Theme: EMPTY WORDS - T is changed into M in each phrase.
22. Rowing teams that spread good cheer?: MERRY CREWS. Terry Crews.
40. Scampering after a letter caught by the wind?: CHASING ONE'S MAIL. Chasing one's tail.
47. Exhausted after cramming for a geography test?: ALL MAPPED OUT. All tapped out.
64. Trick to getting the cleanest floors?: MOP SECRET. Top secret.
71. Courthouse employee responsible for maintenance?: BAR MENDER. Bartender.
85. Solution when it's too hard to choose one Halloween costume?: MULTI-MASKING. Multi-tasking.
92. "Let's raise a glass to our favorite silent performers of yore!"?: FOR OLD MIME'S SAKE. For old time's sake.
115. Shop displays of long skirts?: MAXI STANDS. Taxi stands.
"Empty" sounds like "M-T," hence the title. Some letter changes occur in the first word, some in the middle, and a couple in the last word. No odd man out.
Across:
1. NYC home of Dalí's "The Persistence of Memory": MOMA.
5. Leader of the Aesir: ODIN. Aesir is the pantheon of Norse myth. Also
97. Home of 5-Across: ASGARD.
9. Use the Track Changes feature in a document, say: EDIT. Microsoft Word.
13. Roles, metaphorically: HATS.
17. At any moment: EVER.
18. Body lotion brand: NIVEA. I like Curel. Scent-free.
20. Places: PUTS.
21. Hebrew prophet: MICAH. One of the twelve minor prophets.
24. Solo at the Met: ARIA.
25. The Gem State: IDAHO. Idaho is home to more than 72 different types of precious and semi-precious gemstones.
26. Jealous: ENVIOUS.
27. Superlative suffix: EST.
29. From Laos, say: ASIAN.
31. NL East or AL West: DIV.
32. "Ciao!": BYE.
33. Afternoon TV fillers: RE-RUNS.
35. Clear plastic: LUCITE. Type of acrylic.
37. Mesoamerican fruit: CACAO.
43. "For You" singer Rita: ORA.
44. Take to court: SUE.
45. Insta profile part: BIO.
46. Killer whale: ORCA.
52. Ides of March utterance: ET TU.
53. Texas metropolis, for short: DFW. Dallas Fort Worth.
56. Jeep headquarters city: TOLEDO. Mud Hens.
57. Shortly after the big bang, e.g.: EONS AGO.
59. Orléans river: LOIRE.
61. Notable deeds: FEATS.
63. Title role for Benicio del Toro: CHE.
66. Collapsible bed: COT. 69. No longer in 73-Across: RISEN. 73. Place to be tucked in: BED.
67. Chobani competitor: OIKOS.
70. Took lunch: ATE.
74. Cacophonous: NOISY.
76. Starts a fresh pot: ANTES. Poker.
77. Leaves no room for doubt: ENSURES.
79. Bully: COERCE.
82. "It was fine": MEH.
83. Tax pros: CPAS.
88. Late-night TV pioneer: PAAR (Jack)
89. Prefix with dermis: EPI.
90. 2019 W.S. champ: NAT. World Series. National.
91. Corp. bigwig: CEO.
98. NHL legend Hull: BRETT. Son of Bobby Hull.
100. Image in a group chat, perhaps: AVATAR.
101. Runway figures: MODELS.
102. Hip-hop pioneer Kool __ Dee: MOE.
103. Blue rep.: DEM.
104. Lure: TEMPT.
106. Prayer __: RUG.
107. Airport areas with extra amenities: LOUNGES.
111. Muse of poetry: ERATO.
113. Self-involved: VAIN.
117. Contract addition: RIDER.
118. Ruse: PLOY.
119. Media coverage: PRESS.
120. "Heat" director Michael: MANN. He also directed "Ali".
121. "I need it now!": STAT.
122. Rational: SANE.
123. Normandy landing time: D DAY.
124. Round-about figs.?: ETAS. Oh, "round-about" here means approximate.
Down:
1. Image in a group chat, perhaps: MEME.
2. Busy spot at Thanksgiving: OVEN. Look at this pumpkin bar. Loaded.
3. "Wheel of Fortune" creator Griffin: MERV.
4. Up, in Spanish: ARRIBA.
5. Perfectly timed: ON CUE.
6. Short ways to go?: DIRS. Directions.
7. "__ seen enough": I'VE.
8. Cap company: NEW ERA.
9. Org. that regulates pesticides: EPA.
10. Chihuahua neighbor: DURANGO. Both are states in northern Mexico; Durango borders Chihuahua to the south.
11. "Affirmative": IT IS SO.
12. Ming who hosts the cooking show "Simply Ming": TSAI.
13. Camouflaged: HID.
14. National park near Bar Harbor: ACADIA.
15. Largest island in French Polynesia: TAHITI.
16. Sandbox toy: SHOVEL.
19. Burros: ASSES.
21. Wee: MINUSCULE.
23. Go up and down: YO-YO.
28. The Texas __: nonprofit media company: TRIBUNE.
30. "Nerd __!": ALERT.
34. Liters and meters: UNITS.
36. Nashville awards org.: CMA. The Country Music Association.
37. Polish layer: COAT.
38. "Heaven" singer Parks: ARLO. Born and raised in London.
39. Summon: CALL FORTH.
40. Measuring __: CUP.
41. Laugh syllable: HEE.
42. Closed for business: NOT OPEN.
44. Totally right: SPOT ON.
48. "Let's get together": MEET ME.
49. Lovelace of computing history: ADA. Daughter of Lord Byron.
50. Room designs: DECORS.
51. Cries of wonder: OOHS.
52. Self-images: EGOS.
53. Cajun dish cooked with giblets: DIRTY RICE.
54. No charge: FREE.
55. Like a martini with extra vermouth: WET.
58. Surrounded by: AMIDST.
60. Ric of The Cars: OCASEK.
62. Like many infield throws: SIDEARM.
65. Ski run vehicle: SNO-CAT.
66. Peppermint candy shape: CANE.
68. Some dolls: KENS.
69. Spool: REEL.
71. "Bang!": BAM.
72. Moving staircase: ESCALATOR.
73. Elle Woods' dog: BRUISER.
75. Apple platform: IOS.
78. Called someone out, perhaps: UMPED.
80. Tech coverage site: CNET.
81. Awards quartet: EGOT.
84. Fernando Tatís Jr., for one: PADRE.
86. Tattoo parlor supply: INK.
87. Astronaut Jemison: MAE.
88. Tea holder: POT.
89. Strong feeling: EMOTION.
92. Sliding volume controls: FADERS.
93. No longer interested: OVER IT.
94. Best Western rival: RAMADA.
95. Antelope with twisted horns: IMPALA.
96. Losing streak: SLUMP.
98. Session: BOUT.
99. File menu choice: RE-NAME.
102. Like green logs: MOSSY.
105. Some post-series interviewees, for short: MVPS. The latest World Series MVP: William Contreras.
107. Kudrow of "The Comeback": LISA.
108. Little pest: GNAT.
109. Writer Ferber: EDNA.
110. IDs on blue cards: SSNS.
112. Lunar festival in Vietnam: TET. Feb 6, 2027.
114. Dec. 31: NYE.
116. Marked (out): X'ED.
C.C.
