Crossword Blog & Answers for May 9, 2025 by Sally Hoelscher

Random Thoughts & Interesting Things

• ASTRO (1A: Prefix with “turf” or “physics”) It’s true that ASTROturf and ASTROphysics share a prefix. This clue made me chuckle as I thought about the differences between these two things.
• CRAN (17A: Vodka ___ (tart drink)) Vodka CRAN, as one might guess from the name, is a cocktail of vodka and cranberry juice. A vodka CRAN is also known by the name Cape Codder.
• ALTO (18A: Patsy Cline’s vocal range) Patsy Cline (1932-1963) was one of the first country music artists to successfully cross over into pop music. Although her recording career lasted only eight years, Patsy Cline is considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century. Patsy Cline died in a plane crash in 1963, which was before I was born, but my parents were fans, so I grew up listening to her ALTO voice singing songs such as “I Fall to Pieces” and “Crazy.”
• BYE (22A: “___ ___ ___” (NSYNC song with the lyrics “I just want to tell you that I’ve had enough”)) I like the triple blank in this fill-in-the-blank clue. NSYNC released “BYE BYE BYE” in 2001. The song won an MTV Video Music Award for Best Pop Video.
• UNDO (24A: Ctrl+Z function) I know I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating that UNDO is my favorite computer shortcut. It has saved me from so many, “Ack! I didn’t mean to do that!” moments.
• KOREA (37A: Jeju Island’s region) KOREA is a region in East Asia that consists of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and several smaller islands. Since 1945, KOREA has been divided into the two distinct sovereign states of North KOREA and South KOREA. Jeju island is part of South KOREA.
• YES AND (44A: Improv comedy’s two-word tenet) The improv comedy tenet, “YES, AND…” is the idea that a participant accepts what someone else has said – YES – before expanding on that line of thinking – AND.
• CONCEPT ART (50A: Visual prototype for a piece of media) CONCEPT ART is basically just what it sounds like, ART (sketches, 3D models, etc) that conveys a CONCEPT. It is used in the areas of film, animation, comic books, TV shows, and video games.
• PUMAS (56A: Mountain lions) My cat, Willow, is happy to see her big cat cousins in the puzzle. At least, I assume she is … I didn’t actually wake her up to ask her.

• IDES (59A: “Beware the ___ of March!”) In the Roman calendar, IDES referred to a day near the middle of the month – the 15th of March, May, July, or October, and the 13th of any other month. March 15 is the IDES of March. In 44 BC, Julius Caesar was assassinated on the IDES of March, making the date notorious. Any mention of the IDES of March reminds me of my ninth grade English teacher, Mrs. Horton, for it was in her class that I first read William Shakespeare’s play, Julius Caesar, which features the line, “Beware the IDES of March!”
• STARK (60A: “Kinky Boots” actor Sands) Cyndi Lauper wrote the songs for the musical Kinky Boots, which tells the story of Charlie Price. Charlie inherited a shoe factory from his father, and ends up in a partnership with a drag queen named Lola. STARK Sands originated the role of Charlie Price on Broadway in 2013. Just last week, we saw BILLY PORTER, who originated the role of Lola, as a theme answer.
• MOCHI (6D: Chewy rice cakes) MOCHI is pounded sticky rice that is molded into cakes. It often has a sweet filling.
• SCAR (8D: “Be Prepared” singer in “The Lion King”) SCAR, the evil villain of Disney’s The Lion King, sings “Be Prepared” to the hyenas as he makes plans to murder Mufasa and Simba. The song was written by Elton John and Tim Rice.
• HAHN (15D: “Agatha All Along” actor Kathryn) In the Disney+ TV series, Agatha All Along, Kathryn HAHN portrays the title character, Agatha Harkness, a character she first played in the Marvel miniseries WandaVision. Agatha is part of a coven of witches who are following the Witches’ Road. 
• CAN (20D: “I ___ Do It With a Broken Heart” (Taylor Swift song)) “I CAN Do It With a Broken Heart” is a song from Taylor Swift’s 2024 album, The Tortured Poets Department. “I cry a lot but I am so productive, it’s an art…”
• MANTRA (42D: “I am enough” or “You can do hard things”) This clue reminds me of the May 1st puzzle, which had the word AFFIRMATION clued as [“I am enough,” e.g.]. The AFFIRMATION “I am enough” would make a great MANTRA to repeat to one’s self as needed. “You can do hard things” is also a great MANTRA, and it reminds me of a Carrie Newcomer song, “You Can Do This Hard Thing.”
• PHIL (51D: “Modern Family” dad Dunphy) Modern Family is a mockumentary TV series that follows the lives of three families. It originally aired for 11 seasons from 2009-2020. PHIL Dunphy, played by Ty Burrell, is the dad of one of the families. Ty Burrell won multiple Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his portrayal of PHIL.
• SKY (57D: “Giants in the ___” (“Into the Woods” song)) Into the Woods is a 1987 musical by Stephen Sondheim that intertwines the plots of several fairy tales. “Giants in the SKY” is sung by the character of Jack, who describes his adventure of climbing a beanstalk.