LAT Sun. 12/11 Jayne & Alex Boisvert

[magus]

“Give B’s A Chance”
… from the song “Give Peace a Chance” --- great title

 
Lamb piece   ESSAY
Bldg. with stacks   LIB
Short review   CRIT
Washington’s mount   VERNON
Theme: two-word phrases both words of which normally started with P changed to B
Jaded ballplayer?   BITTERBATTER [from pitter patter --- but jaded doesn't mean bitter]
Grain of sand?   BEACHBIT
Sound of Crosby’s doorbell?   BINGBONG

Nits to Pick:

Unpleasant pair   EVILS [what is a pair of evils?]

Scarlett, to Rhett, ultimately   MYDEAR [“ultimately” makes the question not literal but actual; hence, the opposite is true as he walked out on her: "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn."  I suppose "ultimately" can be interpreted as occurring at the end.]

Alka-Seltzer sound   PLOP [it’s “ker-plop” as I recall]

Merman, notably   BELTER [singer, yes --- she certainly belted out songs; but a belter --- what’s that?  Was Mickey Mantle a “belter”?]

Domingo preceder   SABADO [how do you say “preceder” in Spanish?]

IMED [what’s this --- I’m lucky I got IMHO]

RATING:    Three grins = Loved it; Two grins = Enjoyed it; One grin = A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = No fun

[rbe]

Thanks for posting comments on the L.A. Times crosswords. I look forward to reading your review after I finish the puzzle each day.

Alka-Seltzer commercials from the 50's and 60's had a jingle with the line "plop plop fizz fizz".

[ktoonces]

Unpleasant pair-I took to mean lesser of two evils
IMed- instant messaged

[magus]

I think that's right: lesser of two evils.  Thanks. 
How did you know IMED, and aren't they all pretty much instant?

[magus]

Thanks for the kind words, rbe.

I tried a personal response through Cruciverb but I got a message saying you've blocked it.

Anyway, you're right about plop which was part of the jingle, which may have run as early as the '50's.  I can't remember it beyond the '60's, but it may still be running.