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New York Times, Tuesday, October 3, 2023

Author:
Troy Laedtke
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
62-Across : Motormouth ___ ("Hairspray" role for Queen Latifah)
TotalDebut
110/3/2023
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
0010000
ScrabDebutFresh
1.54131%
Troy Laedtke

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 78, Blocks: 37 Missing: {QWXZ} This is the debut puzzle for Mr. Laedtke. Tuesday freshness: 58%
Jim Horne notes:

Note that, like in the game, starting with ASP, the gray snakes get longer each time they "eat" a black square.

1
S
2
T
3
O
4
O
5
D
6
M
7
E
8
H
9
V
10
M
11
A
12
M
A
U
D
E
13
V
E
S
T
14
I
15
G
I
A
L
16
E
L
T
O
N
17
I
N
S
T
R
U
C
T
S
18
A
L
F
R
E
19
S
C
O
20
P
I
C
T
21
R
E
I
22
B
O
A
R
23
S
24
S
C
O
25
R
26
E
27
S
R
T
28
A
29
D
R
A
T
30
S
31
I
R
A
S
32
D
33
N
A
34
H
A
N
35
S
36
I
M
P
37
O
38
N
39
E
S
O
C
40
K
41
R
E
T
42
R
A
I
N
43
G
E
M
44
D
A
N
45
A
46
A
L
A
47
R
I
P
48
S
49
N
O
R
50
S
K
51
G
52
O
53
D
54
S
55
E
L
E
N
56
A
57
B
A
M
B
58
A
59
N
E
T
60
R
A
S
61
P
62
M
A
Y
B
63
E
L
L
E
64
C
65
O
O
K
I
E
66
J
A
R
67
A
L
I
E
N
68
B
O
R
E
F
R
U
I
T
69
C
A
N
T
O
70
S
O
S
71
E
T
C
72
K
N
E
E
S
© 2023, The New York Times10/3/23 ( No. 26,992 )
Across
1
Gave up a seat, maybe : STOOD
6
Apathetic reaction : MEH
9
MTV prize whose trophy features an astronaut : VMA
12
Bea Arthur sitcom of the 1970s : MAUDE
13
Like the "legs" on a 48-Down : VESTIGIAL
16
John who sang "Crocodile Rock" : ELTON
17
Teaches : INSTRUCTS
18
In the open air, as a meal : ALFRESCO
20
Ancient Brit : PICT
21
Co-op that sells camping gear : REI
22
Wild pigs : BOARS
24
Number in the Gettysburg Address : SCORE
27
Mlle. : French :: ___ : Spanish : SRTA
29
Frustrated cries : DRATS
31
Nest eggs, in brief : IRAS
32
Crime lab evidence : DNA
34
Composer Zimmer who won Oscars for "The Lion King" and "Dune" : HANS
36
Little troublemaker : IMP
37
Frustrating find while folding laundry : ONESOCK
41
Brush up on old skills : RETRAIN
43
___ State (Idaho nickname) : GEM
44
"S.N.L." alum Carvey : DANA
46
Lead-in to mode : ALA
47
Sewing targets : RIPS
49
Native language in Oslo : NORSK
51
Mount Olympus figures : GODS
55
Justice Kagan : ELENA
57
"La ___" (1958 Ritchie Valens hit) : BAMBA
59
Take home : NET
60
Speak hoarsely : RASP
62
Motormouth ___ ("Hairspray" role for Queen Latifah) : MAYBELLE
64
Where sticky fingers might be caught : COOKIEJAR
67
Like 48-Downs, to Ireland : ALIEN
68
Eventually brought results : BOREFRUIT
69
Section of a long poem : CANTO
70
"Help!" : SOS
71
And so on : ETC
72
Places for patellas : KNEES
Down
1
Slings mud at, in a campaign : SMEARS
2
Like basketball players vis-à-vis jockeys, typically : TALLER
3
Ensemble : OUTFIT
4
Smelly smell : ODOR
5
Brightest light in Cygnus : DENEB
6
Hanukkah centerpiece : MENORAH
7
Shape of some curves : ESS
8
Letters before :// : HTTP
9
Roman goddess who is the equivalent of the Greek Nike : VICTORIA
10
Bit of yoga equipment : MAT
11
Ice Bucket Challenge cause, for short : ALS
13
Clergy member : VICAR
14
Bluish-purple flower : IRIS
15
Aldo of fashion : GUCCI
19
Common recyclable : SODACAN
23
Feature (in) : STAR
25
Malek of "Mr. Robot" : RAMI
26
Channel for armchair athletes : ESPN
28
Paid spots : ADS
30
Pass without notice : SNEAKBY
33
An aye for the eye? : NOD
35
Gateway to the West, on scoreboards : STL
37
Ugly beast : OGRE
38
Justice Gorsuch : NEIL
39
Rulers of the Aztecs and Incas : EMPERORS
40
Door handle : KNOB
42
Cleaning cloth : RAG
45
Language of ancient Syria : ARAMAIC
48
Creature that grows longer in a classic video game (also in this puzzle, when it "eats" a black square) : SNAKE
50
Like many appliances in modern homes : SMART
52
Where one might be represented by an avatar : ONLINE
53
Erase : DELETE
54
Transcription pros : STENOS
56
"In your dreams!" : ASIF
58
One way to be taken : ABACK
61
Parisian papa : PERE
63
Panache : ELAN
64
"Sunday Morning" airer : CBS
65
Away from work, for short : OOO
66
Stick (out) : JUT

Answer summary:
1 unique to this puzzle, 1 unique to Modern Era but used previously.

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