July 3, 2023

Title: SMASH HITS 

Constructor: Doug Peterson

Editors: Jared Goudsmit & Amanda Rafkin

Theme Answers:

TISHA CAMPBELL (19A: Actress who plays Sidney in "House Party")

ISTHMUS OF PANAMA (37A: Strip that connects the Americas)

HISTORY LESSON (52A: Lecture that teaches students about the civil rights movement)

Theme synopsis: Each theme answer begins with the letters of the word HITS, but rearranged, or SMASHed, as it were.

Things I learned:

• ANNE (14A: "The Matrix" actress Carrie-___ Moss) The Matrix franchise includes four movies released in 1999 (The Matrix), 2003 (The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions), and 2021 (The Matrix: Resurrections). Carrie-ANNE Moss plays the role of Trinity in all four movies.
• TISHA CAMPBELL (19A: Actress who plays Sidney in "House Party") The House Party franchise includes a short film, and six movies, all centering around teenagers and house parties. TISHA CAMPBELL portrays Sydney in the first three movies, House Party (1990), House Party 2 (1991), and House Party 3 (1994).
• ANIME (6D: "Demon Slayer," e.g.) Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba is an ANIME TV series based on the manga series of the same name by Koyoharu Gotouge.
• MRS (11D: ___ Harris Goes to Paris") MRS. Harris Goes to Paris is a 2022 movie adapted from the 1958 book MRS. 'Arris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico. The movie is set in 1957. Its protagonist, MRS. Ada Harris (played by Lesley Manville) is a widowed cleaning lady living in London. After coming into some money, she travels to Paris to buy a Dior dress.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• LOTTO (23A: Game nearly everyone loses) There are many variations of LOTTO, all of which involve many players and very few winners. The odds of winning one of the major LOTTO games, such as Powerball or Mega Millions is around 1 in 176,000,000. That means you are more likely to become a movie star (1 in 1,505,000) than to win the LOTTO.
• MACE (33A: Sister spice of nutmeg) The nutmeg is an evergreen tree. The spice nutmeg is obtained by grinding the tree's dried seeds (which are brown) into a powder. The spice, MACE, is made from the reddish aril, or seed covering, of the nutmeg seed. MACE and nutmeg have similar flavor profiles, though MACE tends to have a more delicate flavor.
• CBS (36A: "The Equalizer" network) The Equalizer is a crime drama TV series that premiered on CBS in 2021. Queen Latifah stars as the title character, a former CIA operative acting as a vigilante to help those with the odds stacked against them to obtain justice.
• TAI (41A: With 59-Down, slow-motion martial art) and CHI (59D: See 41-Across) The martial art TAI CHI involves slow gentle movements and physical postures, combined with controlled breathing and a meditative state of mind. TAI CHI is promoted for its health benefits of developing body awareness, retraining posture, and maintaining flexibility.
• HBO (44A: "A Black Lady Sketch Show" channel) As the name suggests, A Black Lady Sketch Show features comedic sketches performed by a cast of Black women. Robin Thede created the TV SHOW for HBO, and is one of the stars of the show.
• THOR (50A: Loki's brother in the MCU) In the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), THOR is the adoptive brother of Loki. THOR's biological parents, Odin and Frigga, raised Loki. 
• HOPI (2D: Pueblo Revolt people) The HOPI are one of several indigenous groups of people known as Pueblo because they traditionally lived in villages (pueblos). In 1680, the Pueblo people revolted against the Spanish colonizers in Santa Fe de Nuevo México (an area larger than present-day New Mexico). I wrote about the Pueblo Revolt on July 4, 2021, and then again on August 10, 2021 when we saw PUEBLO REVOLT DAY as a theme answer.
• SALAD (5D: Seven-layer ___ (dish with lettuce, eggs, sweet peas, bacon...) Seven-layer SALAD is a classic dish whose seven layers vary depending on who is making it. My recipe calls for spinach, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, lettuce, peas, green onions, and grated cheddar cheese, with a simple dressing of slightly-sweetened mayonnaise. A key aspect of seven-layer SALAD is serving it in a glass dish that allows its layers to be visible. I just realized that I currently have all the ingredients for seven-layer SALAD in my refrigerator, freezer, and pantry. There just might be seven-layer SALAD in my future.
• HEALTH CARE (9D: Focus of the Patient's Bill of Rights) The Patient's Bill of Rights is designed to empower people to take an active role in their HEALTH CARE. The document, often handed out by hospitals when a patient is admitted, provides patients with information about how they can expect to be treated. It includes things like the right "to safe, considerate and respectful care, provided in a manner consistent with your beliefs," and "to receive information necessary for you to give informed consent prior to any procedure or treatment." In the United States, such documents are not legally binding. 
• YOLO (15D: Daredevil's acronym) YOLO = You Only Live Once
• ELENA (21D: Kagan on the Supreme Court) ELENA Kagan has been a Supreme Court Justice since 2010. She was also the first female dean of the Harvard Law School, a position she held from 2003-2009.
• TUBMAN (24D: Abolitionist Harriet) Harriet TUBMAN (1822-1913) was an abolitionist and activist who escaped slavery and helped other enslaved persons escape via the Underground Railroad.
• SMITHS (26D: Stan ___ (Adidas sneakers)) I learned about Stan SMITHS from the August 30, 2021 puzzle.
• ACTION HERO (28D: Protagonist like Ellen Ripley) Ellen Ripley, portrayed by Sigourney Weaver, is the ACTION HERO protagonist of the Alien movies.
• ON IT (57D: "Single Ladies (Put a Ring ___)") Any mention of a Beyoncé song reminds me of my daughter, who is a tremendous fan. "Single Ladies (Put a Ring ___)" is a 2008 single from Beyoncé's album, I Am ... Sasha Fierce.

Geography review:

• ISTHMUS OF PANAMA (37A: Strip that connects the Americas) An ISTHMUS is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land masses. The ISTHMUS OF PANAMA connects North and South America, and separates the Atlantic Ocean (specifically the Caribbean Sea) and the Pacific Ocean. The country of PANAMA is located on the ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. The PANAMA Canal, constructed from 1904-1914, and extended in 2016, cuts across the ISTHMUS OF PANAMA, connecting the two oceans.
• CHINA (62A: Only country that pandas are native to) The giant panda, recognizable by its black-and-white coloring, is endemic to CHINA. There are a few mountain ranges in central CHINA where pandas live. Farming, deforestation, and development have driven it out of lowland areas. Giant pandas are folivores, herbivores that specifically eat leaves of plants. Bamboo shoots and leaves make up 99% of a giant panda's diet.
• NILE (64A: River through Egypt) Egypt is one of the 11 African countries through which the NILE River flows. The NILE River is the primary water source for Egypt.
• UTAH (4D: Idaho's neighbor to the south) The state of Idaho has two neighbors to the south, UTAH and Nevada.
• OHIO (54D: Birth state of Halle Berry) Halle Berry was born in Cleveland, OHIO. Side note: Iowa is feeling left out today, as its the only 4-letter state not appearing in today's puzzle.

I suppose USA Today would have gotten letters if one of the SMASH HITS today had been the one beginning with SH and ending with IT. Ha! I had a nice "Aha!" moment when I realized what was happening with the theme. I refer to this grid design as "boots and antennae" because that's what the L-shaped blocks of black squares at the top and bottom of the grid remind me of. Thank you, Doug, for this puzzle that was a magnificent way to start my Monday.