Constructor: Hal Moore
Relative difficulty: Easy-Medium
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THEME: none
Word of the Day: TRINI LOPEZ (56A: Singer of the 1965 hit "Lemon Tree") —
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I hadn't even gotten out of the NW before I was thinking "I Love This Puzzle." That corner (and I would extend this to the puzzle as a whole) was a like a great scifi show w/ a majority black cast (but not that sucky "Matrix" sequel, whichever it was ... "Revolutions"?? ... anyway, a hypothetical such show, and a great one). Stargazing and TIME TRAVEL but also NELL Carter in WATTS with the WU TANG CLAN (that sounds like a guess in the world's coolest version of Clue). Once the SHETLAND PONY showed up, I knew this was my kind of party. Never mind that I count nine (9!) different short answers that I Do Not care for (IONE ALTA LEOI LIA ONETO INA AGRA CEE PLEB). It's amazing what my heart will overlook when the puzzle as a whole is so interesting and fun. Once again, the 1-Across Rule was in effect—when a longish 1A is a gimme, odds are I am going to burn the puzzle down, and that is in fact what happened, despite a couple of weird pauses in and around the dinosaur in the NE and in and around the "ancient crowning stone" in the SE.
"E.T." and "Doctor Who" *and* "THE X-FILES"!? I don't / didn't even watch the latter two, but I can't help but admire the commitment to the conceptual grid-flooding. Two things you might be learning for the first time today. One, TRINI LOPEZ is a man. I know *I* thought TRINI was a woman for a long time, since I had never heard anything by ... him, it turns out. You used to see TRINI a lot in the grid, so getting that answer wasn't tough for me, but I can tell from Twitter that that answer (and that corner in general) was a disaster zone for a lot of people (it is probably both the oldest and shakiest corner today). Two, IRV Gotti is not some old Italian guy. He is a Gen-X black man who is a very prominent hip-hop producer from way back (if your idea of "way back" is the '90s) (puzzle actually has a strong '90s-music flavor, with WU TANG CLAN and IRV and ALANIS putting in appearances). My favorite mistake (speaking of '90s music...) was at 28D: "___ again?" where I quickly and admiringly put in "YOU." I mean, YET's OK, but that clue really really wants "YOU." Overall, a delightful EXTRAVAGANZA. I hope you had at least half a good a time as I did.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]
Relative difficulty: Easy-Medium
Word of the Day: TRINI LOPEZ (56A: Singer of the 1965 hit "Lemon Tree") —
Trinidad "Trini" López III (born May 15, 1937) is an American singer, guitarist, and actor. His first album included a version of "If I Had a Hammer", which earned him a Golden Disc. Other hits included "Lemon Tree", "I'm Comin' Home, Cindy" and "Sally Was a Good Old Girl". He designed two guitars for the Gibson Guitar Corporation, which are now collectors’ items. (wikipedia)
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"E.T." and "Doctor Who" *and* "THE X-FILES"!? I don't / didn't even watch the latter two, but I can't help but admire the commitment to the conceptual grid-flooding. Two things you might be learning for the first time today. One, TRINI LOPEZ is a man. I know *I* thought TRINI was a woman for a long time, since I had never heard anything by ... him, it turns out. You used to see TRINI a lot in the grid, so getting that answer wasn't tough for me, but I can tell from Twitter that that answer (and that corner in general) was a disaster zone for a lot of people (it is probably both the oldest and shakiest corner today). Two, IRV Gotti is not some old Italian guy. He is a Gen-X black man who is a very prominent hip-hop producer from way back (if your idea of "way back" is the '90s) (puzzle actually has a strong '90s-music flavor, with WU TANG CLAN and IRV and ALANIS putting in appearances). My favorite mistake (speaking of '90s music...) was at 28D: "___ again?" where I quickly and admiringly put in "YOU." I mean, YET's OK, but that clue really really wants "YOU." Overall, a delightful EXTRAVAGANZA. I hope you had at least half a good a time as I did.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]