Theme: High Comedy - GH is omitted in each familiar phrase.
23A. Unforgettable louse? : A NIGHT TO REMEMBER. "A Night to Remember". Fun clue & answer.
33A. Waterway for sinners? : STRAIGHT TO HELL. Straight to hell. Nice one too.
44A. Uncovers a serious flaw in municipal building plans? : CAN'T FIGHT CITY HALL. Can't fight city hall.
62A. Barely visible English pubs? : BRIGHT SPOTS ON THE HORIZON. Bright spots on the horizon.
74A. Ohio sweaters? : KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS. Knights of Columbus.
92A. Low cost pay-per-view match? : BOUGHT FOR A SONG. Bought for a song.
103A. Where to get a copy of "The Communist Manifesto"? : RED-LIGHT DISTRICT. Red light district.
Slow in grokking the theme today. First thought long I in IGH was replaced by short I, but STRAIT TO HELL quickly said no. Then BOUT FOR A SONG further proved I was wrong. Odd entry. I'd love the theme better if GH is dropped from all the *IGHT phrases. You?
The grid design is rather ambitious, with week-day like three finger blocks. Hence a rather low 132 word count.
Across:
1. Bit of schoolyard disagreement : AM SO. And 14. States as fact : SAYS SO.
5. Stuff in a box on the street : SNAIL MAIL. Was thinking of those free newspaper.
20. 1978 medical thriller : COMA
21. Like some items in downloads : NON-SECURE. Often feel helpless against computer errors.
22. __ Island, N.Y. : STATEN
25. "Broadway Joe" : NAMATH
26. Indian lentil stew : DAL. Bill G, what's for lunch today?
27. Loses everything : BUSTS
28. Juan's ones : UNOs
30. Milk: Pref. : LACTO. Lactose.
31. Promote at work : ELEVATE
36. Tightwads : MISERs
37. Turn down in an ugly way : SPURN. Like love.
39. Tested : ASSAYED
40. Has the stage : IS ON
41. Expensive outing, probably : SPREE. Shopping spree?
42. Goes on strike, in slang : WALKS. I like this clue.
48. Seemingly forever : AGES
52. Top of the morning? : ONE AM
53. Clerical vestments : ALBs. Classic crosswordese.
54. Rodeo ride : BRONC
55. Like the larger-eared elephant : AFRICAN. I thought it's just "large-eared".
59. Sham : FALSE
61. Look for help from : TURN TO
66. Volcanic rock : BASALT
67. Incursions : RAIDs
68. "Rad!" : AWESOME
69. Talus joint : ANKLE
70. Brew : SUDs
71. Words with bike or wave : RIDE A
73. Grey Goose competitor : SKYY. Vodka.
81. Volleyball coup : SPIKE. And 102D. It precedes 81-Across : SET
83. Tennyson's Enoch : ARDEN. "Enoch Arden". Not familiar with the poem.
84. Westchester, N.Y., college : IONA
85. "Most likely ..." : ODDS ARE. Nice entry.
89. Reuben essential : SWISS
90. Aviation force : THRUST
95. Ristorante red : CHIANTI
96. Befuddled : AT SEA
97. Comic who wrote jokes for JFK : SAHL (Mort)
98. Shoe parts : SOLES
100. Covert fed. group : CIA
101. Maid concerns : METERS. Meter maid.
107. Antarctic penguin : ADELIE. Happy couple. Happy feet.
108. Pennsylvania's state dog : GREAT DANE. State dog? Unknown to me.
109. Sommer of cinema : ELKE
110. Most convinced : SUREST
111. Controls : HARNESSES
112. "The Swiss Family Robinson" writer : WYSS (Johann). Was ignorant of the book and the author.
Down:
1. Hypothetical : ACADEMIC
2. Immortal wife of Francesco del Giocondo : MONA LISA. Thanks to da Vinci.
3. Is favorable to : SMILES ON
4. Muffin choice : OAT
5. Tapir features : SNOUTS
6. Longship crewmen : NORSE. Longships were used by the Vikings.
7. Works without __ : A NET
8. Philosophies : ISMs
9. Poe's "Annabel __" : LEE
10. Turn-of-the-century year : MCM. 1900.
11. 2010 Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton's alma mater : AUBURN. Gimme for Husker Gary, I bet. He seems to know a lot about college football.
12. "The Faerie Queene" woman : IRENA. Guessed.
