Shave and a Haircut

Back after a two-week hiatus and feeling much better.

Today's Newsday puzzle by Gail Grabowski is called "Barbershop Quartet", and here are the theme answers.

20A: Head of a political group (PARTY CHAIR). I don't wish to talk about the 2012 Presidential campaign. 

62A: Narrow escape (CLOSE SHAVE). I know that my hubby loves nothing better than a close shave. It's also the name of a popular cartoon by Wallace and Gromit, but I couldn't find the video.

10D: Extremely slim (RAZOR THIN). Something that Betty Draper no longer isn't. On last night's episode of "Mad Men", she's joined Weight Watchers and is trying to be nice to everyone. When she sees Megan put a blouse on over her slim figure, she can't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. Betty drowns herself in whipped cream and retaliates by telling Sally about the first Mrs. Draper.

36D: Minor Rural Blaze (BRUSH FIRE). With all the global warming, there have been too many of these lately. There was a serious one at Brookhaven Labs a few weeks ago.

I've always loved the sounds and harmonies of the barbershop quartet. There have been many variations on TV. One of the funniest was a very pregnant Lucy, Ricky and the gang singing "Sweet Adeline." They try to keep Lucy from singing by stuffing shaving cream in her mouth:

On an episode of "The Flintstones," Fred, Barney, and their friends want to appear on the "Hum Along with Herman" show. Barney can't sing unless he's in taking a bath or shower:

Wow, I just found some interesting news. There was supposedly claims of an assassination plot hidden in a crossword puzzle from a Venezuelan newspaper. The alleged target was President Hugo Chavez' older brother. Of course, the creator of the crossword puzzle said it was "ridiculous."

Ghostface Killah (from the Wu Tang Clan) was an answer in last Monday's New York Times puzzle. I've noticed that the contributors to the NYT puzzles are getting younger and are supplying hip clues.

Till tomorrow. . . .

Signing off,

The Puzzlechick