google.com, pub-2774194725043577, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0 L.A.Times Crossword Corner: Joe Marangell

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Showing posts with label Joe Marangell. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joe Marangell. Show all posts

Aug 7, 2025

Thursday, August 7, 2025, Joe Marangell

Theme:  Schoolwork.

Constructor Joe Marangell teaches us to read five familiar phrases as if they pertained to schoolwork.  The theme answers are placed symmetrically in Across rows, with one spanning the grid.  Very clever!  Give this man an A!  The theme clues and answers are:

17-Across. Biology course content?: LIFE LESSON.  A life lesson is a piece of wisdom gained through experience -- or in this case, a course of study in biology, which is the scientific study of life and living organisms.

26-Across. Aviation course content?: PILOT STUDY.  A pilot study is a small-scale, preliminary research project conducted to assess the feasibility of a larger study or project -- or in this case, study materials for someone learning to pilot an aircraft.

38-Across. Basic training course content?: PRIVATE PRACTICE.  A private practice is a professional business (such as that of a lawyer or doctor) that is not controlled by the government or a larger company -- or in this case, the training course for an army recruit of the lowest rank.

46-Across. Government course content?: POWER DRILL.  A power drill is a handheld tool that uses an electric motor to rotate a drill bit or screwdriver tip -- or in this case, a training session in the use of authority, influence, or control.

57-Across. Sports management course content?: COACH CLASS.  Coach class is economy seating on an aircraft or train -- or in this case, a curriculum for persons responsible for the direction, instruction, and training of a sports team or athlete.

Across: 

1. Tiffs: SPATS.

6. Gym sets: REPS.  Repetitions of an exercise, usually called "reps" in a gymnasium.

10. "Pygmalion" playwright: SHAW.  Pygmalion is a 1913 stage play by George Bernard Shaw.  It is named for the Greek mythological figure Pygmalion, who fell in love with one of his sculptures, which then came to life.  You may be more familiar with the 1964 American musical comedy film My Fair Lady which is based on Shaw's play.

Pygmalion and Galatea by Elisabeth Caren


14. "Is it really?": NO LIE.  A conversational response that I have never heard used.

15. Waikiki home: OAHU.  The island of Oahu is home to the neighborhood of Waikiki within the city of Honolulu.

16. Slim margin of victory: HAIR.  "Win by a hair" is an idiom meaning to win by a very small margin.

17. [Theme clue]

19. Slick: OILY.

20. Strength: ASSET.  One definition of asset is a useful or valuable thing, person, or quality, which could also be considered a strength.

21. Nerdy 1990s sitcom character: URKEL.  Steve Urkel was a fictional character on the ABC/CBS sitcom Family Matters, portrayed by Jaleel White.  Originally slated for a single appearance, he became the show's most popular character and its protagonist.

Jaleel White as Steve Urkel


22. Engineered crops, for short: GMOs.  Genetically Modified Organisms are plants, animals, or microorganisms whose DNA has been altered, often by introducing genes from another organism or by altering existing genes, to express desired traits. 

26. [Theme clue]

28. Arrive onshore, as clouds: ROLL IN.

Time to head home, kids!


30. "Affirmative": YES.

31. Actor Quinn: AIDAN.  Aidan Quinn is an Irish-American actor. He has starred in over 80 feature films as well as in several television series.

Aidan Quinn


32. Candy Land surface: BOARD.

35. Go on the __: LAM.  Escape or run away, especially from the police.  The English pickpockets who created the expression did not leave notes about its etymology.

38. [Theme clue]

41. "__ Haw": HEE.  Hee Haw was a TV variety show featuring country music and humor, which aired on CBS from 1969 to 1993.  "Hee haw" can be the sound a donkey makes, or a loud laugh.  Given the capitalization in the clue, the TV show is probably meant here.

