Is There A Doctor In The Puzzle?
Sunday, June 24, 2007
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NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY
Puzzle by Eric Berlin, edited by Will Shortz
THEDOCTORISIN (65A Alternative title for this puzzle) answers the question of this post's title -- six doctors to be accurate. Culled from the circled letters of the entries SECURITIESANALYST (23A Wall Street worker), MUSICALCOMEDY (39A Broadway's "The Producers," e.g.), FAMOUSLASTWORDS (50A They may come back to haunt you), SHRIMPCOCKTAILS (84A Appetizers served with sauce), WATERSOFTENER (91A It might go in a tank), and DEPARTMENTOFLABOR (109A Elizabeth Dole once led it) are the doctors SEUSS, MCCOY, FAUST, SPOCK, WATSON and DEMENTO!
It’s probably a good thing there are no serious illnesses or psychosis in this puzzle, as the doctors found in the faint circles are not particularly known for their expertise in medicine, but rather for children’s books, science fiction, opera/drama, detective stories and radio broadcasting. I did notice however, one Dr. TESLA (120A ______ coil), perhaps he could be of help -- and then there is PHD (73A High degree) a shingle belonging to no one in particular.
The remainder of the puzzle is classic variety crosswordese and arcana -- even a few fresh clues for old favorites (e.g., SISSY, 70D Playground taunt) --- some new utterances (AWW, 81D “How cute!”) -- dogs and dogfood (AKITAS, 1A Dogs named for a region of Japan; KAL, 12D ___Kan pet food) -- government agencies (DEPARTMENTOFLABOR (109A), FDA, CIA, OEO and other abbreviations to throw into the alphabet soup, FTD, CEO, OED, AFTRA, ELAL, NCO, etc.
Troubled by clues for SMASH (33D Overhead), NOEL (46D "O Sanctissima," e.g.), DIANE (98D Steak _____), not surprised by the Will Shortz hallmark double-clue for 78A and 75D, Yemen’s capital, SANA and RIAL respectively. Mulled over what is WATERS OF TENER before saying oh hell, WATER SOFTENER -- keep it simple! Never heard of a TEADANCE (82D Afternoon event) before -- it’s something I’ll just have to pass up in this life.
All in all, a fair and enjoyable solve for Sunday with the doctors going in circles being a nice gimmick -- got it about half-way through, eliciting more of a “oh, is that all” than it being of any help -- a relief that it was not some horribly clever thing that just racks one’s nerves and sends one seeking medical attention -- as I’m not sure any of these doctors are qualified!
I just can't resist saying it: "Elementary, Watson!"
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