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Constructor: Grant Thackray
Relative problem: Easy-Medium
THEME: none
Word of the Day: Patricia WETTIG (32A: Emmy winner Patricia of “Thirtysomething”) —
Patricia Anne Wettig (born December 4, 1951) is an American actress and playwright. She is greatest identified for her position as Nancy Weston within the tv collection Thirtysomething (1987–1991), for which she obtained a Golden Globe Award and three Primetime Emmy Awards.
After her breakthrough position in Thirtysomething, Wettig has appeared in a lot of movies, together with Guilty by Suspicion (1991), City Slickers (1991), City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly’s Gold (1994), and The Langoliers (1995). She returned to tv taking part in a number one position within the 1995 short-lived drama Courthouse and later performed Caroline Reynolds within the Fox drama Prison Break (2005–2007) and Holly Harper within the ABC household drama Brothers & Sisters (2006–2011). (wikipedia)
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I used to be stunned I obtained into this one as simply as I did. I ran by way of the spring Zodiac indicators I do know, and whereas each PISCES and GEMINI match, they would not work with 3D: Jacobean ___, which needed to be ERA, so I figured the “signal” in 1A: Sign of spring should imply “proof” and yeah, no concept there. But then I took an absolute guess at 2D: Name on a truck and it was … proper?! (HESS). And then I went again to the Zodiac for my [Sign of spring] and (voilà!) THE RAM:
You gotta look out for these “THE”s right this moment, as a result of they actually come at ya. I used to be not terribly bothered by having THE RAM seem simply two rows above THE SANDS OF TIME (the elegant marquee reply the place the particular article feels most APT). But I misplaced persistence slightly with the third “THE” down beneath, at THE TANGO. It takes two to tango, not “two to do THE TANGO.” Somehow if it is a fashionable social gathering dance, like THE TWIST or THE WATUSI, I feel the THE is nice, however THE TANGO feels about as compelled as THE WALTZ or THE MINUET. It’s not mistaken, it is simply … Definite Article Overload, man. I used to be additionally not a fan of MISS A CUE, right this moment’s entry within the “EAT A SANDWICH” sweepstakes. MISS A BEAT, that is a phrase. MISS A CUE … sigh, squint, okay, I suppose, however not likely. My disposition towards this one was not warmed by the truth that the clue was troublesome—I truly thought-about MISSLEEP at one level (?!) (6D: Go out too late). But so far as grid flaws go, THE TANGO and MISSACUE have been about all that stood out. This one may be very, very clear and just about bump-free. It has that Flow that I really like in a themeless. I would not say I precisely “whooshed” across the grid, however I low-key whooshed. Slow-whooshed. It had a very good beat and I may dance to it. But not THE TANGO. Some different dance.
There have been cluing issues, nonetheless. A few massive ones, involving marquee solutions. The extra minor drawback concerned the clue on AUDIO-VISUAL AID (47A: Slide behind a speaker, possibly). Since AUDIO is just not strongly related to a slide, I dunno… I wrote in AUDIO as a result of it appeared prefer it needed to be proper, however then had some bother filling in that little SW part on the finish and so truly began doubting AUDIO. I suppose AUDIO-VISUAL AID is a broad class that features “slides,” so it isn’t mistaken, however I’d’ve preferred one thing extra audio-y there, for readability’s sake. The far more main cluing drawback got here at 12A: Question … oh, crud … I simply realized, simply now, that I misinterpret the clue! (12A: Question in lots of vehicles?). Well, that’s, I did not discover its trick / punny which means. Gah! I assumed the clue was telling me that “WHERE DID I PARK?” was a query one hears in lots of (i.e. an excellent many) vehicles, and I used to be like “however … however … however … if you happen to’re already in your automotive … does not that imply … how … why are you asking this!?!?” But after all “lot” right here means a automotive lot or parking zone, so that you hear the query within the lot, in all probability strolling round, clicking your little chirpy key-ring mechanism, and sure, that tracks. I hereby retract the objection that I used to be going to make. Or, relatively, I … do not make it. I make it not. No objection! Aborted objection overruled!
Some notes:
- 19A: Like sure corrections (PENAL) — pfffff OK, technically, sure, I suppose, however because you would not say “PENAL corrections” (would you?) this one feels bizarre. It was very exhausting for me, and got here proper in the midst of the entire MISSACUE fiasco.
- 4D: Possible supply of month-to-month earnings (RENTER) — I had RENTAL. This additionally occurred close to MISSACUE junction.
- 32A: Emmy winner Patricia of “Thirtysomething” (WETTIG) — remembered her, however not her vowels, my god. WITTIG, WITTEG, WETTEG, WETEGG, WETLEG, who is aware of!? Patricia WETTIG is married to Ken OLIN of crossword fame (additionally of “Thirtysomething” fame). I simply realized I confuse Ken OLIN and Bob Saget. But solely visually, not in crosswords.
- 25D: Relationship strains? (DUETS) — there have been solely too many “?” clues for my style right this moment, however this was a very good one (with “strains” which means “tunes”).
- 7A: Performs repetitive duties to realize expertise factors, in gaming slang (FARMS) — “in gaming slang” is a robust indicator that I will not have any concept what the hell is occurring. Here, I used to be actually, actually glad I knew FIFA, as a result of in any other case, whats up Natick! I hope you not less than knew FIFA! Game crossing sport! Not certain how this cross goes to play for a few of you…
- 19D: Hideout for Blackbeard (PIRATE COVE) — Had the “PIR-” and so obtained this one simply *besides* for that “O,” which I left clean at first as a result of I assumed a PIRATE CAVE could be a factor (fairly certain it’s a factor).
- 43D: Role in 2020’s “The Trial of the Chicago 7” (SEALE) —That’s Bobby SEALE, co-founder (with Huey Newton) of the Black Panther social gathering.
- 29D: Motivated, with “beneath” (LIT A FIRE) — this clue is so apparently odd that I nearly utterly forgot that LITA FIRE is mainly MISS ACUE‘s barely however solely barely better-looking cousin. EAT A SANDWICH, LITA FIRE!
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
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