Wednesday June 2, 2010 Jack McInturff

Theme: THE FOUR TOPS - The first word of each two-word common phrase can precede "top".

17A. *Hooch from the hinterlands: MOUNTAIN DEW. Yum . Mountain Top = TOP 1.

29A. *Spears or Twain: POP SINGERS . Britney and Shania . Pop Top = TOP 2.

39A. *Steve Forbes proposed a 17% one: FLAT TOP. Flat Tax = TOP 3.

48A. *Place to get tickets: BOX OFFICE . Box Top = TOP 4. Count them, four just like the group!

62A. "I Can't Help Myself" singers (1965), and hint to puzzle theme found in beginnings of answers to starred clues: THE FOUR TOPS. The first band I got a record deal for, covered this song on their second album.

Hello all, there is no way you can enjoy this puzzle as much as I did. It is I, Across 66. Lemon ending: ADE 714 here, providing you information and entertainment.

If any of you had any doubt about how powerful C.C.’s influence is, a look at this fun puzzle which includes not only my sobriquet, but also Across 34. It covers the pupil: CORNEA knowing I have had three CORNEA transplant operations, and 30. About the eye: OPTIC. The nerve of this guy; then all kinds of legalese, Across 26. Like a case before the court: AT BAR , 52. Parcel (out): METE. A favorite legal word, 53. Sale warning: AS IS . Real estate primarily is sold this way, 58. Certifies under oath: ATTESTS , 70. Property to divide, perhaps: ESTATE; it is eerie!

Anyway, it is Wednesday, so let’s get to it:

Across:

1. Country bumpkin: HICK . Tricky way to begin, as RUBE also fits, so you have to look at down: 1. Run smoothly: HUM , to get going, or at least that is how I approach solving.

5. In itself: AS SUCH.

11. When doubled, a dance: CAN. Another toughie, with CHA as an alternative.

14. Tangelo relative: UGLI. One of our common fruit responses.

15. Baum's good witch: GLINDA. If you have not seen the play wicked it is a fabulous prequel to L. Frank Baum’s WIZARD OF OZ.

16. Livy's "I love:" AMO. More Latin and history of old Romans .

19. Gun: REV we can all picture Barry G. gunning the engine in his new Chrysler, or Dennis doing so in any car.

20. Sends again, as a package: RESHIPS.

21. WellPoint competitor: AETNA, insurance companies.

23. Computer list: MENU.

24. Stated: SAID. This was so easy, it was hard, he indicated.

36. __-Man: PAC. Yes, I was a fanatic!

37. Youngest Bronte sister: ANNE. She died young of TB.

38. Brian who produced some U2 albums: ENO. A musician in his own right.

42. Lyric poem: ODE.

43. Fruit covering: RIND.

45. "Madama Butterfly" tie: OBI.

46. Hid, cardsharp-style: PALMED. Yes, be careful of dealers with big hands.

51. Deviates: VEERS.

55. Marina locale: INLET.

61. Daisy __: MAE . Al Capp’s creation.

67. Exalt: LIFT UP.

68. "Toreador Song," e.g.: ARIA. Do we ever go a week without this word?

69. Cougar or Impala: CAR. I wanted something more complicated, involving wild cats…silly me.

71. Monthly payment: RENT.

Down:

2. Borodin prince: IGOR. More opera knowledge, my weak suit in all puzzles.

3. Detective's need: CLUE. Did anyone know, the game originated in England? Well, with Colonel Mustard….

4. Brother or father: KINSMAN.

5. "Encore!": AGAIN .

6. Err: SLIP UP, and the quick echo, 7. Errs, morally: SINS .

8. Leipzig link: UND. How to say “and” in German.

9. B followers: CDE. Easy?

10. Game show winner's destination, maybe: HAWAII. I guess they have all left us to sit on the beach.

11. Market offering: CART. It is the first thing you get when you go to the grocery store.

12. Service finale: AMEN. Any French Open Tennis fans out there?

13. Bright star: NOVA. Help me scientists, I thought this meant an explosion on a star?

18. 1994 Denis Leary comedy: THE REF , odd movie.

22. Flamboyant Dame: EDNA, another export from the Commonwealth of Nations, funny?.

24. Tiff: SPAT.

25. Songwriters' org.: ASCAP.

26. Harsh: ACERB. IC? ICKY?

27. "Pagliacci" baritone role: TONIO. No clue.

28. Where the 2009 World Series was won: BRONX. No comment.

31. Garden statue: GNOME.

32. Word after East or West: ENDER. I used to watch the BBC TV Show .

33. Oboes and clarinets: REEDS. Are your instruments custom made, JzB?

35. Up in the air: ALOFT.

40. Irish Rose's lover: ABIE.

41. Missionary St. Francis __: XAVIER. Cute juxtaposition.

44. Stadium topper: DOME. They are building a new baseball stadium for the Florida Marlins with a retractable roof, but will anyone come?

47. Light cigarette ad claim: LESS TAR. Wow, a real blast from the past.

49. In fine __: fit: FETTLE. Nice word, and alliteration!

50. Enjoy a bistro: EAT OUT.

54. Knucklehead: STUPE . Really?

55. Apple with an electronic core: IMAC.

56. Zilch: NADA. Finally, some Spanish.

57. Lewd look: LEER. Okay, maybe this one applies to me also.

58. Aqua Velva alternative: AFTA. But neither of these two, ever!

59. Ripped off: TORE.

60. Turn in a kissing game: SPIN. The bottle; where are you Lo-li-ta?

63. Towel word: HIS.

64. Newt, at one time: EFT. Yes, again; try and work this word into a conversation.

65. Made a lap: SAT. Love them babies .

Thanks for letting me in your homes, have a great June and be careful.

