September 29, 2020

Title: MOVE ON

Constructor: Paolo Pasco

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

WALK-ON CHARACTER (17A: Scene-stealer, perhaps)

RUN-ON SENTENCE (36A: Long string of words) 

ROLL-ON DEODORANT (57A: Underarm application)

Theme synopsis: In each theme answer, the word ON is preceded by a way to MOVE. We have WALK-ON, RUN-ON, AND ROLL-ON.

Things I learned:

• ELMER (54A: Filipino comic book about a talking chicken) ELMER was written and illustrated by Gerry Alanguilan, who originally self-published the comic as a four-issue miniseries. Imagine a world where an unexpected phenomenon causes the sky to flash white, and afterward all chickens have a human-level intelligence. This is the world ELMER is set in. The comic's main character is a chicken named Jake Gallo who inherits his father's diary. Alanguilan originally planned to title the comic Ultimate Chicken Story, but he decided the storyline was too serious for that title and instead named the series after Jake's father.
• RACKET (6D: Yui Kamiji swings one) Yui Kamiji is a Japanese wheelchair tennis player who has competed at the Masters level in singles and doubles. In wheelchair tennis, athletes use specially designed wheelchairs, and the ball may bounce up to two times before being returned.
• ROE (57D: Eggs that make up tarako) The word "tarako" means "salted cod ROE" in Japanese. Tarako is the ROE of Alaska pollock, which is a species of cod.
• NBA (58D: Org. in which Lusia Harris was the first woman officially drafted) Lusia Harris played basketball for Delta State University, played on the United States' national team at the Olympics, and played for the Houston Angels of the Women's Professional Basketball League. Although drafted by the New Orleans Jazz in the 1977 NBA draft, Lusia Harris did not express an interest to play in the NBA and declined to try out for the Jazz. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• ENYA (16A: One-named Irish singer) ENYA is the professional name of Eithne Pádraigín Ní Bhraonáin. ENYA is Ireland's best-selling solo artist. This is ENYA's second appearance in my imaginary concert of "Crossword-Friendly-One-Named-Singers."
• RUN-ON SENTENCE (36A: Long string of words) Although I contemplated writing this entire blog post as one RUN-ON SENTENCE I couldn't quite bring myself to do it, this entry will suffice.
• MIX (56A: Cookbook word that's also a Roman numeral) This is a fun clue. The next time I see the word MIX in a recipe, I will ponder whether I am being asked to stir 1,009 times.
• BORN (61A: "Born This Way") There are (at least) four songs with this title. Dusty Springfield, Lady Gaga, and Thousand Foot Krutch have all released songs titled "BORN This Way." There is also a song of this title in the musical Whoop-Dee-Doo!
• SHE-RA (65A: "___ and the Princesses of Power") SHE-RA and the Princesses of Power is an animated TV series telling the story of Adora, a teenager who can transform into SHE-RA, the leader of a group of magical princesses rebelling against the evil Lord Hordak.
• DUCKTALES (33D: Disney series rebooted in 2017) DUCKTALES is an animated TV series featuring Scrooge McDuck and his three grandnephews, Huey, Dewey, and Louie. The original series premiered in 1987.
• RICE BOWL (36D: Serving accompanying banchan) Banchan is a collective name used to refer to several side dishes served with a RICE BOWL in Korean culture. I learned this from the September 13 puzzle!

Geography review:

• NESS (23A: Scotland's Loch ___) Loch NESS is the second-largest Scottish loch by surface area, and the largest by volume. It's deepest point is 755 feet. Loch NESS is, of course, best known for alleged sightings of the Loch NESS monster.
• SERB (44A: Belgrade resident, e.g.) Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia.

I enjoyed the theme of this puzzle. It was fun to see the different motion verbs paired with the word ON in these common phrases. "EYES ON ME!" is a catchy phrase, and it is delightful imagining the puzzle telling me to look at it! As always, I appreciated learning a few new things today. This was an enjoyable solve to begin my Tuesday morning.