Theme: "Obviously!" - Each common phrase is clued as if IT does not exist.
23A Poorly put together trays?: CRUDITE PLATTERS.
39A. Donkeys who got caught in the rain?: WET BURRITOS.
51A. Pews?: PRIORITY SEATING.
83A. Khaki work uniform?: TITAN OF INDUSTRY.
92A. Request from one who prefers dry mashed potatoes?: ZERO GRAVITY.
115A. Energy supplies that are just OK?: FINITE RESOURCES.
Reveal:
65. "We all see the obvious here, right?," and how to make six long answers in this puzzle match their clues?: IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING.
Sometimes we have themes where letter or letter string appear in the theme entries but ignored in the clues. We could just have wacky theme answers instead. But today is a good example of why the letter should be included. Perfect reveal and rationale.
Got this picture of when I googled Chandi. She's lower left. Looks who's on upper right? Patti!
Across:
1. Luminescent gems: OPALS.
6. Fish head?: CRAW. OK, Crawfish.
10. "Who Let the Dogs Out" group __ Men: BAHA. The only Baha Men song I know.
14. Act extempore: AD LIB.
19. Lear daughter: REGAN. Have to mention our local girl Regan Smith.
20. Breakfast scramble: HASH.
21. Some deleted contacts: EXES.
22. Enlightenment philosopher Thomas: PAINE.
26. Mary-in-mourning piece: PIETA.
27. Marshmallow Man in "Ghostbusters": STAY-PUFT. Learning moment for me.
28. Capital of Tibet: LHASA.
29. Literary whaler: PEQUOD. "Moby-Dick".
30. Start and end of a faceoff?: EFS. Letter F.
31. __ of strength: FEAT.
32. Boyfriend: BEAU.
33. Rap's Snoop __: DOGG.
37. God destined to slay the sea serpent Jörmungandr: THOR.
45. "Snowy" bird: EGRET.
47. Ice rink leap: AXEL.
49. Self-satisfied: SMUG.
50. Bankrupt: RUIN. Verb "bankrupt".
54. Sacred text: BIBLE.
55. Bob in the Basketball Hall of Fame: PETTIT. No idea. Wikipedia says he's NBA's first MVP.
56. Dutch painter Frans: HALS.
57. Pat Benatar's "Love __ Battlefield": IS A.
59. Historic space station: MIR.
60. Stern direction?: AFT. Stern of a boat.
61. Stinging insect: WASP.
62. Dorky one: DWEEB.
64. Picnic pest: ANT.
70. Citrusy suffix: ADE.
71. Piccata bud: CAPER. Lots of buds.
72. Marine mammal in a matrilineal group: ORCA.
73. Anti-fraud org.: BBB.
74. Bear's lair: DEN.
75. Reddit forum for inquiries: AMA. Ask Me Anything.
76. Early educ.: PRE-K.
77. Potent potion: ELIXIR.
81. Purple or green herb: BASIL. Never had purple basil. Cilantro is the only herb used in Chinese cooking.
88. Checkout unit: ITEM.
89. Waffle __: IRON.
90. Identical: SAME.
91. Spine-chilling: EERIE.
96. 95-Down beds, maybe: COTS. 95. Steppes tent: YURT.
98. Talk back to: SASS.
99. Yule tune: NOEL.
100. "No problem!": SURE.
102. Spy org.: CIA.
104. Surreptitious one: SLY FOX.
107. French composer Gabriel: FAURE. Another learning moment.
109. Former police procedural starring Kathryn Morris: COLD CASE.
114. Jazz great Armstrong: LOUIS.
117. "You mean a lot to me": I CARE.
118. "This __ fair": ISN'T.
119. Pool table fabric: FELT.
120. Tempts: BAITS.
121. Yearned (for): PINED.
122. Flight nos.: ETAS.
123. Takes a load off: SITS.
124. "Thus ... ": AND SO.
Down:
1. Fantasy baddies: ORCS.
2. Impudent: PERT.
3. Tlaxcala water: AGUA.
4. Pop's __ Gaga: LADY.
5. Dig (at): SNIPE.
6. Toque: CHEF'S HAT. Dim sum chef wears this type of tall hat.
7. Paying strict attention: RAPT.
8. Comm. system with visual cues: ASL.
9. Beluga, e.g.: WHALE.
10. Gets feedback from an early audience: BETA TESTS.
11. Weapons thrown at targets, in some social settings: AXES.
12. Greek goddess of childbirth: HERA.
13. Beast of burden: ASS.
14. Seem (to be): APPEAR.
15. Rum co*cktail: DAIQUIRI. Named after a Cuban iron mine, according to Wikipedia.
16. In __ of: LIEU.
17. Engrossed by: INTO.
18. Drop of sweat: BEAD.
24. Clump of hair: TUFT.
25. Defrost: THAW.
29. Word that may be replaced by a slash: PER.
31. NPR show hosted by Terry Gross: FRESH AIR. Used to listen to her faithfully at 8:00pm our time.
32. Open carriages: BUGGIES.
33. Lily-Rose __ of "The Idol": DEPP. Just had her last Sunday.
34. Fantasy baddie: OGRE.
35. Determination: GRIT.
36. Location metadata: GEOTAG.
38. Skin care brand: OXY.
40. "Ew, stop sharing": TMI.
41. Steamed bite: BUN.
42. Abolitionist Harriet: TUBMAN.
43. Conditioning, as a bamboo cutting board: OILING.
44. Hägar's dog: SNERT.
46. Like some glasses: TRIFOCAL.
48. Path of __ resistance: LEAST.
52. Gp. concerned with crashes: IT TEAM. Hey, we have IT here. A few other short words also.
53. Swiss instrument traditionally made from red pine: ALPHORN. Ricola.
54. Pastel shade: BABY BLUE.
58. Ocean floor: SEABED.
61. "Raw" org.: WWE.
62. Puckered expression in a selfie: DUCK FACE.
63. Iga Swiatek's org.: WTA.
65. Conceptualize: IDEATE.
66. More on edge: TENSER.
67. __ awareness: SPATIAL.
68. Twistable cookies: OREOS.
69. Birds mummified in ancient Egypt: IBISES.
70. Madison Ave. industry: AD BIZ. 78. Bonus, in 70-Down lingo: XTRA.
76. Ensembles associated with Hillary Clinton: PANTSUITS.
79. "Bearded" flower: IRIS.
80. Marbled breads: RYES.
82. "Try to stop me now!": I'M ON FIRE.
84. Nickname that drops -ing: IRV.
85. French pronoun: TOI.
86. "TBH" kin: IMO. To be honest.
87. Actual expenditures: NET COSTS.
93. Gave a boost: GOOSED.
94. Film critic Reed: REX.
97. Rural tower: SILO.
101. Underwater ecosystems: REEFS.
103. "Mrs. America" Emmy winner Uzo: ADUBA.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/082614-uzo-aduba-594-74a2742d53c84b07bdb209a89335df64.jpg "L.A.Times Crossword Corner (14)")
104. Marina space: SLIP.
105. Centers: LOCI.
106. Currency also known as the renminbi: YUAN. Renmin = People. Bi = Currency.
107. Rock, in Rock, Paper, Scissors: FIST.
108. __ Mae Bullock: Tina Turner's birth name: ANNA. Did not know this.
109. Gaul or Breton: CELT.
110. Ocean Spray prefix: CRAN.
111. Base's chemical opposite: ACID.
112. Complete groups: SETS.
113. Provincial petrol provider: ESSO.
115. Old-timey "ugh": FIE.
116. Camping gear co-op: REI. Stands for Recreational Equipment, Inc.
C.C.
