Theme: Who's there? - Theme entries start with ways to get someone to come to the door.
17A. Return on one's investment, in slang : BANG FOR YOUR BUCK
26A. Plain dessert : POUND CAKE
38A. Prada imitation, perhaps : KNOCK-OFF HANDBAG
46A. Jay-Z, for one : RAP ARTIST
61A. Announce one's arrival gently ... as opposed to words that start 17-, 26-, 38- and 46-Across : RING THE DOORBELL
Argyle here. I felt this was a very smooth puzzle, what with three grid-spanning entries. The intensity of the entries seem to diminish until you were merely using your finger. In real life, it would go the other way.
Remember this one? (2:36)
Across:
1. Chinese temple instrument : GONG
5. Nestling noises : PEEPS
10. Leave at the altar : JILT
14. Diva's showpiece : ARIA
15. Group of experts : PANEL
16. Pierre's possessive : À MOI
20. Replay technique, briefly : SLO-MO
21. Relaxing time in the chalet : APRÈS-SKI
22. "There oughta be __" : A LAW
25. Hi-fi spinners : LP's. That's vinyl records, for you youngsters.
30. Playing decks : CARDS
35. Diplomatic bldg. : EMB. (embassy)
36. Juanita's aunt : TÍA
37. Yukon's country : CANADA. Yukon is still a territory, along with Northwest Territories and Nunavut.
42. More greasy : OILIER
43. Extended family : KIN
44. "Bon voyage!" : "BYE!"
45. Fruity-smelling compound : ESTER
49. L.A. bus-and-rail org. : MTA. (Metropolitan Transit Authority)
51. Speak indistinctly : SLUR
52. Begin : INITIATE
57. Gate-hanging hardware : HINGE
64. Voting no : ANTI
65. In an unusual way : ODDLY
66. Student's stressor : EXAM
67. Very familiar note recipient? : SELF
68. "Fetch my smelling salts!" : "EGADS!"
69. Avg. levels : STD's. (standard)
Down:
1. Goes on and on : GABS
2. Unwritten : ORAL
3. Barcelona boy : NIÑO
4. Joke writer : GAGMAN
5. HMO alternative : PPO. (Health Maintenance Organization/Preferred Provider Organization)
6. Musical sensitivity : EAR
7. One-named Irish folk singer : ENYA
8. Magazine with a Stylewatch spinoff : PEOPLE
9. Eat noisily, as soup : SLURP
10. Elbows rudely : JABS
11. "In the morning" radio host : IMUS. Where to Listen, if you want to.
12. Security device : LOCK
13. __ torch: patio light : TIKI
18. Finish the laundry : FOLD. It's not finished until it's put away.
19. Perform another MRI on : RESCAN
23. Oldman or Newman : ACTOR. (Gary or Paul)
24. Ragamuffin : WAIF. Child of the street.
26. Orange __ tea : PEKOE
27. Old Dodge autos : OMNIs. Want one? I have three.
28. Horseshoe-shaped fastener : U-BOLT
29. "The Trial" writer Franz : KAFKA. 1883--1924, Czech novelist writing in German. In his two main novels The Trial (1925) and The Castle (1926), published posthumously against his wishes, he portrays man's fear, isolation, and bewilderment in a nightmarish dehumanized world. (Collins English Dictionary)
31. Furthermore : AND
32. Synagogue scholar : RABBI
33. Times to send in the troops : D-DAYS
34. "Full House" co-star Bob : SAGET
37. Panama crosser : CANAL
39. Co. in Paris : CIE. (abbrev. for compagnie)
40. "Sesame Street News Flash" reporter : KERMIT. (the frog)
41. Hula swivelers : HIPS
46. Family-friendly, filmwise : RATED G
47. German coal valley : RUHR
48. Native American groups : TRIBES
50. Sierra Nevada resort : TAHOE
52. Tax-sheltered accts. : IRA's
53. Store opening time : NINE
54. The "I" in IHOP: Abbr. : INTL. (International House of Pancakes)
55. End-of-the-week letters : TGIF
56. Scandinavian literary collection : EDDA
58. Bakery call : "NEXT!"
59. Happy : GLAD
60. Spreading trees : ELMS
62. Ancient : OLD
63. Yiddish cries of dismay : OYs
Argyle
Note from C.C.:
I think "How I Met My Wife" (from the New Yorker) is the gruntled article Bill G linked some time ago.
I think "How I Met My Wife" (from the New Yorker) is the gruntled article Bill G linked some time ago.
