Jake Halperin’s Wall Street Journal crossword, “Wait Up!”—Jim P’s evaluate

Theme: TONIGHT SHOW HOST (57a, [TV personality hidden in the answers to 16-, 22-, 32-, 41- and 47-Across]).

Wall St Journal crossword resolution · “Wait Up!” · Jake Halperin · Wed., 9.14.22

• 16a. [Have a rough patch] FALL ON HARD TIMES. Jimmy Fallon.
• 22a. [They’re occasionally criticized for being too easy on violence] MPAA RATINGS. Jack Paar.
• 32a. [“Little Deuce Coupe” and “Little Red Corvette,” for two] CAR SONGS. Johnny Carson.
• 41a. [Funambulist family name] WALLENDA. Steve Allen.
• 47a. [Completely different, informally] WHOLE NOTHER. Jay Leno.

Poor Conan…snubbed once more.

When I obtained to the revealer, earlier than totally fixing it, I gathered that we had been searching for late-night discuss present hosts, however then I used to be mildly shocked that they had been all particular to 1 present. That’s a good theme, so I’m impressed that we now have 5 of the six hosts right here. CAR SONGS feels just a little inexperienced paintish, and ALLEN doesn’t span two phrases just like the others, however with a good theme like this, we will enable some leeway. Nicely executed.

With six lengthy themers, there’s certain to be some crosswordese within the grid corresponding to N DAK, plural WHOAS, and NO MSG, but it surely’s not past the pale, and there’s nonetheless loads of good fill like GOLD MEDAL, “IT SEEMS…,” and STREAKS.

Clues of word:

• 1a. [Fast food drink choice]. LARGE. Started with PEPSI then FANTA then simply scratched my head for some time. A sluggish begin for me at 1a.
• 45d. [TV mouse on “The Simpsons”]. ITCHY. The Jerry to Scratchy’s Tom…plus gratuitous violence.

Impressively dense theme. 3.75 stars.