1229-19 NY Times Crossword 29 Dec 19, Sunday

Constructed by: Andrew Chaikin
Edited by: Will Shortz

Today’s Theme: New Year’s Resolutions

Themed answers are common New Year’s resolutions that have been reinterpreted:

  • 23A Casino gambler’s resolution? : CLEAN OUT THE HOUSE
  • 32A Sitcom lover’s resolution? : SEE “FRIENDS” MORE OFTEN
  • 51A Hen’s resolution? : GROW MY NEST EGG
  • 65A Nun’s resolution? : GIVE UP OLD HABITS
  • 80A Stalking tiger’s resolution? : WATCH WHAT I EAT
  • 97A Bank robber’s resolution? : PLAN A PERFECT GETAWAY
  • 110A Union activist’s resolution? : ORGANIZE MY OFFICE

Read on, or jump to …
… a complete list of answers

Bill’s time: 22m 25s

Bill’s errors: 2

  • MARCI (Marcy)
  • FIOS (FYOS)

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

6 Hit 1980s-’90s show with TV’s first lesbian kiss : LA LAW

“L.A. Law” ran on NBC from 1986 to 1994, and was one of the network’s most successful drama series. It took over from the equally successful “Hill Street Blues” in the Thursday night 10 p.m. slot until, after a six-year run, it was itself replaced by yet another respected drama, “E.R.” The opening credits showed that famous California licence plate. The plate was on a Jaguar XJ for most of the series, but moved onto a Bentley towards the end of the run. For each series the registration sticker was updated, so no laws were being broken.

22 Fictional lab assistant : IGOR

In the world of movies, Igor has been the assistant to Dracula, Frankenstein and Young Frankenstein among others. Igor is almost invariably portrayed as a hunchback.

28 Match.com, e.g. : URL

An Internet address (like NYXCrossword.com and LAXCrossword.com) is more correctly called a Uniform Resource Locator (URL).

Match.com is an online dating service. The company was started in 1993 and claims to have over 20 million members worldwide, in the ratio of male to female of 49:51.

29 Helen Mirren or Judi Dench : DAME

Helen Mirren, one of my favorite English actresses, has played three different queens on film and television. She played Queen Elizabeth II on the 2006 film “The Queen”, the title role in the TV drama “Elizabeth I”, and Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the wife of the title character in the 1994 film “The Madness of King George”. Mirren won the “Triple Crown of Acting” for playing:

  • Queen Elizabeth II in “The Queen” (winning Best Actress Oscar)
  • Queen Elizabeth II in “The Audience” (winning Best Actress in a Play Tony)
  • Detective Jane Tennison in “Prime Suspect” (winning Outstanding Lead Actress Emmy)

Dame Judi Dench is an outstanding English actress who has appeared for decades in her home country on stage and screen. Dench’s film career took off in the nineties with a relatively trivial role as “M” in the James Bond series of films. Since then she has played leading roles in several excellent movies including “Shakespeare in Love”, “Mrs. Brown”, “Notes on a Scandal” and “Philomena”.

30 New Age author Chopra : DEEPAK

Deepak Chopra is a medical doctor who is now an advocate for alternative medicine. Chopra was born in New Delhi, India and immigrated to the US in 1968. He is an advocate for mind/body spiritual healing. I have heard Chopra speak, and he really knows how to get his message across …

32 Sitcom lover’s resolution? : SEE “FRIENDS” MORE OFTEN

The six title characters in the sitcom “Friends” met each other in the Central Perk coffeehouse from the very first episode. There is now a Central Perk franchise in reality, with locations all around the globe. The Central Perk in Dubai was opened by actor James Michael Tyler, who played the coffeehouse manager Gunther on the show.

38 Morales of “NYPD Blue” : ESAI

Actor Esai Morales is best known in the world of film for the 1987 movie “La Bamba”, which depicted the life of Ritchie Valens and his half-brother Bob Morales (played by Esai). On the small screen, Morales plays Lt. Tony Rodriguez on “NYPD Blue” and Joseph Adama on “Caprica”.’

“NYPD Blue” is a police drama that was originally aired from 1993 until 2005. Stars of the show are Dennis Franz, David Caruso, Jimmy Smits and Rick Schroder. The show created a bit of a fuss back in the nineties, as it featured a relatively large amount of nudity for broadcast television.

