August 28, 2023

Title: FUN WITH BESTIE (FREESTYLE)

Constructor: Enrique Henestroza Anguiano

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Freestyle: This is a themeless puzzle. FUN WITH BESTIE may be a nod to DEAR FRIEND (17A: Beloved pal).

Things I learned:

• GAYMERS (55A: They may feel represented when playing Undertale or Overwatch) Although its meaning is inferable, the term "GAYMERS," used to refer to LGBTQ+ gamers, is new to me. In recent years, the medium of gaming has become more inclusive. Undertale is a 2015 role-playing game "full of quirky characters that don't conform to the usual boundaries of sexuality." Overwatch is a franchise of online multiplayer video games; the first game in the franchise was released in 2016. Overwatch has a number of LGBTQ+ characters. This is a great reminder that representation matters.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• SLAPSTICK (30A: Like the humor in "Bridesmaids") SLAPSTICK is a comedy style that involves exaggerated physical activity. (Its name comes from an actual device called a SLAP STICK - two wooden slats joined at one end - that makes a loud noise when struck.) For many years, the realm of SLAPSTICK, and much of comedy in general, mainly involved male actors and comedians. The 2011 movie Bridesmaids was pivotal in changing that perception. 
• SHONDA (34A: "Bridgerton" executive producer Rhimes) SHONDA Rhimes is a TV producer and screenwriter. She is also the founder of the production company, shondaland, which produces the TV series Bridgerton. 
• THE (37A: "Puff ___ Magic Dragon") "Puff THE magic dragon lived by the sea / and frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee..." The 1965 song, "Puff THE Magic Dragon," was sung by Peter, Paul and Mary. Peter Yarrow wrote the song from a poem by Leonard Lipton. I've always adored this song (maybe it's because it's the same age I am!), and this clue immediately had me singing it. One line that always gets to me is, "A dragon lives forever, but not so little boys / Painted wings and giant's rings make way for other toys..." (In later years, Peter Yarrow updated the line to say "not so girls and boys.")
• FBI (58A: Dana Scully's agency, for short) FBI special agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder (played by Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny) are the main characters on the TV show The X-Files. The agents investigate unsolved cases involving paranormal phenomena.
• MINISERIES (63A: "Roots" or "Sharp Objects," e.g.) The 1977 MINISERIES, Roots, is an adaptation of Alex Haley's novel, Roots: The Saga of an American Family. It tells the story of Kunta Kinta, a Gambian man captured and sent to the United States where he was enslaved. The 2018 MINISERIES Sharp Objects is based on Gillian Flynn's novel of the same name. We saw SHARP OBJECTS as a theme answer a couple of weeks ago.
• ROE (6D: Eggs on a tobiko roll) A tobiko roll is a sushi roll that is rolled in or topped with tobiko, the ROE of flying fish.
• ANNE (7D: "Autobiography of Red" author Carson) I learned about poet, essayist, classicist, and translator ANNE Carson from the July 8, 2021 puzzle. Autobiography of Red is a verse novel by ANNE Carson, published in 1998. The story is loosely based on the character Geryon from Greek mythology. One review describes Autobiography of Red as a "genre-bending, queer coming-of-age novel, half poetry, half prose, highbrow and postmodern and sly and sexy." 
• GLAMPED (25D: Stayed in a yurt with electricity and plumbing, say) The term "glamping" is a portmanteau of "glamorous" and "camping," and refers to a style of camping with amenities - such as electricity and plumbing - that are not usually associated with traditional camping. I have not GLAMPED, but I might enjoy it more than camping (which I enjoy in small quantities).
• ISLAM (27D: Hajj is one of its pillars) The five pillars of Sunni ISLAM are: Shahada (Profession of Faith), Salat (Prayer), Zakat (Almsgiving), Shawm (Fasting), and Hajj (Pilgrimage). Shia ISLAM has the same basic acts, but they differ in the naming and numbering.
• SIMONE (48D: Gymnast Biles) It's always great to see SIMONE Biles in the puzzle, but her appearance is especially timely today. SIMONE Biles just won her eighth U.S. gymnastics title.
• GOLF (55D: Ko Jin-young's sport) Ko Jin-young, also known as Jin Young Ko, plays GOLF on the LPGA Tour, representing South Korea. I learned about Ko Jin-young from the May 2, 2021 puzzle. 
• SIMU (57D: Actor Liu who plays one of the Kens in "Barbie") One of the things that tickled me in Barbie is that so many of the characters have the same name. It's a simple thing, but for some reason, the scenes of "Hi, Barbie. Hi, Barbie. Hi, Barbie. Hi, Ken. Hi, Ken. Hi, Ken," etc. made me chuckle. Similarly, the phrase "one of the Kens" in this clue strikes me as humorous, even though it is true. SIMU Liu did indeed play one of the eight characters named Kens in the movie. SIMU Liu's character is referred to in the credits as "Tourist Ken."

Geography review:

• ARAB (5A: The "A" in UAE) The United ARAB Emirates (UAE) is located on the Arabian Peninsula, with coastline on the Persian Gulf. Its neighbors are Oman and Saudi Arabia. The capital of the United ARAB Emirates is Abu Dhabi.

The FREESTYLE weekend is flowing into Monday with this excellent puzzle. BEAR WITH ME is a fabulous answer, as is SO LAST YEAR. Thank you, Enrique, for this puzzle, that was a fantastic way to start my Monday.