Oh, this was very smooth. I'm not a huge fan of an obscure Abbott and Costello comedy right near the beginning (RIORITA), but all the crosses were reasonably fair for a Friday.
I broke in with 25D: Prominent part of Nestea's logo (LEAF), and was able to spread quickly downward, once I got 45A: They're just above a handlebar (NOSTRILS). It was here that I saw that this puzzle and I were going to get along. What a ludicrous piece of absurdity. Hah! I love it. 48A: They write many opinions (LAWCLERKS) is precise and a chunky answer in the grid.
The SW is my least favorite part, what with the disguised partial THEAREA and oddly stuck together YINYANG (I suppose you might come across the "joined forces" separated by a hyphen alone, but I usually think of it with an "and" between them). But I really enjoyed SANDWICHBAG and BABYDOLLS, and the former was worth the crosses.
I have never used MITCHUM deodorant. I usually think of the author when I see that name, but it works. I truly love 10D: Take things the wrong way (THIEVE). That's so great, a misguiding clue that needs no question mark to work well.
Finally, how wonderful to have SADKEANU in the grid.
- Colum
13:08 (FWOE)
ReplyDeleteI don't love SUMATRAn coffee, but I did put it right in. When I also put MITCHUM in off the clue (I used to use it and I remember the ads), I thought I was going to fly through this. As it turned out, I bogged down a little in the lower half, but I agree that there was much good in here.
I fwoed on CASABAS, where I had a v at the crossing with DIABOLO. Thanks for the visual, as I had never heard that name either. And yes, SADKEANU had me laughing every time I thought of it all day on Friday.