Theme: Alternative to soup? - Four entrées with a salad on the side, two of which came first and two that followed.
17A. Corfu or Crete : GREEK ISLE
25A. Salute heard at the Forum : "HAIL CAESAR"
37A. Classic Frances Hodgson Burnett children’s novel : "THE SECRET GARDEN"
45A. Once-common childhood ailment : CHICKEN POX
56A. Entrée go-with, or the aptly placed part of 17-, 25-, 37- or 45-Across : SIDE SALAD
Argyle here. Debut for our constructor, I believe. The grid spanning entry and the two long down fill is impressive. The overuse of plurals, not so much. The solid blocks in two of the corners is back on the impressive side again. I'll feel the fool if Adam Prince is an anagram for our editor.
Across:
1. Sitcom’s test episode : PILOT
6. Sitcom interrupters : ADs
9. Holy Roman emperor crowned in CMLXII : OTTO I. (962)
14. In on, with “to” : PRIVY. Yes, PRIVY can mean something else.
15. Keg attachment : TAP
16. “Yep” : "UH HUH"
19. Hopping mad : IRATE
20. Close again, as a Ziploc bag : RESEAL
21. Volkswagen sedan : JETTA
22. Scary Nile snakes : ASPs
27. Friend of Monica and Rachel on “Friends” : PHOEBE
29. Dumbbell abbr. : LBS. Abbreviation found on a dumbbell, not of a dumbbell.
30. Selfish sort : TAKER
31. Snow-block home : IGLOO
34. Ab __: from day one : OVO. Latin, literally, from the egg.
40. CIA precursor : OSS. (Office of Strategic Services)
41. Arkin and Alda : ALANs
42. Queen, in France : REINE. (feminine form of roi)
43. End of a professor’s email address : .EDU
44. Makes sense : ADDS UP
51. Flower stalk : STEM
52. Boca __ : RATON. Ever wonder about the name? Wonder no more. Wiki.
53. Young bird of prey : EAGLET. Are all the bird-cams shut down now?
55. Primitive calculators : ABACI. Yes, early but primitive...?
60. Spiced rice dish : PILAF
61. Cinque meno due : TRE. Italian. 5-2=3
62. Prefix with -dactyl : PTERO
63. Keep in the warehouse : STORE
64. IRS W-4 info : SSN
65. Saudi Arabia neighbor : YEMEN
Down:
1. NBA scoring stat : PPG. (points per game)
2. Like some reduced mdse. : IRR. (irregular)
3. Commit perjury : LIE
4. Supervises : OVERSEES
5. Trike rider : TYKE. Very similar.
6. On the ocean : AT SEA
7. __ Lama : DALAI
8. Wizard’s incantation : SPELL
9. Séance accessory : OUIJA BOARD
10. Good scores on par-fours : THREEs. I started BIRDIE before THREES.
11. “__ a wrap!” : THAT'S
12. “__ sight!” : OUTTA
13. “Word on the street is ...” : "I HEAR ..."
18. “__ Dead?”: Mark Twain play : IS HE. Written in 1898, published in print in 2003. Why the lag? Wikipedia.
22. Probably will, after “is” : APT TO
23. Persian sovereigns : SHAHs
24. Jabs in the ribs : POKES
26. Thick-soled shoe : CLOG. Cousin of a sabot.
28. Serrated kitchen tool : BREAD KNIFE
31. Pension supplement, for short : IRA. (Individual Retirement Arrangement) Update: (see IRS Publication 590, "Individual Retirement Arrangements")
32. First Bible bk. : GEN. (Genesis)
33. USN officers : LTs. Pay grade O-3, Lieutenant.
34. Keats, notably : ODIST
35. Change of __: trial request : VENUE
36. Early aft. hour : ONE PM
38. Game with rooms and weapons : "CLUE". And colorful characters.
39. Republican region, on a political map : RED STATE
43. Toyota Prius, e.g. : ECO-CAR. Ecologically Friendly.
44. Wheel-supporting shaft : AXLE
45. High roller’s game : CRAPS. Betting on the roll of the dice.
46. Nun’s wear : HABIT
47. __-Turkish War : ITALO
48. Homes in trees : NESTS
49. Sock purchases : PAIRS
50. Humorous poet Nash : OGDEN
54. Catch sight of : ESPY
57. NASA moon craft : LEM. (Lunar Excursion Module)
58. “We __ the World” : ARE. Video(7:43) Original recording from 1985, "USA for Africa". Now there is "We Are the World 25 for Haiti" and "We Are the World 25 for Haiti (YouTube edition)". I'll have to listen to them when I have more time.
59. Mafia boss : DON
Argyle