42. Arial, Times New Roman, etc.: FONTS.

43. Sailing: AT SEA.

44. Best New Artist Grammy winner Lipa: DUA.  A frequent crossword vocalist.

45. Josh of the "Dune" films: BROLIN.  Josh Brolin is an actor, and son of actor James Brolin.  Josh had early success with his role in The Goonies (1985), and then saw his career decline until he starred in the film No Country for Old Men (2007).  Since then, he's enjoyed a stellar career.

Josh Brolin


46. [Theme clue]

52. Furry companions: PETS.

53. "Success is counted sweetest" poet Dickinson: EMILY.  "Success is counted sweetest" is a poem by Emily Dickinson, written in 1859 and published in 1864. The poem uses images of a victorious army and one dying warrior to suggest that only one who has suffered defeat can understand success.

Success is counted sweetest,
By those who ne’er succeed.
To comprehend a nectar
Requires sorest need.

Not one of all the purple Host
Who took the Flag today
Can tell the definition
So clear of Victory

As he defeated – dying – 
On whose forbidden ear
The distant strains of triumph
Burst agonized and clear!

54. Great Plains people: OTOES.  A Native American tribe that lived in the Central Plains region, specifically along the Missouri River in parts of what are now Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri.
 
56. Toddler's pop: DADA.  Babies often say "dada" or "mama" as part of their early babbling, typically between 6 and 12 months of age.  The sound "dada" usually precedes "mama," which seems like a great survival mechanism for a mewling infant.

57. [Theme clue]

62. Nautical greeting: AHOY.

63. Puerto Rico, e.g.: ISLA.  The Spanish word for "island," pronounced EES-la.

64. Ed of "Lou Grant": ASNER.  Ed Asner (1929-2021) was an American actor, most noted for portraying Lou Grant on the sitcom The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970–1977) and on the drama Lou Grant (1977–1982).  He is the most honored male performer in the history of the Primetime Emmy Awards, having won seven.

Ed Asner


65. Statutes: LAWS.

66. Texter's "Bye for now": TTYL.  Talk TYou Later.

67. __-frutti: TUTTI.  Tutti frutti (Italian for 'all fruits') is a mixture of candied fruits, often used to flavor ice cream.  The mixture may include cherries, watermelon, raisins, and pineapple.  That doesn't sound so great, but you know what does?  Little Richard's song "Tutti Frutti" (1957).




Down:

1. Chloe Fineman's show, familiarly: SNL.  Chloe Fineman is an American actress and comedian. She became a featured player on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live in 2019, and was promoted to repertory status in 2021.

Chloe Fineman


2. Luau dish: POI.  Poi is a staple food in the Polynesian diet, made from the root vegetable taro.  It shows up frequently at Hawaiian luaus.

Mashing taro to make poi.


3. Fuzzy 1980s sitcom character: ALF.  ALF is the title character of the American television series ALF, and its animated spin-offs.  ALF is short for Alien Life Form. Paul Fusco created and played ALF, and provided the voice for the character.  Here's another cultural touchstone that I've missed.

ALF


4. Twist __: TIE.  The bit of wire in a paper or plastic wrapper that you use to close a plastic bag.

5. Actress Ward: SELA.  Sela Ward is an American actress known for her work in TV series including the Fox medical drama House, and the CBS police procedurals CSI: NY and FBI.  She has also played supporting roles in a number of films.  

Sela Ward


6. Martini partner: ROSSI.  Chill gin in the freezer, pour into a cold glass, add a few drops of this extra dry vermouth, and call it a martini.  Add a twist of lime or a few olives if you like.


7. Canvas stand: EASEL.

8. Pic: PHOTO.

9. Phoenix pro: SUN.  The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They compete in the NBA as a member of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference.

10. Warm-weather wear: SHORTS.

11. Japanese poem: HAIKU.  A haiku is a form of Japanese poetry characterized by its three-line structure and specific syllable count: 5-7-5.

Words weave secret paths,
Meaning cloaked in clever clues—
The grid slowly speaks.

12. Felt unwell: AILED.  What some of us did after last weekend's wedding in the woods.  My brother in law apparently brought the gift of COVID from Florida.

