M O N D A Y October 18, 2010 Don Gagliardo

Theme: E's Please--Each theme answer is chock-full of E's and only E's.

Theme Answers:

• 20A: Was disappointed, as with a performance (EXPECTED BETTER).
• 25A: Out-of-the-ordinary brews (EXTREME BEERS).
• 37A: Attorney General under Ronald Reagan (ED MEESE).
• 44A: Calm by nature (EVEN-TEMPERED).
• 52A: She replaced Paula Abdul as an "American Idol" judge (ELLEN DEGENERES).
• 56D: "Buy It Now" online site (and where vowels were bought for 20-, 25-, 37-, 44-, and 52-Across?) (EBAY).

Howdy, crossword fans. Doug here again. There were some technical difficulties in Crosswordland tonight, and we couldn't track down a copy of the puzzle for AcrossLite. It's late now, so this will probably be a short write-up. I'm sure you can all pick up the slack in the comments.

Fun Monday puzzle, and I like the fact that we got to see five theme entries. If I were more clever, I'd do this writeup using E as the only vowel. Is that even possible? I know there are a couple of novels that use every letter except E: Gadsby and A Void. That's pretty crazy. OK, I'm already off on a tangent, so let's jump straight to bullets:

Bullets:

•  25A: Out-of-the-ordinary brews (EXTREME BEERS). I've never heard this term before, but the clue was straightforward enough. One beer website tells me that extreme beers "exceed the ordinary, usual, or expected." One of their examples is "ale brewed with oysters or seaweed." In other words, beers invented by people who are already really drunk.

• 52A: She replaced Paula Abdul as an "American Idol" judge (ELLEN DEGENERES). I saw Paula Abdul at the airport a couple of years ago, and let me tell you, she's gorgeous! More beautiful in person than she is on television. 
• 58A: 1999 Ron Howard film (EDTV). This movie's always playing at the the Crossword Cineplex as a double feature with Ulee's Gold. 
• 9D: Attack à la Brutus (STAB). Yeah, it was horrible the way he used to go after Popeye with that bayonet. Don't forget to eat your spinach, kids!
• 56D: "Buy It Now" online site (and where vowels were bought for 20-, 25-, 37-, 44-, and 52-Across?) (EBAY). Wow, that's a mouthful. And I'm not sure it makes sense. Are we supposed to imagine a "bay" where E's are sold? Yeah, I guess that kinda works. And I do think it was wise to include an explanatory entry, especially on Monday.

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