Sunday, April 29, 2007
CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
Puzzle by Henry Hook, Edited by Will Shortz
What an odd gathering -- MARKSPITZ (23A …and 25-Across have “canine” surnames), JUNEPOINTER (25A …and 41-Across sang with their siblings), DONNYOSMOND (41A … and 52-Across are Mormons), KENJENNINGS (52A … and 69-Across have affiliations with “Jeopardy!”), MERVGRIFFIN (69A … and 80-Across have mythological creatures as surnames), ETHELMERMAN (80A … and 99-Across starred in musicals and share their first names with a classic-sitcom couple), FREDASTAIRE (99A … and 101-Across are known for their fancy footwork), and CARLLEWIS (104A … and 23-Across are Olympic gold medallists).
Do these people really belong together? All right, maybe Mark and Carl can jaw about the world of sports, Fred and Ethel can sing a duet; but what happens with June, Donny, Merv and Ken -- I’m sure there are possibilities, but what? I get the Spitz and Pointer thing, the Griffin and Merman thing, the Ethel and Fred thing, but the rest of the circle seems out of tune with what appears to be an attempt at a “theme”. I really can’t say anymore about the “circle”, as I want to stay positive -- but I can’t help myself!
It’s been years, I mean years! since any of these people had topicality-- it’s like this puzzle was written a quarter century ago! Why do I have the feeling I’ve done this puzzle before? I had the same feeling about the Thursday, April 19, 2007 puzzle by Henry Hook. However, that was a good solve, fun!
This Sunday construction is plodding, packed with obscure proper names, archaic usage, words no one uses -- ARGO (105A Xena’s horse), TROW (92D Think way back?), HORNY (29D Keratoid), DURST (108A Showed courage old style), CHIRR (89D Cicada sound) -- simple fill with obtuse clues -- (20A LaSalle and DeSoto) AUTO (21A Concentration thwarter), NOISE (50D Make fast), STARVE… oh why go on, I guess I just don’t like plodding along with nothing that sparkles a little bit, and the only exception I saw was (22A Something that might be tucked under the chin) VIOLA.
Voila!, a viola! I’ll name today's puzzle for it, post a picture and hope it entertains our sadly mismatched guests!I’m sure if it is Ultra Vi who is playing, everyone will love it!
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Abridged commentary of The NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD IN GOTHIC.
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