April 3, 2021

Title: META-MORPHOSIS

Constructor: Evan Kalish

Editors: Erik Agard & Amanda Rafkin

Theme Answers:

DREAM TEAM (17A: Group of top performers)

MYSTERY MEAT (35A: Unappetizing cafeteria offering)

RUNNING MATE (42A: Partner in an election)

UP AND AT 'EM (63A: "Get out of bed, sleepyhead!")

Theme synopsis: The last four letters of each theme answer are anagrams of META (and of each other). 

And now a word from our constructor:

Evan: Credit to Erik for the title! I don’t know why, but I always wanted to write an anagram puzzle. So this puzzle was born… a year ago next week, in fact! I was pleased with the long downs and the little twist for the final theme entry. I could read 1-Across’s hilarious product names all day.

Things I learned:

• VERA (27A: "When They See Us" actress Farmiga) The 2019 miniseries, When They See Us, is based on the story of the Exonerated Five, five men who were falsely arrested and convicted of assaulting and raping a woman in Central Park in 1989. VERA Farmiga played the role of Assistant District Attorney, Elizabeth Lederer.
• ACADEMY (8D: The Black ___ of Arts and Letters) Based in Dallas, Texas, The Black Academy of Arts and Letters has a stated mission "to create and enhance awareness and understanding of artistic, cultural and aesthetic differences utilizing the framework of African, African American and Caribbean Arts and Letters."
• TOM (36D: Early bartender Bullock) TOM Bullock was a bartender at the St. Louis Country Club, and is the author of the cocktail manual, The Ideal Bartender, first published in 1917. Yes, that date is correct, Bullock's book was published just a couple of years before prohibition in the United States which officially began on January 16, 1920.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• OPI (1A: Nail polish brand with the color Aurora Berry-alis) Aurora Berry-alis is a glowing pink color of gel nail polish. Other OPI nail polish colors include Check Out the Old Geysirs (light blue), 15 Minutes of Flame (fuchsia), and That's What Friends are Thor (brown). 
• TIN MAN (48A: Nipsey Russell's role in "The Wiz") The Wiz is a 1978 movie reimagining The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It was loosely adapted from the 1974 Broadway musical of the same name, and featured an all Black cast. In The Wiz, Dorothy (played by Diana Ross) is a 24-year-old schoolteacher transported from Harlem to the Land of Oz, which resembles a dream version of New York City. Dorothy is befriended by a TIN MAN (Nipsey Russell), a Scarecrow (Michael Jackson), and a Cowardly Lion (Ted Ross). 
• ANTS (18D: Horned lizard's meal) Horned lizards, which feed on ANTS, are also known as horny toads, or horn toads. They have modified reptile scales on the back of their toad-like body, and horns on their heads. Horned lizards use camouflage to avoid predators. Some species of horned lizards are able to squirt a stream of blood from the corners of the eyes as a means of protection. They can apparently squirt blood up to a distance of five feet. You may use this fun fact the next time you need a conversation starter. 
• BEANIE BABY (31D: Collectible toy with a heart-shaped tag) The first BEANIE BABY was created in 1993. The nine original BEANIE babies were Legs the Frog, Squealer the Pig, Spot the Dog, Flash the Dolphin, Splash the Whale, Chocolate the Moose, Patti the Platypus, Brownie the Bear, and Pinchers the Lobster.

Geography review:

• PESO (41A: Cuban currency) Until January of this year, there were two different PESOs used as currency in Cuba - the Cuban PESO, and the Cuban convertible PESO. The Cuban convertible PESO is now being removed from circulation.
• ECUADOR (46D: Country associated with pasillo) Pasillo is a genre of music associated with the South American country of ECUADOR and the Ecuadorian War of Independence. Pasillo is considered the national musical style of ECUADOR.

I enjoyed this puzzle with its solid set of theme answers, particularly the humorous MYSTERY MEAT. I learned that UP AND AT 'EM! is an abbreviated form of "Up and at them!" The latter sounds odd to my ear; I can see why the abbreviated form caught on. Other answers I liked were HUMDRUM, PRIVATE EYE, and BEANIE BABY. This puzzle was an enjoyable way to begin my Saturday.