Mal De Mer (good title)
Professor’s end? IAL
Picture cards? IDS
Name of earthshaking importance? RICHTER
M.’s partner MME
In crowd option RAMADA
Theme: additional MER changes a phrase
Seaside vacation disappointment? BEACHBUMMER
Prison performer? SLAMMERDANCER
Francophilia:
“MAL DE MER†+ MME, TETE, RHONE, LILLE, BARDOT, ARP, PERE
Sci-fi psychic EMPATE [what’s the source for this word --- sounds new]
Musical works OPUSES [Opera is Webster’s first (oldest) plural]
JFK, but not LAX DEM [while both are airports, only one is also a person, so I sense of lack of parallelism]
Rating:
Three grins = Excellent: Loved it; Two grins = Good: Enjoyed it; One grin = Satisfactory: A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = Unsatisfying: No fun
