This guy had a pretty good career playing drunk guys. But he played this Irishman sober.
Very nice surprise theme.
Synchronicity: I just came home from the weekly free chamber concert that the city and the Israel Broadcasting Authority sponsor - it was a Schubertiade, lovely - and at the bottom of the program is the announcement of next week's program in which the first piece is "Schumann's Maerchenerzaelungen (FAIRY TALES) Op 132."
Synchronicity: I just came home from the weekly free chamber concert that the city and the Israel Broadcasting Authority sponsor - it was a Schubertiade, lovely - and at the bottom of the program is the announcement of next week's program in which the first piece is "Schumann's Maerchenerzaelungen (FAIRY TALES) Op 132."
3
For Fairy Tales - give me Nikolai Medtner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOHbOcuXEiQ
Horowitz isn't a bad choice either...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOHbOcuXEiQ
Horowitz isn't a bad choice either...
1
One more quibble: doesn't 35A require two legs up? Looks a bit awkward with just one.
Dr W,
Your first quibble was on the mark; this one is not. You clearly understand the wordplay of having "a leg up in the...business" (as in a certain real estate guy whose dad took him in). While both legs are elevated when *on* stilts, when you are *walking* on stilts (just as when you are walking without them) one leg will be above the other (alternately).
Your first quibble was on the mark; this one is not. You clearly understand the wordplay of having "a leg up in the...business" (as in a certain real estate guy whose dad took him in). While both legs are elevated when *on* stilts, when you are *walking* on stilts (just as when you are walking without them) one leg will be above the other (alternately).
2
I don't normally expect to have a quibble for a Monday xwp but this time I do: the last word of the clue for 60A should be "form", not "are" -- to recognize you are assembling four components, not treating each distinctly. Moomph.
OTOH ... sublime to ridiculous: did any one else do three tries at 38D? ThIs was my progression:
CLUMSY
KLUNKY
KLUTZY
Gotta be a record for a Monday. Brains are still in the basement ...
OTOH ... sublime to ridiculous: did any one else do three tries at 38D? ThIs was my progression:
CLUMSY
KLUNKY
KLUTZY
Gotta be a record for a Monday. Brains are still in the basement ...
5
STILTWALKER hung me up at the very end (I solved across as STUNTWALKER) until I remembered that I like pasta and as such, ROTINU was a rather STONED attempt at an answer for 18D.
From there, I decided to PLEAD stupidity, gave my forehead a WHAP, ERASEd my erroneous answer, and in celebration of my gold star will find a PASTABAR for lunch.
Well done, Mr. Haight, and thanks as always for the fun!
From there, I decided to PLEAD stupidity, gave my forehead a WHAP, ERASEd my erroneous answer, and in celebration of my gold star will find a PASTABAR for lunch.
Well done, Mr. Haight, and thanks as always for the fun!
2
Fast and easy Monday, but with a terrific payoff. I totally fell for Bruce Haight's stealth strategy, as the theme slipped right by me until I got the reveal. I'M A FAN!
I think I need something in a DAD-and-a-half BOD these days. I've never been a fashion plate.
The Pointer Sisters hit the Top 20 in 1974 with "FAIRYTALE"; less predictably, the song also reached #39 on the country chart, and got the sisters an invite to the Grand Ole Opry. Have a listen and you'll hear why:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQWgKvvbT1g
I think I need something in a DAD-and-a-half BOD these days. I've never been a fashion plate.
The Pointer Sisters hit the Top 20 in 1974 with "FAIRYTALE"; less predictably, the song also reached #39 on the country chart, and got the sisters an invite to the Grand Ole Opry. Have a listen and you'll hear why:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQWgKvvbT1g
3
Was always a huge FAN of the Pointer Sisters, impressed at their success in multiple music genres. FAIRYTALE is a gem.
2
I'm no great puzzler but found this one quick & fun.
-> I did not get the theme until finished and even then had to look for it; FAIRYTALE wasn't much help but just enough.
I am old enough to have seen John Wayne movies when first released but have never heard the term OATER. So, I have learned something already today and can now just focus on unproductive enjoyment.
-> I did not get the theme until finished and even then had to look for it; FAIRYTALE wasn't much help but just enough.
I am old enough to have seen John Wayne movies when first released but have never heard the term OATER. So, I have learned something already today and can now just focus on unproductive enjoyment.
5
OATER has been used 126 times so far, so it's a good word to remember!
2
Would have been even more delightful had STRAW been spun into GOLD, but I won't stamp my foot over it!
3
I really enjoyed the puzzle. Most of the words were easy to fill in and then there was a surprise near the end - FAIRYTALE - that sent you back to the top.
The only problem I had was KALES instead of ZALES.
