September 21, 2023

Title: LOW-KEY

Constructors: Adam H. Mack & Amanda Rafkin

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme Answers:

YEAR OF THE MONKEY (3D: 2016 or 2028)

QUITS COLD TURKEY (6D: Abruptly gives up a vice)

STRAIGHT WHISKEY (10D: Four Roses or Jim Beam product)

Theme synopsis: On the LOW end of each vertical theme answer, the word KEY is found.

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• QUAN (6A: "Everything Everywhere All at Once" actor Ke Huy ___) In the 2022 movie, Everything Everywhere All at Once, Ke Huy QUAN portrays Waymond Wang, the husband of Michelle Yeoh's character, Evelyn QUAN Wang.
• SATIRE (34A: "Don't Look Up" genre) Don't Look Up is a 2021 movie directed by Adam McKay. The film centers on two astronomers attempting to warn people about an approaching comet that will destroy humanity. The movie is a SATIRE of government, political, celebrity, and media indifference to climate change.
• CHER (37A: One-named "Believe" singer) Do you need a little CHER in your day? (The answer is yes, of course you do.) Here's "Believe," from CHER's 1998 album of the same name.
• ETHEL (38A: Broadway legend Merman) ETHEL Merman (1908-1984) appeared in many Broadway shows during her distinguished career. Irving Berlin's song, "There's No Business Like Show Business," was considered her signature song. She won a Best Actress in a Musical Tony Award in 1951 for Call Me Madam, and was awarded a Special Tony Award in 1972.
• GNAWED (43A: Chewed like a beaver) and DAM (44A: Beaver's creation) This is a fun pair of consecutive answers.
• GAY (65A: Like most of the characters in the play "The Inheritance") The Inheritance is a play by Matthew Lopez. It premiered in London before opening on Broadway in 2019. The play is inspired by E.M. Forster's novel, Howards End. The Inheritance, which is staged in two parts designed to be viewed sequentially, examines the GAY community in New York City a generation after the early days of the HIV/AIDS crisis. The Inheritance won a 2020 Tony Award for Best Play.
• YEAR OF THE MONKEY (3D: 2016 or 2028) You may remember from a few days ago, that we are currently in the YEAR OF THE RABBIT. 
• PUG (11D: Flat-face dog) This answer sent me on a trip down memory lane. When I was growing up, our family had a dog that was half PUG and half Boston Terrier. His name was Boston, and he had a PUG's characteristic flat face, which caused him to breathe noisily.

  

  Missy (cat) and Boston (dog)

  
  In this picture he's shown with our cat, Missy. These two were such good friends, that when Boston died (my freshman year in college), Missy died a week later. The vet said she died of grief.
• BPA (28D: ___-free water bottle) BPA, or bisphenol A, is an additive used in the production of plastics. There are no BPA labeling requirements for plastics, so it's sometimes difficult to know if you are drinking from a BPA-free water bottle, unless the manufacturer voluntarily discloses the fact. 
• LEBRON (45D: "King James") LEBRON James currently plays basketball for NBA's Los Angeles Lakers. Widely regarded as one of the best basketball players of all time, he has earned the nickname, "King James."
• PEELE (50D: "Nope" director Jordan) I learned about the movie, Nope, directed by Jordan PEELE, from the October 8, 2022 puzzle.  From the April 12, 2023 puzzle, I learned that the UFO in the movie is nicknamed "Jean Jacket."
• AVA (61D: "Not Your Barbie Girl" singer Max) "Not Your Barbie Girl" is a 2018 song by AVA Max.

Geography review:

• LOA (23A: Mauna ___) Mauna LOA is one of five volcanoes that form the island of Hawai'i. Mauna LOA is an active volcano, and has likely been erupting and spewing lava for over 700,000 years.

I'm just going to be LOW-KEY about my appreciation for this puzzle. It's fun to see three grid-spanning theme answers. There's some enjoyable fill here, too: MUST BE NICE, I HAD TO, LOST TOUCH, and BIKE RACK. Adam H. Mack makes a USA Today debut today. Congratulations! Thank you, Adam and Amanda, for this excellent Thursday puzzle.