The icky (in the nicest possible way) Thursday, May 1 puzzle (answers) is by Jim Leeds. Is that the same Mr. Leeds who has also published under the moniker (or monicker, either seems to be correct although every single previous NYT reference uses the shorter ick-less version) James R. Leeds? I have no idea but I hope someone will let me know so I can keep my database in order.
We need another descriptive name, this time for clues which distract by being over-specific. 1 Across is "unicorns and griffins" which turns out to be merely BEASTS. Those clues always amuse me. A pedant might argue that it's an inappropriate clue because one of the attributes of beastliness ought to be actual existence, but that didn't stop me from smiling.
One of my favorite moments in crosswords is that aha when you discover there's a rebus involved. When did that moment come for you? I tried to fit PICKWICK into 17 Across but it wouldn't fit so I knew something was up. I wish, though, that the clue for 38 Across, "That's repulsive! ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme" hadn't been quite so specific because my second favorite moment in rebus puzzles is figuring out what re's get bused and in this case the question provided the answer. I shouldn't complain. It would have fallen quickly anyway, but I felt a tiny bit cheated having had Moment Two denied me.
I love STICKY WICKET ("awkward situations, informally") and the fact that the phrase comes from the sport that rhymes with it, cricket, makes it even better. DADO is one of those cross words that sneaks in from time to time. Usually it's clued as some sort of carpenter's groove, but the less groovy "pedestal part" is also popular. I have no idea why a "quiz show gizmo" is a CLICKER. I'd suggest that perhaps it's a button used to turn such off but I already received enough angry letters from rabid game show fans when I dissed that TV crossword show so I won't be quite so rude this time. Or is it too late? Oops.