13. With irony: WRYLY.

18. "Baseball Tonight" airer: ESPN.

21. Kelley Blue Book listing: USED CAR.  Kelley Blue Book Co., Inc. (www.kbb.com) is an American vehicle valuation and automotive research company.  Great site to check if you are buying or selling a used car.

22. Sales meeting visual aid: GRAPH.

23. Wavy pattern: MOIRÉ.  In mathematics, physics, and art, moiré patterns are interference patterns produced when a partially opaque ruled pattern with transparent gaps is overlaid on a similar pattern. For the moiré interference pattern to appear, the two patterns must not be completely identical, but rather displaced, rotated, or with slightly different pitch.  I know the word from the silk fabric with a rippled appearance.  Moiré, or "watered textile," is made by pressing two layers of the textile when wet. The similar but imperfect spacing of the threads creates a wavy pattern which remains after the fabric dries.

Moiré interference pattern


Moiré fabric


24. Many a karaoke favorite: OLDIE.

25. Croat or Serb: SLAV.

27. Supermodel Banks: TYRA.  Tyra Banks is an American model, television personality, producer, writer, and actress. She began her career as a model at the age of 15 and was the first Black American woman to be featured on the covers of GQ and the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, on which she appeared three times. By the early 2000s, Banks was one of the world's top-earning models, and she continues to act on television and in films.

Tyra Banks -- not in a moiré pattern, but equally eye catching!


29. Enraged: IN A FURY.

32. London's Big __: BEN.  Big Ben is a nickname for the clock and tower which stand at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, England.  It was completed in 1859.

Big Ben


33. Choose: OPT.

34. Talk Like a Pirate Day sounds: ARS.  International Talk Like a Pirate Day is a parodic holiday created in 1995 by John Baur and Mark Summers of Albany, Oregon, who proclaimed September 19 each year as the day when everyone in the world should talk like a pirate (that is, in English with a stereotypical West Country accent).  Here's a little vocabulary for you:

  • Ahoy! Hello, a greeting.
  • Avast! – "stop" or "pay attention."
  • Aye! – "yes."
  • Aye aye! – Often acknowledging an order.
  • Arrr! – A versatile expression for excitement, anger, or agreement.
  • Matey – A friend.
  • Walk the plank – Who ate me last pickled egg?! Walk the plank!
  • Me hearties – Refers to sailors or pirates as "my crew."
  • Scallywag – A playful term for a rogue.
  • Landlubber – A term for someone not skilled at sea; a non-sailor.
  • Buccaneer – Another word for pirate, especially in the Caribbean.
  • Plunder – To steal goods, often by force, in piracy.
  • Swashbuckler – A daring, adventurous pirate or sailor.
  • Davy Jones' locker – The bottom of the sea! (a euphemism for death at sea.)
  • Bilge rat – An insult for someone seen as despicable.
  • Booty – Treasure taken by pirates.
  • Shiver me timbers! – An exclamation of surprise.
  • Dead men tell no tales – A warning against betrayal.
  • Parley – A request to negotiate, used in conflicts.
  • Scurvy dog – An insult for someone seen as contemptible.

35. Cotton thread: LISLE.  Lisle is a lightweight, tightly twisted thread, typically made from long-staple cotton.

36. Earn a perfect exam grade: ACE IT.

37. Statistical averages: MEANS.

39. Pond hopper: TOAD.

40. Roof option for a classic Corvette: T-TOP.

Corvette T-Tops were produced 1968-1982.


44. Airport snags: DELAYS.

45. "Gross!": BLEH.

46. Piano part: PEDAL.

47. Nebraska city with four Fortune 500 companies: OMAHA.  To wit, ConAgra Foods, Union Pacific Railroad, Mutual of Omaha, and Kiewit Corporation.  Easy for me, as I can't think of any other cities in Nebraska.

48. "Black __": Marvel film directed by Cate Shortland: WIDOW.  Black Widow is a 2021 film based on Marvel Comics featuring the character of the same name.  The title character is played by Scarlett Johansson.


