April 22, 2021

Title: GET IN THE GAME

Constructor: Claire Rimkus

Editor: Erik Agard

Theme Answers:

GASTRONOME (17A: Foodie)

GARDEN GNOME (33A: Bearded lawn decoration)

GENERIC NAME (40A: Unbranded way to refer to a drug)

GRANDE DAME (60A: Accomplished, respected woman)

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer is IN THE GAME. The word GAME surrounds each answer, with some letters at the beginning of the answer, and the rest of the letters at the end.

And now a word from our constructor:

Claire: Happy to have another puzzle run in the USA Today! A quick reminder if you haven't already, please check out this reproductive justice fundraiser; I have solved all of the puzzles and can confirm they are all fantastic!

Sally's note: I have also solved all of the puzzles in the reproductive justice fundraiser puzzle pack Claire mentioned, and agree with Claire's assessment that they are excellent!

Things I learned:

• COMIC (1A: Michelle Buteau, e.g.) COMIC Michele Buteau is the co-host of the podcast Adulting, with Jordan Carlos. She also hosts the TV reality show, The Circle. Last year Buteau published a collection of personal essays titled Survival of the Thickest.
• ATE (9D: Enjoyed an elote, say) Although I didn't know it, I have eaten and enjoyed many an elote, as it is the term used in Central America and Mexico for an ear of corn. Mexican and Central American communities in the United States also use the term elote for corn on the cob.
• PORG (22D: "The Last Jedi" creature) I've seen The Last Jedi, but I'm not up on my Star Wars creatures, so wasn't able to quickly bring PORG to mind. A PORG is a (fictional!) type of bird - a puffin-like creature with the facial features of a seal. PORGs are native to the planet Ahch-To (in the Star Wars universe), and dwell on the cliffs of the island where Luke Skywalker lived in exile after the victory over the Galactic Empire. PORGs were introduced in The Last Jedi, to account for the puffins in the outdoor shots of Ahch-To, which were filmed on the Skellig Islands. Puffins inhabit the Skellig Islands, off the coast of Ireland, and local conservation laws prevented the filmmakers taking actions to keep the puffins out of the frame. It was easier (and cheaper) to digitally disguise the puffins than to remove them, and thus the PORGs were introduced.
• MANED (43D: Like some rats and sloths, hairwise) The MANED rat is native to East Africa, and resembles a porcupine. The MANED sloth is a three-toed sloth that lives in Brazil. 

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• OVER (16A: "Dog Days Are ___" (Florence and the Machine song)) "Dog Days Are OVER" is a 2008 song from the English indie rock band, Florence and the Machine. 
• GASTRONOME (17A: Foodie) A GASTRONOME is a lover of good food, especially one interested in gastronomy, which is the study of the science and culture of food. The word "gastronomy" is derived from the ancient Greek words for "stomach" and "rule."
• GARDEN GNOME (33A: Bearded lawn decoration) In a funny coincidence, just before I solved this puzzle, I saw a picture of a GARDEN GNOME posted on Facebook. In particular, in the words of the poster, it was a "gun-toting, kitten holding, flag carrying, unicorn riding gnome." That's a lot going on for one GARDEN GNOME! This particular GARDEN GNOME would not be my yard decoration of choice (for so many reasons...), but if you would like one, I've discovered it's available for purchase online. (It's over a foot tall!)
• GENERIC NAME (40A: Unbranded way to refer to a drug) Given my background in pharmacy and pharmacology, it's not surprising this was the first theme answer I filled in. Ibuprofen is an example of a GENERIC NAME for a drug. Motrin and Advil are brand names of ibuprofen. 
• TRUE (55A: "I totally agree") and SAME (65A: "I totally agree!") This is a nice pair of clues, don't you agree? 
• GRANDE DAME (60A: Accomplished, respected woman) French for "great lady," a GRANDE DAME is a respected, socially prominent, influential woman. As a character archetype in literature, the term is often used to refer to women who are elderly, and often haughty.
• CAR (5D: Tourist's rental) I learned last week that renting a CAR is incredibly expensive right now. During the pandemic, when people weren't traveling, rental CAR companies sold a lot of their inventory. Now that people are beginning to travel again, the companies don't have enough CARs to meet the demand for rental. It's the economics principle of supply and demand at work. Plan ahead if you were going to rent a CAR this year.
• DAN (35D: "Happiest Season" actor Levy) Happiest Season is a 2020 movie about a woman who struggles to come out to her conservative parents while she and her girlfriend visit them to celebrate Christmas. DAN Levy plays the role of John, best friend of Abby, the girlfriend. DAN Levy is also known for playing the role of David Rose on the TV show, Schitt's Creek. 
• GLIDER (48D: Sugar ___ (marsupial)) The sugar GLIDER gets its name from its ability to glide through the air, similar to the flying squirrel (though the two animals are not related).
• ELLA (53D: SNCC strategist Baker) ELLA Baker was a civil rights activist, who often worked behind the scenes as an organizer and strategist. She is the namesake of the ELLA Baker Center for Human Rights in Oakland, California, which appeared in the March 12 crossword. 
• ELF (61D: Makeup brand) I have previously written about this cosmetics brand. E.L.F. stands for "Eyes Lips Face."

What are you waiting for? No time to MESS AROUND. GET IN THE GAME! A fun theme today with a delightful set of theme answers. Lovely long, non-theme bonuses as well: MESS AROUND, CO-PARENT, DEDICATE, and DOUBLE DATE. I also liked ODD DUCK. No yawn-inducing BOREDOM here. This puzzle was an enjoyable way to begin my Thursday.