Gossipy Barrett / MON 6-3-13 / Rod who was seven-time A.L. batting champ / Stimpy's bud

Constructor: John Lampkin

Relative difficulty: Easy



THEME: Porcine — theme answers are common phrases that all start with either living or dead pig

Theme answers:

• 17A: Unseen purchase (PIG IN A POKE)
• 11D: Ecstatic state, informally (HOG HEAVEN)
• 39A: You can't make a silk purse out of it, they say (SOW'S EAR)
• 34D: Clumsy (HAM-FISTED)
• 63A: Like some wasteful government spending (PORK BARREL)

Word of the Day: RONA Barrett (16A: Gossipy Barrett) —

Rona Barrett (born Rona Burstein, October 8, 1936, New York City) is an American gossip columnist and businesswoman. She currently runs the Rona Barrett Foundation, a non-profit organization in Santa Ynez, California, dedicated to the aid and support of senior citizens in need. (wikipedia)

The theme is old-feeling, and also weirdly and creepily inconsistent. You have PIG, both sexes of PIG, and then dead and edible pig, all happily co-habitating here as if they were the same thing. This reminds me of signs/logos for barbecue places where the pig is smiling and winking at you while eating ribs. "See, even pigs love it!" Fill is unremarkable, though there is evidence of a noble attempt to zazz it up with some Ks and Zs and a J and what not. I felt all-thumbs while solving this, and I never got a good flow going, and yet I was done in 2:46, so it must be pretty damned easy. Had RIP OUT before ZIP OUT (6D: Like some detachable linings). Took a while to get ROOT (41D: Part of a plant or tooth). Made some dumb fumbling typos in the NE. Otherwise, zero problems.


Hey, how did the pig sign his contracts? (A: IN OINK!) (52A: How to sign a contract).

I'm done. Dinner awaits. See you tomorrow.

Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld