Tag: Commands a crew informally crossword clue

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Constructed by: Alan Levin
Edited by: Patti Varol

Today’s Theme (according to Bill): Game for a Show?

Themed answers sound like the names of game shows:

• 17A Contestants must perfect a ras el hanout today on … : … THE SPICE IS RIGHT (“The Price Is Right”)
• 25A Contestants flatten a confit de canard today on … : … PRESS YOUR DUCK (“Press Your Luck”)
• 42A Contestants work in teams to create a Michelin star-worthy dinner today on … : … LET’S MAKE A MEAL (“Let’s Make a Deal”)
• 56A Contestants race to prepare baby’s first bottle on … : … THE NEWLY FED GAME (“The Newlywed Game”)

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

Bill’s time: 9m 54s

Bill’s errors: 0

Today’s Wiki-est Amazonian Googlies

Across

1 First president born after 1960 : OBAMA

Despite rumors to the contrary, Barack Hussein Obama II was indeed born in Hawaii. Future US President Obama was born on August 4, 1961 at Kapi’olani Maternity & Gynecological Hospital in Honolulu.

10 Damsonlike fruit : SLOE

The sloe is the fruit of the blackthorn bush, and the main flavoring ingredient in sloe gin. A sloe looks like a small plum, but is usually much more tart in taste.

Damsons are plum-like fruit that are mainly grown in Britain and Ireland. The word “damson” derives from the Latin “prunum damascenum” meaning “plum of Damascus”. The suggestion is that the damson originated in and around Damascus in Syria and was brought to Ancient Britain by the Romans.

14 Commands a crew, informally : COXES

The coxswain of a boat is one in charge of steering and navigation. The word “coxswain” is shortened to “cox”, particularly when used for the person steering and calling out the stroke in a competition rowing boat.

16 Miami team : HEAT

The Miami Heat basketball team debuted in the NBA in the 1988-89 season. The franchise name was chosen in a competitive survey, with “Miami Heat” beating out “Miami Vice”.

17 Contestants must perfect a ras el hanout today on … : … THE SPICE IS RIGHT (“The Price Is Right”)

Ras el hanout is a spice mix used in several North African cuisines. The Arabic “ras el hanout” translates as “head of the shop”, inferring that only the best spices available are used in the mix. As such, ras el hanout includes a varying mixture of spices, depending on the source.

“The Price is Right” game show started airing in its current format in 1972, with Bob Barker hosting. Drew Carey took over as host in 2007. There was an earlier version of the show that had a somewhat different format, and it aired from 1956 to 1965. Apparently, “The Price is Right” is the longest running TV game show in the world.

25 Contestants flatten a confit de canard today on … : … PRESS YOUR DUCK (“Press Your Luck”)

A confit is a meat that has been cooked and preserved in its own fat. “Confit” is a French word meaning “preserved”.

“Press Your Luck” is a game show that originally aired from 1983 to 1986. This was the show on which contestants had to press a large button in order to stop a light that was flashing around 18 squares in front of them. If the light stopped on a “Whammy”, then they lost their turn and any accumulated money. Famously, a contestant named Michael Larson used the stop-motion feature on a VCR player to memorize the pattern flashed out by the supposedly random light. On air, Larson pressed the button and avoided the Whammy 45 times in a row and amassed winnings of over $110,000, a record for a daily game show. After Larson’s big win, the show’s producers made the light sequence more complicated so they didn’t run into the same problem again.

33 Type of 32-Down : ALTO
32D Bassoon cousin : OBOE

The English horn is also known by its French name “cor anglais” (and sometimes “alto oboe”). It is a double-reed, woodwind instrument.

35 Bibliography space saver : IBID

Ibid. is short for the Latin word “ibidem” and is typically found in footnotes and bibliographies. Ibid. is used to refer the reader to the prior citation, instead of giving the same information all over again (title, author etc.).

39 Chaney of old horror films : LON

Lon Chaney, Sr. played a lot of crazed-looking characters in the days of silent movies. He did much of his own make-up work, developing the grotesque appearances that became his trademark, and earning himself the nickname “the man of a thousand faces”. Most famous were his portrayals of the title characters in the films “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” (1923) and “The Phantom of the Opera” (1925).

40 Reunion invitee : ALUM

An alumnus (plural “alumni”) is a graduate or former student of a school or college. The female form is “alumna” (plural “alumnae”). The term comes into English from Latin, in which an alumnus is a foster-son or pupil. “Alum” is an informal term used for either an alumna or alumnus.

42 Contestants work in teams to create a Michelin star-worthy dinner today on … : … LET’S MAKE A MEAL (“Let’s Make a Deal”)

Michelin is a manufacturer of tires that is based in France. The company was founded by brothers Édouard and André Michelin in 1888. The brothers were running a rubber factory at the time, and invented the world’s first removable pneumatic tire, an invention that they used to launch their new company. Michelin is also noted for rating restaurants and accommodation in its famous Michelin Travel Guides, awarding coveted Michelin stars.

The game show “Let’s Make a Deal” first aired way back in 1963. For many years the show was hosted by Monty Hall, from 1963 until 1986, and again briefly in 1991. In more recent years, Wayne Brady took over as host in 2009.

47 Ocasek of the Cars : RIC

Ric Ocasek was an American musician of Czech heritage. He was the lead vocalist of the Cars rock band.

48 “Being the Ricardos” role for Bardem : ARNAZ

Spanish actor Javier Bardem is probably best known for playing the crazed assassin in 2007’s “No Country for Old Men”, and Bond villain Raoul Silva in 2012’ “Skyfall”. Bardem won the Best Supporting Actor for his performance in “No Country for Old Men”, making him the first Spaniard to win an Academy Award. Bardem wasn’t actually born on the Spanish mainland, but rather in Las Palmas in the Canary Island off the Moroccan coast. He married fellow-actor Penélope Cruz in 2010.

“Being the Ricardos” is a 2021 biopic about the lives of married couple Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. Lucy and Desi are played by Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem. The title comes from the show “I Love Lucy”, in which Ball and Arnaz played Lucy and Ricky Ricardo. I haven’t seen this one, but it’s on my list as the film was written and directed by the great Aaron Sorkin …

51 Locals at the 2016 Summer Olympics : CARIOCAS

A Carioca is someone from Rio de Janeiro.

Even though the 2016 Olympic Games was a summer competition, it was held in Rio de Janeiro in winter. As Rio is in the southern hemisphere, the opening ceremony on 5th August 2016 fell in the local winter season. The 2016 games was also the first to be held in South America, and the first to be hosted by a Portuguese-speaking country.

56 Contestants race to prepare baby’s first bottle on … : … THE NEWLY FED GAME (“The Newlywed Game”)

“The Newlywed Game” first went on the air in 1966 and has been resurrected a few times and is still being shown today. The couples often disagreed on air and started arguments, some of which actually led to divorces.

59 Yacht wood : TEAK

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.

60 Sammy with 609 homers : SOSA

Sammy Sosa was firmly in the public eye in 1998 when he and Mark McGwire were vying to be the first to surpass the home run record held by Roger Maris. McGwire fell out of public favor due to stories of steroid abuse (stories which he later admitted were true) while Sosa fell out of favor when he was found to be using a corked bat in a 2003 game.

61 Bert’s bestie : ERNIE

Ernie is one of the Muppets on the children’s TV show “Sesame Street”. He is usually seen with his roommate Bert, whom he frequently annoys and frustrates. Ernie is known for taking long baths with his rubber duckie. That “Rubber Duckie” is the title character in a hit song that Ernie (voiced by Jim Henson) released in 1970.

62 __ a one : NARY

The adjective “nary” means “not one”, as in “nary a soul” or even “nary a one”.

63 Power unit : WATT

James Watt was a Scottish inventor. He figured prominently in the Industrial Revolution in Britain, largely due to the improvements he made to the fledgling steam engine. The SI unit of power is called the watt, and was named in his honor.

Down

1 Pod prefix : OCTO-

An octopod is a mollusk that has eight arms, the most obvious example being the octopus.

The term “octopus” comes from the Greek for “eight-footed”. The most common plural used is “octopuses”, although the Greek plural form “octopodes” is also quite correct. The plural “octopi” isn’t really correct as the inference is that “octopus” is like a second-declension Latin noun, which it isn’t. That said, dictionaries are now citing “octopi” as an acceptable plural. Language does evolve, even though it drives me crazy …

2 Physicist played by Branagh in “Oppenheimer” : BOHR

Niels Bohr was a Danish physicist who won his 1922 Nobel Prize for his work on quantum mechanics and atomic structure. Later in his life, Bohr was part of the team working on the Manhattan Project that developed the first atomic bomb. Niels Bohr and Albert Einstein had a series of public debates and disputes in the twenties and thirties. Although the two respected each other very highly, they held very different views on quantum theory, different views on the laws of physics at the atomic level. The passage of time has shown that Bohr was on the right side of those debates.

“Oppenheimer” is an epic 2023 film starring Cillian Murphy in the title role. The movie follows J. Robert Oppenheimer, “the father of the atomic bomb”, from his student days right through World War II and beyond. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film has an amazing ensemble cast that includes:

• Matt Damon (General Leslie Groves)
• Robert Downey Jr. (Lewis Strauss)
• Josh Hartnett (Ernest Lawrence)
• Kenneth Branagh (Niels Bohr)
• Tom Conti (Albert Einstein)
• Gary Oldman (Harry S. Truman)

Kenneth Branagh is a much-respected Shakespearean actor and film director from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Not only is Branagh familiar with playing Shakespearean characters on stage, he is also noted for many performances in Shakespearean plays adapted for the big screen. Branagh was married to the magnificent actress Emma Thompson, and after their divorce spent years in a relationship with actress Helena Bonham Carter. Recently, I have been enjoying watching Branagh in the crime TV series called “Wallander” that is set in Sweden.

