Constructor:Neville Fogarty
Relative difficulty:Medium
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THEME:"Gerund in the noun" songs, literally— song titles that follow the pattern "blankin(g) in the blank" are represented "literally" in the grid, with the first word being sandwiched inside the two halves of the second word (with the "the" inferred ... by me, the solver; or implied, by Neville, the constructor):
Theme answers:
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Frustrating start, as I both failed to read the theme clue completely and forgot what day of the week it was. I started this thing with Tuesday Mind, and when I encountered Themer 1, with its apparently nonsensical array of letters, I could feel myself getting annoyed. "Nothing Starts WIB...," I internally exclaimed. So it turns out I missed the key word, "literally," at the end of the first theme clue. I don't know that it would've helped me get the gag straight away, but at least I would have had some idea that the WIB- start could (as it was) just be part of some letter-arrangement gimmick. I have no idea when the theme kicked in. Well, I have some idea. It was "Rolling in the Deep" that did it; I just don't remember when. I think at that point I saw the literally, and perhaps the -INGEP, and my crossword brain kicked in (it's been slow to come back since my vacation). Anyway, after all this struggle, I ended up with a highly average Wednesday time (low 4s). Theme is pretty straightforward and, uh, literal, so no oohs and aahs. Also, two -INGs and two -IN's where the initial song title word is concerned, which is an exceedingly minor detail, but my brain is nothing if not princess/pea where that stuff is concerned. At a minimum, the theme is adequate, and I thought the rest of it was probably a notch above average. Definitely a step up from yesterday (though most puzzles are).
I tripped over 1D: Hamlet's relative in the predictable manner. I could not come up with RENTAL(8D: Airport pickup) despite having (literally) picked up a RENTAL at the airport just last week. WISE TO was a real problem (18D: Not tricked by), as not getting it effectively blocked an important escape route out of the NW. So you can see how my NW felt like a bit of a disaster at first. Didn't realize I'd still have to know the characters in the "Doonesbury" universe in 2016, so ALEX bit me (12D: Mike Doonesbury's daughter in "Doonesbury"). For someone who gets PEEVEd a lot, that one sure took me a while. I have an unaccountable prejudice against OERTER in crossword grids, even in his full-name state. Something about that OE- opening feels like cheating. Like ... no one puts him in a grid 'cause they want him. You put him in because you need him. You need his reliable, dependable, discus-hurling presence to keep your grid in line. He's not sexy, but he'll do the job. Actually, I've seen pics, he's sort of sexy. I'm talking about his name. Not his body. Where was I? Oh yes, The ALOERTER / ELIAS Howe / ERNIE Kovacs trio was not a highlight for me. Too much name, too much bygone. But FOUND MONEY is fantastic, and I liked the trick clue on LOS ANGELES (11D: Where Venice is). I liked remembering AARON Paul—I remember him from ... earlier this evening when I watched "Bojack Horseman" (in which he plays "Todd"—you're gonna wanna know this stuff, trust me). I have odd sounds emanating from my talocrural joint, AKA ANKA ANKLE, so I should go.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]
Relative difficulty:Medium
THEME:"Gerund in the noun" songs, literally— song titles that follow the pattern "blankin(g) in the blank" are represented "literally" in the grid, with the first word being sandwiched inside the two halves of the second word (with the "the" inferred ... by me, the solver; or implied, by Neville, the constructor):
Theme answers:
- WI BLOWIN' ND (17A: 1963 hit for Peter, Paul and Mary, literally)
- DE ROLLING EP (31A: 2011 hit for Adele, literally)
- DA DANCING RK (48A: 1984 hit for Bruce Springsteen, literally)
- RA SINGIN' IN (66A: 1952 hit for Gene Kelly, literally)
Alfred Oerter, Jr. (September 19, 1936 – October 1, 2007) was an American athlete, and a four-time Olympic Champion in the discus throw. He was the first athlete to win a gold medal in the same individual event in four consecutive Olympics. Oerter is an inductee of the IAAF Hall of Fame. (wikipedia)
• • •
["Wanna change my clothes, my hair, my face"]
I tripped over 1D: Hamlet's relative in the predictable manner. I could not come up with RENTAL(8D: Airport pickup) despite having (literally) picked up a RENTAL at the airport just last week. WISE TO was a real problem (18D: Not tricked by), as not getting it effectively blocked an important escape route out of the NW. So you can see how my NW felt like a bit of a disaster at first. Didn't realize I'd still have to know the characters in the "Doonesbury" universe in 2016, so ALEX bit me (12D: Mike Doonesbury's daughter in "Doonesbury"). For someone who gets PEEVEd a lot, that one sure took me a while. I have an unaccountable prejudice against OERTER in crossword grids, even in his full-name state. Something about that OE- opening feels like cheating. Like ... no one puts him in a grid 'cause they want him. You put him in because you need him. You need his reliable, dependable, discus-hurling presence to keep your grid in line. He's not sexy, but he'll do the job. Actually, I've seen pics, he's sort of sexy. I'm talking about his name. Not his body. Where was I? Oh yes, The ALOERTER / ELIAS Howe / ERNIE Kovacs trio was not a highlight for me. Too much name, too much bygone. But FOUND MONEY is fantastic, and I liked the trick clue on LOS ANGELES (11D: Where Venice is). I liked remembering AARON Paul—I remember him from ... earlier this evening when I watched "Bojack Horseman" (in which he plays "Todd"—you're gonna wanna know this stuff, trust me). I have odd sounds emanating from my talocrural joint, AKA ANKA ANKLE, so I should go.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]