42 French, say, to a Brit : SNOG

“Snogging” is British slang of unknown origin that dates back to the end of WWII. The term is used for “kissing and cuddling”, what we call “making out” over here in the US.

A kiss that involves touching of tongues is known as a French kiss, but no one seems to know why. Paradoxically, in Northern France, giving the same type of kiss is known as “baiser anglais”, i.e. English kissing!

44 Georgia, once: Abbr. : SSR

The former Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) of Georgia is now an independent country. Supposedly, the Georgian people were given their name because they especially revered St. George. The flag of Georgia does indeed feature five St. George’s crosses.

46 Sold-out sign : SRO

Standing room only (SRO)

49 Popular Fisher-Price toy for pre-kindergartners : SEE ‘N SAY

See ‘n Say is a toy that was introduced by Mattel back in 1965. Mattel already had a line of “talking” toys, especially the very successful Chatty Cathy doll. All these toys spoke random phrases after a string was pulled. The See ‘n Say toy was a little different in that the child using the toy could choose which phrase they wanted to hear.

57 “___-Tiki” : KON

The Kon-Tiki is a raft used by Thor Heyerdahl in 1947 to cross the Pacific Ocean from South America to the Polynesian islands. The original raft used in the voyage is on display in the Kon-Tiki Museum in Oslo, Norway (Heyerdahl was a native of Norway).

61 Wall St. works on it all summer : EDT

Eastern Daylight Time (EDT)

63 First of two U.S./U.S.S.R. pacts : SALT I

There were two rounds of Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) between the US and the Soviet Union, and two resulting treaties (SALT I & SALT II). The opening round of SALT I talks were held in Helsinki as far back as 1970, with the resulting treaty signed by President Richard Nixon and General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev in 1972. Brezhnev also signed the SALT II treaty, with President Jimmy Carter in 1979.

64 Locale of New York’s Frederick Douglass Blvd. : HARLEM

The Manhattan district of Harlem is sometimes divided into Central Harlem, West Harlem and East Harlem. East Harlem is also known as “Spanish Harlem”.

Frederick Douglass was a leader of the abolitionist movement. Douglass had been born a slave in Maryland, and escaped to the North when he was about 20 years old. A few years later, Douglass wrote his most famous book “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave”. The book became a huge hit and was reprinted nine time within the first three years of its publication. Not only did Douglass champion the abolition of slavery, but he also vigorously supported women’s suffrage. He became the first African American to be nominated for the office of US Vice President when he ran alongside women’s suffragist Victoria Woodhull in 1872.

68 ___ Shepherd, former co-host of “The View” : SHERRI

Sherri Shepherd is a comedian and television personality who is best known by many as one of the co-hosts of the ABC daytime talk show “The View”. I remember Shepherd as a police officer who was partnered with Robert Barone on the sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond”.

71 Trees used in furniture-making : TEAKS

Teak is a hardwood tree in the mint family that is commonly found in monsoon forests of Asia. Teak’s tight grain and high oil content make it very suitable for constructing outdoor furniture, where weather resistance is valued. For the same reason, teak is the wood of choice for wooden decks on boats.

73 C.E.O.’s deg. : MBA

A chief executive officer (CEO) might have a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.

77 Best Actor winner Malek : RAMI

Actor Rami Malek’s big break came with the leading role in the television series “Mr. Robot”. In 2018, Malik gave an Oscar-winning performance playing Freddie Mercury in the hit biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody”. That marked the first time that an actor of Egyptian descent won an Academy Award for Best Actor.

84 “Arabian Nights” locale : BAGHDAD

The marvelous collection of folk tales from the Middle East called “One Thousand and One Nights” is sometimes known as “Arabian Nights” in the English-speaking world. The original collection of tales did not include the three with which we are most familiar in the West. European translators added some stories, including “Aladdin’s Wonderful Lamp”, “Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves”, and “The Seven Voyages of Sinbad”.

87 Olympic gymnast Raisman : ALY

Aly Raisman is a retired gymnast. She captained the US gold-winning teams in the Olympics in 2012 (“The Fierce Five”) and in 2016 (“The Final Five”).

