MORNIN', SUNSHINE~!
I loved this theme~! We have two authors today; Mr. Callahan has been a frequent co-collaborator for the LA Times, and this appears to be Mr. Giannetti's debut - well done, sirs~! The theme, again in the Downs for me ( I had a similar puzzle Apr 16 - plus circles ), is a graphical depiction of the word STAR as it "rises" from the bottom of the answer phrase through the middle phrases, and finishing up at the top of the final phrase. I felt it was a tidy construction, lots of names and circumreferential clues, yet at the same time sort of weird - as if it were an exercise in obsucrity AND a texbook array of crossword entries with chunky corners; the result being a puzzle that didn't feel like a Wednesday level, but that's exactly where it needed to be. The best I can do to "express" the theme;
9. Secret passed down by Nonna, perhaps: PASTA RECIPE - Nonna = Granny in my family
11. "Don't try to do everything at once": START SMALL
20. Some turnpike turnoffs: REST AREAS
23. Certain business quota: SALES TARGET
29. Up-and-comer, or a progression found in 29-, 23-, 20-, 9-, and 11-Down: RISING STAR
And Away We Go~!
ACROSS:
1. HS class with many average lessons?: AP STATS - I did not know this class was available
8. Twitches: SPASMS - As I get older, I can no longer have caffeine late in the day - otherwise, my legs twitch when I go to bed
14. Greeted from afar: WAVED HI - um, yeah - such an odd fill, but OK
15. MSU athlete: SPARTAN - MSU = Michigan State University; their website
16. Top rank in a tournament: ONE SEED
17. Can compete with the best: HAS GAME - the only "game" I have is Monopoly
18. Fisheye __: LENS
M.C. Escher, Three Spheres
19. Blood bank fluids: SERA
21. Crooner Mel: TORMÉ - name #1
22. "__ live and breathe!": "AS I . . ."
24. Thompson of "Men in Black: International": EMMA - name #2 - AND - 4D. Thompson of "Men in Black: International": TESSA - not the same "Thompson" - name #3
26. Paving goo: TAR
27. World Autism Mo.: APRil
30. Roadie's charges: AMPS
32. Planets, poetically: ORBS
34. __ tai: MAI
35. Future JD's exam: LSAT - crossword staple, Law School Admissions Test
36. Fishy fellow: MERMAN
Family Guy
39. "I'm home!": "IT'S ME~!"
41. Chem class site: LAB
43. __ Case: White Castle purchase: CRAVE
Man, I have not had White Castle in long, long time - now I AM craving
44. Branch of Islam: SHI'ISM
46. "The Amateur" actor Malek: RAMI - and the "bad guy" Lyutsifer Safin in the last James Bond movie; his IMDb - name #4
49. Quick scribble: NOTE
50. O.K. Corral surname: EARP - name #5
51. Acid letters: LSD - LySergic Acid Diethylamide -the Wiki
52. URL option: ORG
54. Actress Jessica: ALBA - frequent grid visitor; name #6
56. 36-Across's realm: SEA
58. Civil rights activist Chavez: CESAR - name #7
60. Brief "Get it done!": A.S.A.P.
62. "Frozen" princess: ELSA - name #8 - AND - 3D. "Frozen" reindeer: SVEN - name #9
"The Blonde & The Beast"
66. Immune response trigger: ANTIGEN - the Wiki, if you're curious
68. Stressful situation: HOT SEAT
70. Heads: LEADERS
71. NASA or NASCAR: ACRONYM
72. "Gosh darn it!": AW RATS
73. Ticket for a black diamond enthusiast: SKI PASS
DOWN:
1. Mil. no-show: AWOL - Absent WithOut Leave
2. Window installer's unit: PANE - I had one break on me last year; no sense in fixing or replacing it - I plan to replace both windows with a set of French ( Frawnche ) doors
It broke when I opened the window in a near-perfect arch
5. Sports drink suffix: ADE - GatorADE, e.g.
6. PC game with Livin' Large and Hot Date expansion packs: THE SIMS - I have not played much of this game - I preferred being the Mayor of my own Sim City
7. Hash browns, e.g.: SIDE
8. Club with cucumber slices?: SPA - Nice. I was contemplating "BLT" - but I like this fresh clue
10. Golden Fleece vessel: ARGO - name(ish)
12. ABBA's "__ Mia!": MAMMA - AND - 25D. Lisa Bonet, to Zoë Kravitz: MOM - a couple of days too late for this past Sunday
13. Vile smile: SNEER
15. Part of a bedding set: SHAM - the part I never bother with when I buy a set; I hardly use the top sheet, in fact - it's the fitted bottom sheet, with side pockets that I like best - I can hang my electric blanket controller there
27. Brest friends: AMIs - I missed the "r" on the first pass in Brest ( France )
Frawnche Friends
28. Way: PATH
31. Buddy: PAL
33. "I c-c-can't feel my t-t-toes": "BRR~!"
37. "We try harder" car rental chain: AVIS
38. "... should the __ arise": NEED
40. "'O Sole __": MIO - how 'bout Elvis' take on the melody~?
I dig the sideburns, man~! - the song Wiki
42. Farmyard bleat: BAA
45. Filmmaker Brooks: MEL - name #10
47. Vulcan salute giver: MR. SPOCK - name #11
52. Sunshine State city: OCALA - I made it as far as Jacksonville, FL - name #12
53. Subscribe again: RENEW
55. Prohibits: BANS
57. "The Tortoise and the Hare" teller: AESOP - the Fabulist
59. Verdi opera: AIDA
61. "I see now!" cries: "A-HAs~!" - the plural is a bit Meh.
63. Emmy winner Waithe: LENA - name #13; her IMDb
64. Declares: SAYS
65. Twentysomethings?: ATMs - A HA~! Trying to find an alternative to this crossword constant, not as clever as the one for SPAs
67. MD workplaces: ERs
69. Tetra- minus one: TRI - Four, less one, in prefixes equals Three
Splynter