13. "Vive __!" : LE ROI
14. IRS info : SSN
15. Baffled : AT A LOSS
16. Steinway competitor : YAMAHA
17. Actress Dash of "Clueless" : STACEY. First encounter with this actress. She's pretty.
18. Come to terms : SETTLE
19. Waiting for tech support, often : ON HOLD. Those overseas tech support can drive you nuts.
24. Way to the top : T-BAR
29. Delays : STALLs
32. Let off steam : VENT
33. Mutton fat : SUET. Lard is pork fat.
34. Small spade : TREY. Poker.
35. "For shame!" : TSK
37. Humane Soc. ally : SPCA
38. Victorian : PRIM
41. Worker with a pad : STENO
42. Former 49ers coach Bill : WALSH. Surprised I know him.
43. "Seascape" Pulitzer-winning playwright : ALBEE
45. Bo's'n's quarters : FO'C'SLE. Can never remember how to spell it, Spitzboov/eddyB!
46. Unfitting : INAPT
47. Desists : HALTS
48. "Mrs. __ Goes to Paris": 1992 TV film : ARRIS. Stumped me again.
49. Bananas : GONZO. Nuts!
50. Branch of zool. : ENTOM. OK, entomology.
51. Tea biscuit : SCONE
54. Chest : BUREAU. Furniture was not in my mind.
55. Arafat's successor : ABBAS
56. Direct : FRANK. Adjective "direct".
57. Full of pitfalls : RISKY
58. 2006 World Cup winner : ITALY. Soccer is huge in China.
59. Pass off (on) : FOIST
60. Plus : AND
61. Item on a rack : TOWEL
63. Place for a donut : TRUNK. Tire! Tricky clue.
64. "Sexy" Beatles woman : SADIE
65. Sported : HAD ON
70. Sun Valley visitors : SKIERS
71. Country mail rtes. : RFDs. RFD = Rural delivery service
72. Summer coolers : ICEs
75. Cut : SAWN. Spell check doesn't like it.
76. Not a dup. : ORIG
77. Oscar winner Sorvino : MIRA. She speaks Chinese.
78. In an animated way : BOUNCILY. I've only used adjective form bouncy.
79. Opens with effort, as a window : UNSTICKS
80. Stuffs : SATIATES
81. Wild vacations? : SAFARIs. Oh, wild animal, not the real wild vacation in Ibiza. JD has had a few wild ones.
82. For : PRO
85. "Dreams From My Father" family : OBAMAS
86. College address ending : DOT EDU. Felt stupid not to nail it.
87. Long riding coat : DUSTER
88. Addison's publishing partner : STEELE (Richard). Joseph Addison. Both strangers to me.
89. Plumber's alloy : SOLDER
90. Doctors' works : THESES
91. H.S. subject : HIST (History)
93. Cry of exasperation : AARGH
94. He-Man's twin sister : SHE-RA
95. "Crazy" singer : CLINE (Patsy). Thought of Jerome's mom.
98. Regs. : STDs (Standards)
99. Harem rooms : ODAs. Splynter wants one.
104. PC linkup : LAN
105. Mineral suffix : ITE
106. Remote button : REW
Answer grid.
C.C.
23A. Unforgettable louse? : A NI
33A. Waterway for sinners? : STRAI
44A. Uncovers a serious flaw in municipal building plans? : CAN'T FI
62A. Barely visible English pubs? : BRI
74A. Ohio sweaters? : KNI
92A. Low cost pay-per-view match? : BOU
103A. Where to get a copy of "The Communist Manifesto"? : RED-LI
Slow in grokking the theme today. First thought long I in IGH was replaced by short I, but STRAIT TO HELL quickly said no. Then BOUT FOR A SONG further proved I was wrong. Odd entry. I'd love the theme better if GH is dropped from all the *IGHT phrases. You?
The grid design is rather ambitious, with week-day like three finger blocks. Hence a rather low 132 word count.
Across:
1. Bit of schoolyard disagreement : AM SO. And 14. States as fact : SAYS SO.
5. Stuff in a box on the street : SNAIL MAIL. Was thinking of those free newspaper.
20. 1978 medical thriller : COMA
21. Like some items in downloads : NON-SECURE. Often feel helpless against computer errors.
22. __ Island, N.Y. : STATEN
25. "Broadway Joe" : NAMATH
26. Indian lentil stew : DAL. Bill G, what's for lunch today?
27. Loses everything : BUSTS
28. Juan's ones : UNOs
30. Milk: Pref. : LACTO. Lactose.
31. Promote at work : ELEVATE
36. Tightwads : MISERs
37. Turn down in an ugly way : SPURN. Like love.
39. Tested : ASSAYED
40. Has the stage : IS ON
41. Expensive outing, probably : SPREE. Shopping spree?
42. Goes on strike, in slang : WALKS. I like this clue.
48. Seemingly forever : AGES
52. Top of the morning? : ONE AM
53. Clerical vestments : ALBs. Classic crosswordese.
54. Rodeo ride : BRONC
55. Like the larger-eared elephant : AFRICAN. I thought it's just "large-eared".
59. Sham : FALSE
61. Look for help from : TURN TO
66. Volcanic rock : BASALT
67. Incursions : RAIDs
68. "Rad!" : AWESOME
69. Talus joint : ANKLE
70. Brew : SUDs
71. Words with bike or wave : RIDE A
73. Grey Goose competitor : SKYY. Vodka.
81. Volleyball coup : SPIKE. And 102D. It precedes 81-Across : SET
83. Tennyson's Enoch : ARDEN. "Enoch Arden". Not familiar with the poem.
84. Westchester, N.Y., college : IONA
85. "Most likely ..." : ODDS ARE. Nice entry.
