Good Morning, Cruciverbalists. Malodorous Manatee here, after an extended absence, with today's recap. Together with Valerie and two close friends, I traveled to Berlin, to the Puglia region of Italy and to Rome. Berlin was not as interesting as the last time that I was there because, at that time, it was still a divided city. Yes, it had been that long. Puglia was nice but not as interesting (to me) as other regions of Italy. Rome was as crowded as I have ever seen it. We did eat well so now it's back on a diet and on to the puzzle.
Today's puzzle setter is Jamey Smith who has previously had many puzzles published in the L.A. Times. IIRC, Husker Gary recently noted that he (Gary) had reviewed eight of Jamey's theme-less Saturday puzzles. Today, Jamey gives us five themed answers. He takes familiar names and items and adds the letter Y to them to create puny, homo-phonic answers. In each case, the "real" item or name would have an E preceding the Y.
17 Across: TikTok videos made by athletes?: JOCKY SHORTS. From "athletes" we derive JOCK and from "videos" we drive SHORTS. Add a Y and we get the answer.
JOCKEY SHORTS
25 Across: Small flute made from reclaimed farm wood?: BARNY FIFE. From "farm wood" we derive BARN and from "flute" we derive FIFE. Add a Y and we get the answer.
BARNEY FIFE
35. Across: Beachcombers' off-season hopes?: SHELLY WINTERS. From "beachcombers' hopes" we derive SHELL and from "off-season" we derive WINTERS. Add a Y and we get the answer.
SHELLEY WINTERS
48 Across: Taverns in cloisters and abbeys?: MONKY BARS. From "cloisters and abbeys" we drive MONK and from "taverns" we derive BAR. Add a Y and we get the answer.
MONKEY BARS
57 Across: Banquet celebrating Ottoman culture?: TURKY DINNER. From "Ottoman" we derive TURK and from "banquet" we derive DINNER. And a Y and we get the answer.
A TURKEY DINNER
Here is how all of this appears in the grid:
... and here are the other clues and answers:
Across:
1. Become more approachable, say: THAW. A bit of a challenge to start the puzzle . . .
5. "Let me demonstrate ... ": LIKE SO . . . . followed by another answer that could have been many other things. Thanks, perps.
11. Rx watchdog: FDA. Rx = drug prescription.
14. Palindromic pop quartet: ABBA. Frequent visitors with almost as many ways to clue it as OREO.
15. God often depicted with green skin: OSIRIS. I didn't know about the green skin.
16. "Snowy" bird: OWL. EGRET was too long.
A Snowy Owl
19. Veer back: ZAG. ZIG being the first movement.
20. Quite the card: RIOT. Neither a business identifier nor (for example) a poker card. A humorous person.
21. Wine and dine, maybe: WOO. What's step one when WOOing a geologist? Make sure that you smell gneiss.
22. Vox co-founder Klein: EZRA. An American "progressive" journalist.
23. Spot for a donut: TRUNK. Eh? Not the first thing that came to mind but legitimate. A spare tire that is more compact, lighter (and less expensive) for manufacturers to provide.
27. Broad hat, lotion, shades, etc.: SUN GEAR.
29. Slangy turnarounds: UIES. U-turns.
30. Tat spot, perhaps: PEC. Pectoral.
31. Barbara Gordon's alter ego: BATGIRL.
40. Bribes: BUYS OFF. Hand up for PAYS OFF.
41. Palindromic pop trio: AHA. a-ha ist eine norwegische Popgruppe. Completely unfamiliar to this solver.
43. Secular: LAIC. Of, or relating to, laypersons as opposed to the clergy.
45. Got fit: TONED UP.
52. Like lambs and rams: OVINE.
53. Photoreceptor cell: CONE. In your eye.
54. Japanese sash: OBI. Frequently worn in crosswords.
55. Vicinity: AREA.
56. Tempe sch.: ASU.
62. Meandered: SNAKED.
63. Optimist's words: I CAN.
64. Weekly skit show, familiarly: SNL. Saturday Night Live
Trailer for 40th Anniversary
65. Doesn't turn away: ADMITS. As in allowing entry not as in fessing up.
66. Cheese in a Greek omelet: FETA.
Down:
1. Arabic for "crown": TAJ.
2. Network with programming streamed on Max: HBO.
3. Core workout rep: AB CRUNCH. I tried to do an intense workout that consisted of 500 sit ups per day but my body could not take the AB use.
4. Coming to: WAKING. Not as in arriving.
5. Baffled: LOST.
6. "... or thereabouts": ISH.
7. Native language in Oklahoma: KIOWA. Less often seen than OTOE, UTE or CREE. . . none of which were going to fit.
8. Possible cause of an unearned run: ERROR. A baseball reference.
9. Hold back for now: SIT ON.
10. CIA predecessor: OSS.
11. Muppet bear in a pork pie hat: FOZZIE.
12. Overshadows: DWARFS.
13. Pond growth: ALGAE.
18. Join the team?: YOKE. Nice word play. Join the team of oxen together.
22. Submit taxes online: E-FILE. The first of two E-answers.
23. Cough syrup meas.: TSP. TeaSPoon
24. Feels remorse: RUES. You will RUE the day that the French name a street after you.
25. Donkey cries: BRAYS.
26. Shelter on the Asian steppes: YURT.
28. Without fumbling: ABLY. Not a football reference (although it could be).
32. Deuce: TWO. Not a tennis-score reference. A card game reference.
33. Natural talents: GIFTS.
34. Deets: INFO. Slang. Details. INFOrmation.
36. Motorized ride: E-BIKE. The second E-answer.
37. Liu of "Charlie's Angels": LUCY.
38. Bright quality: RADIANCE.
39. Blackball: SHUN. What can you call an ant that has been SHUNned by its community? A socially dissed ant.
42. Tailless primate: APE. What do you call it when APEs battle? Gorilla warfare.
43. Let out a bit: LOOSEN.
44. Many a garden flower: ANNUAL. As opposed to a PERENNIAL.
46. Sushi wrapper: NORI.
47. Supposing: EVEN IF.
48. Hurdles for aspiring drs.: MCATS.
50. TV carpenter Norm: ABRAM. From the shows This Old House and New Yankee Workshop.
51. Kipling's "__-Tikki-Tavi": RIKKI.
55. Chimes in: ADDS.
57. Airport safety org.: TSA.
58. Thus far: YET.
59. Nosh on: EAT.
60. Genetic molecule: RNA.
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