1. 59-Across role in 27-Across : EGON. Spengler.
17. 1978 film co-written by 59-Across : ANIMAL HOUSE.
27. 1984 film co-written and co-starring 59-Across : GHOSTBUSTERS.
44. 1993 film co-written and directed by 59-Across : GROUND HOG DAY.
59. This puzzle's honoree (1944-2014) : HAROLD RAMIS.
67. 59-Across was its original head writer : SCTV. Second City Television. Breeding ground of many fine comics.
Although he has had several NY Times puzzles, I believe this is the LA Times debut for Stu Ockman. I had no idea who HAROLD RAMIS was, but the movies all filled in easily. Since he just died in February of this year, the tribute seemed appropriate and timely. Let's see what else is in the cards today.
Across:
5. Yenta : GOSSIP.
11. Sneaky chuckle : HEH.
14. Fish found in a film : NEMO.
15. Finger-shaped dessert : ECLAIR.
16. __ pro nobis : ORA. "Pray for us," Latin.
19. Ross musical, with "The" : WIZ. Diana Ross.
20. Reached, as goals : MET.
21. Zapped : LASED. I had tased at first.
22. Sly : CAGEY.
24. Server's warning : IT'S HOT. When they bring that sizzling, smoking cast iron pan containing your fajita to the table, do you really need to be told, "Careful, it's hot"???
26. 1997 Home Run Derby winner Martinez : TINO. All perps...
33. "__ la vista, baby!" : HASTA. Arnold Schwarzenegger's classic line in "Terminator 2."
36. Stout sleuth, in more ways than one : WOLFE. Is that a stout beer he's drinking?
37. Drench : SOP.
38. Pacers, e.g. : AMCs. Funny looking cars made from 1975-80.
39. "That's enough!" : CAN IT.
40. "Smiling, petite ball of fire," to Philbin : RIPA. Kelly.
41. Not paleo- : NEO.
42. Arrive : GET IN.
43. Assuages to the max : SATES.
47. Skye slope : BRAE. The Scottish Isle of Skye has BRAEs instead of hills.
48. Medicinal syrup : IPECAC.
52. Pastoral poems : IDYLS.
54. 5th Dimension vocalist Marilyn : McCOO. Her classic "Wedding Bell Blues." 3:01
57. Horseplayer's hangout, for short : OTB. Off Track Betting.
58. Turkey : DUD.
62. Funny Philips : EMO. No clue. But on Thursdays, I guess "Expressive rock genre" would be too easy.
63. "Lost" actress de Ravin : EMILIE. No clue. I never watched the show.
64. Fade : WILT.
65. GI's address : APO. Army Post Office.
66. Bulletin board admins : SYSOPs. SYStem OPerators.
Down:
1. As a friend, to Fifi : EN AMI.
2. "The Balcony" playwright : GENET. Quite a shady character.
3. Neglects to mention : OMITS.
4. 2-Down, par exemple : NOM. French "name."
5. Italian dessert : GELATO. Am I the only person in the world who doesn't like ice cream?
6. Protest singer Phil : OCHS.
7. Gin fizz fruit : SLOE.
8. King Faisal's brother : SAUD.
9. "__ for Innocent": Grafton novel : I IS. I think she is up to "W Is for Wasted."
10. On the nose : PRECISE.
11. "'Sup?" : HOW GOES IT?
12. Scary-sounding lake : ERIE. Eerie.
13. Not clear : HAZY.
18. Don Ho "Yo" : ALOHA.
23. Aardvark snack : ANT.
25. 5'10" and 6'3": Abbr. : HGTS. Heights.
26. Titmouse topper, perhaps : TUFT.
28. Mown strip : SWATH. Will we ever be mowing again? I woke up to snow on the ground yesterday morning!
29. "Pagliacci" clown : TONIO.
30. Showy jewelry : BLING.
31. Clue weapon : ROPE.
32. Cruise ship conveniences : SPAS.
33. Chill out : HANG.
34. AMA member?: Abbr. : AMER.ican Medical Association.
35. "Ruh-roh!" pooch : SCOOBY DOO.
39. Give up : CEDE.
40. Comedic Martha : RAYE.
42. Grinds in anger, maybe : GNASHES.
43. Flavor : SAPOR. Like sweetness or sourness.
45. Modern address : URL.
46. Some are light-emitting : DIODES.
49. "Cathy," for one : COMIC. ACK!
50. Skewed : ATILT.
51. "The Amazing Race" network : CBS TV.
52. Flash, perhaps : IDEA.
53. Get rid of : DUMP.
54. 3-D images : MRIs.Magnetic Resonance Imaging(s).
55. USAF Academy home : COLO.rado.
56. Swindle, in slang : CLIP.
60. March girl : AMY. One of the "Little Women."
61. Baby-viewing responses : AWs. Lemonade's granddaughter induces her share, I'm sure!
That's it from me for now!
Marti
