JW returns with a simple add a letter to the start of a phrase to create a new one, with a humorous definition. As with any puzzle based on humor, YMMV. I was Greatly impressed at the inclusion of 2 grid-spanning fill that worked. I would guess one of the 15 letter fill popped in his head, and this puzzle followed. He also included some very sparkly fill: ROADSIDES, I'LL GO NEXT, RADIO DIAL and ONION DOME a term which I did not recall. I found a hidden treasure but that might just be a product of the pain killers. We will now examine all the evidence....
17A. Domestic shamelessness? : GALL IN THE FAMILY (15). The ground breaking TV SERIES (0:56) gets re-purposed with a an impudent definition clue.
26A. Near giveaway at the liquor store? : GIN FOR A PENNY (12). In for a pound...they do sell many of the airline size bottles at my local liquor store but no GIN and not for a penny.
41A. Fort Knox? : GOLD DOMINION (12). I doubt if Jeffrey had this BREWERY in mind when he chose Old Dominion as his seed phrase but I like the juxtaposition.
53A. Result of way too many leaves in the eaves? : GUTTER CONFUSION (15). This is my favorite themer, both the rhyme and the picture painted by the clue/fill. Maybe he started here?
Okay on to the rest...
Across:
1. Test in which contrasts are helpful, briefly : MRI. As this test (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) has played an important part in my current disability, this was easy. I am allergic to the contrast dye.
4. __ stiff : SCARED. When words are derived from the sound we call it onomotapoeia. What should we call it when an expression gives a great mental picture like this phrase?
10. Minor set-to : TIFF.
14. Huffington Post owner : AOL. This is true - since 2011 - but AOL was bought by Verizon in 2015 which last year bought Yahoo, also.
15. Wedding offering : CANAPE. From the French word for SOFA.
16. Defunct food coating : ALAR. It was sprayed on apple trees to control the growth and color of the apples. Much debate about the 1989 scare.
20. Boundary : EDGE.
21. Legal tender with a torch : DIME, On the obverse? Reverse?
22. Dealer's offering : LEASE. Car dealer, not HIT ME for card dealer.
23. __ voce : SOTTO.
25. Body shop supply : SOLDER.
30. 2016 Billboard Top Artist : ADELE. She swept the Grammys as well.
32. Take badly? : ROB. Robbing requires use or threat of force. Nicely deceptive clue.
35. Alluring : SEXY.
36. Postgame staple : RECAP.
37. Candy __ : CANE.
38. Feb. setting in Spokane : PST.
39. Artist at Giverny : MONET. This is where the ARTIST painted his most successful works. This is a very Friday type clue. I will always have a Monet/Manet block in my mind.
40. Opposite of 56-Across : NADIR. 56A Opposite of 40-Across : ACME.
13. Philosophers' group : SCHOOL. Similar to fish, but not as good for you.
46. "Cutthroat Kitchen" host Brown : ALTON.
47. Second name, perhaps : ALIAS.
48. "Zounds!" : EGAD. Two wonderful old words.
51. They're often tough to beat : ODDS. 45D. Request to a dealer : HIT ME. 50D. Forced bet : ANTE
.
57. Album contents : PHOTOS.
58. ENT's group : AMA.
59. Arcade trademark word : SKEE.
60. Part of many art museum names : MODERN.
61. Table support : LEG.
Down:
1. Ancient spell caster : MAGE.
2. Produce stand sites : ROADSIDES. We have a bunch in the Redlands is SW Miami-Dade, but all the ones in Broward are gone. Now they gather at farmers' markets.
3. "My turn" : I'LL GO NEXT.
4. Part of NSF: Abbr. : SCIence.
5. Telling it like it is : CANDOR.
6. Opposition leader? : ANTI. And later ANTE.
7. First name in Chicago politics : RAHM. Interesting - he was elected as Chicago's 44th mayor, while his mentor Mr. Obama was the 44th POTUS. LINK.
8. It's thrust in competition : EPEE. Love the soupçon of naughtiness in this clue.
9. Phone button letters : DEF. Glue, I would prefer Mos.
10. Without aggression : TAMELY.
11. Zeus remains largely neutral during its narrative : ILIAD. A really odd way to get to these puzzle friendly letters.
12. "A dagger of the mind, a __ creation ... ": Macbeth : FALSE. Back with Macbeth for our Friday Shakespeare lesson.
13. Potatoes may be cooked in one : FRYER. Pommes frites for Splynter.
18. Unloose : LET FLY. Quiz: Who said, "unloose the dogs of war?"
19. How stand-up comics usually work : ALONE. True but there have some great duos. I loved the Smothers Brothers.
24. Ring site : TOE.
25. Salon sound : SNIP,
26. [I'm shocked!] : GASP.
27. Enhance through change : AMEND. Big word in the law.
28. Showed impatience, in a way : PACED.
29. Poetry Muse : ERATO. You know all of the muses yet?
32. One moving with frequency? : RADIO DIAL. Another really fun clue, with the frequency pun.
33. Russian Orthodox church feature : ONION DOME. LINK. For our Cornerites.
34. City on the Aare : BERN.
36. Kaiser, for one : ROLL. Misdirection here is placement of the clue/fill.
37. Songs of Seville : CANTOS.
39. Maine road sign image : MOOSE.
40. Nothing : NIL.
41. Buffalo Bill feature : GOATEE. Oh yes!42. Really loving : MAD FOR. My mental picture. LINK.
43. Generational tales : SAGAS.
44. Barnyard sound : CLUCK.
48. Verify the story of : ECHO. No idea what this clue/fill means.
49. Above the crossbar and between the uprights : GOOD. Not wide RIGHT!
52. Obstruction : SNAG. "Damn, our reno hit a snag!" Do you watch Property Brothers.
54. Tach stat : RPM. Revolutions Per Minute.
55. SEAL's org. : USN. United States Navy.
Well we made it through another JW Friday and I had so much fun finding the never intended but exciting Buffalo mini theme. Call me crazy but call me. Thanks Jeffrey. Lemonade out.
