December 9, 2025

Title: UPSELL

Constructor: Zhouqin Burnikel

Editor: Amanda Rafkin

Theme synopsis:

• SCOVILLE SCALE (4D: Heat rating system for chili peppers)
• VAUDEVILLE SHOWS (6D: Theatrical revues popular in the early 20th century)
• DANIELLE STEEL (19D: Romance writer whose novels have all been bestsellers)

UPSELL: Each vertical theme answer contains the letter string L-L-E-S, which is the word SELL when read UP: SCOVILLE SCALE, VAUDEVILLE SHOWS, and DANIELLE STEEL.

What I learned from today's puzzle:

• ASIA (57D: Dhamek Stupa's continent) In Buddhism, a stupa is a mound-like structure used as a place of meditation. Dhamek Stupa is located in ASIA in the Indian state of Utter Pradesh. Dhamek Stupa marks the location where Buddha gave his first teaching. It is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists. Our crossword friend ASIA is making its second appearance this month and its 23rd appearance of the year. Will we see ASIA again before 2025 comes to a close? Stay tuned...

Random thoughts and interesting things:

• TAHOE (17A: Alpine lake by Reno) Lake TAHOE is located on the California-Nevada border, about 22 miles from Reno, Nevada. Lake TAHOE is located in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
• MTN (25A: K2 or Kilimanjaro (Abbr.)) K2 is the second-highest mountain (MTN) on Earth, after Mount Everest. K2 is located on the border of Pakistan and China. Kilamanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa. It is located in Tanzania.
• INDIE POP (36A: Genre for Vampire Weekend) Vampire Weekend is an INDIE POP band from New York City. Two of their albums – Modern Vampires of the City (2013) and Father of the Bride (2019) – have won Grammy Awards for Best Alternative Music Album.
• CLINE (40A: "Crazy" singer Patsy) Although Patsy CLINE's recording career lasted only eight years, she is considered one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century. Patsy CLINE died in a plane crash in 1963, which was before I was born, but my parents were fans, so I grew up listening to "Crazy." "I'm crazy for trying / And crazy for crying / And I'm crazy for loving you." 
• SULTAN (43A: Princess Jasmine's father, for one) Princess Jasmine is the fictional princess in Disney's animated 1992 movie, Aladdin. The SULTAN is Princess Jasmine's father and the ruler of Agrabah (the fictional sultanate where the movie is set).
• POWER TOOL (59A: Jigsaw or nail gun) Did anyone else think "puzzle" and then realize a nail gun is not a puzzle? Just me? Jigsaw puzzles got their name from the POWER TOOL used to cut the pieces.
• PROWL (63A: Hunt like a panther) My cat, Willow, is always happy to see her big cat cousins in the crossword. Like her cousin the panther, Willow likes to PROWL; she thinks of herself as a mighty hunter. I have previously written about how Willow likes to hunt for crocheted animals, leaving them in the hallway as presents for us. I recently finished a new animal that I'm sure she will be on the PROWL for soon; it's a beaver named Serge. 

• SISSY (66A: "Carrie" actress Spacek) SISSY Spacek played the title role in the 1976 movie, Carrie, the first movie adaptation of Stephen King's 1974 novel.
• SCOVILLE SCALE (4D: Heat rating system for chili peppers) The SCOVILLE SCALE (named for scientist Wilbur SCOVILLE) measures the pungency and heat of chili peppers. Capsaicin is the chemical compound that gives peppers their spiciness. A bell pepper has a rating of zero SHU (SCOVILLE heat units), while pure capsaicin has a rating of 16 million SHU. The hottest pepper that has been identified is currently Pepper X, with an average SCOVILLE rating of 2.69 million SHU. 
• DANIELLE STEEL (19D: Romance writer whose novels have all been bestsellers) When I read this clue, I thought, "Well, surely I've heard of this person." Indeed I have, though I needed the help of crossing answers to remember her name. DANIELLE STEEL, who is known for romance novels, is the fourth-best-selling fiction writer of all time. (The top three are William Shakespeare, Agatha Christie, and Barbara Cartland.) DANIELLE STEEL has written over 200 books, which makes it even more impressive that all of her books have been bestsellers. 
• COCO (52D: Pixar film with the song "Remember Me") The 2017 animated movie, COCO, is inspired by the Mexican holiday, Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a time to pray for and remember family and friends who have died. "Remember Me" is a song from COCO.
• A few other clues I especially enjoyed: 
• I ROCK (13A: "Me = awesome!")
• ABOVE (20A: "That's ___ my pay grade")
• SEALS (50A: Animals that can clap their flippers)

Once again, today's title allowed me to make a solid (and correct!) guess about the theme. Anytime I see "up" or "down" in the title, I suspect vertical theme answers. That was the case today. Thank you, Zhouqin, for this excellent puz