89. Reuben essential : SWISS
90. Aviation force : THRUST
95. Ristorante red : CHIANTI
96. Befuddled : AT SEA
97. Comic who wrote jokes for JFK : SAHL (Mort)
98. Shoe parts : SOLES
100. Covert fed. group : CIA
101. Maid concerns : METERS. Meter maid.
107. Antarctic penguin : ADELIE. Happy couple. Happy feet.
108. Pennsylvania's state dog : GREAT DANE. State dog? Unknown to me.
109. Sommer of cinema : ELKE
110. Most convinced : SUREST
111. Controls : HARNESSES
112. "The Swiss Family Robinson" writer : WYSS (Johann). Was ignorant of the book and the author.
Down:
1. Hypothetical : ACADEMIC
2. Immortal wife of Francesco del Giocondo : MONA LISA. Thanks to da Vinci.
3. Is favorable to : SMILES ON
4. Muffin choice : OAT
5. Tapir features : SNOUTS
6. Longship crewmen : NORSE. Longships were used by the Vikings.
7. Works without __ : A NET
8. Philosophies : ISMs
9. Poe's "Annabel __" : LEE
10. Turn-of-the-century year : MCM. 1900.
11. 2010 Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton's alma mater : AUBURN. Gimme for Husker Gary, I bet. He seems to know a lot about college football.
12. "The Faerie Queene" woman : IRENA. Guessed.
13. "Vive __!" : LE ROI
14. IRS info : SSN
15. Baffled : AT A LOSS
16. Steinway competitor : YAMAHA
17. Actress Dash of "Clueless" : STACEY. First encounter with this actress. She's pretty.
18. Come to terms : SETTLE
19. Waiting for tech support, often : ON HOLD. Those overseas tech support can drive you nuts.
24. Way to the top : T-BAR
29. Delays : STALLs
32. Let off steam : VENT
33. Mutton fat : SUET. Lard is pork fat.
34. Small spade : TREY. Poker.
35. "For shame!" : TSK
37. Humane Soc. ally : SPCA
38. Victorian : PRIM
41. Worker with a pad : STENO
42. Former 49ers coach Bill : WALSH. Surprised I know him.
43. "Seascape" Pulitzer-winning playwright : ALBEE
45. Bo's'n's quarters : FO'C'SLE. Can never remember how to spell it, Spitzboov/eddyB!
46. Unfitting : INAPT
47. Desists : HALTS
48. "Mrs. __ Goes to Paris": 1992 TV film : ARRIS. Stumped me again.
49. Bananas : GONZO. Nuts!
50. Branch of zool. : ENTOM. OK, entomology.
51. Tea biscuit : SCONE
54. Chest : BUREAU. Furniture was not in my mind.
55. Arafat's successor : ABBAS
56. Direct : FRANK. Adjective "direct".
57. Full of pitfalls : RISKY
58. 2006 World Cup winner : ITALY. Soccer is huge in China.
59. Pass off (on) : FOIST
60. Plus : AND
61. Item on a rack : TOWEL
63. Place for a donut : TRUNK. Tire! Tricky clue.
64. "Sexy" Beatles woman : SADIE
65. Sported : HAD ON
70. Sun Valley visitors : SKIERS
71. Country mail rtes. : RFDs. RFD = Rural delivery service
72. Summer coolers : ICEs
75. Cut : SAWN. Spell check doesn't like it.
76. Not a dup. : ORIG
77. Oscar winner Sorvino : MIRA. She speaks Chinese.
78. In an animated way : BOUNCILY. I've only used adjective form bouncy.
79. Opens with effort, as a window : UNSTICKS
80. Stuffs : SATIATES
81. Wild vacations? : SAFARIs. Oh, wild animal, not the real wild vacation in Ibiza. JD has had a few wild ones.
82. For : PRO
85. "Dreams From My Father" family : OBAMAS
86. College address ending : DOT EDU. Felt stupid not to nail it.
87. Long riding coat : DUSTER
88. Addison's publishing partner : STEELE (Richard). Joseph Addison. Both strangers to me.
89. Plumber's alloy : SOLDER
90. Doctors' works : THESES
91. H.S. subject : HIST (History)
93. Cry of exasperation : AARGH
94. He-Man's twin sister : SHE-RA
95. "Crazy" singer : CLINE (Patsy). Thought of Jerome's mom.
98. Regs. : STDs (Standards)
99. Harem rooms : ODAs. Splynter wants one.
104. PC linkup : LAN
105. Mineral suffix : ITE
106. Remote button : REW
Answer grid.
C.C.
