By David Poole
©2019 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
09/26/19
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle
Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
09/26/19
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE:
Release Date: Thursday, September 26, 2019
ACROSS
1 Indian food
option
5 “4x2=8” rapper
from Korea
8 Blood
component
14 Et __: and others
15 Troy, N.Y.,
school
16 Trojan War hero
17 Delivery method
19 Duke’s Mike
Krzyzewski,
familiarly
20 Fall
21 Boats and gravy
boats
22 Stockpiled
24 Tigers, on
scoreboards
25 “Miracle on Ice”
winners: Abbr.
28 Pours carelessly
29 Start of el año
31 Quick bite
33 Chef’s collection
35 Siri device
37 Pointed facial
features
41 Morris
Buttermaker’s
“bad news” team
43 Big name in
smooth jazz
44 Spray can output
46 Like some U.S.
mail
47 African antelope
50 Binge
52 Montgomery of
jazz
53 Part of UCLA
54 Due
56 Easy marks
59 __ del Fuego
62 Angular abode
63 Complex
containing
thiamine and
niacin
65 Close tightly
66 Half of eleven?
67 Spots at the
prom?
68 Discount phrase
69 Farm sci.
70 Mower holder
DOWN
1 Brit’s raincoat
2 Rick’s love in
“Casablanca”
3 In __ of
4 Decrees
5 1996 Richard
Gere/Edward
Norton thriller
6 Spot buyer
7 Half a cosmic
whole
8 Walked
nervously
9 Some summer
babies
10 Santa __: dry
winds
11 Withdraw
formally
12 “Resurrection
Symphony”
composer
13 Invites for
18 Antacid brand
21 Italian scooter
23 Long-running
Mad feature
suggested by this
puzzle’s circled
letters
25 Yard, say
26 Junior-to-be
27 Tennis immortal
29 “The
Neverending
Story” author
30 Acronymically
named boy band
32 White House
architect James
34 Rug rat
36 More than want
38 Had down cold
39 Thornfield Hall
governess
40 Capt.’s
subordinates
42 Bouquet for a
señorita
45 On the soapbox
47 West Texas city
48 Preppy shoe
49 Celestial
51 Zeno’s home
54 Coterie members,
in slang
55 “Aunt __ Cope
Book”
57 Black Friday event
58 Controversial
radio host
60 Like chocolate
cheesecake
61 Actress
Hathaway
63 Intl. news
broadcaster
64 Rest area?
Whether we welcome it with open arms
or try our hardest to shun it, celebrity
culture pervades everyday life. Through
the rise of platforms like Twitter and
Instagram, the gap between celebrities
and
average
folks
has
narrowed,
strengthening the illusion that these
millionaire stars are just like us. Perhaps
it is this very superficial connection that
allows “Between Two Ferns,” which is
essentially an hour-long roast of A-list
stars hosted by Zach Galifianakis, to
find its audience. Though Galifianakis’s
niche humor is a bizarre mix of silly and
abrasive and the film’s plot is painfully
elementary, if we fully embrace the
absurdity we may laugh more than we
expect to.
It seems pointless to even provide
a synopsis for this movie because the
relevance of the “story” is minimal. Zach
Galifianakis (“The Hangover”) plays a
wacky, corporate-controlled talking head
who dreams of hosting his own show one
day. When business tycoon Will Ferrell
(“Blades of Glory”) offers Galifianakis a
chance to turn his dream into a reality,
he and his equally peculiar crew drive
across the country to complete a series of
celebrity interviews under a time crunch.
If this sounds nonsensical, that’s because
it is. Filled with foolishness and lacking
pacing, “Between Two Ferns” watches as
more of a “Saturday Night Live” skit or
a Netflix comedy special than an actual
film.
It
is
questionable
whether
this
spectacle can even be deemed a “movie”
because it is so unconventional in its
strong emphasis on comedy and disregard
for plotline. The film targets a distinct it’s
unlikely that Galifianakis’s goofiness will
peak your interest.
In terms of quality, “Between Two
Ferns” is missing a variety of important
elements like engaging cinematography,
a memorable score and genuine character
development.
