04.03.09 -- Puzzle People!

At the Moulin Rouge 1892, Toulouse-Lautrec
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Friday,
April 3, 2009
Puzzle by
John Farmer, edited by Will Shortz

T.G.I.F.! and we’ve a puzzle packed with people --
BARABBAS (9D. 1961 Anthony Quinn title role); BERTOLT (22D. Dramatist Brecht); CABARETS (55A. Subjects of some Toulouse-Lautrec paintings); CHIANG (20D. Leader with Roosevelt and Churchill at the Cairo Conference, 1943); DE LILLO (41A. “Falling Man” novelist Don); DRU (28D. “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” co-star, 1949); ELI WALLACH (11D. Hollywood star whose memoir was titled “The Good, the Bad, and Me); 8D. Black ELK (Lakota visionary); FAUX HAWK (16A. Hairstyle popularized by David Beckham); FOE (49A. Moriarty, to Holmes); 45D. JOSEF K., Kafka’s protagonist in “The Trial”; MONTESSORI (26D. Education pioneer Maria); 48A. “Win a Date With TAD Hamilton!” (2004 film); PETE (50D. Jim’s partner on “Adam 12”); SELA (29A. Emmy award-winning Ward); TORRE (13D. 1971 N.L.M.V.P. who was later twice A.L. Manager of the Year).
Their activities (and the like) begin with a request to
BEAR THE BLAME (22A. Own responsibility); JUST THIS ONCE (45A. “I won’t ask again”) and continue on with an OBSTACLE (1A. Something to be negotiated) ON PATROL (14A. Looking for trouble?), and AT HEEL (5D. Close behind) the action continues with I’LL GET IT (58A. Ringing response?); SOON AS (53A. When, colloquially); SAIL TO (15A. Visit on an ocean cruise, say); SLEEPERS (60A. Some yo-yo tricks); and a SPIT TAKE (34D. Surprise shower?).

On the menu from the
STEAM TABLE (12D. Caterer’s setup for a hot buffet) starting with SOUP DU JOUR (25D. Restaurant special); along with OJS (47A. Harvey Wallbanger mixers briefly); a little LETTUCE (24D. Head on a plate?) and 59A. Pomme FRITE; but no entrée!

Miscellany -- ARTIER (17A. Affected to a greater degree); ATLAS (31A. World view?); CRAVATS (6D. Attire worn with frock coats); ENNOBLE (39D. Honor); EUREKA (57A. Electrolux brand);
EYELID (30D. Something most fish lack); ICE AGE (44D. Wintry stretch); LHASA (42D. Setting for Martin Scorsese’s “Kundun”); LOWER (7D. Dim); NICHE (43A. Métier); OF ALL (46D. Without exception); OIL BELT (27A. It has energy in reserve); RUNTS (33A. Little ones); SAHEL (15D. Savanna region stretching from Senegal to Chad; SMELT (25A. Refine); STABS (36A. Lances); TOLEDOS (23D. Old Spanish swords), an item unlisted HERE, a trove for crossword swords; and UP TOP (37A. Having a good vantage point).

Leftovers --
9A. “BLEST Be the Tie That Binds” (Christian hymn); SIN (18A. With 4-Down, smoker’s fee) TAX (4D. See 18-Across); BNAI, CHA, CIS, DOOR, EDGE, EVE (19A. Walpurgis Night vis-à-vis May Day), ISTS, LIT, NET, OOFS, REP, SPUN, STIR, SSA, TAD, UCLA, WAR, YEN (35A. Aching).
Have a great weekend!
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For today’s cartoon, go to
The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
Click on image to enlarge.
Puzzle available on the internet at
THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games
If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery subscription.