The only problem I had was KALES instead of ZALES.
2
One solving strategy I've recently grown accustomed to is surmising semi-completed answers on my grid then considering an appropriate response before relying on any given clue. I employed the tactic today on the puzzle's banner answer, 35a, but had to amend the entry. Stillwater was my reflexive guess only to discover that trial was an error, crying out for remedial attention. When I finally filled in STILT WALKER it sadly reminded me of last week's announcement that "The Greatest Show On Earth" is folding all of its' tents after this year's schedule. AW GEE, that was some hard news to swallow. What say we keep the pageant in production and discontinue some of the more nefarious societal entities like, oh let's say, warfare? I'll take clowning around over wickedness every time. Doves 1, Hawks nil...Speaking of feathered predators, the 1966 OATER from Howard Hawks that starred John Wayne, Robert Mitchum and Ed Asner should not be mixed-up with "The Road To EL DORADO," a 2000 animated feature from DreamWorks. Voice over credit goes to Rosie Perez, Kevin Klein ET. AL. with Sir Elton John ON MIKE as narrator. The esteemed Knight also was a major force on the film's soundtrack. This is the album's 2nd cut, "Someday Out Of The Blue."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqVUrETzFBg
MWAH,
Bru
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqVUrETzFBg
MWAH,
Bru
4
Saw it with the reveal and loved the theme Mr. Haight. One of my favorite tales. MWAH.
2
Thanks, Bruce Haight, for starting our week with this extremely clever and well-executed theme, hidden in plain sight.
The Monday-level clues had me filling in words almost as fast as I could write, which could have resulted in a less-than-satisfactory solving experience had the theme not required a bit of thinking. That it did supplied the payoff. Very nicely done.
The Monday-level clues had me filling in words almost as fast as I could write, which could have resulted in a less-than-satisfactory solving experience had the theme not required a bit of thinking. That it did supplied the payoff. Very nicely done.
2
Last night my brain decided that the first two theme answers were RUMproast and PLEad. I thought, you'd can't do that! PLE is just part of a word.
In the morning light I read 60A and realized that it's RUMPEL not RUMPLE! It's not PLEad, it's ELDORADO! The joke was on me. Love when that happens!
So, thank you Bruce. Not only was the theme clever and Monday easy, but it also had that added AHA moment that Mondays often lack. You got me!
In the morning light I read 60A and realized that it's RUMPEL not RUMPLE! It's not PLEad, it's ELDORADO! The joke was on me. Love when that happens!
So, thank you Bruce. Not only was the theme clever and Monday easy, but it also had that added AHA moment that Mondays often lack. You got me!
3
Clean, smooth, clever, with a reveal that brought a smile. AWGEE, I liked this one!
2
Quite clever - I didn't get the theme at all until I had all of the theme answers and the reveal filled in, and even then had to look at it for a long moment. Very unusual for a Monday. Also noticed that each of the components in RUMP EL STILT SKIN were stand-alone words in the theme phrases. I'm sure there would have been many more options if that were not the case, so that's also impressive.
Re DADBODS: I will note that I weigh 7 pounds less than I did the day I left the service, almost 46 years ago. Of course it's distributed somewhat differently now.
DAKOTA has appeared 46 times in Times puzzles. Twice it's referenced an old John Wayne film, but other than it's either the tribe, the states (or territory) or the New York Hotel. I wonder when DAKOTA Fanning will be considered famous enough to appear in a clue.
Re DADBODS: I will note that I weigh 7 pounds less than I did the day I left the service, almost 46 years ago. Of course it's distributed somewhat differently now.
DAKOTA has appeared 46 times in Times puzzles. Twice it's referenced an old John Wayne film, but other than it's either the tribe, the states (or territory) or the New York Hotel. I wonder when DAKOTA Fanning will be considered famous enough to appear in a clue.
2
New York apartment building, not hotel.
(IMAGINE)
(IMAGINE)
Instant Karma's gonna get me.
Sorry - careless error.
Sorry - careless error.
Didn't want you to try to check in...and find you could never leave. But that's on the other coast, I think.
1
Nice Monday puzzle - got the theme as soon as I saw the revealer. Like others was thinking STING before SKINGAME. Wanted TRICKRIDER before STILTWALKER and briefly had CLUMSY before KLUTZY. Having LAO and ELO again I thought was a coincidence, but wasn't at all bothered by it.
3
@deb -- It is a debut for DADBODS (nor has there ever been a DADBOD), but on 10/6/15 (a Friday), Joe Krozel did clue "DAD _____ (not exactly a male ideal)" for BOD.