49. Bird's perch: ROOST.

50. Sophia Loren's birthplace: ITALY.

51. Nearby: LOCAL.

55. "Shoo!": SCAT.

57. Op. __: footnote abbr.: CIT.  Op. cit. is an abbreviation of the Latin phrase opus citatum or opere citato, meaning "the work cited."  It refers to a work previously cited.

58. Baton Rouge sch.: LSU.  Louisiana State University, known to me because of LSU's rivalty with DH's Tennessee Volunteers.

59. Colony insect: ANT.

60. Complete collection: SET.

61. __ Lanka: SRI.


Here's the grid:



AHOY there, me hearties!
Did you attack this puzzle and ACE IT?
Or did it leave you IN A FURY?

Let us know in the comments.  TTYL!

-- NaomiZ

Jun 4, 2025

Wednesday, Jun 4th, 2025 ~ Joe Marangell

SHHH~!

TurkiSHHH Delight

My first time covering a crossword from Mr. Marangell.  His first LA Times was here, back in November 2024.  Yes, circles, two days in a row, but very few names, and chunky triple sevens in all four of the Down corners; I think that's why my solve time was higher than usual - I got slowed up because I start with the Down clues.  Overall, a tight group of four unspoken ways to express joy, anger, approval and indifference, "quietly" hiding in the circles;  

17. Credit card promotion for frequent fliers: BONUS MILES - SMILE  😁 - I don't have any credit card with frequent flyer bonus miles - travel for me was always covered by the company; the pipe organ company did not take full advantage of this perk, go figure 🤔

Smile - it looks like it might a good trip; I should become a frequent flyer

24. Etsy purchase, perhaps: CUSTOM PRINT - STOMP 😡 - I don't make prints, but I do build wood furniture - I can see myself selling some pieces through etsy

This one is SOLD already, but I could make one just like it

34. Key partnership?: PIANO DUET - NOD 😉 - The internet says a piano duet is TWO pianos, not just two piano players, this "duet" is hysterical...and then there's this one;

Heart & Soul - "chopsticks"

50. Handwoven products at Istanbul's Grand Bazaar: TURKISH RUGS - SHRUG ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Colorful; I have an abstract-patterned one waiting for a place in my home

58. "Is that so?," or a hint to the communication methods found in this puzzle's circled letters: YOU DON'T SAY - tacit, non-verbal means of expressing one's response

And Away We Go~!

Across:
1. Tree with papery bark: BIRCH


6. Opera set in Memphis: 
AIDA - crossword staple

10. Part of a Cape Cod, familiarly: CRAN - "A" Cape Cod is a vodka cocktail with cranberry and a slice of lime; I noted that if one is not careful, when buying the Ocean Spray cranberry "cocktail", the amount of  "added" sugar is insane; I buy the "diet" version ( ironic ) that has 1g of 'natural' sugar


14. Japanese lager brand: ASAHI - AND - 47D. Japanese dogs: AKITAS - our constructor must have an affinity for things "A" Japan, as AKIRA was in his first LA Times

15. Ignore: SNUB

16. Main character: HERO

19. Simplicity: EASE

20. Explosive sound: BLAM - I usually wait on perps, as there are dozens of "sounds" this could be

21. Blackjack card: ACE

22. Elizabeth __ cosmetics: ARDEN - the website

23. Hor. map line: LATitude


27. Latin catchall: Et Alii - and others, typically seen as "et al."

29. Annually: PER YEAR

30. Checkout option: DEBIT - I get 5% cash back/points with my Discover & Amazon credit cards - I use my debit card at the gas pump because credit is usually higher priced.

