Hi all.
First, I want to thank Brian for the great job filling in for me last week. I deny that the theme answers are the reasons for my absence.
“Special Oops” is this week’s puzzle title and we have a bunch of answers about a klutz (or maybe several klutzes) who does appropriately inept things. In Yiddish, the klutz would be called a schlemiel.
Not to be confused with a schlimazel. When a schlemiel spills his soup, he probably spills it on the schlimazel.
17a [The klutz in the coffee aisle …] – SPILLED THE BEANS
27a [The klutz at the armory …] – DROPPED A BOMB
47a [The klutz at the music store …] – BROKE A RECORD. Do they still have records? Did they still have music stores?
61a [The klutz at the Dickens book club …] – FELL ON HARD TIMES
Canadian content
38a [ _____ Québécois] – PARTI. A provincial political party in Quebec that advocates for Quebec sovereignty.
60a [“Airplane!” star Nielsen] – LESLIE. Born in Regina, Saskatchewan. His brother Erik was once deputy prime minister.
3d [“Out Like _____” (Whitehorse song)] – A LION. My musical knowledge after the 1980’s isn’t great so I hadn’t heard of this Canadian duo. But this is a nice song.
7d [As seen _____! (K-tel boast) – ON TV. Yes, K-tel is Canadian.
9d [Red camp at a political convention – LIBERAL. Another Canadian political party.
18d [Hot springs river of northern B.C.] – LIARD. On the Alaska highway.
45d [Word on a sign painted “rouge”] – ARRÊT. Rouge is red, arrêt is stop.
57d [“You’ve Made ____ Very Happy” (1969 hit)] – ME SO. A hit for Blood, Sweat & Tears, with a Canadian lead singer, David Clayton-Thomas. Pre-1980’s, so I know it. It was sold on a record in a music store. Also likely found in a K-tel collection as seen on TV.
63d [Tillerson or Murphy] – REX. Only Murphy is Canadian, a TV host and commentator.
Other stuff
16a [Edith’s “All in the Family” friend] – IRENE Lorenzo. Played by Betty Garrett. She was also Edna Babish on Laverne & Shirley.
44a [“I Never _____ Purple Cow” (kid’s poem) – SAW A. I remember this by heart:
I never saw a Purple Cow
I never hope to see one;
But I can tell you anyhow,
I’d rather see than be one.
Tip of the Week
20A [Sauces that Dracula should avoid] – AIOLIS. Words with lots of vowels are very useful in creating a crossword, so remember them.
See you next week!