Though
director
Scott
Aukerman makes it quite clear from the
start that “Between Two Ferns” is not
meant to follow any sort of conventional
structure, the lack of traditional movie
features is frustrating for any audience
member wanting more than just snippets
of celebrities being insulted in interviews.
Despite its narrow intended audience,
“Between Two Ferns” is not the worst
option if you’re looking for an addition
to a late-night Netflix binge. The sheer
ridiculousness of the plotline and level
of overall awkwardness throughout are
enough to make anyone crack a few smiles.
However, if you are looking to watch
something substantial, you are definitely
better off scrolling past Aukerman’s latest
flick.
‘Two Ferns’ is too silly for a story
SAMANTHA NELSON
Daily Arts Writer
FILM REVIEW
Between Two Ferns
Netflix
Alright. So maybe the Homer Simpson animation that
opened the show was a miss, but you know what was a
bigger miss? “Green Book” winning Best Picture. We hope
you enjoyed the big wins, the bits that actually landed and
the sheen on Tony Shalhoub’s mustache. But, most of all,
we hope you remember the times that we picked correctly,
and that we told you so.
Forever yours,
The TV Beat
Lead Actor in a Drama
The Winner: Billy Porter (“POSE”)
Since TIME Magazine obviously isn’t going to do it, it’s
about time we label 2019 “The Year of Billy Porter.” After
serving a look as instantly iconic as the tuxedo gown at
this year’s Academy Awards, most celebrities would have
stopped. After being carried into the Met Gala by a troupe
of beefcakes — in all gold might I add — most celebrities
would have lost their momentum. But Billy Porter is
not most celebrities and, if this year is any indication, he
will not be removing his foot from the collective neck of
America anytime soon. No, I will not take up precious time
gloating about how I told you so, and how I just might be
the voice of high-brow taste. But I will take up your time
to spearhead the campaign to get Billy Porter on Disney’s
forthcoming “The Little Mermaid” album. Not only will
this earn him the final “G” in his quest to the elusive
E.G.O.T (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony), but it also will
preemptively make “The Little Mermaid,” starring Halle
Bailey, the Blackest film of 2020.
Lead Actress in a Limited Series
The Winner: Michelle Williams (“Fosse/Verdon”)
The (Honorary) Most Improved: Joey King (“The Act”)
OK. So maybe I’m not the pinnacle of high brow taste.
I’m allowed to make mistakes! If it means anything, I am
very satisfied that, if anyone, it was Michelle Williams that
took home the prize for her performance as Gwen Verdon
— even if my pick, Joey King, decisively proved herself
to be “Most Improved.” The range, the career savvy to
make the leap from “The Kissing Booth” to “The Act” in
under a year should not go unnoticed. Her ability to not
only keep up with, but to even steal scenes from living
legend, Patricia Arquette should not go unnoticed. To
contextualize my claim, imagine Noah Centineo holding
his own alongside Bob Odenkirk. Now laugh because that
would never happen. There’s always next year, Jo-Jo!
— Ally Owens, TV Beat Editor
Lead Actress in a Comedy
The Winner: Phoebe Waller-Bridge (“Fleabag”)
The Nine-Time Emmy Winner: Julia Louis-Dreyfus
(“Veep”)
Before this category was announced I declared that if
Julia Louis-Dreyfus did win, I would cry. And if she didn’t
win, I would also cry. So spoiler alert: I cried. Watching
JLD lose in her final season as Selina Meyer, failing to
break the record of straight wins in this category, was like
a punch to the gut. I know this millionaire comedian has
no idea who I am, and she sure doesn’t care who I am.
But I really thought she had this one. That being said, if
the winner couldn’t be JLD, I am thrilled it was another
woman of three names, Phoebe Waller-Bridge. In fact,
it was a huge night for PWB, taking home Lead Actress,
Outstanding Comedy Writing and Outstanding Comedy
Series (more on that later). Waller-Bridge crafted a
character most women could connect to — sarcastic, sexy
and deeply damaged. Not even Selina Meyer could rig that
vote.