31. Sharp-witted: KEEN

33. Wily: SLY

38. HS exams for coll. credit: APs - Meh.  I don't care for the plural abbrs in crosswords 

41. Hit or __: MISS

42. Athlete who may run four laps: MILER - Ah- I was just a week too early with this fill . . . . 

46. Takes a turn: ROTATES - Literally - not 'your move', during a game

49. Second-most-populated city in Oregon: EUGENE - behind Portland, I am guessing

53. Contribute: ADD

54. Amazon biz: eTAIL

55. U.K. constituent: ENGland - Nottingham was the place both my parents grew up

This image can be purchased on etsy

56. Upper hand: EDGE

57. Prime condition: MINT - I tried BEST

61. Actress Swenson: INGA - I knew her from "Soap" and "Benson" - her IMDb.  My buddy's ex-wife chose this name for their second daughter, so that she could be nicknamed "Iggy"

62. "How __ can I put this ... ": ELSE

63. "Dragon Ball" genre: ANIME

64. Goes out with: SEES

65. Counterpart: PEER - KEEN, SEES and PEER today

66. Subsides: WANES


DOWN:

1. Talked excitedly: BABBLED

2. Keep away from others: ISOLATE - I prefer "solitude" to crowds; I am an introvert

3. Accumulated charges: RAN A TAB

4. Buddy: CHUM

5. That fella's: HIS

6. Nike competitor: ASICS

7. Shore recess: INLET - yeah, but meh; I grew up on Long Island, and the "inlets" were channels to the Great South Bay

8. Expected: DUE

9. Situp muscles: ABs - I do not work on the ABdominals at the gym yet - my trainer "Brett" says my "keg" is in the way - har-har....that's WHY I am going to the gym 😜

10. Manhattan garnish: CHERRY - Manhattan, the rye/vermouth cocktail


11. Prepares: READIES

12. Premier League club known as the Gunners: ARSENAL - oh, my dad would be so disappointed I did not know this immediately - he ate, breathed and slept "European" football - soccer


13. "Stay out": NO ENTRY - we had this identical entry also in the Down in his debut LA Times puzzle

18. Home of Haleakala National Park: MAUI - figured it was Hawai'i, I tried OAHU

22. Start of Q2: APR - The second quarter of the year is April, May, June

24. __ Field: home of the Mets: CITI - Knew this because I grew up on Long Island - but it was Shea back then

25. Sides of a paper?: OP-EDS

26. Restaurant offering: MENU - I WAGed this

28. Body part used in kissing and telling: LIP - cute

31. Kosher deli snack: KNISH - pronounced "Kuh - nish"

Looks tasty
32. Greek goddess of the dawn: EOS

35. City near the geographic center of Iowa: AMES

36. Big birds: EMUS

37. Comedian Notaro: TIG - more here

38. NASA moon exploration program since 2017: ARTEMIS


39. Dish with fries and gravy: POUTINE  - Fries topped with cheese curds and hot gravy

I made my own hash browns in the air-fryer this weekend

40. Offbeat: STRANGE

43. Shows through the door: LEADS IN

44. Checkmate phase: END GAME - Not "YOU LOSE"

45. Flights that may serve dinner and breakfast: RED-EYES

48. Shorthand for sharing a new realization: TIL - I was thinking in terms of text messages, like "FYI".  Meh.  I found this, so it's legit

49. Waffle choice: EGGO

51. Second word in an ecological mantra: REUSE - Reduce, - - -, Recycle

52. Working for: UNDER

56. Italian volcano: ETNA - Had this Monday.  Etsy plus Etna today

58. "Uh-huh": YEP - AND - 60D. "Uh-uh": NAW - Slangy verbal communications 

59. Flamenco cheer: OLÉ

Splynter




Nov 22, 2024

Friday, November 22, 2024, Joe Marangell

 Theme:  I'm on top of this! 