Pity that 60A wasn't two rows lower, giving the puzzle a FAIRYTALE ending. There is a SITS down, a lovely cross of STONED and KLUTZY, and I couldn't help thinking of a cow patty with the neighbors MOO and POOH. The puzzle has an extraordinarily low double letter count (4) -- anything under 5 is extremely rare.
It's a very simple theme, but a clever idea, and I've tried to think of a another fairy tale this could be done with, with no success. Plus, the grid is clean as a whistle. Nice one, Bruce, and thank you, sir!
Pity that 60A wasn't two rows lower, giving the puzzle a FAIRYTALE ending. There is a SITS down, a lovely cross of STONED and KLUTZY, and I couldn't help thinking of a cow patty with the neighbors MOO and POOH. The puzzle has an extraordinarily low double letter count (4) -- anything under 5 is extremely rare.
It's a very simple theme, but a clever idea, and I've tried to think of a another fairy tale this could be done with, with no success. Plus, the grid is clean as a whistle. Nice one, Bruce, and thank you, sir!
5
I wasn't getting the theme even after the reveal because I also had 50A starting StING. I stared at those beginnings and had no idea how they tied in with FAIRY TALES. I also couldn't think of 58A or 30D, so time for another coffee.
Finally thought of ASK AWAY and AHA! got the theme as soon as I had SKIN. Very satisfactory, great start to the week.
Finally thought of ASK AWAY and AHA! got the theme as soon as I had SKIN. Very satisfactory, great start to the week.
3
PS. I liked the entry WEE LAD, very common Scots phrase.
4
Two three-letter words are repeated from yesterday: ELO and LAO. And they both refer to the same things as on Sunday! A bit annoying, that, but a good puzzle overall.
2
It might have been in my wheelhouse anyway, but with the recent mention in these comments of Trumpelstilskin, I had the theme at RUMP and EL (and no, not the Chicago L or the late 3rd Avenue El). I'm with Liz B in not finding the word "story" in the 10D clue a find worth of an Easter egg hunt. I don't mind STRING UP, but might it be clued to seasonal decorations? This one went very, very quickly (my water clock is not precise).
3
and Elke
I say it's ROT , and you'd have to be STONED , to believe the FAIRYTALE that (T)RUMPELSTILTSKIN could spin straw into gold . Not even in EL DORADO , and not in the SAULT.
For 54A- thought "bottle alternative" should be breast....
I'M A FAN of B. Haight's puzzles. The only "eight" I found is in ON LATE.
I say it's ROT , and you'd have to be STONED , to believe the FAIRYTALE that (T)RUMPELSTILTSKIN could spin straw into gold . Not even in EL DORADO , and not in the SAULT.
For 54A- thought "bottle alternative" should be breast....
I'M A FAN of B. Haight's puzzles. The only "eight" I found is in ON LATE.
4
I enjoyed the puzzle and got the Rumplestiltskin theme as soon as I saw the revealer. It was a fast Monday for me. I looked at the across clues, primarily. I had to use some down clues to verify, but I got done in slightly over 7.5 minutes.
3
LOL, Mac, you spelled RUMPELSTILTSKIN the way I would have spelled it yesterday.
I thought it was delightful. Got it mostly from the acrosses, so it seemed like a typical Monday, although by the bottom half I was looking at some downs. I did look at SKING . . . for the beginning of 50A and wonder what was wrong, since I was thinking a STING of some sort. I do think the clue for 10D is general enough that I didn't make any connection with the puzzle theme itself--seemed like a generic substitution for me.
6
While "Writers' wrongs?" is a cute clue for TYPOS, it is incorrect. A typographical error appears when the "writer" knows the correct word or phrase but the "keyer" makes an entry error. Writer and keyer may be the same person. Poor grammar or syntax or other writing mistakes are not typos.
6
I'm with his mom. I just don't get it. Otherwise a good Monday puzzle.
2
Possible sign of deprived childhood....
A little tough but not bad. More like a Tuesday puzzle. Finished in 17m
2
Also HEPTO looks like a typo...
1
What it takes to tango? Bandoneon!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCmP4bEJfOg
¡Ay ay ay que romanticoooo!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCmP4bEJfOg
¡Ay ay ay que romanticoooo!
2
I'll see your romanticoooo and raise you some poetry in motion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB-RS000NLs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oB-RS000NLs
4
Holy cow, Leapy, I feel like I need a cigarette and I don't even smoke. Beautiful video selection.
Still - it's the sound of Piazzolla's bandoneon that haunts my soul.
Still - it's the sound of Piazzolla's bandoneon that haunts my soul.
1
Yes, David. But a tango instrumental is definitely an unclear on the concept.
Thanks to both of you.
Thanks to both of you.
1
Congratulations to the Atlanta Falcons and their fans. They have been impressive in the playoffs and I hope they win the Super Bowl.