Today’s Saturday Stumper

Today’s Newsday  Saturday Stumper is another puzzle by “Lester Ruff” (the puzzle’s editor, Stan Newman) that still feels pretty ruff. Late in the solving, I put my hands up in the air when I hit 23-A, eight letters, “An interim Australian bioregion.” What? Wut? Too much out-of-the-wayness in this puzzle — and it’s not impressive that the phrasing of that clue appears to come straight from Wikipedia.

I was glad to be able to finish this puzzle.

Some clue-and-answer pairs of note:

2-D, four letters, “‘Plebeian protector’ paper nickname.” I misread and thought that “plebeian protector” was a newspaper’s nickname, but no.

7-D, seven letters, “Italy’s Microlino EV, e.g.” You can guess from the clue, but it’s seems a pretty arcane way to clue the answer.

8-D, ten letters, “Drive-By Truckers’ music.” I could figure out the answer, but I tend to distrust such categories.

14-A, ten letters, “Riot of miscellany.” A lively answer.

17-A, ten letters, “‘Señor Burns’ performer on The Simpsons (1995).” In 2025 there must be a better way to clue this esteemed performer.

31-A, ten letters, “Extremely exciting event.” Another lively answer.

35-A, three letters, “Drippings on menus.” Ick.

41-A, four letters, “‘Inventive’ name from Old Norse for ‘elf.’” I see what you did there.

41-D, seven letters, “Either of a wedding gown duo.” Strangely specific — and arbitrary.

46-D, five letters, “Putting great effort.” Really clever.

50-A, six letters, “What Steve Ballmer said was not “going to get any significant market share’ (2007).” I appreciate the reminder of Microsoft’s cluelessness, but in 2025, there must be a better way to clue this answer.

52-D, four letters, “Name on the cover of The Pluto Files (2009).” P as in Pluto, p as in planet, no matter what that name on the cover says. MVEMJSUNP.

56-D, letters, “Block’s 22-Across.” And 22-A, three letters, says “Ultimate.” Just too strained.

57-A, four letters, “First name of the best-selling American author of the 20th century (as of 1970).” Or: “of the 20th century, if the 20th century had ended in 1970.” This is one strange clue.

58-A, ten letters, “‘Scream queen’ since the ’70s.” So we solve on, pencils against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.

My favorite in this puzzle, though it too is overly retro: 13-D, five letters, “Sly spouse from the ’70s.” For a moment I thought I needed the name of a clever TV spouse. SALLY from McMillan & Wife ?

No spoilers; the answers are in the comments.