Answer grid.

Lemonade714

Tuesday, June 1, 2010 James Sajdak

Theme: Four Seasons - Common phrases ending in the plural form of four seasons, in chronological order. Notice I didn't use THE Four Seasons because I think that would indicate a singular result (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter) and the theme answers are plural. English teachers, do you agree?

17A. City near the base of Pikes Peak: COLORADO SPRINGS.

28A. National Economic Counsel director: LARRY SUMMERS. Like several names, I needed the perps to attain the answer but all doable. Image.

47A. Where to board the Maid of the Mist tour boat: NIAGARA FALLS. On the Canadian side.

61A. 1999 recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor: JONATHAN WINTERS. A short clip of Jonathan Winters On Jack Paar (as a satyr, C.C.)(Oops, he is a faun.)

Argyle here. I hope you all took a moment of silence to honor are fallen men and women yesterday. Then we had a good barbecue.

An easy Tuesday where the perps should have taking care of any problems you may have incurred. 16 three-letter entries and 36 four-letter entries.

Across:

1A. Cry out loud: BAWL.

5A. Pain for a sitter: IMP.

8A. Presumed evolutionary link: APEMAN.

14A. Bee's grandnephew: OPIE. Back there in Mayberry where they say 69A. "Golly": "GEE".

15A. Brazilian-themed Vegas casino, with "The": RIO. Also, 45A. Indian-themed Atlantic City casino, with "The": TAJ.

16A. Like the sea: SALINE. Salty.

20A. Increase by: ADD TO.

21A. Floral greeting: LEI.

22A. Trial: TEST.

23A. Letters that get things moving: ASAP. As Soon As Possible.

26A. One with a brush: ARTIST.

32A. Saharan: ARID.

33A. Prefix with state or sect: TRI.

34A. Make eyes pop and jaws drop: AMAZE. And 57A. "Get a load of that!": "WOWIE!". Insert your favorite pic here.

38A. Producer's dream: HIT. As in a Broadway play producer.

39A. Rye bread seed: CARAWAY.

42A. Gentle bear: BEN. Gentle Ben is the name of a children's book by Walt Morey, later made into a film and television series, as well as made-for-TV movies.

43A. Barber's blade: RAZOR.

46A. Star's part: LEAD.

51A. Horse house: STABLE. Cute alliteration.

53A. Final, e.g.: EXAM.

54A. Nailed, as a 53-Across: ACED.

55A. NHL stat: PTS. Points(Goals and Assists). UPDATE: The total number of goals plus assists equals total points. (Thank you, Lemonade714)

65A. Tenor Bocelli: ANDREA From Wikipedia. He is the biggest-selling singer in the history of Classical music. In 1998, Bocelli was named one of People magazine's 50 most beautiful people and in March of this year, he was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, for his contribution to live theater. Clip

66A. NASA thumbs-up: A-OK.

67A. New Mexico ski resort: TAOS.

68A. Puts back to zero: RESETS.

70A. A.D. part: ANNO.

Down:

1D. Lauderdale neighbor: BOCA. Map. Cavil alert: Last name of Fort Lauderdale and the first name of Boca Raton.

2D. Like two peas in __: A POD.

3D. Untamed: WILD.

4D. Workout wear: LEOTARD.

5D. 401(k) alternative, briefly: IRA.

6D. Central: MID.

7D. It may be Olympic-size: POOL.

8D. Seek ambitiously: ASPIRE.

9D. Golf pros often break it: PAR.

10D. Upper-class rule: ELITISM.

11D. Goes for the gold: MINES. Good misdirection.

12D. Common Woody Allen theme: ANGST.

13D. Home in a tree: NEST.

18D. Like a bright future: ROSY.

19D. Clothing line?: SEAM.

24D. Nick and Nora's clue sniffer: ASTA. Movie dog from The Thin Man.

25D. Manx murmur: PURR. Image They have genetic mutation that results in a short or non-existent tail.

27D. Busboy's aid: TRAY.

28D. Cowardly Lion player: LAHR.

29. Evidence of Sills' skills: ARIA. Beverly Sills

30. Nabisco cracker: RITZ.

31D. Mazda two-seater: MIATA. Zoom Zoom.

35D. Eve's second: ABEL.

36D. Fervor: ZEAL.

37D. Discontinues: ENDS.

39D. Nursery bed: CRIB.

40D. Soft or hard attachment: WARE.

41D. "Stronger than dirt!" cleanser: AJAX.

44D. How some hotdogging is done: ON A DARE.

46D. "Raging Bull" boxer Jake: LaMOTTA. Movie. Regarded among the greatest boxing films made despite its violent content.

48D. Top dogs: ALPHAs.

49D. "__ move on!": GET A.

50D. Young deer: FAWN.

51D. Tea cart treat: SCONE.

52D. Watches over: TENDS.

54D. Close to closed: AJAR.

56D. Stocking problem: SNAG.

58D. Teach not to rely on, with "from": WEAN.

59D. Wrinkle remover: IRON.

60D. North-of-the-border gas: ESSO. Exxon in the states.

62D. Hanoi holiday: TET.

63D. Job's lot?: WOE. Biblical Job.

64D. '50s presidential moniker: IKE.

Answer grid.

Chris in LA mentioned yesterday that his local newspaper, the New Orleans Times Picayune, is running a crossword survey. Please vote for LAT so Chris and others in the area can solve and comment the same puzzle as we do. Thank you.

Argyle