Theme: "Commercial Free" - AD is removed from each common phrase.
23A. Like a kid wearing a tutu and a superhero cape?: SELF DRESSED. Self-addressed.
47A. Parental agenda that involves claims like, "You never call, you never text ... "?: MISSION OF GUILT. Admission of guilt.
67A. Compose a second draft of a hit song from "Cats"?: REWRITE MEMORY. Read-write memory.
89A. Good title for a reflective book on the life of a rap Dr.?: EXISTENTIAL DRE. Existential dread.
111A. Carnival?: RIO ACTIVITY. Radioactivity.
3D. Flashy accessories for hair curlers?: ROLLER BLING. Rollerblading.
69D. The guilty pleasure of using WebMD to second-guess one's doctor?: MEDICAL VICE. Medical advice.
I like how ADS are removed all over the place. Not just start or end. Sometimes consistency is good, but it also makes themers easier to obtain.
Across:
1. Solitaire unit: CARAT.
6. Brownish pigment: UMBER.
11. Two-beat gait: TROT.
15. Leg part: SHIN. Not CALF.
19. Go gaga for: ADORE.
20. Baker's tool: SIEVE.
21. Country whose anthem is "Amhrán na bhFiann": EIRE. Google shows it's called "The Soldier's Song" in English.
22. Five-O: POPO. Slang for cops.
25. Like viruses: ACELLULAR. I only know Cellular.
27. Right angle shape: ELL.
28. __ buco: OSSO.
29. "__ we go again": HERE.
31. 2021 role for Kristen Stewart: LADY DI. The film is "Spencer".
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32. "Looks that way": SEEMS TO.
35. Zane Grey setting: OLD WEST.
37. Uses the << button on a remote: REWINDS.
40. Former Ford: TORINO.
41. 17-Down array: APPS. 17. Surface alternative: IPAD.
45. Buffalo NHL team: SABRES.
50. Lashes, e.g.: CILIA. Did you know these little bumps under your eyes are called milia?
51. Racket head shape: OVAL.
52. Flow out forcefully: SPEW.
53. Folktronica musician Beth: ORTON. Wikipedia says "Folktronica mixes elements of folk and electronica". New to me.
54. Missing: OMITTED.
56. Copycat: APE.
58. Raises a glass to: TOASTS.
59. Changeable camera part: LENS.
60. Disapprove, in a way: VOTE NO.
63. Some protagonists: HEROES.
66. B.S., e.g.: DEG.
69. Prefix with life or wife: MID.
72. Looked after: TENDED.
73. Copycats: MIMICS.
74. Transfer to a new city, informally: RELO.
75. Declare to be true: ATTEST.
78. Fleet org.: USN.
79. Fixated (on): HOMED IN.
81. Meat, in Mexico: CARNE. Called Rou in Chinese. My hometown Xi'an is known for its Rou Jia Mo.
82. "Well, __ that precious!": ISN'T.
85. Let up: EASE.
88. Performed by skaters, say: ON ICE.
92. Indigenous Arizona people: APACHE.
93. Coin with olive and oak branches: DIME.
94. Poirot creator Christie: AGATHA.
95. Prom fabric: TAFFETA. I can't tell the differences.
97. Dad's dads: GRAMPAS.
98. In a big, big way: ROYALLY.
101. Get going: PROPEL.
105. Pub glass size: PINT.
106. Rosalind of "Mulan": CHAO.
108. Routing word: VIA.
109. Smaller than small: SUBATOMIC.
115. __ burn romance: SLOW. Like most Chinese romances. The song I danced to last week is very sad Chinese love song. Here's the original version. Sloooow burn.
116. Camp accommodation: BUNK.
117. Puccini work: OPERA.
118. "Attack!": SIC 'EM.
119. College freshman, often: TEEN.
120. Like French toast: EGGY.
121. Gets smaller, as the moon: WANES.
122. Reagan-era attorney general: MEESE. Ed. Still alive.
Down:
1. Suits in court: CASES.
2. "Set Fire to the Rain" singer: ADELE.
4. Sandy's bark: ARF.
5. Actor Danson: TED.
6. Employs against: USES ON.
7. Hit alternative: MISS.
8. "Eso __": Paul Anka hit: BESO.
9. Night before a big 55-Down: EVE. 55. Occasion: EVENT.
10. Spicy cinnamon candies: RED HOTS.
11. Sign of sorrow: TEARDROP.
12. __ vinegar: ingredient in sushi seasoning: RICE WINE. The brand I use.
13. Underground resource: ORE. 68. Went after 13-Down: MINED.
14. Relates a tale about: TELLS OF.
15. NBA great Webb: SPUD. 5'6".
16. "__ cow!": HOLY.
18. Seaweed snack: NORI.
24. Flatbreads served with some curries: ROTIS.
26. Back muscle, for short: LAT.
30. Mumford of "Fifty Shades of Grey": ELOISE. New to me also.
33. Earns: MERITS.
34. Hard work: SWEAT.
36. Sufficient, to Shakespeare: ENOW.
38. ID issuer: DMV.
39. "Unstoppable" singer: SIA. And 46. Pop singer Mann: AIMEE.
41. Ethereal glows: AURAS.
42. Olive discards: PITS.
43. Conspiracy: PLOT.
44. RR stops: STNS.
45. Reprimand: SCOLD.
48. Viewpoint: SLANT.
49. Like hot fudge: GOOEY. Never had fudge, cold or hot.
51. Chris of "The Sapphires": O'DOWD.
57. Ada Limón works: POEMS.
58. Top spot?: TORSO.
61. Half of sei: TRE.
62. __ al-Fitr: EID.
63. Shirt edge: HEM.
64. British recording giant: EMI.
65. Valium maker: ROCHE.
67. Zero out: RESET.
70. Tchaikovsky's middle name: ILICH. No idea.
71. Fundraiser beneficiary: DONEE.
72. Needing kneading: TENSE.
74. Italian soprano Tebaldi: RENATA. Meaning "reborn" in Italian.
75. Got top marks on: ACED.
76. Cab: TAXI.
77. Curtail: TRIM.
78. Moab resident: UTAHAN.
80. Glum: MOPEY.
82. Teri's "Young Frankenstein" role: INGA.
83. Putting one's foot down: STAMPING.
84. Overly critical: NIT-PICKY.
86. Frick collection: ART. In NYC.
87. Brighton attraction: SEA.
90. Spot for a stud or hoop: EARLOBE.
91. Edge of the nosebleed section: LAST ROW.
92. Happening now: AFOOT.
96. Brawl: FRACAS.
97. Figure out: GET.
99. The Chi-__: "Have You Seen Her" group: LITES. Also unknown to me.
100. "I'm so great!": YAY ME.
101. "I need to tell you something secret": PSST.
102. Cardinal __: RULE.
103. Flute neighbor in an orchestra: OBOE.
104. One of 16 in a chess set: PAWN.
106. Filmmaker Joel or Ethan: COEN. They grew up in St. Louis Park, MN.
107. Rabbit lookalike: HARE.
110. Coffee cup: MUG.
112. Craft beer letters: IPA.
113. Belief system suffix: ISM. This poster was in all our classrooms. It says "Long live Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought!" We don't use Maoism in China. Just Mao Zedong Thought.
114. Compete (for): VIE.
C.C.
