Constructor: Mike Doran
Relative difficulty: Easy-Medium
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THEME: IN 2D (67A: Lacking depth … or like 17-, 23-, 37-, 48- and 58-Across)— theme answers are two-word phrases where both words start with "D"
Theme answers:
Word of the Day: ROTA (53A: Series of golf courses that host the British Open) —
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Nobody says "In 2D" except, perhaps, ironically. "I'm gonna go see 'My Dinner With Andre' in glorious 2D!" So the revealer is contrived and awkward. Also, a bra-size revealer is going to be soooo much better here. You'd have to ditch DOUBLE DUTCH, but surely there are other DD answers out there for you to use. Friend of mine suggested DDS would work as a revealer as well (interesting twist on the dental degree, which is a common crossword answer). Not a big fan of this revealer, as I've now made overly clear. Also, the crosswordese in this grid is kind of overwhelming. And then there's ROTA, from out of nowhere, an answer I've never heard of, and even had trouble looking up. Someone told me the constructor works in the golf world, but that's no excuse—for the answer, or for the severely uncommon and un-Tuesday clue (never been clued with reference to golf before, per cruciverb; more commonly [Film composer Nino]). Didn't slow me down, really, but yuck. And another thing—there are 3 Ds in DRAFT DODGER. If you're gonna do a puzzle like this, even though the key thing is the first letter on both words, you damn sure shouldn't have extra Ds lying around. Consistency! Polish! Something besides ROTA!
DEMOLITION DERBY is a lovely center answer. HERMIT CRAB, also cool. Don't care for most of the rest of it. Didn't have much trouble. Across Lite wouldn't accept the "2," so when I hit the Reveal button and that square was, indeed, a "2"… I was confused. Besides that, my only problem was writing in RIBBED for TABBED (46A: Like some schoolbook folders). No idea what prompted that.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld
Relative difficulty: Easy-Medium
THEME: IN 2D (67A: Lacking depth … or like 17-, 23-, 37-, 48- and 58-Across)— theme answers are two-word phrases where both words start with "D"
Theme answers:
- 17A: 1960s dissident (DRAFT DODGER)
- 23A: 1987 movie with the hit "Hungry Eyes" ("DIRTY DANCING")
- 37A: Smash-hit entertainment? (DEMOLITION DERBY)
- 48A: Fast-food chain with an orange and pink logo (DUNKIN' DONUTS)
- 58A: Jump-rope style (DOUBLE DUTCH)
Word of the Day: ROTA (53A: Series of golf courses that host the British Open) —
"Open rota" is the term applied to the rotation of golf courses that host the Open Championship. (about.com)
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DEMOLITION DERBY is a lovely center answer. HERMIT CRAB, also cool. Don't care for most of the rest of it. Didn't have much trouble. Across Lite wouldn't accept the "2," so when I hit the Reveal button and that square was, indeed, a "2"… I was confused. Besides that, my only problem was writing in RIBBED for TABBED (46A: Like some schoolbook folders). No idea what prompted that.
Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld