SKYFALL
a gratuitous Daniel Craig for C.C.
A clever puzzle from a constructor I've had the pleasure to blog before, Juneteenth this year. The same "word" moving - that is, falling - through the grid, yet always in the same position relative to the edge of the puzzle. Not an easy task to accomplish without using the "word" as itself and stay within the vernacular, too. The grid has mirror symmetry, four unique fills (*) a handful of names ( but ones we see constantly in crosswords ) the same # of TLW & 4LWs (22), and a Moe ( per Splynter ) rating of 4 out of 5⭐. The theme fill falls thusly;
20. "Take time to consider ... ": * ASK YOURSELF
40. 1983 Tom Cruise teen comedy: * RISKY BUSINESS
47. Hangout for a long-distance couple: * SKYPE DATE
60. Chicken Little's warning, and an apt title for this puzzle?: THE SKY IS FALLING
ACROSS:
1. Lawyer Goodman in the "Breaking Bad" franchise: SAUL - With the spin-off series "Better Call Saul" - I have watched neither series, and reduced my TV bill from $105/mo. to $20/mo. by "dropping" Disney and ESPN - I just don't watch much TV
10. Deliberate loss: DIVE - TANK did not fit with my DOWNS
14. Workforce addition: HIRE - usually with "new"
15. New __, India: DELHI
16. Gulf States title: EMIR
17. Actor Idris: ELBA - name #1, but we see it all the time
18. City in Provence: ARLES
23. "Tiny Bubbles" singer: DON HO - we had this recently; name #2
25. Scepter companion: ORB - The Crown Jewels of the UK - more here
26. Under-the-sink piece: P-TRAP
29. "Looking for" shorthand: ISO - In Search Of . . . . also a TV series hosted by Leonard Nimoy and "Skinner" from the X-files, with its own spin-off (if you will ) called "Ancient Aliens"
34. Sunday __: dread of returning to work on Monday: SCARIES - I had the Sunday Scaries for school when I was a youngster - hearing the theme of the PBS show "All Creatures Great & Small" starting up for the closing credits meant bedtime, and I knew I hadn't done my book report . . . .
The theme song
36. Fossil-preserving spots: TAR PITS
38. Fast-__ restaurant: CASUAL - never heard of this; filled via perps
39. Shaped: MOLDED - I had FORMED first
44. NNW opposite: SSE
45. Tempe sch.: ASU - Arizona State University
46. Automated spammer: 'BOT
52. "Pokémon" protagonist Ketchum: ASH - no clue; the "S" was my last fill; name #4
56. Newcastle Brown __: ALE
57. Shearing day sound: BAA
64. Code with dits and dahs: MORSE
65. "The Batman" actress Kravitz: ZOE - Daughter of Lenny Kravitz & Lisa Bonet; name #5
66. Barista canvas: LATTE - canvas as in the "art" in the cream/froth atop an espresso
68. Stop: END
69. Pollinators that can see in the ultraviolet spectrum: BEES
DOWN:
1. Feminine pronoun: SHE -or "HER"~? I do the DOWNS first, but I WAGed correctly
3. Green spot in a concrete jungle: URBAN OASIS * - I see this is an HGTV show, too
4. Obedience school item: LEASH - I'm going to need me some dog food & supplies soon
5. Dec. 25, for Justin Trudeau: BDAY - Dah~! I was going to fill in "B-DAY", but I thought I was the only one who abbreviated it this way....
6. Digs into new digs, say: REROOTS - not MOVES IN
7. Magnetic power: ALLURE - my buddy Adam owns a restaurant of this name, sorta
9. Radiator sound: HISS - my house has baseboards, but they still "radiate" - much preferred over the forced-air system in my parents house
10. Gave a hand: DEALT - not AIDED -- a "hand" as in a poker game. Very clever
11. "Sorry, but it's true": "I'M AFRAID SO." - two of the last three clues fooled me~? I'm afraid so. . . .
12. Passing through: VIA
13. Hosp. triage units: ERs
21. Alaskan bear: KODIAK
22. Filmmaker Nora: EPHRON - I am sure you've seen at least ONE of her movies - her IMDb; name #6
23. __ jockey: DISC
24. Academy honors: OSCARS - I had the wrong academy in mind - see below, 37D.
27. Subj.-specific exam for the college-bound: AP TEST - Advanced Placement - I took the classes, but only one of the tests
28. Condition that may be treated with exposure therapy, for short: PTSD - Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder - George Carlin's take on the "words" - ** WARNING** may be considered "political"
31. Count (on): RELY
32. Roman of "The Ms. Pat Show": TAMI - no idea; filled via perps; her IMDb; name #7
35. Sly tactics: RUSES
37. Academy cadet: PLEBE
41. Christen: BAPTIZE
43. Decongestant brand: SUDAFED
48. Palmer of "Nope": KEKE - also no clue, her Wiki; name #8
49. "Woo-hoo!": "YAY~!"
50. __ mode: À LA
51. Bluffer's giveaway: TELL - more poker
52. Cash dispensers: ATMs
53. Wave away: "SHOO~!"
54. Foot-long sandwich: HERO - I just had one for the first time in a looong time for lunch Friday
57. Orthodontist's instruction: BITE - yeah. but meh.
58. Poker game starter: ANTE - and yet more poker
59. Range listed on board games: AGES - ah; did not make sense until it filled in
62. Daughter's brother: SON - did you have to "think" about this~? I did - too funny. How about this~? My aunt married the brother of her mother's second husband - try and figure that one out . . . .
63. Bunsen burner setting: LAB - ah. Not "LOW"
Splynter
One Week 'til Christmas~!
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