Theme: Top Brass - A bringing together of diverse Generals.
17A. Military bed-making features : HOSPITAL CORNERS. General Hospital, long time running TV soap opera.
28A. Classic jazz vocal group originally composed of four siblings, with "The" : MILLS BROTHERS. General Mills, founded in 1866! (Wiki)
46A. "Special" lobbying faction : INTEREST GROUP. General Interest, like CBS Sunday Morning.
61A. UN organ ... or what the first words of 17-, 28- and 46-Across comprise? : GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Argyle here. Marvelous Monday...and we need it. I worried needlessly when I saw Gareth's name. Two grid spanners, strong corners, good fill with a little crunch to keep it interesting. And I liked the wide range of entries.
Across:
1. Pod used to thicken gumbo : OKRA
5. Moonshine containers : JUGS. I stuck in JARS first.
9. "24" superagent Jack : BAUER
14. __-chef : SOUS. Second-in-command in the kitchen. Not a general yet.
15. Jacob's twin : ESAU
16. Happen next : ENSUE
20. Rose pest : APHID
21. Pimply breakout : ACNE
22. On the __: precisely : DOT
23. Civil rights activist Parks : ROSA. Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
26. Chancellor von Bismarck : OTTO
33. Financial claim : LIEN
35. Sport __: versatile wheels : UTE. (utility)
36. OB/GYN test : AMNIO. Shortening of amniocentesis.
37. Goof : ERR
38. Comic strip with Snoopy : PEANUTS
41. Md. neighbor : DEL. Maryland/Delaware
42. Pierre's "There it is!" : "VOILA!"
44. Bigheadedness : EGO
45. "Should __ acquaintance ..." : AULD
50. Mideast strip : GAZA
51. In the mail : SENT
52. Magazine fillers : ADS
55. Intravenous process : DRIP
57. Ride without pedaling : COAST
65. San Antonio battle site : ALAMO
66. Cookie added to a McFlurry : OREO
67. Banned fruit spray : ALAR
68. Make into confetti : RIP UP
69. Enjoy a Kindle, e.g. : READ
70. Printed goof : TYPO
Down:
1. Fed. workplace monitor : OSHA. (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
2. Surgeon general under Reagan : KOOP. Another General.
3. Make haste : RUSH
4. Pain-relieving pill : ASPIRIN
5. Jumbo __ : JET
6. Stars and Stripes land: Abbr. : USA
7. Black-tie party : GALA
8. Relief : SUCCOR
9. Italian pistols : BERETTAS
10. Cape NNW of Cod : ANN. Boston is in between them.
11. Second-hand : USED
12. Franc replacement : EURO
13. What's leftover, with "the" : REST
18. Revered star : IDOL
19. Not hoodwinked by : ON TO
24. Revolve on an axis : SLUE
25. Nick and Nora's dog : ASTA
27. Electrical unit : OHM
28. Be worthy of : MERIT
29. Poet Stephen Vincent __ : BENÉT
30. Turn out to be : END UP
31. Cambodian currency : RIEL
32. Happy sign for a Realtor : [SOLD]
33. Jeans maker Strauss : LEVI
34. Crease remover : IRON
38. Send down using chutes, as supplies : PARADROP. Or some really big stuff.
39. Fleecy footwear brand : UGGS
40. Injured, as a ligament : TORE
43. Table support : LEG
45. Quaint coin-op eatery : AUTOMAT
47. Poet Pound : EZRA
48. Crew member : SAILOR
49. A single time : ONCE
52. Lab gel : AGAR
53. Pastrami purveyor : DELI. Cute alliteration.
54. Lose it : SNAP
56. Remove, as a peel : PARE
58. With skill : ABLY
59. High-five, e.g. : SLAP
60. Rookie : TYRO
62. Outback bird : EMU
63. Mediterranean __ : SEA
64. Clump of turf : SOD
Argyle
