Theme: What's in a nit? - That which we call a nit by any other name might be described by the last word of our four themed entries.
20A. "The sky is falling!" critter : CHICKEN LITTLE
33A. Seven-time winner of the Daytona 500 : RICHARD PETTY
41A. Like Chopin's "Funeral March," keywise : IN B FLAT MINOR
57A. New Orleans daily, with "The" : TIMES-PICAYUNE
Fat-fingered Argyle here. I don't see any imagery in the grid as I did with the first two puzzles I parsed by Ms. Clark, which some of you will be glad to know. Just a straightforward Monday to start the week.
Across:
1. Prepare, as apples for pie : PARE
5. Dirt bike relatives, briefly : ATVs
9. Dressed like a judge : ROBED
14. "Jeopardy!" first name : ALEX
15. Actress Perlman : RHEA
16. Get the lead out? : ERASE
17. Bossa __ : NOVA
18. Blurted out : SAID
19. Full of attitude : SASSY
23. Get the lead out : HASTEN
24. Visits, as a doctor : SEEs
25. Cock and drake : HEs. I'd like to know who started this plural HE business.
28. Suffix with dextr- : OSE
29. Snapshot, for short : PIC
31. One who doesn't have much laundry to do? : NUDIST
36. Modest skirt length : MIDI. Add a thigh high slit and it isn't modest anymore! Image.
39. Have a life : ARE
40. Tennis great Arthur : ASHE
46. Enjoyed the rink : SKATED
47. Letters before xis : NUs. More of the Greek letters thingie.
48. Neg.'s opposite : POS.
51. Air France flier until 2003 : SST
52. Election Day: Abbr. : TUES
55. Stymie, as plans : THWART
60. Kitchen strainer : SIEVE
62. "Love Songs" poet Teasdale : SARA. Clear Ayes?
63. Alda or Arkin : ALAN
64. Like flawed mdse. : IRREG.
65. Slices of history : ERAs
66. Jackson 5 brother : TITO
67. Boss's privilege : SAY SO
68. Hawaii's state bird : NENE. "I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille."
69. Most affordable golf purchases : TEEs. A lot of golf clubs won't allow tee shirts; you must have a collared shirt.
Down:
1. Mexican Villa : PANCHO. Mucho bad hombre. Pancho and Lefty.(4:45)
2. Hawaiian hello and goodbye : ALOHAs
3. Edit : REVISE
4. Not off by even a hair : EXACT
5. "__ and Old Lace" : ARSENIC
6. Comparative word : THAN
7. Bridal coverings : VEILS
8. __ Hawkins Day : SADIE
9. Gathers strength for a big day : RESTS UP
10. Taken with a spoon : ORAL
11. Singles, on a diamond : BASE HITS
12. Tricky road bend : ESS
13. Susan of "L.A. Law" : DEY
21. Foreign Legion cap : KEPI
22. Be inclined (to) : TEND
26. O.T. book named for a woman : ESTH. ESTHer.
27. Eyelid problem : STYE
30. Casual talk : CHAT
32. Sugarpie : DEAR
33. Break in friendship : RIFT
34. Business end of a slot machine : ARM
35. Bridle strap : REIN
36. Be nostalgic for : MISS
37. Tattooist's supplies : INKS
38. Common flashlight power source : D BATTERY
42. "Hands off!" : "LET ME GO!"
43. For two voices together, in scores : A DUE
44. One with a screw loose : NUT CASE
45. Fed. workplace monitor : OSHA
48. Talking parrot voiced by Jay Mohr : PAULIE. Trailer.(1:06)
49. Showily decorated : ORNATE
50. Shorthand pros : STENOs
53. Krupp Works city : ESSEN. Not related to Krups Coffee Makers and Espresso Machines, Krupp Works made an assortment of naval guns and field artillery pieces for Germany in WW II. In 1999, the Krupp Group merged with its largest competitor, Thyssen AG; the combined company—ThyssenKrupp AG, became Germany's fifth-largest firm and one of the largest steel producers in the world. (Wikipedia)
54. Flat replacement : SPARE
56. Lawman Earp : WYATT
58. Folk singer Burl : IVES. Burl had his own nit here. A Little Bitty Tear.(2:04)
59. Persian Gulf nation : IRAN
60. Bro's sib : SIS
61. Tax shelter initials : IRA
Argyle
