Theme: Dyn-o-mite! - The reveal let's us know we are looking for "word 'and' word" phrases and each word starts with a "T".
17A. Proverbially, they wait for no one : TIME AND TIDE
23A. Ragged : TATTERED AND TORN
47A. Semi : TRUCK AND TRAILER
57A. Simple breakfast : TEA AND TOAST
57D. Big bang cause, and an informal hint to 17-, 23-, 47- and 57-Across : TNT
Argyle here. Our own tried and true constructor, C.C., gave us a slight respite from yesterday's puzzle but added some solid fill. The four nine letter vertical columns are neat. Two grid-spanners are great. Some fresh cluing rounds it out nicely.
Across:
1. Praline nut : PECAN
6. Grueling grad grillings : ORALS. Say the clue three times fast.
11. Nebraska panhandle hrs. : MST. (Mountain Standard Time)
14. Wear down : ERODE
15. Jousting weapon : LANCE
16. Irish actor Stephen : REA. He has played a wide range of roles.
19. Separating space : GAP
20. Rocks in a bar : ICE
21. It's often used as a synonym for "thesaurus" : ROGET. He compiled one of the most famous thesauri.
22. Desert largely in Mongolia : GOBI
27. Salinger heroine : ESMÉ. Ah, but where is she now; Downton Abbey, perhaps.
28. Battery terminal : ANODE
29. Two foursomes : OCTET
32. Rock legend Frank : ZAPPA. He was here Friday. Have you forgotten him already?
35. Revolutionary Franklin : BEN. I'd like to see more of him in my wallet. That would be revolutionary.
37. "Gotcha!" cries : A-HAs
38. Birth state of two presidents : TEXAS. Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Lyndon B. Johnson. Surprised? I was.
39. Bowl over : DAZE
40. Stout of whodunits : REX. Creator of the detective Nero Wolfe.
41. Takes the risk : DARES
42. Sale rack abbr. : IRREG. You can find some bargains in the irregulars.
43. Overzealous : RABID
45. Spork point : TINE. A bit short for a true tine but hey, it's a spork.
53. Jekyll's alter ego : HYDE
54. 2010 Super Bowl MVP : BREES
55. Connecticut collegian : ELI. Yale(the Eli's) is located in New Haven, Connecticut.
56. Press initials : UPI. (United Press International)
60. "__ Along, Little Dogies" : GIT
61. Duma dissents : NYETs. The Duma was a one time Russian elective legislative assembly.
62. Singer Tennessee __ Ford : ERNIE
63. Provençal possessive : SES. French for its.
64. Short and snappy : TERSE
65. Red and rosé : WINES. But Red Rose is a tea.
Down:
1. __ four: small cake : PETIT. French, meaning "small oven". So are there petit four recipes for Easy Bake ovens?
2. Susan's "All My Children" role : ERICA. Susan Lucci / Erica Kane. She has the most Emmy nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Daytime Drama and won in 1999.
3. Celestial streaker : COMET
4. Citrus drink : ADE
5. Most closely related : NEAREST
6. Eccentric senior, affectionately : OLD GEEZER. But watch out for them on the road.
7. Classified : RATED
8. Singer Baker : ANITA
9. Digital scale display, for short : LCD. (liquid-crystal display)
10. "Understand?" : "SEE?"
11. Hershey's treat in a yellow wrapper : MR. GOODBAR
12. Shore cooler : SEA BREEZE
13. Putter's gimme : TAP IN
18. Standard : NORM
22. Pontiac muscle car : GTO
24. Beach shirts : TEEs
25. Dozes off : NAPS
26. Forensic evidence letters : DNA
29. Rower's need : OAR
30. George Washington's favorite fruity dessert? : CHERRY PIE
31. Stressful reviews for filers : TAX AUDITS
33. Tool for the Tin Woodman : AXE
34. Like verbs describing what happened : PAST TENSE
36. Reverse pic : NEG. (negative)
38. "Yay, me!" : "TADA!"
39. Three, to Angela Merkel : DREI. She is the Chancellor of Germany since 2005 and has a marvelous range of facial expressions. LINK
41. Cartoonist Browne : DIK. Creator of Hägar the Horrible.
42. Rather worried : IN A STEW
44. Dating letters : BCE. (Before the Common Era)
46. Hopping mad : IRED
47. Tough guys : THUGS
48. Knick or Celt : NBAer
49. Mild oaths : DRATS
50. Rimes of country : LEANN. Here is the song that launched her career. (2:45)
51. Borden mascot : ELSIE
52. Religious ceremonies : RITES
58. Needle-threader's target : EYE
59. "... __ quit!" : OR I
Argyle