6 Playground time : RECESS

To recess is to go back, to retreat. The use of the noun “recess” to mean “period of stopping from usual work” dates back to the early 1600s. This usage might stem from the action of parliamentarians “recessing” into, returning to private chambers.

9 Mayday call : SOS

The term “Mayday” is an emergency codeword that is used internationally as a distress signal, especially when making a radio transmission. “Mayday” comes from the French phrase “venez m’aider” meaning “come to help me”. When used properly, the term is repeated three times in a row: “Mayday Mayday Mayday”.

12 Island called “The Gathering Place” : OAHU

Oahu has been called “The Gathering Place”, although the word “O’ahu” has no translation in Hawaiian. It seems that “O’ahu” is simply the name of the island. One story is that it is named after the son of the Polynesian navigator who first found the islands. The island is made up of two volcanoes, Wai’anae and Ko’olau, joined together by a broad valley, the O’ahu Plain.

13 Pal follower : -ETTE

A palette is a board on which an artist holds and mixes paints. A classical palette is oval in shape, and has a thumbhole and an insert for brushes. Not every artist uses a classical palette. For example, Picasso used a sheet of newspaper.

18 Stagecoach stopovers : INNS

Although the stagecoach is very much associated with the Wild West, the vehicle originated in England in the 16th century. Stagecoaches provided transportation for travelers and goods over long distances. The rest points for the travelers were known as “stages”, and later “stations”, hence the name “stagecoach”.

28 Relocation rental : U-HAUL

The U-Haul company was started by married couple Leonard Shoen and Anna Mary Carty in Ridgefield, Washington in 1945. The Shoens used $5,000 of seed money to build trailers in their garage, and then cleverly recruited gas station owners as franchisees with whom they would split the rental revenue. There are now about 15,000 U-Haul dealers across the country.

30 Palmer of “Nope” : KEKE

Keke Palmer is a busy woman; an actress, singer and television host. She won a Primetime Emmy in 2023 for her work as host of the game show “Password”, a revival of the show hosted by Allen Ludden in sixties and seventies. She was also nominated for several Best Actress awards for her performance in the 2022 sci-fi horror film “Nope”.

“Nope” is a 2022 sci-fi, horror film. Nope, I don’t do horror …

36 Dessert made in a ramekin : FLAN

Flan (also “crème caramel”) is a delicious dessert comprising a molded custard topped with a clear caramel sauce. The related crème brûlée is a dessert made from molded custard with a hard, burnt caramel layer on top.

A ramekin is a small dish used in cooking. The term “ramekin” is an anglicized version of the French “ramequin”, which describes a dish based on cheese or meat that is baked in a small mold.

37 Gospel that includes the parable of the Prodigal Son : LUKE

The Parable of the Prodigal Son is related in the Gospel of Luke. Someone who is prodigal is wasteful or extravagant. The parable tells of a man with two sons. The youngest asks for and receives his share of the family estate, and then spends it all unwisely. When the prodigal son returns, he faces an unwelcoming older brother. The father, however, declares happily that his son “was lost and now is found”.

38 Pet snake, perhaps : BOA

Boa constrictors are members of the Boidae family of snakes, all of which are non-venomous. Interestingly, the female boa is always larger than the male.

43 Like a penthouse : SWANKY

Originally, the term “penthouse” described a modest building attached to a main structure. In fact, in centuries past, the manger in which Jesus was born was often referred to as a penthouse. The modern, more luxurious connotation dates back to the early twenties.

44 Palestinian leader who shared the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize : ARAFAT

Yasser (also “Yasir”) Arafat was born in Cairo in 1929, the son of two Palestinians and the second-youngest of seven children. Arafat was beaten by his father as a child and so did not have a good relationship with him. Arafat did not attend his father’s funeral, nor did he visit his grave. The beatings were apparently administered because the young Arafat was repeatedly attending religious services in the Jewish quarter of Cairo. Arafat’s explanation was that he wanted to “study the mentality” of the Jewish people.

49 Emmy nominee Seehorn : RHEA

Rhea Seehorn is an actress best known for playing lawyer Kim Wexler in the TV crime drama “Better Call Saul”. Seehorn’s birth name is Deborah Rhea, but she opted to use her middle name at a young age (which she pronounces as “Ray”).

53 Peppermint shape : CANE

Apparently, candy canes were created at the behest of the choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral in Germany in 1672. The sweet sticks were basically used as bribes to keep children quiet during services. The choirmaster specified that the candy sticks should have a crook at the top so that they reminded the children of the three shepherds who visited the infant Jesus just after his birth.

58 Mauna __ : LOA

Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawaii is the largest volcano on the planet (in terms of volume). The name “Mauna Loa” is Hawaiian for “Long Mountain”.