90 Standout star : SIRIUS

When you look up at the night sky, the brightest star you can see is Sirius. Sirius appears so bright to us because it is relatively close to the Earth. Sirius is commonly known as the “Dog Star” because it can be seen in the constellation Canis Major, the “Big Dog”.

91 Prominent part of a Mickey Mouse costume : EARS

Walt Disney’s iconic cartoon character Mickey Mouse, was introduced to the public in 1928 in the cartoon “Steamboat Willie”. Mickey was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1978, making him the first cartoon character to be so honored. Walt Disney had some nice words to say in Disneyland in 1954:

I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing – that it was all started by a mouse.

94 Historic plaintiff Scott : DRED

The landmark case of Dred Scott vs. Sandford came before the US Supreme Court in 1857. Scott had been born a slave, but lived with his owner in a free state for several years before returning to the slave state of Missouri. Scott’s argument was that living in a free state entitled him to emancipation. A divided US Supreme Court sided with Scott’s owner John Sandford. The decision was that no African American, free or enslaved, was entitled to US citizenship and therefore Scott was unable to petition the court for his freedom. The decision heightened tensions between the North and South, and the American Civil War erupted just three years later.

96 Ball game : LOTTO

Originally, lotto was a type of card game, with “lotto” being the Italian for “a lot”. We’ve used “lotto” to mean a gambling game since the late 1700s.

104 Mideast peace talk? : SHALOM

“Shalom” is a Hebrew word meaning “peace” that is also used to mean “hello” and “goodbye”.

117 Actor/L.G.B.T. rights activist George : TAKEI

Mr. Hikaru Sulu was played by George Takei in the original “Star Trek” series. Takei has played lots of roles over the years, and is still very active in television. Did you know that he appeared in the 1963 film, “Pt-109”? He played the helmsman steering the Japanese destroyer that ran down John F. Kennedy’s motor torpedo boat. From destroyer helmsman to starship helmsman …

118 Saves for later, in a way : TIVOS

TiVo was introduced in 1999 and was the world’s first commercially successful digital video recorder (DVR).

120 Artist Warhol : ANDY

American artist Andy Warhol was a leader in the pop art movement that emerged in the mid-1950s. Many of his works became the most expensive paintings ever sold. A 1963 Warhol canvas titled “Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster)” fetched over 100 million dollars in 2013.

122 It gets your blood flowing : STENT

In the world of surgical medicine, a stent is an artificial tube inserted inside a vessel in the body, say an artery, in order to reduce the effects of a local restriction in the body’s conduit.

Down

1 Pet cause, for short : SPCA

Unlike most developed countries, the US has no umbrella organization with the goal of preventing cruelty to animals. Instead there are independent organizations set up all over the nation using the name SPCA. Having said that, there is an organization called the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) that was originally intended to operate across the country, but really it now focuses its efforts in New York City.

6 Actress Metcalf who was nominated for an Oscar for “Lady Bird” : LAURIE

“Lady Bird” is a 2017 coming-of-age movie starring Saoirse Ronan in the title role, a high school senior who has a strained relationship with her mother (played by Laurie Metcalf). Roman and Metcalf earned themselves Oscar nominations for their performances.

9 Louisville Slugger material : ASH

Louisville Slugger is a brand of baseball bat manufactured by the Hillerich & Bradsby Company in Louisville, Kentucky. The famous bat is made of Northern White Ash grown on the New York/Pennsylvania border. These ash forests used by the company are threatened by the emerald ash borer which is moving closer and closer every year. There are already plans in place to replace the traditional wood used in the bat as the assumption is that the source of ash will succumb to infestation.

12 Actor Rutger of “Blade Runner” : HAUER

Rutger Hauer is a Dutch actor, famous in the US for his Hollywood roles. He was born in Breukelen in the Netherlands, which is the town that gave its name to the borough of Brooklyn in New York City.

13 Letters naval gazers see : USS

The abbreviation “USS” stands for “United States Ship”. The practice of naming US Navy vessels in a standard format didn’t start until 1907, when President Theodore Roosevelt issued an executive order that addressed the issue.

24 Lead-in to “Town” or “Gang” : OUR …

“Our Town” is a play by Thornton Wilder that was first performed in 1938. Wilder won a Pulitzer for the work. “Our Town” was actually banned by the Soviet authorities in East Berlin in 1946. Their reasoning was that “the drama was too depressing and could inspire a German suicide wave”.

