Rex Parker Does the NYT Crossword Puzzle: 1892 Kipling poem

Constructor: Tracy Gray

Relative difficulty: Medium

THEME: CATCHING SOME ZZ (40A: Asleep ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme) — 9 'ZZ" squares strewn about the grid ["PuZZle" is in the grid, so maybe this clue could've been reworded?]

Word of the Day: Mr. REE (71A: Mr. ___ (old whodunit game)) —

This game is planned to give you all the thrills and excitement of a true detective mystery. More than that, the game gives you an opportunity to play an exciting part in the creation of the plot, and the thrill of actually playing Detective; an eagerly sought opportunity to solve a baffling crime committed right under your very nose. And, amazing as it may seem, the plot is never the same.
[that's good "bath" room advice]
Each player assumes the part of one of the Characters in AUNT CORA'S red brick house, and by his actions and positions in the house-hold follows thru with his likes and dislikes of the various persons with whom fate has placed him. The player, represented on the board by a hollow token, roams about inside and outside the house, choosing and concealing weapons with which to commit a crime. The strong arm of the law, in the person of Mr. Ree, is ever present patrolling the grounds surrounding the house. (boardgamegeek.com)

• • •

Interesting concept. I got RAZMATAZ (17A: Flashy display) and GIZARD (3D: Giblets component) and thought "... those are right? Man, I really can't spell." Then I got PUZLE (7D: You're doing one) ... aha! From there, it was just a matter of finding those Zs,

which I made hard on myself by first forgetting that JACU(ZZ)I was the "water that moves you" sloganeer (learned that from xwords), and then forgetting that Kipling wrote something called "FU(ZZ)Y WU(ZZ)Y" (65A: 1892 Kipling poem). Also, had No Idea that "SWI(ZZ)LE" (70A: Iced rum cocktail that's stirred with a stick) was a drink. I always thought it was just a wacky synonym for "stir." My cocktail tonight was a Wimbley (OK, two Wimbleys). That's the name my restaurant was giving to what others call a "Pimm's Cup": Pimm's #1 and ginger ale and lemon, served with cucumber wedge. First one didn't have the wedge. I sent her on a cucumber hunt for the second.

Rest of the theme answers:

12D: Caffeine-induced state, slangily (BU[ZZ])
28D: Bad hair day problem (FRI[ZZ])
43D: Newport festival music (JA[ZZ])
52A: Rock trio known for its bearded members ([ZZ]TOP)

50D: Yellowstone sighting (GRI[ZZ]LY)
60D: Harriet's mate (O[ZZ]IE)
53D: Zest (PI[ZZ]A[ZZ])
62A: Tested, as on "The $64,000 Question" (QUI[ZZ]ED)

It's a very gamey puzzle, what with WAR (66D: Collect-all-the-cards game) and NIM (46A: Matchsticks game) and this crazy bygone before-my-time board game Mr. REE (took me waaaaay too long to get the "mystery" connection), not to mention PU[ZZ]LE and QUI[ZZ]ED. There's really not much in the way of objectionable fill in the grid today. Still never heard anyone called a STUPE before, but I've seen the word in crosswords multiple times (56D: Dimwit). MELL (59D: "Momma" cartoonist Lazarus) and REE and SERI (25A: Golf's ___ Pak) and ING (32A: Dutch-based financial giant) aren't exactly lovable, but it's a dense, "Z"-infested theme, so I'm willing to give the grid some leeway.

Bullets:

15A: Pot-au-___ (French stew) (FEU) — pot on the fire. Sounds like something that should be spicy. It isn't.
21A: Brand with an iconic cowboy (MARLBORO) — The MARLBORO Man (a couple of them, actually) got cancer and died.