Outstanding Comedy Series
The Winner: “Fleabag”
May I just take this moment to say: I told you so. They
all doubted me, they said it couldn’t happen. Yet here we
are, the week after the Emmy’s, and “Fleabag,” a beauty
of a show birthed from the magnificent brain of Phoebe
Waller-Bridge, has an Emmy perched on its mantel. My
reaction to this win? Shock, at first. As much faith as I
had in “Fleabag,” I thought it was pretty certain the final
season of “Veep” had this category in the bag. I would’ve
been happy of course — “Veep” is the holy grail of which all
comedy writing should be compared to. Yet my inevitable
re-watch of “Fleabag” following its win has proven that
this was not an upset nor an underdog story. There never
has and never will be another show with the emotional
depth yet comedic wit of “Fleabag,” and that deserves to
be rewarded.
— Samantha Della Fera, Senior Arts Editor
Limited Series
The Winner: “Chernobyl”
As I said, this category was Craig Mazin’s “Chernobyl”’s
to lose. While I still think “Fosse/Verdon” has the better
performances and “When They See Us” packs the most
emotional punch, “Chernobyl” excels in all of these
categories, from the supposedly uncannily accurate
recreations of the Soviet era to the pilot which has a valid
argument for being the single best episode of TV in the
entire year. The scenes including the firefighters are as
pathos-inducing as others are thrilling, and “Chernobyl”
is a worthy winner even among its stiff competition.
Lead Actor in a Comedy
The Winner: Bill Hader (“Barry”)
That’s two years in a row now for Bill Hader’s tour
de force performance as the titular character in HBO’s
“Barry.” And like I said in my prediction, this probably
wasn’t even a close vote. What impresses me the most is just
how convincing the fundamental changes are portrayed
in the hitman-turned-actor and how Hader sells his
endearing awkwardness. He is supported by other skillful
performances by Sarah Goldberg, Anthony Carrrigan and
Henry Winkler, but as much as he has the ability to play off
their work, the fact that Barry is still repressed internally
and carries the darkest of secrets forces him to ultimately
take the lead and stand above the rest.
— Sayan Ghosh, Daily New Media Editor
Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
The Winner: Luke Kirby (“The Marvelous Mrs.
Maisel”)
The Robbed: John Mulaney (“Saturday Night Live”)
How could this happen? Was our favorite lanky
comedian really robbed of an Emmy even after “Bodega
Bathroom”? Even after two successful runs on SNL?
Sure, everyone that’s been nominated for an Emmy has
a “winner” edge to their work, but John Mulaney should
have been the winner. His comedy is anecdotal, but always
has a relatable quality to it, and he’s a model for what the
future of comedy better look like. I’m sure Luke Kirby
did a great job, but the disappointment that comes with
Mulaney’s loss is one that is comparable to seeing your
favorite teacher lose the “Teacher of the Year” award. You
really loved that teacher, but you understand that maybe
the winner was a little more popular. With consistency,
your favorite teacher has a real chance in the running to
win next year.
Variety Talk Show
The Winner: “Last Week Tonight With John Oliver”
The Robbed (But Still Sexy): “The Daily Show with
Trevor Noah”
Let’s be honest here. Pretty much all variety talk shows
today consist of similar material and jokes, because 99
percent of them draw from politics. After all, the Trump
administration gives them plenty of comedic material to
work with, and it’s nearly impossible to avert your eyes
from the trainwreck that is American politics. So while all
these hosts have their own spin on the happenings of the
day, any one of them could have won and nobody would
have been that surprised. Since “Last Week Tonight With
John Oliver” is on HBO, Oliver and his team can definitely
push more boundaries in the comedy realm than the other
networks can. So I get it. Everyone loves Trevor Noah and
Stephen Colbert, but there wasn’t much potential for this
category to have a huge upset anyway. They could have
drawn the winner from a hat.
— Sophia Yoon, Daily Arts Writer
Here’s what you missed at the Emmys. You’re welcome.
DAILY TV BEAT
Daily Arts Writers
TV NOTEBOOK
FX
NETFLIX
AMAZON PRIME VIDEO
HBO
6 —Thursday, September 26, 2019
Arts
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