The marvelous series of “Our Gang” comedy short films was also known as “The Little Rascals”. The series was produced by Hal Roach starting in 1922, and running up until 1944. There were 220 “Our Gang” film shorts made in all, and one feature film title “General Spanky” released in 1936.

25 Scenery chewer : HAM

The word “ham”, describing a performer who overacts, is a shortened form of “hamfatter” and dates back to the late 1800s. “Hamfatter” comes from a song in old minstrel shows called “The Ham-Fat Man”. It seems that a poorly performing actor was deemed to have the “acting” qualities of a minstrel made up in blackface.

31 Direct deposit, for short : EFT

Electronic funds transfer (EFT)

33 Verizon offering : FIOS

FiOS is a service from Verizon that bundles Internet, telephone and television service. All three services are provided over fiber-optic lines, right to the door. I presume that the name FiOS comes from something like “Fiber-Optic Service” …

34 Da ___, Vietnam : NANG

Da Nang is a major Vietnamese port city on the South China Sea. During the Vietnam War, Da Nang was the site of a major air base used by the South Vietnamese and US air forces. At the height of the war, Da Nang was the biggest airport in the whole world.

35 Fashionable Christian : DIOR

Christian Dior was a French fashion designer. As WWII approached, Dior was called up by the French military, drawing a temporary halt to his career in fashion. He left the army in 1942 and for the duration of the war designed clothes for wives of Nazi officers and French collaborators. After the war his designs became so popular that he helped to re-establish Paris as the fashion center of the world.

37 Israel’s Dayan : MOSHE

Moshe Dayan had a long and distinguished military career (including command of Israeli forces during the 1956 Suez Crisis). He also played a pivotal, and militarily active, role as Minister for Defense during the Six-Day War of 1967. He was a very recognizable figure with a black patch over his left eye. Dayan received that injury when he was fighting for the Allies in Vichy French Lebanon during WWII. He was using a pair of binoculars that was hit by an enemy bullet, smashing metal and glass fragments into his eye.

48 Shrek, e.g. : OGRE

Before “Shrek” was a successful movie franchise and Broadway musical, it was a children’s picture book called “Shrek!” that was authored and illustrated by William Steig. The title “Shrek!” came from the German/Yiddish word Schreck, meaning “fear” or “terror”.

50 “Auld Lang Syne” time : YORE

The song “Auld Lang Syne” is a staple at New Year’s Eve (well, actually in the opening minutes of New Year’s Day). The words were written by Scottish poet Robbie Burns. The literal translation of “Auld Lang Syne” is “old long since”, but is better translated as “old times”. The sentiment of the song is “for old time’s sake”.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.

53 Spiny anteaters : ECHIDNAS

The echidna is also called the spiny anteater. Just like the platypus, the echidna is a mammal that lays eggs.

54 Online magazine since 1996 : SLATE

“Slate” is an online magazine that was founded in 1996. “Slate” was originally owned by Microsoft and was part of the MSN online offering. The magazine has been available for free since 1999 (it is ad-supported) and has been owned by the Washington Post Company since 2004.

55 Locale involved in many a New Year’s resolution : GYM

Our word “gymnasium” comes from the Greek “gymnasion” meaning “public place where exercise is taken”. The Greek term comes from “gymnos” meaning “naked”, as that physical training was usually done unclothed in ancient Greece.

65 Comic foil of early TV : GRACIE ALLEN

George Burns was the stage name of comedian and actor Nathan Birnbaum. Famously, Burns was married to Gracie Allen, who initially acted as “straight man” in their double act. The duo found that they got more laughs with Gracie acting as “Dumb Dora”, an arrangement that Burns and Allen stuck to for decades.

70 Famed Deco designer : ERTE

“Erté” was the pseudonym of French (Russian-born) artist and designer Romain de Tirtoff. “Erté” is the French pronunciation of his initials “R.T.” Erté’s diverse portfolio of work included costumes and sets for the “Ziegfeld Follies” of 1923, productions of the Parisian cabaret show “Folies Bergère”, as well as the 1925 epic movie “Ben-Hur”. Erté’s most famous work by far is an image titled “Symphony in Black”. It depicts a tall and slender woman dressed in black, holding a black dog on a leash.

