"Herd Mentality"

[oldjudge]

Bob-I have to help you out—eliminate Seriema. First, it is not the answer, and second it sounds like a urological disease (or Venus’ sister).

[LesY]

OTC as well. I’m proud of myself for actually knowing one. Just one.

Nice job, Brian!

[LaceyK]

Unconfirmed OTC. Excellent puzzle.
I needed google at times, which is my answer to 24A.
I wasn't around for Pageant, but anyone have flashbacks?

[C=64]

Solved! Got a chuckle out of 66A.

[Bob cruise director]

Bob-I have to help you out—eliminate Seriema. First, it is not the answer, and second it sounds like a urological disease (or Venus’ sister).

I am relieved. Only 157 left

[Dplass]

Good news - there are only 158 animals with seven letters.

Ha! You got further than I did then!

[lbray53]

Got it! I will be impressed if anyone solved this without heavy surfing.

[Beth Tyrpin]

My son helped me solve the grid. We were cracking up at the clues. He ditched me when the grid was finished, but I’m 🛋.

[hcbirker]

OTC. Great puzzle Brian!

[BrianMac]

End of Monday Leaderboard:

1. damefox
2. BarbaraK
3. Meg
4. ChrisKochmanski
5. Cindy
6. Tom Wilson
7. Richard B.
8. boharr
9. Laura M
10. RPardoe
11. TMart
12. MarkL
13. oldjudge
14. joequavis
15. FrankieHeck
16. hcbirker
17. LaceyK
18. C=64
19. Beth Tyrpin
20. lbray53

Thanks everyone for solving and for the comments. Another update tomorrow.

[Dplass]

OTC. Well done.

Thanks for the free puzzle.

(And I agree, it'd be very impressive for someone to get this without heavy surfing.)

[TPS]

(And I agree, it'd be very impressive for someone to get this without heavy surfing.)

I was gonna try this tonight and then I saw this ^^^ So it looks like I'll watch the Falcons-Packers game instead.

[BrianMac]

The clue for 12-Down seems to have been cut off the bottom of the PDF. I think the answer is still pretty inferrable from the cut-off clue, "Janis Joplin's second," but the full clue should actually read: "Janis Joplin's second and final studio album."

[Schmeel]

Of the couch!
Not much google needed for the grid, but couldn't get the answer without it.
Amused by some of the cluing, fun puzzle!

[Bob cruise director]

The clue for 12-Down seems to have been cut off the bottom of the PDF. I think the answer is still pretty inferrable from the cut-off clue, "Janis Joplin's second," but the full clue should actually read: "Janis Joplin's second and final studio album."

Thanks. I got it because she did not have a second of anything else (and the cross words).

[Al Sisti]

The clue for 12-Down seems to have been cut off the bottom of the PDF. I think the answer is still pretty inferrable from the cut-off clue, "Janis Joplin's second," but the full clue should actually read: "Janis Joplin's second and final studio album."

Thanks. I got it because she did not have a second of anything else (and the cross words).

Hard to believe it's been 50 years since she died. I went to bed with "I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama" album on the turntable, and woke up to a radio DJ reporting the awful news.

[Abide]

Busy day yesterday, and solved this morning without much insight. Reading all the "you must Google" comments gave me the nudge I needed. Great meta, flawless fill and cluing.

[hashbrown]

OTC - thanks for the puzzle Brian!

[KayW]

That was a fun - and educational - solve. Thanks, Brian!

[Bird Lives]

Solved! Got a chuckle out of 66A.

He was the kind of player often described as "scrappy."