1996 Mario Puzo novel / MON 2-17-14 / 1989 John Hughes movie starring John Candy / Sewing machine inventor Howe

Constructor: David Gray

Relative difficulty: Easy-Medium

THEME:"SAY, SAY, SAY" (38A: Paul McCartney / Michael Jackson hit … or a hint to the starts of 17-, 24-, 57- and 65-Across) — first words of all theme answers can be preceded by "Say" to form familiar expressions:

• "Say UNCLE!" (BUCK) (17A: 1989 John Hughes movie starring John Candy)
• "Say NO MORE!" (TEARS) (24A: "There, there … stop crying")
• "Say CHEESE!" (CURLS) (57A: Snack that leaves the fingers orange)
• "Say WHAT!?" (A JOKE!) (65A: "This is just ridiculous!")

Word of the Day:"UNCLE BUCK" —

Uncle Buck is a 1989 John Hughes comedy film starring John Candy and Amy Madigan, with Jean Louisa Kelly, Gaby Hoffmann, Macaulay Culkin, Jay Underwood, and Laurie Metcalf in supporting roles. (wikipedia)

I have only two complaints about this puzzle, and they are very minor. One, there are four theme answers, but only three SAYs in the revealer. Gotta borrow a say to get the job done, technically. Also, I'd've gone FLIP / FLUSHES over SLIP / SLUSHES, but maybe that's just me. Anyway, this is a gem of a Monday on most other counts, I think. Of course I may be under the influence of one Mr. Rick James, whose "Give It To Me Baby" (posted above) has been on a loop here in my home office since I finished this puzzle. Me: "'Say WHAT?'… oh man, what is that song that has 'Say WHAT?' at the end of the chorus? 'Blah blah blah blah [lady's voice] SAY WHAT!?' Aargh, this is driving me crazy. OK, internet; I don't like you and you don't like me, but you are going to *tell* me what that song is …" [googles a few variations on [say what song chorus disco] until some chat / ask-a-question page comes up, where some guy wants to know all the songs that have "Say WHAT?" in them—the poster himself can think of only two: 'Love Rollercoaster' by Ohio Players and [drumroll] "Give It To Me Baby" by Rick James!]. "Oh, yes! Yes yes yes! Hell yeah, internet!" [plays Rick James] [End scene].


Thought this was going to be on the (slightly) slower side at first because of the largish corners, but no. Once I got out of that SLUSHES / LINKAGE area, I flew. Tore it up. When I speed solve on-line, the main limitation I have is my fat, clumsy fingers. I am the typoingest typer in the west (and east). Probably would've been close to my record time had I not just tripped over myself repeatedly, esp. at the end, in the LAST DON / ALL-STARS / CHEESE CURLS section. Just fumbled the ball repeatedly. Still ended up around 2:40, which means this puzzle really should be rated "Easy," except I know that there are going to be enough pop culture hiccups for some solvers (with two of the theme answers) that the Overall Solving Experience is likely to be closer to Medium. Of course, on a Monday, none of this matters, as virtually everyone will feel the puzzle is "Easy" and that's that. Oh well, I have to amuse myself somehow, even if that "somehow" is by obsessively weighing the importance of a handful of seconds in the assessment of the difficulty of a Monday puzzle. Some people collect stamps.


See you.

Signed, Rex Parker, King of CrossWorld

P.S. I saw all the Oscar-nominated animated short films today, with a few honorable mentions thrown in for good measure (if I saw them here in Binghamton, they must be playing in theaters all over the place). Really, really worth it. Liked everything I saw, but "Feral" and "Possessions" were my favorites: