06.23.09 -- Wham!

Tuesday,
June 23, 2009
Puzzle by Caleb Madison, edited by Will Shortz
PUNCH AND JUDY (20A. Slapstick puppet show), SOCK IT TO ME (33A. “I’m ready for anything!”), HIT THE SACK (44A Go get some shuteye) and DECK THE HALLS (57A. Yuletide tune) are the interrelated entries of this Tuesday crossword.
GROUCHO MARX (11D. He said “Here’s to our wives and girlfriends … may they never meet!”) makes his second appearance this week, having his deathbed quote in Sunday’s crossword (“Die, my dear? Why, that’s the last thing I’ll do!”). FACT CHECKER is clued as a Magazine staffer. Other entries of length include HIGH IQS (44D. 140 and up, say), REAL LIFE (42D. Actuality), REPUBLIC (5D. Form of government Plato wrote about) and STAN LEE (9D. Co-creator of the Fantastic Four). ELIXIR (55A. Drink said to prolong life) and LEFT BE (23A. Didn’t bother) are the only six-letter entries. The crossword is holoalphabetic.
Five-letter aplenty -- ADMEN (50D. Some Madison Ave. workers); ADOPT (4D. Take on); ALOHA (7D. Lei giver’s greeting); ALTAR (1A. Place for an oath); ATTIC (40A. Room at the top of stairs); CACTI (38D. They have many needles); DIODE (14A. Loads);
EDGAR (71A. Mystery writer’s award); EMOTE (24D. Ham it up); FIERY (68A. Like redheads’ tempers, supposedly); GENUS (53D. The “Homo” in “Homo sapiens”); IAMBS (62A. Da-DUM, da-DUM, da-DUM); INKER (39D. Worker on a comic book); ISAID (56D. “In case you didn’t hear me the first time …”); LISAS (23D. Simpson and Kudrow); 8D. POLAR opposites; ROMAN (42A. Tacitus or Tiberius); SHOOT (54D. “Tell me”); SLAYS (13D. Wows at a comedy club); TARDY (12D. Arriving after the bell, say); WEAVE (51D. Drive drunkenly, perhaps); ZZTOP (17A. “Sharp Dressed Man” band).
Short stuff -- ADZ, ALOT, ANIS, ARAL. ARLO, AWE, BRA, CFOS, CYS, DORA, DOT, EGGS, ETCH, ETUI, EVEN, FOCI, HADJ, HEEL, HELI, HGTS, IMA, INON, KENO, KITE, LEE and LET, LIZ, LOLA, MAKE, MEG, METS, NEED, NERO, OAT, QUOI, RTE, SEA, SECT, SSTS, SYR, TALC, TAPS, TOT, UAE.
Punch, sock, hit and deck!
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THE NEW YORK TIMES -- Crossword Puzzles and Games
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Remaining clues -- Across: 6. It’s bugled on a base; 10. Elevs.; 15. Loads; 16. Asia’s shrunken ___ Sea; 18. 1970 Kinds song; 19. TV explorer of note; 26. Guthrie at Woodstock; 27. Baseball’s Young and others; 28. The Monkees’ “___ Believer”; 29. Kind of tide; 31. Impress permanently; 37. Centers of circles; 41. Mideast fed.; 43. Not a mainstream religion; 46. Prefix with pad; 48. Mermaid’s realm; 49. Mail carrier’s assignment: Abbr.; 50. State of shock; 52. Custard ingredients; 60. Mercury or Saturn; 61. Wise to; 66. Tied; 67. Je ne sais ___; 69. Villain in 2009’s “Star Trek”; 70. Bygone barrier breakers. Down: 1. Carpenter’s tool with a curved blade; 2. Eight-times-married Taylor; 3. Tyke; 6. Baby powder ingredient; 10. Journey to Mecca; 21. Classic brand of hair remover; 22. E, in Morse code; 30. It has many needles; 32. Bus. Honchos; 34. Toy you might enjoy while running; 35. Basis for a Quaker cereal; 36. Citi Field team; 38. They have many needles; 45. Cad; 47. Tennis umpire’s cry; 58. Casino game with Ping-Pong-like balls; 59. Spanish liqueur; 63. Computer unit, informally; 64. Cup holder?; 65. Leb. Neighbor.

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