Puzzling thoughts:  

What an interesting puzzle.  Five 9-letter phrases (four entries and a reveal) and four sets of circles, all containing the letters "n" and "o".  After solving the puzzle, each of the five phrases could stand alone:  BE THE BALLRIGHT TIMEWHO'S FIRSTGET WITH IT; and MOVIN ON UP

But the reveal (movin' on up) gives the true meaning for the circled "no":  it's not "no", it's "ON".  And since the word "ON" is only discerned if you read it going "up", it adds another dimension to these phrases:

17-across. Stay vigilant: BE [ON] THE BALL.  The word "on" is moved up (above) the phrase "be the ball" to make it fit the clue ... as opposed to this snippet from the movie "Caddyshack": 



21-across. Punctual: RIGHT [ON] TIME.  As opposed to the Beach Boys single:



39-across. Comedy routine with peculiar names: WHO'S [ON] FIRST.  "Who's first" might be a question asked of a clerk to a group of customers - especially when there is no numbered ticket system in place.  But certainly, the only video clip worthy of inserting here is the eponymous comedy routine of Abbott and Costello: 



60-across. "Pick up the pace!": GET [ON] WITH IT.  Once again, I was able to find a song with the title: "Get With It" (before my time ...) 



And of course, the reveal:  

66-across. "The Jeffersons" theme song, and an apt title for this puzzle: MOVIN' ON UP.



Today's constructor, Joe Marangell, could be celebrating his debut puzzle; perhaps not just @ the LA Times, but perhaps @ any major publication.  If so, congratulations are in order!  This one rates a solid, ⭐⭐⭐ + 1/2⭐




The Grid - note my mistakes

Here are the rest of the answers:

Across:

1. "The Raven" opening: ONCE.  Here is the text of the poem by Poe

5. Literary captain who inspired Captain Hook: AHAB.

9. App with pics: INSTA.  Short for Instagram

14. Radish, e.g.: ROOT.  Here is a fun fact about the radish capital of the world

15. Spa treatment, briefly: PEDI.  Did anyone try MANI before pedi?  I did

16. Approaches: NEARS.

  
That's about as NEAR as this guy could get!!


19. "Blonde" writer Joyce Carol __: OATES.  The only "Oates" I knew was this half of a famous performing duo
 



20. Trailing: IN TOW.  This one was kind of a drag ...

23. Balanced states: STASES.  Plural of stasis

25. Co-star of Betty, Rue, and Estelle: BEA.  Bea Arthur of The Golden Girls

26. Spoil: ROT.  Go bad

27. Gp.: ORG. Abbr. 3LW

28. Go the wrong way?: SIN. Nice clue; Joe's or Patti's?  I would guess Patti

30. Some Summer Olympians: DIVERS.  The Chinese divers won all of the gold medals at this year's Paris Olympics

33. Russian refusal: NYET.  Moe-ku #1:

        Broadway musical
        Translated into Russian:
        "Nyet Nyet, Nanette"
 
35. "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" writer Anita: LOOS.  Her biography

38. Uno y uno: DOS. Uno, dos, tres, quattro ...

42. Hyundai rival: KIA.  Hyundai vs Kia

43. Rhetorical question from Caesar: ET TU.  "Really, Brutus?  You, too??"

44. God of love: EROS.

48. Small lifeboat: DINGHY.  "Hey Smails!  My dinghy is bigger than your whole boat!" 
 
 



51. "Let me think ... ": HMM.  Don't overthink this ...

53. Best of "House of the Dragon": EVE.  Ahh ... this is the actor's name, Eve Best - "Game of Thrones"
 
 



54. Altar answer: I DO.  We just attended a Catholic wedding last week, and the bride and groom responded "I will" when asked the questions by the priest ...

55. Corn unit: EAR.  Cob also fit, but I didn't err here

58. Annoy: PESTER.  And a related clue/answer: (65-across. Bother continually): EAT AT.

64. Kurosawa who received an Academy Honorary Award in 1990: AKIRA. These proper names are getting more difficult for me ...  Japanese filmmaker

68. Vessel opener: STENT. This helps to get the blood flowing

69. Slightly open: AJAR.  When is a door not a door? When it is ajar

70. Word with sugar or gold: RUSH.  My "sugar rush" is eating an apple fritter 
 
 
Publix Supermarkets (SE US chain) make the best ones, IMO


71. Stuffed bear: TEDDY. There are other clues/images for this word, but I will refrain from showing an example

72. June honorees: DADS.  And IMO, MOMS should be "honored" all the time; not just on the second Sunday in May

73. Casual tops: TEES.  "Wooden golf pegs" is not a difficult enough clue for a Friday puzzle

Down:

