Theme: Is there a doctor in the house? - The Doctors are at the front of the line in the four theme entries.
20A. "Yes, indeed" : "NO DOUBT ABOUT IT"
25A. Dinner table dispenser : PEPPER SHAKER
45A. Sentry's question : "WHO GOES THERE?"
52A. Tenth novel in Sue Grafton's "Alphabet" series : "J IS FOR JUDGMENT"
66A. Brief titles for the starts of 20-, 25-, 45- and 52-Across : DR's
Dr. Argyle here. I'm not a real doctor but then, neither are our entries today. Dr. No is the title character in first James Bond film. Dr. Pepper is the soft drink with a unique taste. Dr. Who is a Time Lord whose exploits are chronicled by the Beeb(BBC). And the very real Julius Winfield Erving II(Dr. J), a Hall of Famer with a degree in basketball.
Nice long entries with the reveal at the very end. A wide range of fill should produce some nits for the nit wits. A fluid puzzle.
Across:
1. Favorite texting partner, for short : BFF. (Best Friends Forever)
4. In a crooked position : ASKEW and 41A. Like bees attacking : ASWARM
9. Form : SHAPE
14. Lord's Prayer opener : OUR
15. Deli counter unit : SLICE
16. What actors have to learn : LINES
17. Barcelona gold : ORO
18. Kin of "Skoal!" : "SALUT!". "Cheers!"
19. Like much pub ale : ON TAP. "Here's to ya!"
23. Parlor or den : ROOM. Tap room, thirst parlor.
24. Kindergarten basics : ABC'S
32. Restful resorts : SPAs
35. Mystery writer Stout : REX. He created Nero Wolfe.
36. Et __ : CETERA. 11-Down yesterday, in its abbreviated form.
37. Destiny : LOT
38. Calculates : FIGURES
40. Parisian negative : NON
43. Computer network acronym : LAN. (local area network)
44. Talk show moderator : HOST
48. It replaced the punt in Ireland : EURO. The Irish pound.
49. Shade trees : ELMS
58. Lite cigarette boast : "NO TAR"
59. Messing of "Will & Grace" : DEBRA.
60. Afternoon potful : TEA
61. Hold holdings : CARGO
62. Best-case : IDEAL
63. Brain scan, for short : EEG. (electroencephalogram)
64. "Stuck __": Elvis hit : ON YOU. Related: 2D. Much ado about something : FUROR
65. Funeral song : DIRGE
Down:
1. Blessing : BOON
3. Bilbo Baggins's nephew : FRODO. From Lord of the Rings.
4. Postulate : ASSUME
5. Hunk : SLAB
6. Garment for Rob Roy : KILT. Kilted hunk.
7. Quito's nation: Abbr. : ECUA. Map showing the capital city of Ecuador.
8. Place to grab a screwdriver at home? : WET BAR. Equipped with a sink and running water.
9. Sits sloppily : SLOUCHES. "Sit up straight!"
10. Doesn't exactly tell : HINTS AT
11. Not pro : ANTI
12. __ moss : PEAT
13. Parapsychology subj. : ESP
21. "Didn't mean to do that" : "OOPS!"
22. Like a banned book, perhaps : OBSCENE
26. First, to Franco : PRIMERO. Spanish.
27. Wooden pin : PEG
28. Rejoice : EXULT
29. Lotto-like game : KENO
30. Mythical archer : EROS. His Roman counterpart is Cupid.
31. Talk wildly : RANT
32. Chopped side dish : SLAW
33. High-end : POSH
34. Welk's upbeat : "A TWO".
38. Frills, ribbons, ruffles, and such : FROUFROU
39. Bit of arena support : "RAH!". 86-Down on Sunday.
42. In olden days : AGES AGO
44. Skipper's area : HELM
46. Morally base : SORDID. The second meaning of base. Link.
47. Wine and dine : REGALE
50. Measured (out) : METED
51. Look of derision : SNEER
52. Rivers of comedy : JOAN. "Can we talk?"
53. "Just doing my job" : "I TRY"
54. User of the Force : JEDI. From Star Wars.
55. Over, in Hanover : ÜBER
56. Wet blanket, so to speak : DRAG
57. Luggage attachments : TAGS
58. Sgt., e.g. : NCO. (NonCommissionedOfficer)
Argyle
Note from C.C.:
Happy Birthday to Husker Gary. Love that photo, which was taken on his last day as a full-time teacher.
