NYT Crossword 08/30/17 (Wed.)

Cruciverbalist: David J. Kahn
Editor: Will Shortz

Solving time: 09:09

Puzzle uniqueness:

Word ladder  from  BLUNT to SHARP in eight steps.. I hate word ladders. 'Nuff sed.

Words I hadn't known until now: 

DOREMI - "Cabbage or kale"

Trivia I didn't know: 

ZEB - "Grandpa Walton, for short" (Never watched the show)
FIERI - "'Guy's Big Bite' Food Network host"
SLADE - "Rock Band with six #1 British hits in the 1970s"
CUTTLE - "Sea creature with eight arms"
EWELL - "Mayella ______, 'To Kill a Mockingbird' character" (Rather obscure, one would think)

Junk Answers:

ZEB - (See above)
FIERI - (See Above)
LEI - "Kauai keepsake" (Overused)
ELA - "She, in Portuguese"
ANERA - "End of _____" (Really?)
INBAD - "Not getting along (with)"
ABBR - "Rep. or Dem., e.g."
EPEES - "Pentathlon needs" (Overused)

Clever clues: 

RADIO - "What comes in waves?"

IGLOO - "Ice pad?"

LOB - "Upshot?"

SLAT - "Blind side?"

Obscure (i.e., really reaching) words: 

BARRE - "Ballet support"
ANNEAL - "Temper, as metal"
ZEB - (See above)
FIERI - (See above)
CUTTLE - (See above - usually referred to as "cuttlefish")
DOREMI - (See above)
ETAIL - Cyber Monday business"
EWELL - (See above)