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New York Times, Monday, December 16, 2019

Author:
Howard Barkin and Kevin Christian
Editor:
Will Shortz
Blog:
20-Across : *Trilogy set in Middle-earth, with "The"
TotalDebutLatestCollabs
127/23/20141/20/20222
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
3302211
RebusScrabDebutFresh
11.666044%
Howard Barkin
TotalDebutLatestCollabs
185/22/201311/21/202310
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
01042011
CircleScrabDebutFresh
21.657930%
Kevin Christian

This puzzle:

Rows: 15, Columns: 15 Words: 78, Blocks: 40 Missing: {Q} Spans: 1 This is puzzle # 10 for Mr. Barkin. This is puzzle # 11 for Mr. Christian. Monday freshness: 19%
Constructor notes:
KEVIN: The original version of this had RICE KRISPIES BOX 15, NORTH POLE 9, KEEBLER AD 9, and JRR TOLKIEN BOOKS 15. Joel emailed ... read more
Jeff Chen notes:
I love it when a Monday puzzle temporarily mystifies me. What connects LORD OF THE RINGS, RICE KRISPIES BOX, SANTAS WORKSHOP? Ah! They ... read more
1
Y
2
O
3
U
4
T
5
H
6
G
7
O
8
O
9
F
10
R
11
E
12
B
13
A
14
A
R
N
I
E
15
O
M
A
R
16
E
V
I
L
17
M
A
D
E
A
18
L
I
T
E
19
M
A
N
E
20
L
O
R
D
21
O
F
T
H
E
22
R
I
N
G
S
23
D
R
S
24
W
A
X
25
B
26
A
27
D
28
G
E
R
29
J
30
O
I
N
31
D
32
D
33
T
34
A
R
I
E
S
35
P
O
O
F
36
A
U
R
A
37
R
I
C
E
K
38
R
I
S
P
I
39
E
S
B
O
X
40
B
A
E
Z
41
O
T
I
S
42
N
E
A
L
E
43
S
L
Y
44
A
C
H
E
45
A
V
A
I
L
S
46
O
A
K
47
T
R
I
48
S
49
A
50
N
T
A
S
51
W
52
O
R
K
S
53
H
54
O
55
P
56
P
L
O
T
57
T
O
B
E
58
A
I
L
E
59
Y
60
R
O
V
E
61
A
V
O
N
62
G
L
A
R
E
63
Y
E
A
R
64
R
E
E
D
65
E
L
V
E
S
© 2019, The New York Times12/16/19 ( No. 25,605 )
Across
1
___ hostel (inexpensive accommodations) : YOUTH
6
Err : GOOF
10
McEntire of country music : REBA
14
Links legend Palmer, familiarly : ARNIE
15
Actor Epps of "House" : OMAR
16
Wicked : EVIL
17
Recurring Tyler Perry movie role : MADEA
18
Miller ___ (low-calorie beer) : LITE
19
Hair on a horse or a lion : MANE
20
*Trilogy set in Middle-earth, with "The" : LORDOFTHERINGS
23
A.M.A. members : DRS
24
Candlemaker's supply : WAX
25
Nag, nag, nag : BADGER
29
Unite : JOIN
31
Banned insecticide : DDT
34
Early April zodiac sign : ARIES
35
[Just like that, it's gone!] : POOF
36
Otherworldly glow : AURA
37
*Container for a Kellogg's cereal : RICEKRISPIESBOX
40
Folk singer and protester Joan : BAEZ
41
Singer/songwriter Redding : OTIS
42
Author Zora ___ Hurston : NEALE
43
Cunning : SLY
44
Muscle pain : ACHE
45
Is of use to : AVAILS
46
Wine barrel wood : OAK
47
One more than bi- : TRI
48
*Reputed place at the North Pole : SANTASWORKSHOP
56
"The ___ thickens" : PLOT
57
Words before and after "or not" in a Shakespeare quote : TOBE
58
Choreographer Alvin : AILEY
60
Wander about : ROVE
61
Bell-ringing makeup company : AVON
62
Harsh light : GLARE
63
Once around the sun : YEAR
64
Marsh plant : REED
65
What the answer to each of the starred clues has : ELVES
Down
1
Orange root vegetable : YAM
2
Kind of test whose answers can't be erased : ORAL
3
Computer command to go back : UNDO
4
Arena section : TIER
5
Physical expression of frustration, in modern lingo : HEADDESK
6
Plays a round : GOLFS
7
Leave off, as the last letter in this clu : OMIT
8
Words at a swearing-in ceremony : OATH
9
Amenity at most hotels and airports : FREEWIFI
10
Altered version of a song : REMIX
11
"Dear ___ Hansen" (Broadway hit) : EVAN
12
Google alternative : BING
13
Pub offerings : ALES
21
Hockey Hall-of-Famer Bobby : ORR
22
Published : RAN
25
Nasty comments : BARBS
26
Typeface alternative to Helvetica : ARIAL
27
Unpredictable, in an unwanted way : DICEY
28
"Unbelievable!" : GEEZ
29
Animated lead singer of the Pussycats : JOSIE
30
"My bad!" : OOPS
31
Largest city in the United Arab Emirates : DUBAI
32
Wryly humorous : DROLL
33
What the I.R.S. collects : TAXES
35
The white stuff in an orange : PITH
36
Riding the waves : ASEA
38
Jon Bon Jovi or Simon Le Bon : ROCKSTAR
39
Make a mental image of : ENVISAGE
44
Grp. to call for a tow : AAA
45
Biblical boat : ARK
46
Furry swimmer : OTTER
47
Poll finding, perhaps : TREND
48
Lively for one's age : SPRY
49
Spiky plant with soothing juice : ALOE
50
Celestial explosion : NOVA
51
Created a tapestry : WOVE
52
Slender woodwind : OBOE
53
Ending with Capitol or Faith : HILL
54
Name of many Norwegian kings : OLAV
55
___ Noël (boss of 65-Across, in France) : PERE
59
Positive response : YES

Answer summary:
2 unique to this puzzle, 2 debuted here and reused later.

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