Thursday, August 7, 2008 NYS--"Gevalt!"

This Thursday puzzle by Patrick Blindauer and Tony Orbach had as theme answers common phrases or titles which had been altered by inserting an OY in them: CLOYINGWRAP (Cling Wrap); ANNOYINGLANDERS (Ann Landers); TOMBOYRAIDER ("Tomb Raider"); and BUOYSDRIVER (Bus Driver). The theme clues were clever enough that you could not guess much about the answer without getting some part of it done through cross clues but not so obscure that you couldn't begin to guess as the answers began to flesh-out, which made it fun. The one exception is the clue at 61A [Lifts actress Minnie's spirits?], which made me expect to put DRIVER in there somewhere.

There were a number of clues which were pretty tough and as usual I can't tell whether they got there through the efforts of the authors or were peppered-in by the editor, Peter Gordon. Also, there were some things I just did not know.

Did not know: LENTEN [spare]; GIA [1998 Angelina Jolie TV movie]; DUNDER [___ Mifflin (company in "The Office")]--which could have been clued ___ head!; KIX [Band with the 1988 album "Blow My Fuse"]; and UAE [Fed. whose 18-letter full name alternates vowels and consonants]. Actually, I know what UAE is but the clue left me clueless, though I won't forget it now.

Tough clues:

• 24A Painting place: atelier
• 50A Fanta rival: Sunkist
• 54A Binding: final
• 1D Big supplier to Boeing: Alcoa (lots of big suppliers to Boeing)
• 5D Ice cream mix-in: raisins (this could be so many things)
• 7A Cheek by ___: jowl (I had an "aha" moment when this became apparent)
• 35D Playmates?: team
• 40D Noted: OnRecord
• 52D Mount with vigor: steed

My favorite theme clue was 45A [Peppermint Patty's panty thief?] with TOMBOYRAIDER

Good puzzle for a Thursday.