January 28, 2021

Title: BUGGED

Constructor: Tracy Gray

Editors: Erik Agard & Amanda Rafkin

Theme Answers:

FLY OFF THE HANDLE (17A: Lose one's temper)

CRICKET BALL (27A: Object hit by a batsman)

BEETLEJUICE (49A: 1988 fantasy comedy film)

SPIDER SOLITAIRE (63A: Two-deck card game)

Theme synopsis: The first part of each theme answer is a BUG. We have a FLY, a CRICKET, a BEETLE, and a SPIDER.

Things I learned:

• STEW (24D: Goulash or maafe, e.g.) Goulash, a national dish of Hungary, is a meat and vegetable STEW. Maafe, also called peanut STEW, originated in Western Africa. I was familiar with goulash, but maafe was new to me.
• BEAST (30D: Blue member of the X-Men) BEAST, aka Dr. Henry Philip "Hank" McCoy, is a Marvel Comics superhero, and a founding member of the X-Men. BEAST has blue fur (which was originally gray) and superhuman strength, speed, agility, and endurance. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• KRIS (23A: Jenner of "KUWTK") KUWTK = Keeping Up with the Kardashians, the reality TV show focusing on the Kardashian-Jenner family. KRIS Jenner is the mother of Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Robert, Kendall, and Kylie.
• CRICKET BALL (27A: Object hit by a batsman) CRICKET is a game played between two teams of eleven players each. The game is played on a pitch with a wicket at each end. A bat is used to strike the CRICKET BALL. Although CRICKET has many similarities with baseball, the sports have significant differences in rules of play and in strategy.
• BEETLEJUICE (49A: 1988 fantasy comedy film) The movie BEETLEJUICE is about a recently deceased couple, portrayed by Alec Baldwin and Geena Davis, who become ghosts and are haunting their former home. Betelgeuse (pronounced BEETLEJUICE) is an obnoxious poltergeist played by Michael Keaton.
• ALFRED (59A: "Batman" butler) ALFRED Pennyworth is Bruce Wayne's loyal butler, housekeeper, and legal guardian in the Batman comics. The character first appeared in Batman #16 in April 1943. ALFRED is a retired actor and intelligence agent who serves the Wayne family to keep a promise made to his father.
• SPIDER SOLITAIRE (63A: Two-deck card game) SPIDER SOLITAIRE originated in 1947. Its name comes from a SPIDER's eight legs, the same number as the foundation piles that must be filled to win the game. SPIDER SOLITAIRE software is included with some computers, which has added to the game's popularity.
• SELA (2D: Actress Ward) SELA Ward received her first Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for the role of Teddy Reed in the TV series, Sisters (1991-1996). She also received awards for her role as Lily Manning in the TV series, Once and Again (1999-2002).
• RENEE (10D: ___ Elise Goldsberry) RENEE Goldsberry originated the role of Angelica Schuyler in the Broadway musical, Hamilton.
• JILT (51D: Ghost) Ghost is being used here in the sense of abruptly cutting off contact with someone by no longer replying to messages.
• IS TO (54D: "To Know Him ___ Love Him" (Amy Winehouse song)) Amy Winehouse recorded "To Know Him IS TO Love Him" in 2007. The song was written by Phil Spector and originally recorded by the Teddy Bears in 1958.

Geography review:

• IOWA (54A: "The Bridges of Madison County" state) Ah, hello from crossword-friendly IOWA! In my part of the state we currently have a temperature of 3 degrees, and quite a bit of accumulated snow on the ground. The Bridges of Madison County is a1992 romance novella by Robert James Waller. It is presented as a novelization of a true story, but it is a fictional story set in Madison County, IOWA about a photographer sent to take pictures of the covered bridges in the area. The story was adapted to a movie and a musical. I was in graduate school when the book first came out, and read it based on the recommendation of my advisor. I have not seen the film, but I did see the musical, The Bridges of Madison County, which I will forever remember as the one musical my husband and I saw together which he didn't like. (He thought it was too boring. Since I had read the book, I knew what to expect.)
• SHERPA (8D: Nepali ethnic group) The SHERPA are native to the mountainous regions of Nepal and the Himalayas.
• INDY (11D: Colts' home, for short) That would be the Indianapolis Colts football team of the NFL, who play in Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana.
• NILE (12D: North-flowing African river) The NILE is the longest river in Africa. It flows through eleven countries, including Egypt and Sudan for whom it is the primary water source.
• CRETE (33D: Most populous Greek island) CRETE is also the largest of the Greek islands and lies about 100 miles south of the Greek mainland.

I don't know about you, but this puzzle really BUGGED me! I'm not a fan of discovering a FLY, CRICKET, BEETLE, or SPIDER in my house, but it was delightful to find them in the puzzle today. FLY OFF THE HANDLE was my favorite theme answer. It reminds me of the song, "Defying Gravity," from the musical Wicked. (Elphaba, why couldn't you/ Have stayed calm for once?/ Instead of FLYing OFF THE HANDLE!/ I hope you're happy/ I hope you're happy now.) SOFTIES and ABOUT FACE were nice non-theme answers. This puzzle was an enjoyable way to begin my Wednesday.