Toyotal models since 1984 / SAT 5-4-19 / Poet lyricist who wrote 1974 #1 hit seasons in sun / Playfully fantastical / River people of arizona

Constructor: Mark Diehl

Relative difficulty: Medium-Challenging (8:43)

THEME: MAY / THE 4TH / BE WITH / YOU— hackneyed "Star Wars" pun for YOU, enjoy

Theme answers:

• MAY (1A: Could) (uh, hey, psst—COULD is actually in the grid at 35D: Polite kids' plea ("COULD WE?")
• THE 4TH (8A: U.S. Independence Day, informally)
• BE WITH (53A: Accompany)
• YOU (55A: Recipient of the wish at 1-, 8-, 53- and 55-Across)

Word of the Day: First name? Ah, I see ... *Rod* MCKUEN (31A: Poet/lyricist who wrote the 1974 #1 hit "Seasons in the Sun") —

Rodney Marvin "Rod" McKuen (April 29, 1933 – January 29, 2015) was an American poet, singer-songwriter, and actor. He was one of the best-selling poets in the United States during the late 1960s. Throughout his career, McKuen produced a wide range of recordings, which included popular music, spoken word poetry, film soundtracks and classical music. He earned two Academy Award nominations and one Pulitzer nomination for his music compositions. McKuen's translations and adaptations of the songs of Jacques Brel were instrumental in bringing the Belgian songwriter to prominence in the English-speaking world. His poetry deals with themes of love, the natural world and spirituality. McKuen's songs sold over 100 million recordings worldwide, and 60 million books of his poetry were sold as well, according to the Associated Press. (wikipedia)

Themed Saturdays are the worst. Why mess with the toughest puzzle of the week? Give me my weekend themelesses and you can back to your bad puns on Sunday.. This one holds up OK as just a plain Saturday—I knew from the constructor's name that it would be tough and old (out of my wheelhouse), but probably solid. And I was right on all counts (MCKUEN???? What on god's green earth?). But what would've been a reasonable workout on an OK if not exciting themeless was completely wrecked by this theme, which is insultingly trite and dumb—the worst, corniest, no-longer fresh or cute pun that internet fandom ever created. And then to recutesy it all with that horrible YOU clue (55A: Recipient of the wish at 1-, 8-, 53- and 55-Across). Yeah you can shove that condescending attempt at endearment. I return your "wish" with spite. From hell's heart I stab at thee.


Also, this plays like an OLDEN white man's puzzle, real bad. The guy who believes he's a CENTRIST but is really a conservative. The guy who believes that as a conservative he favors BALANCED BUDGETS when in fact self-styled conservatives just want massive tax cuts and don't care whether they're paid for or not. The guy who works for some "business" with a PROCEDURE MANUAL. He's probably got his photo on the OUR TEAM page, smiling his smarmy gruesome boss-pleasing smile. Probably gonna SNEER at the millennials in his office and then drown his sadness in ITALIAN WINE as soon as the work day ends, because ITALIAN WINEs are classy. Nothing SEUSSIAN about this guy's life. Anyway, that's who I imagine this puzzle is for. This guy would definitely chuckle at this "joke" and want to share it with his "Friends" on Facebook.


Thought this one was going to startle me and be easy after the NW fell quickly (MAY MOPPED ARRIVE, bang bang bang), but CAN TAKE IT (a terrible "answer") was impossible to see, and so I wanted PROFESSIONAL something, not PROCEDURE MANUAL (which I really really really want to be PROCEDURE*S* MANUAL—I mean, presumably, there's more than one). Monster of a time getting SEUSSIAN, even with -EUSSIAN in place (thought I had an error). Just couldn't get to APSO (4A: Tail end of a dog?—groan). Another "?" clue slowed me up badly in the SW—36A: Fashion lines? (AD LIB). Had that terminal "B" and kept wanting to pull it 'cause it looked so wrong. Did not mind the "4" in the grid. Throw a numeral at me every once in a while, that's fine. Had BABY blank and no idea what three-letter word could go there. Didn't know BIBs were involved in "layettes." Wanted EVERY BIT before WHOLE BIT (which is a much, much worse phrase) (33D: Full monty). Clue on LADEN was very tough—that lower middle area was the last to fall for me. I guess ARE TOO is supposed to be a cutesy little bonus theme answer? Today, I am among the BOOERS. Good day.

Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld

[Follow Rex Parker on Twitter and Facebook]