" actor Mineo (SAL); 123A: World carrier (ATLAS); 124A: Lanolin source (WOOL); 125A: Fuel in a can (STERNO); 1D: Some WMDs (ICBM'S); 2D: Semicircular utensil (CORER); 3D: Hot time in Chile (ENERO); 4D: Beatles' "__ in the Life" (A DAY); 5D: Sanctity (GODLINESS); 6D: '70s NOW cause (ERA); 7D: Villains often come to one (BAD END); 8D: Mass. or Miss. (ABBR.); 9D: "Aladdin" monkey (ABU); 10D: Make happy (SATISFY); 11D: Dam damage (BREACH); 12D: "__ and the Real Girl": 2007 film (LARS); 14D: Mid-race statistic (SPLIT TIME); 15D: Part of a Simon & Garfunkel quartet (THYME); 17D: Johannesburg area (SOWETO); 18D: Shower problem (MILDEW); 24D: Reagan speechwriter (NOONAN); 25D: Spanish crowd? (TRES); 31D: Military depot (ARSENAL); 34D: Cleveland hoopster, for short (CAV); 35D: Company with a spokesduck (AFLAC); 36D: Charge carrier (ION); 37D: Crude carrier (OILER); 38D: Venue for Minnie Pearl (OPRY); 39D: CIA predecessor (OSS); 41D: Sashimi fish (AHI); 42D: Birds named for an island group (CANARIES); 46D: Monty Python member (PALIN); 49D: Neptune's domain (OCEAN); 50D: O'Brien's successor (LENO); 51D: Type of school (PREP); 53D: Pencil or toothbrush, e.g. (MUSTACHE); 56D: Howe'er (THO'); 58D: Ran easily (LOPED); 59D: College QB, often (BMOC); 64D: Bases' antitheses (ACIDS); 66D: Bravo preceder (ALFA); 67D: Seine tributary (MARNE); 68D: Kitty pickup spot (NAPE); 69D: Spiral molecules (DNA'S); 70D: Grafton's "__ for Ricochet" (R IS); 73D: Argumentative cry (DOES TOO); 76D: See 76-Across (ALIAS); 78D: Second (ASSISTANT); 80D: Coming-out (DEBUT); 81D: Part of Q.E.D. (ERAT); 83D: Make sense of (INTERPRET); 86D: Audit rep (CPA); 88D: Hot-pot support (TRIVET); 91D: Somme one (UNE); 92D: Wally Cleaver portrayer (TONY DOW); 94D: Reno-to-Elko dir. (ENE); 95D: Bust chops (HARASS); 96D: Wellesley grad (ALUMNA); 98D: Some sonorant sounds (NASALS); 99D: "Gorillas in the Mist" subject Fossey (DIAN); 100D: Victory emblem (LAUREL); 102D: Ancient Nile Valley kingdom (NUBIA); 105D: Ham's "Gotcha" (ROGER); 106D: Frome of fiction (ETHAN); 107D: Words often etched in stone (MOTTO); 109D: Sooner St. (OKLA.); 110D: Birdbrain (DODO); 112D: Ready to pluck (RIPE); 115D: Baseball "Iron Man" Ripken (CAL); 116D: Waitress at Mel's (FLO); 117D: 86-Down billing units (HRS.).