74 Marilyn Monroe or Beyoncé : BEAUTY ICON

Marilyn Monroe was born in 1926 in LA County Hospital, the child of Gladys Pearl Baker. The young girl was given the name of Norma Jeane Mortenson on her birth certificate, but her mother changed this to Norma Jeane Baker almost immediately. She and her estranged husband, Martin Edward Mortensen, had separated before Baker became pregnant so it is suggested that the Mortensen name was used just to give Norma Jeane “legitimacy”. Norma Jeane married a Jim Dougherty when she 16 years old, and took his name to become Norma Jeane Dougherty in 1932. During WWII she was discovered by a photographer and became quite a successful model. The modelling earned her a screen test, at which time it was suggested that Norma Jeane change her name yet again. The first name chosen for her by studio executives was Carole Lind (after Carole Lombard and Jenny Lind), but then Norma Jeane chose “Jeane Monroe” for herself, using her mother’s maiden name. It didn’t take long before the studio intervened again, suggesting that they had too many “Jeans” already. The name Marilyn Monroe was floated as it had a nice ring to it. Along with the new name, Marilyn changed from a brunette to a blonde, and a star was born …

Beyoncé Knowles established herself in the entertainment industry as the lead singer with the R&B group Destiny’s Child. She launched her solo singing career in 2003, two years after making her first appearance as an actor. In 2006 she played the lead in the very successful movie adaptation of the Broadway musical “Dreamgirls”. Beyoncé is married to rap star Jay-Z. She is also referred to affectionately as “Queen Bey”, a play on the phrase “the queen bee”.

82 Rock band that Slash really ought to play for? : AC/DC

The Heavy Metal band known as AC/DC was formed by two brothers Malcolm and Angus Young in Australia. The group is usually called “Acca Dacca” down under.

85 Kind of monster : GILA

A Gila monster is a venomous lizard found in the southwestern US and northern Mexico, and is the only venomous lizard native to America. Gila monsters move along at a snail’s pace so aren’t normally a danger to humans. The name “Gila” is a reference to the Gila River Basin in the American Southwest, where the Gila monster was prevalent.

89 50 situps a day, say : REGIMEN

Quite often, the terms “regime” and “regimen” seem to be used interchangeably. In contemporary usage, “regime” is applied more generally, and “regimen” more specifically. A “regimen” is a systematic approach that one might apply to something, to exercise or diet for example. The term “regime” can also be used in such contexts, but can have additional definitions, such as “government in power”. A form of government cannot be described as a “regimen”.

92 “Feliz ___ Nuevo!” (cry on el 1 de enero) : ANO

In Spanish, coming up to midnight on New Year’s Eve, one might hear “cinco, cuatro, tres, dos, uno!” (five, four, three, two, one) and then “Feliz Año Nuevo!” (Happy New Year!).

93 Title heroine of classic 60-Across books : RAMONA
(60A Children’s author Beverly : CLEARY)

Ramona Quimby is a character in a series of “Henry Huggins” children’s novels penned by Beverly Cleary. As she aged, Ramona merited her own set of stories.

95 P.R. advice for the accused, maybe : DENY IT

Public relations (PR)

97 New moon, e.g. : PHASE

The phases of the moon have been given the following names, in order:

  • New moon
  • Waxing crescent moon
  • First quarter moon
  • Waxing gibbous moon
  • Full moon
  • Waning gibbous moon
  • Third quarter moon
  • Waning crescent moon
  • Dark moon

98 Boxer Ali : LAILA

Laila Ali is the daughter of the great Muhammad Ali and is a very capable boxer in her own right. Laila’s professional record is an impressive 24 wins, including 21 knockouts. Now retired, she never lost a fight, and nor did she ever draw. One of those victories was against Jackie Frazier-Lyde, daughter of her father’s nemesis Joe Frazier. Laila is not a bad dancer either, coming in third place in the fourth season of “Dancing with the Stars”.

