Theme: What Bart said - The ayes have it, twice, and their homophones start the other themed entries.
20A. "Rocky III" theme song that became a #1 hit for Survivor : EYE OF THE TIGER
31A. Bart Simpson's "Good grief!" : ¡AY, CARAMBA!
41A. Robert Graves novel narrated by Nero's predecessor : "I, CLAUDIUS"
53A. "Roger," on a ship : "AYE-AYE, CAPTAIN"
Argyle here. Déjà vu. Last Tuesday's puzzle from C.C. was the same gimmick except her homophones (2) was the second word in each phrase these "I's" come first. Some pretty good fill fleshes out the puzzle.
Across:
1. Nero's 701 : DCCI
5. Silent performers : MIMES
10. Nocturnal hooters : OWLS
14. Patron saint of Norway : OLAF
15. Wombs : UTERI
16. Language of Bangkok : THAI
17. Even fewer than hardly : NARY
18. "Beat it!" : "SCRAM!"
19. iPhone message : TEXT
23. River mouth area : ESTUARY
24. World's largest cosmetics company : L'ORÉAL
27. Golfer Michelle : WIE. She tried to compete with the men; it didn't work out.
28. Breezed through : ACED
30. Tiny : WEE
35. Goddess for whom a month is named : MAIA. She is eldest of the Pleiades, the Seven Sisters. The Perseids meteor shower was last Saturday night.
36. Caught in the act : SEEN
37. Hands out cards : DEALS
39. Beginning on : AS OF
40. Sibilant "Check this out!" : "PSST!"
43. Bank acct. earnings : INT. (interest)
44. Istanbul native : TURK
46. Indefinite degree : NTH
47. Golf shirt feature : COLLAR
49. Bear __: 2008 JPMorgan Chase acquisition : STEARNS
56. "Livin' on a Prayer" band Bon __ : JOVI. Video w/lyrics(4:04)
58. Skin care brand : NIVEA
59. Former slugger Martinez : TINO. First baseman. Complete run down, Link.
60. Victor's cry : "I WIN"
61. Keystone State Ivy League sch. : U PENN. Pennsylvania is known as "The Keystone State".
62. Biblical brother : ESAU
63. Rare blood type, for short : B NEG
64. Company with "counting sheep" ads : SERTA
65. Hit the hammock : REST. in a Serta hammock.
Down:
1. Charity recipient : DONEE
2. Potter's supplies : CLAYS. I don't remember Harry getting any clay.
3. Insertion mark : CARET. More than you need to know link. CARET is at the bottom right.
4. "Anything to make my buddy happy" : "IF YOU WANT"
5. Not-to-be-missed book : MUST READ
6. Like wool, for many : ITCHY
7. __ mortals : MERE
8. Part of Q.E.D. : ERAT
9. Idiom with "as" in the middle : SIMILE
10. River frolicker : OTTER
11. Words from a digresser : "WHERE WAS I?". That's what I said after an hour, trying to find the origin of "mere mortals".
12. Lenient : LAX
13. Command to Fido : SIT
21. Evenhanded : FAIR
22. Monotheists believe in only one : GOD
25. Alphabet quintet : AEIOU. (vowels)
26. Flips (through) : LEAFS
28. Surprised way to be taken : ABACK
29. Match a bet : CALL
31. Jellied garnish : ASPIC
32. Like some easy questions : YES/NO
33. "Such is life," to Pierre : "C'EST LA VIE"
34. Former Israeli prime minister : MEIR. Golda
35. Alice's tea party host : MAD HATTER
38. Windy West Coast city? : SANTA ANA. The name for the winds may have nothing to do with the city. Etymology.
42. Sch. near the Rio Grande : UTEP. University of Texas at El Paso
44. ___ Bo: fitness system : TAE. Tae Bo is a portmanteau of tae kwon do and boxing.
45. Penultimate planet : URANUS. Second to last.
48. Full of baloney : LYING
49. Sachet emanation : SCENT
50. Increase a bet : RAISE
51. Future señoras : NINAs. La Nina's mean future weather problems.
52. Muzzle : SNOUT
54. "Holy cow!" : "YIPE!". Reaction to a cold snout?
55. At any time : EVER
56. Triangular sail : JIB
57. Possess : OWN
Argyle
