THEME:   none, with 36 blocks   
GOOD ONES:     Boy toy?   KEN [no, not you, baldy]   
Short suckers?   VACS ["short" for vacuum]   
Prepares for an engagement?   KNEELS   
One-time bridge   AT A ["one at a time"]   
Eastern adders?   ABACI [of course I thought snakes]      
BTW:   Swell   FAB [when 
swell meant 
fab, there was no 
fab, and now that meaning of 
swell is passe, or "old hat" --- also passe]      
Classic spy comedy   MEN IN BLACK [I cannot see in what sense this movie is classic.]      
Early invasion participant   THE STONES [the British rock invasion --- an impossible clue solvable only by the letters crossing --- but I liked it]      
Cheated   ROOKED [wow! It's been a long time since I've seen ROOKED used that way --- since the '60's it's "ripped-off"]         
RATING: 
 
  
   Three grins = Loved it; Two grins = Enjoyed it; One grin = A bit bland for my taste; One teardrop = Not much fun