103 It stops a round and a bout : TKO

Technical knockout (TKO)

104 Start a triathlon : SWIM

An Ironman Triathlon is a race involving a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bike ride, and a marathon run of just over 26 miles. The idea for the race came out of a debate between some runners in the 1977 Oahu Perimeter Relay. They were questioning whether runners, swimmers or bikers were the most fit athletes. The debaters decided to combine three local events to determine the answer, inviting athletes from all three disciplines. The events that were mimicked in the first triathlon were the Waikiki Roughwater swim (2.4 miles), the Around-Oahu Bike Race (115 miles) and the Honolulu Marathon (26.2 miles). The idea was that whoever finishes first would be called “the Iron Man”. The first triathlon was run in 1978, with fifteen starters and only twelve finishers. The race format is used all over the world now, but the Hawaiian Ironman is the event that everyone wants to win.

111 “Star Wars” villain Kylo : REN

Kylo Ren is the son of Han Solo and Princess Leia Organa in the “Star Wars” universe. The character’s birth name was Ben Solo. He was trained as a Jedi knight by his uncle, Luke Skywalker. However, Ben came to embrace the Dark Side, and changed his name to Kylo Ren. Ren is played by actor Adam Driver.

114 N.B.A. one-pointers: Abbr. : FTS

Free throws (FTs)

Complete List of Clues/Answers

Across

1 Reveal, as a plot twist : SPOIL
6 Hit 1980s-’90s show with TV’s first lesbian kiss : LA LAW
11 Closed : SHUT
15 Blemish : WART
19 Groan-inducing, perhaps : PUNNY
20 Pop up : ARISE
21 The eyes have it : LASH
22 Fictional lab assistant : IGOR
23 Casino gambler’s resolution? : CLEAN OUT THE HOUSE
26 Reputation : NAME
27 Locale of 10 Winter Olympics : ALPS
28 Match.com, e.g. : URL
29 Helen Mirren or Judi Dench : DAME
30 New Age author Chopra : DEEPAK
32 Sitcom lover’s resolution? : SEE “FRIENDS” MORE OFTEN
37 Emmy-winning TV producer Klein : MARCI
38 Morales of “NYPD Blue” : ESAI
39 Encouraging start? : ATTA …
40 “Wow, awesome!” : OH, COOL!
42 French, say, to a Brit : SNOG
44 Georgia, once: Abbr. : SSR
46 Sold-out sign : SRO
49 Popular Fisher-Price toy for pre-kindergartners : SEE ‘N SAY
51 Hen’s resolution? : GROW MY NEST EGG
56 Round of applause : HAND
57 “___-Tiki” : KON
59 Small dam : WEIR
60 Children’s author Beverly : CLEARY
61 Wall St. works on it all summer : EDT
62 Simple : MERE
63 First of two U.S./U.S.S.R. pacts : SALT I
64 Locale of New York’s Frederick Douglass Blvd. : HARLEM
65 Nun’s resolution? : GIVE UP OLD HABITS
68 ___ Shepherd, former co-host of “The View” : SHERRI
71 Trees used in furniture-making : TEAKS
72 Hub : NODE
73 C.E.O.’s deg. : MBA
76 Whip, as cream : AERATE
77 Best Actor winner Malek : RAMI
78 Junior : SON
79 Many a TikTok user : TEEN
80 Stalking tiger’s resolution? : WATCH WHAT I EAT
84 “Arabian Nights” locale : BAGHDAD
86 Floral wreath by a coral reef : LEI
87 Olympic gymnast Raisman : ALY
88 Line from the past? : SCAR
90 Standout star : SIRIUS
91 Prominent part of a Mickey Mouse costume : EARS
94 Historic plaintiff Scott : DRED
96 Ball game : LOTTO
97 Bank robber’s resolution? : PLAN A PERFECT GETAWAY
104 Mideast peace talk? : SHALOM
105 Out of juice : DEAD
106 Tats : INK
107 Quarreling : AT IT
109 Cry of woe : WAIL
110 Union activist’s resolution? : ORGANIZE MY OFFICE
115 It usually has a single palm tree, in cartoons : ISLE
116 Bargaining point that’s nonnegotiable : NEED
117 Actor/L.G.B.T. rights activist George : TAKEI
118 Saves for later, in a way : TIVOS
119 Word before streak or business : MEAN …
120 Artist Warhol : ANDY
121 All tuckered out : SPENT
122 It gets your blood flowing : STENT

