Theme: Tonsorial Treatment.
17A. *Squeaker : CLOSE SHAVE. They shave off the "C" for the next entry.
23A. *Fall in with the wrong crowd, say : LOSE ONE'S WAY. For the next one, they shaved the "E."
39A. *Kobe, notably : LOS ANGELES LAKER. And then, the "S" gets shaved.
50A. *"Voilà!" : LO AND BEHOLD. Oh dear, now the "L" gets shaved.
61A. *"Cantique de Noël," in the States : O HOLY NIGHT. Until all that's left is the lowly "O" in CLOSE. (Don't you hate it when the hairdresser starts gabbing with you, and you are left with a haircut that makes you look more like Yul Brynner?)
And the unifier:
48D. Tool used to give the starts of the starred answers a 17-Across? : RAZOR.
Fantastic theme, cleverly done. Marti here, to look at what else is in store for us.
Across:
1. It's taken in court : FIFTH.
6. City founded by King Harald III : OSLO.
10. Silences, gang-style : OFFS.
14. Skateboarder's leap : OLLIE. A trick invented by Alan "Ollie" Gelfond in 1979, it is one of the first tricks most skateboarders learn. If you want to see how to do it, check out this video. 1:08
15. Pringle, e.g. : CHIP.
16. Brother of Fidel : RAUL.
19. Fanboy's mag : ZINE. It all started back in 1973 at a comics convention in Chicago. Get the story here.
20. ___ of Reason : AGE.
21. Exhort : URGE.
22. Make a fake of : FORGE.
27. Nurse : SIP. Not sure why "nurse a drink" came to my mind first...
28. KOA parkers : RVS. Kampgrounds of America are now full of Recreational Vehicles instead of tents.
29. Hopeful opening : I WISH.
31. Up on, with "of" : AWARE.
34. Trim : PARE.
36. Word with median or minimum : WAGE. In 1938, when minimum wage standards were first set, it was $0.25
42. Related : AKIN.
43. Redding who sang "These Arms of Mine" : OTIS. Not one of my favorites by him. But here's the obligatory link. 2:37
44. Agenda bullets : ITEMS.
45. Old saw : ADAGE.
47. "Mad Men" channel : AMC. It used to stand for American Movie Classics. But they are changing their programming, and the acronym is being de-emphasized.
48. Tach meas. : RPM. Revolutions per minute. You could get DIZZY watching this 45 RPM. 3:17
56. Daughter of King Triton : ARIEL. She was played by The Little Mermaid in a 1989 Disney film...
58. Composed : COOL.
59. Yokohama yes : HAI. はい
60. Kooky : ZANY.
64. Cause of a sniff : ODOR. Not "cold." I have been lucky this year. No colds, but my allergies have been through the roof.
65. Three-piece piece : VEST.
66. Big name in paper : SCOTT.
67. Like many collectibles : RARE. Like a Topps '52 Mantle. Right, C.C.? (From C.C.: Yes! To me, it's the Holy Grail of baseball card collectors. T206 Honus Wagner is just an impossible dream.)
68. War god : ARES.
69. A/V component : AUDIO. The other component is video.
Down:
1. ___ point : FOCAL.
2. "Ooh, send me!" : I'LL GO. I read the clue, and couldn't get this song out of my head! 2:46
3. Northern sheets : FLOES.
4. McCourt memoir : 'TIS. I just mentioned this book a couple weeks ago.
5. Texter's giggle : HEE.
6. Yellowish shade : OCHRE. Like this.
7. Chases flies : SHAGS. Not swats.
8. Energetic types : LIVE WIRES. Nice fill!
9. Unlock'd : OPE.
10. Small pasta used in soups : ORZO.
11. Equal chance : FAIR SHAKE. More nice fill.
12. Mold, mildew, etc. : FUNGI.
13. "No ___ Till Brooklyn": Beastie Boys song : SLEEP. This is an equal opportunity blog, so I guess I am obliged to link this song....4:47
18. Enjoys the beach : SUNS. I wish I were back in Florida!!
22. "I feel I should tell you," briefly : FYI. For your information.
24. Trip to the dry cleaners, e.g. : ERRAND.
25. Pizza place : OVEN.
26. Commands reverence from : AWES.
30. Certain sample : SWATCH.
31. Arroz ___ Cubana: Spanish dish : A LA. Basically, it is a fried egg with rice smothered with tomato paste. If this were Monday, the clue would read "Chicken ___ King."
32. Restaurant pan : WOK.
33. Area conquered by Alexander the Great : ASIA MINOR. Modern day Turkey. Map.
34. Sch. whistle blower : P.E. TEACHER. I had PET______ and wondered if they were talking about obedience school!
35. 1996 Olympic torch lighter : ALI. Did not know that.
37. Ruby or topaz : GEM.
38. Hesitant utterances : ERS. And we also have 63-Down. Post-ER area : ICU. So don't hesitate, or you might end up in ICU!
41. Wedge in a mojito : LIME. Rum, mint, lime, sugar and club soda. What's not to like?
46. 100% : ALL.
47. With great skill : ABLY.
49. Big name in small bags : PRADA. With a big price tag, too.51. Western loop : NOOSE.
52. Nimrods : DOLTS.
53. "That sounds bad!" : OH GOD. Or, "That feels soooo good!"
54. "Chicago Hope" Emmy winner : LAHTI. Christine. She played Dr. Kathryn Austin.
55. "Me, too" : DITTO.
57. Rochester's love : EYRE. Jane. I'll have to re-read that one some day.
61. Eggs in a lab : OVA. Plural of ovum.
62. Cloak-and-dagger org. : NSA. National Security Agency. They even have their own comic book.
'Til next week, 'tis Marti, signing off!
