M O N D A Y September 13, 2010 Jeff Chen

Theme: B&B — It's pretty easy. You can figure it out.


Theme answers:

• 17A: Consequences of a minor accident, perhaps (BUMPS AND BRUISES).
• 22A: "The Greatest Show on Earth" promoters (BARNUM AND BAILEY).
• 35A: Before long (BY AND BY).
• 46A: Product improvement slogan (BIGGER AND BETTER).
• 53A: Cozy inn whose abbreviation is a hint to this puzzle's theme (BED AND BREAKFAST).

Isn't it fun to start off the week with a funky-looking grid? The four 15-letter answers no doubt necessitated this unusual look. Take a look at all the down answers that cross two theme answers. I think Jeff did a great job with this puzzle and can hardly believe it ended up as a Monday. Seems like the constraints placed on the grid by the theme answers would cause some non-Monday and/or awkward crossings but I didn't see any. Well, GETS FIT (41D: Tones one's body) is kind of random, but that's really the only thing. Other than that, smooth sailing.

Bullets:

• 27A: Totally dreadful (ABYSMAL). I'm going to try to use this word today. You should too.
• 29A: Like EEE shoes (WIDE). I'm pretty sure the reference to the crossword-tastic size EEE shoes in the clue is a wink to us frequent solvers.

• 42A: Adjust to the desired wake-up time, as an alarm (SET). Man, that's a long way to go for SET.
• 13D: __ fit: tantrum (HISSY). Ooh, here's another great phrase to work into the conversation today. Shouldn't be too difficult with PuzzleDaughter around! (Please don't tell her I said that.)
• 18D: Pond gunk (SCUM). Ew.
• 37D: Lead-in to girl or boy (ATTA). There's always a possibility with this clue that the answer will be IT'S A so it's a good idea to wait for crosses.
• 46D: Genesis tower locale (BABEL). Also one of the most depressing movies of all time.
• 58D: Beachgoer's shade (TAN). Or, if you're like me, maybe a little pink.

Crosswordese 101: It doesn't matter whether you love, hate, or are indifferent to "The Simpsons," a few bits of trivia about the show will go a long way in your crossword-solving career. For example, it pays to know 2D: "The Simpsons" storekeeper, APU Nahasapeemapetilon, Ph.D. Fortunately, you only have to know his first name. Other tidbits about APU that might show up in clues: he is the proprieter/clerk of the Kwik-E-Mart which is known for selling something called a "Squishee"; he and his wife, Manjula, are the parents of octuplets; and he graduated first in his class of seven million at Calcutta Tech.

Other crosswordese in the puzzle that we've already covered:

• 34A: '50s political monogram (DDE).
• 59A: Grandson of Adam (ENOS).
• 36D: River of Flanders (YSER).

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Everything Else — 1A: Green gem (JADE); 5A: Runs easily (TROTS); 10A: Ruler marking (INCH); 14A: High spot (APEX); 15A: Baton-passing event (RELAY); 16A: Delhi dress (SARI); 20A: Less than 90 degrees, anglewise (ACUTE); 21A: Baseball card data (STATS); 28A: Place for cookies (JAR); 30A: Skin: Suff. (-DERM); 31A: Air gun ammo (BB'S); 38A: Span of history (ERA); 39A: "So's __ old man!" (YER); 40A: "¿Cómo __ usted?" (ESTÁ); 41A: Horse's stride (GAIT); 43A: Gently slips past (EASES BY); 51A: Be __ model: exemplify grace in success (A ROLE); 52A: Hideous sorts (OGRES); 60A: Celtic priest of old (DRUID); 61A: Basis of an invention (IDEA); 62A: Tennis do-overs (LETS); 63A: 1,000 kilograms (TONNE); 64A: Word with ghost or boom (TOWN); 1D: Sharp punch (JAB); 3D: FDR or JFK, politically (DEM.); 4D: Wide-open space (EXPANSE); 5D: Emotional shock (TRAUMA); 6D: Hertz auto, e.g. (RENTAL); 7D: Of days gone by (OLDEN); 8D: Bar bill (TAB); 9D: Damascus' land: Abbr. (SYR.); 10D: "Lord, __?": Last Supper question (IS IT I); 11D: __ decongestant (NASAL); 12D: Greek island where Minos ruled (CRETE); 19D: G.I.'s group (U.S. ARMY); 22D: Off-color (BAWDY); 23D: Tolerate (ABIDE); 24D: Winona of "Edward Scissorhands" (RYDER); 25D: Spun CDs at a party (DJ'ED); 26D: Caustic remark (BARB); 30D: Crime lab evidence, briefly (DNA); 31D: Beauty's beloved (BEAST); 32D: Payola, e.g. (BRIBE); 33D: Mythical man-goat (SATYR); 35D: Get noticed (BE SEEN); 43D: Enter stealthily (EDGE IN); 44D: Use emery on (ABRADE); 45D: Hide's partner (SEEK); 47D: Dancer Castle (IRENE); 48D: No-show in a Beckett play (GODOT); 49D: Half-full or half-empty item (GLASS); 50D: Smudge-proof, like mascara (NO-RUN); 54D: Banned bug spray (DDT); 55D: Certain sib (BRO); 56D: Commotion (ADO); 57D: Use a Singer (SEW).