04.02.09 -- G to X

Thursday,
April 2, 2009
Puzzle by
Brendan Emmett Quigley, edited by Will Shortz
The Wednesday, April 1st Jeopardy! episode featured Will Shortz and today’s Thursday TV-tie-in New York Times puzzle with five of the seven following interrelated entries -- GARYGYGAX (17A. Co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons); GRANDPRIX (30A. French auto race); GORETEX (39A. Trademarked brand of waterproof fabric); GAGREFLEX (47A. Palate-raising response); GUMMOMARX (61A. Vaudeville brother born Milton); GASOLINETAX (11D. Levy at a BP or 69-Across station); GENERATIONX (24D. Thirtysomethings) -- the idea, while not possessing a solidified tie as in the crossword’s television appearance, is hinted at by 56D. “I’ll take ‘The New York Times Crossword Puzzle’ for $200, ALEX”. Well, then of course, there’s 59-Across -- Weird Al Yankovic’s “I LOST on Jeopardy”.
As explained on the
Jeopardy! program, the tie for the interrelated entries is the progression of film ratings from G to X (both letters displayed at the outset); however, the puzzle itself gives little clue as to same, and for solvers who did not watch the program, it appears there are just seven entries at the end of the solution beginning with G and ending with X. Incidentally, this is the second “made-for-television” crossword in the New York Times this past year, the other being Sunday, November 16, 2008.
The uncredited supporting cast has a plethora of short stuff including three-letter entries of ABP, BOX, DRE, EVA and UVA, EKE and UKE, ELO, GAT, JEW, JUG, NYM, ONE, PIX and POX, RDA, RIO, TIN and TEN and TER, WAR, WSJ,
XXX and almost as many of four letters, ANIL, BANE, CAGY, CBGB, DATA, EXES, FANG, GAIT, GIVE, GROG, NOGS, OBIE, OLEO, RIFF, SNIT, TIRO, TOME, FANG, YENS.
Mid-size clues and entries possessing more than a few oddities -- ABEAM (46D. Crosswise to a ship’s keel) and the rhyming AKEEM (67A. Eddie Murphy’s role in “Coming to America”); AGARN (34D. “F Troop” corporal); ALEKEG (23D. Pub container);
BANDO (15A. Railroad between Illinois and Atlantic avenues); CHIRP (4A. Happy sound); COMET (22D. Streaker seen at night); ENDMEN (49D. Minstrel show figures); EPOXY (28D. Sticker?); EXXON (69A. BP competitor); GETSTO (48D. Irritates); HAYING (5D. Harvesting for fodder); INANER (10D. More ridiculous); INGEAR (6D. Ready to roll); JASON (19A. N.B.A. star point guard Kidd); MENSA (33A. Its gatherings are smart things to attend); MOSES (37D. Michelangelo sculpture on a biblical subject); PATELLA (26D. Femur neighbor); SNARE (16A. Bag); TENSE (70A. Ex-lax?); VENTI (66A. Starbucks size); WIGGY (9A. Crazy excited); XGAMES (50D. Annual event that includes motocross); XYLENE (32D. Compound used in aviation fuel); YATES (45A. “Revolutionary Road” novelist Richard); YOYOS (18D. Dingbats).
One man‘s G is another man‘s X!
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For today’s cartoon, go to
The Crossword Puzzle Illustrated.
Click on image to enlarge.
Puzzle available on the internet at
THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games
If you subscribe to home delivery of The New York Times you are eligible to access the daily crossword via The New York Times - Times Reader, without additional charge, as part of your home delivery subscription.

Remaining clues --Across: 1. Yeshiva student; 14. The Cavaliers of the N.C.A.A.; 20. Award since 1956; 21. Holiday servings; 22. Sly; 25. Is off guard; 28. Fish whose skin is sometimes used for leather; 35. Beginner: Var.; 36. N.L. team, on scoreboards; 38. Squeeze (out); 42. Grp. With the 1979 hit “Don’t Bring Me Down”; 43. Rx specification; 44. Indigo dye source; 51. Scourge; 52. Sawbuck; 53. Snake’s bioweapon; 54. Splitsville parties; 55. Walk, e.g.; 57. Raw material?; 68. Fotos; 71. Cuff. Down: 1. Water holder; 2. Actress Mendes; 3. Drug ___, 4. Old N.Y.C. club said to be the birthplace of punk; 7. Vitamin abbr.; 8. Chicken ___, 9. Financial daily, in brief; 12. Part of an old Royal Navy ration; 13. Urges; 27. Lather; 31. “Forgot About ___” (2000 Grammy-winning rap song); 40. Billy Martin, for the Yankees; 41. Musical phrase; 55. Say “Uncle!”; 58. It may need a big jacket; 60. Word before ear or horn; 61. Bit of “hardware”; 62. HI-strung instrument?; 63. Police radio message: Abbr.; 64. “Road to ___” (1947 flick); 65. Turkey, to a bowler.