1. Traveling Wilburys member: ORBISON.  "Traveling Wilburys were a supergroup of Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison and Tom Petty from 1988 to 1991" [wikipedia]

2. Sign outside a restricted area: NO ENTRY
 
 


3. Vrbo category: COTTAGE.  Moe-ku #2:

        In the rental world,
        Vrbo and Air BnB's
        Are COTTAGE industries
 
4. Shared culture: ETHOS.  One of my mistakes ... I tried ETHIC before ethos

5. BOLO kin: APB.  All Points Bulletin / BOThe Lookout

6. Listen to: HEAR.  I think it's time to hear (Listen to) more music! Enjoy




7. Improv technique: ADLIB. For me, I feel like my recaps are totally adlib ... no script for this blogger!!

8. Complete nonsense: BILGE. The Thesaurussaurus agrees
 


9. Playing past the fourth qtr., say: IN OT. In "Overtime"

10. "Cool!": NEAT.  My first thought when I see the word "neat": (CSO to our dear, departed Tinbeni)
 
 
My first "toast" of the evening is to you, sir


11. Some sketches: SATIRES.  Too many to choose from, but this might get a grin or two:
 
 



12. Vibration: TREMOR.  When a tremor was measured at a football game

13. Good qualities: ASSETS.  Moe-ku #3:

        What is it called, when
        Arranging donkeys? Might you
        Say, they are ASSETS?

18. Farm females: EWES.  Cows also fit

22. Possessed: HAD. As in, the devil had me??

24. Farm structure: SILO.  I kept going round and round with this one ... barn fits, too, ya know

29. Bouquet: NOSE.  CSO to yours, truly.  The resident Crossword Corner sommelier whose nose knows the difference between a Cab and a Syrah

31. Cards with pics: IDS.  My Global Entry card has proven to be well worth the $ I spent when I have to go through security at airports

32. Primary action: VOTE.  As a registered "independent", this is one action I cannot take

34. Nest element: TWIG
 



36. Frequently found in poems?: OFT.  Here is an example:

37. "Star Wars" antagonists: SITHAll of them

40. "Take that!": HAH.

41. Butcher's cut: RUMP.  Loin and ribs fit

42. Tangled: KNOTTED.  "Tied up", would've been a good clue, too

45. Entourage: RETINUENot the most popular word among the major publications

46. Possible reason for a dead phone battery: OVERUSE.  Not my first thought, but the perps helped

47. Highest-order angels: SERAPHS.  Another error as I spelt it incorrectly (had an "e" where the "a" should've been)

48. Process, in a way: DIGEST.  This could apply to both thoughts (brain) and food (stomach)

49. Brainstorm: IDEATE.  What happened when Idy consumed a meal? 

50. As of now: YET.  To date

52. Have in mind: MEAN.  Nary a mean thought in this blogger's mind

56. Sportscaster Rashad: AHMAD.  I am a sports nut, but I like this Ahmad better:





57. Dry Spanish wine: RIOJA. Well ... technically ... Rioja is a wine region in northern Spain

59. Golf garment: SKORT.  A portmanteau of "skirt" and "short".  Not to be confused with a "spork" (combination of a spoon and a fork) This:





61. Mascara applicator: WAND.  I tried "swab" at first, but that gave me a black eye ... 😉

62. __-bitty: ITTY.  It was either itty or itsy

63. Commercial spot: TV AD.  So glad that all of the political tv ads are gone

67. Agcy. that investigates tax fraud: IRS.

And that's a wrap.  But I won't leave before sending a punny shout out to my Friday partner in crime, MalMan, with this groaner:

        I have a pet manatee named Hugh.  
        I built him a house.  
        It's a habitat for Hugh manatee

See you in a couple weeks ...