Down

1 Pet cause, for short : SPCA
2 Takes the lead : PULLS AHEAD
3 Megarich group : ONE-PERCENT
4 Lickety-split : IN A SECOND
5 Girl’s name ending : -LYN
6 Actress Metcalf who was nominated for an Oscar for “Lady Bird” : LAURIE
7 Uncultured : ARTLESS
8 Blotto : LIT
9 Louisville Slugger material : ASH
10 Creeping Charlie and Good-King-Henry : WEEDS
11 Many plays are seen in it : SLO-MO
12 Actor Rutger of “Blade Runner” : HAUER
13 Letters naval gazers see : USS
14 What punctual people arrive on : THE DOT
15 They appreciate a nice bouquet : WINE TASTERS
16 Visibly stunned : AGAPE
17 Not italicized : ROMAN
18 Quite a hike : TREK
24 Lead-in to “Town” or “Gang” : OUR …
25 Scenery chewer : HAM
31 Direct deposit, for short : EFT
33 Verizon offering : FIOS
34 Da ___, Vietnam : NANG
35 Fashionable Christian : DIOR
36 Pull down : EARN
37 Israel’s Dayan : MOSHE
41 Feature of many a summer camp cabin : LAKE VIEW
43 Get lost or stolen, in British lingo : GO WALKIES
44 Metalworker : SMITH
45 Some of them call Homs home : SYRIANS
47 Honest-to-goodness : REAL
48 Shrek, e.g. : OGRE
50 “Auld Lang Syne” time : YORE
52 Fuses : WELDS
53 Spiny anteaters : ECHIDNAS
54 Online magazine since 1996 : SLATE
55 Locale involved in many a New Year’s resolution : GYM
58 Like Switzerland during World War II : NEUTRAL
62 Jollity : MIRTH
63 “Same here!” : SO AM I!
65 Comic foil of early TV : GRACIE ALLEN
66 Having the taste of smoke, as some Scotches : PEATY
67 Nincompoop : BOOB
68 Toothy tool : SAW
69 Get better : HEAL
70 Famed Deco designer : ERTE
73 Having deep thoughts : MEDITATIVE
74 Marilyn Monroe or Beyoncé : BEAUTY ICON
75 “Consequently …” : AND SO …
79 Fly off the handle : THROW A FIT
81 Treasure chest feature : HASP
82 Rock band that Slash really ought to play for? : AC/DC
83 Lip-puckering : TART
85 Kind of monster : GILA
89 50 situps a day, say : REGIMEN
92 “Feliz ___ Nuevo!” (cry on el 1 de enero) : ANO
93 Title heroine of classic 60-Across books : RAMONA
95 P.R. advice for the accused, maybe : DENY IT
97 New moon, e.g. : PHASE
98 Boxer Ali : LAILA
99 Beat by a hair : EDGED
100 “Shall we?” : READY?
101 Season ticket holder, e.g. : FAN
102 Wields a red pen, perhaps : EDITS
103 It stops a round and a bout : TKO
104 Start a triathlon : SWIM
108 Trial : TEST
111 “Star Wars” villain Kylo : REN
112 Hit with a ray gun : ZAP
113 Squeeze (out) : EKE
114 N.B.A. one-pointers: Abbr. : FTS

6 thoughts on “1229-19 NY Times Crossword 29 Dec 19, Sunday”

  1. 28:20, same error(s) as Bill at the intersection of two things I’d never heard of. Such is life … 😜

  2. Leaving a comment here because I couldn’t find a comment section for the syndicated link for today.

  3. 40:55. The theme answers (or at least their wording) were tricky and the fill was challenging. Very few layups in this one. I felt very engaged at all times. Didn’t know ECHIDNAS nor did I know George Burns wasn’t really George Burns.

    Count me as a fan of TEAK wood. I have some outdoor teak furniture and it’s held up amazingly well.

    I knew FIOS as it originated in Texas (I think) and was popular when it came out for various reasons when I was living in Houston.

    Best –

  4. 38:23, no errors. The puzzle reminds me of a lyric from ‘The King and I’: “There are times I almost think I am not sure of what I absolutely know”. I was fairly sure that 1D would be PETA; the first of several wrong initial guesses. Also thought that GO WALKIES was something Brits did with their dogs.

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