June 3, 2021

Title: IN THE HIVE

Constructors: Aaron Paulsen & Olivia Mitra Framke

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

******This puzzle is part of the USA Today Pride Puzzle Series******

Theme Answers:

HYPERDRIVE (15A: Way to travel faster than light, in sci-fi)

HETERONORMATIVE (36A: Like the clue "Wife's partner" for the word "husband")

HOW DO I LIVE (60A: LeAnn Rimes song on the "Con Air" soundtrack)

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer begins with an H, and ends with the letter string I-V-E, and is therefore IN THE word HIVE.

Things I learned:

• ANGEL (26A: "Buffy" spinoff) The character of ANGEL, played by David Boreanaz, was introduced on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and subsequently became the title character of a spinoff. ANGEL is a vampire that was cursed with a human soul, causing him to feel remorse. He struggles to resist the evil impulses associated with being a vampire, and becomes a champion of humankind.
• SPAM (28A: Waikiki ___ Jam (annual food festival)) I have previously mentioned that SPAM has been a popular food in Hawaii since World War II, when it was a main course for troops stationed there. I did not know about the SPAM jam, however. The Waikiki SPAM Jam is held annually on the island of Oahu. Local chefs compete to create new SPAM-themed dishes. If you're interested, this year's SPAM Jam is scheduled for October 23. 
• AWARD (31A: The Ruth Benedict Prize, e.g.) Ruth Benedict (1887-1948) was an anthropologist and folklorist. The Ruth Benedict Prize is awarded annually by the American Anthropological Association. The AWARD is given to "acknowledge excellence in a scholarly book written from an anthropological perspective about a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender topic."
• DOG (34A: Otterhound, e.g.) This answer was inferable, but the breed of Otterhound is a new one to me. The Otterhound is a British DOG breed originally bred for hunting otter, an activity that is no longer legal in England. Otterhounds have a rough coat, webbed feet, and an affinity for swimming. Otterhound is a rare DOG breed, and is on the UK Kennel Clubs list of Vulnerable Native Breeds.
• HOW DO I LIVE (60A: LeAnn Rimes song on the "Con Air" soundtrack) This is one of those instances where I innocently began researching a clue/answer and fell into a fascinating and convoluted rabbit hole! This song has quite a story. Con Air is a 1997 action movie starring Nicolas Cage. The movie featured the LeAnn Rimes song, "HOW DO I LIVE," but in the movie the song was sung by Trisha Yearwood. Both versions of the song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart the same week in 1997. If you would like to join me in this rabbit hole, I recommend this article from The Ringer as a starting point.
• HAM (60D: Spider-___ AKA Peter Porker) How have I not heard of Spider-HAM before? Thankful for the AKA portion of the clue that helped me figure out the answer. Spider-HAM is a Marvel comic book character, and as the name suggests, is a parody version of Spider-Man. Spider-HAM's first appearance was in the 1983 comic book, Marvel Tails Starring Peter Porker, the Spectacular Spider-HAM. The character appeared in the 2018 movie Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, voiced by John Mulaney.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• HYPERDRIVE (15A: Way to travel faster than light, in sci-fi) I chuckled at the "in sci-fi" portion of this clue, as I do each time Wikipedia reminds me that someone, such as Spider-Ham, is a "fictional character." Wouldn't it be interesting if HYPERDRIVE travel were possible? (If you look up HYPERDRIVE on Wikipedia, it will remind you it is a "hypothetical method" of travel.)
• ERIC (25A: Ncuti Gatwa's "Sex Education" role) On the TV series, Sex Education (which I have previously written about), Ncuti Gatwa plays the role of ERIC, an openly gay man from a religious Ghanian-Nigerian family. 
• HETERONORMATIVE (36A: Like the clue "Wife's partner" for the word "husband") What a great grid-spanning entry, and a delightful way to clue it. A clue such as the example given, [Wife's partner] could, in fact have the answer of WIFE (except for the tiny detail that that would be a dupe...) Conversely, HUSBAND could be an answer to [Husband's partner]. (There is a way to write such a clue and avoid duplicating the answer in the clue - see the October 27, 2020 puzzle.) The addition of a qualifier can make a clue such as [Wife's partner] for the answer "husband," more inclusive. For example, [Wife's partner, sometimes] or [Wife's partner, perhaps]. Keep reading...
• TOWELS (50A: Items that may say "theirs" and "hers") The puzzle has kindly provided us an example of an inclusive clue. Note the use of the qualifier "may."
• ALL I (63A: "___ Want for Christmas is You") "ALL I Want for Christmas is You" is a 1994 song by Mariah Carey. The song has appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 charts every holiday season since its release, and it holds a number of Guinness World Records. 
• SEE (3D: "When They ___ Us") I have previously written about the TV miniseries, When They See Us, and about the Exonerated Five.
• MEME (22D: Grumpy Cat, e.g.) Who needs a MEME when you have
  
  your own Grumpy Cat helping you write your blog. 
• LOVE (27D: "Same ___" (2012 hit)) "Same LOVE" is a song by duo Macklemore & Ryan Lewis. It was recorded during the campaign for Washington Referendum 74, which legalized same-sex marriage in Washington State when it was passed in November 2012. 
• LOGO (46D: Network for seasons 1-8 of "RuPaul's Drag Race") When it launched in 2005, LOGO became the first commercial TV network geared towards the gay community. Since RuPaul's Drag Race moved to its sister network, VH1, LOGO now only airs reruns of the show.

No bees IN this HIVE, but instead, three nice finds for HIVE-surrounded theme answers. I also enjoyed the long non-theme answers of CHEESE DIP and AT WIT'S END, as well as the creatively-related SPRAY CANS and ART STUDIO. We have seen Olivia Mitra Framke's byline previously, but this is Aaron Paulsen's first USA Today puzzle, so congratulations on that! This puzzle was an enjoyable way to begin my Thursday.