Theme: Penultimate Letter Homophones - You may ask WHY and you'd be right.
17A. Many a coffee shop, vis-à-vis Internet access : WI-FI HOTSPOT
37A. "No need to hurry, is there?" : "WHY THE BIG RUSH?"
61A. Gender-determining heredity unit : Y CHROMOSOME
Argyle here. C.C. has given us a modest little Monday puzzle that was almost a pangram, short the J and Q. Some snappy fill, especially in the verticals.
Across:
1. Eva or Juan of Argentina : PERON
6. "Taking you places" premium movie channel : STARZ
11. Suffix for hero : INE
14. '60s-'70s Twins great Tony : OLIVA. What a ham; gets her picture in another puzzle.
15. Nest on a cliffside : AERIE. How are the owlets doing, downtonabbey?
16. "Friends" actress Courteney : COX. She now stars in "Cougar Town" which is on TBS. I've never seen it.
19. Corner PC key : ESC
20. Subj. for immigrants : ESL. (English as a Second Language)
21. Synagogue : SHUL
22. Cowpoke's seat : SADDLE
24. Flightless South American bird : RHEA
26. Scottish hillside : BRAE
28. "... believe __ not!" : IT OR
29. Hairstyling immortal Vidal : SASSOON. Immortal?
31. "Ship out" alternative : SHAPE UP
34. Humble home : HUT
35. 1980s secretary of state Alexander : HAIG. He showed up a week ago Saturday
36. False show : ACT
41. "__ 'nuff!" : SHO. Slang for "Sure enough".
42. Move, in Realtor-speak : RELO. (relocate)
43. "In __ Shoes": Cameron Diaz flick : HER. (2005) I've never seen it.
44. Meddles (with) : TAMPERS
46. "Pretty please ..." : "I BEG YOU ..."
50. GPS choices : RTE's. I still use maps.
51. Pinnacle : ACME
53. Geologic periods : EONS
54. Extensive property : ESTATE
57. Sorrowful cry : "ALAS!"
59. Slangy "OK" : "YEH". or "yeah". 5D. Casual turndowns : NAHs
60. "Wheel of Fortune" purchase : AN 'E'
64. Mauna __: Hawaii's highest peak : KEA
65. Harbor cities : PORTS
66. ESPN analyst Garciaparra : NOMAR. He is one of 13 players to hit two grand slams during a single game.
67. Bachelor in personals, briefly : SWM. (single, white, male)
68. Early stage : ONSET
69. Extends across : SPANS
Down:
1. __ that be: authorities : POWERS
2. Inventor Otis : ELISHA. Not often we get his first name.
3. Remington weapons : RIFLES. Founded in 1816 by Eliphalet Remington. (would never have gotten his first name.)
4. Egg: Pref. : OVI
6. Second-largest planet : SATURN
7. Physicist Nikola : TESLA. Our old friend.
8. Dadaism founder : ARP. Jean Arp, our old acquaintance.
9. Spanish rivers : RIOs
10. Greek letter that seems like it should be last : ZETA
11. Summer refreshers : ICED TEAS
12. Hardly an amateur : NO SLOUCH
13. Quote in a book review : EXCERPT
18. "How frustrating!" : "OH, BOTHER!"
23. Chip go-with : DIP
25. Pale as a ghost : ASHY
27. "La Bamba" co-star Morales : ESAI
30. Very strange : OUTRE
32. Car headlight setting : HIGH BEAM
33. Strike a bargain : AGREE
35. "The Newsroom" channel : HBO
37. Request for the latest update : "WHAT'S NEW?"
38. The Twins, at Minneapolis's Target Field : HOME TEAM
39. "Born Free" lion : ELSA. Andy Williams, Born Free(2:21)
40. Press for : URGE
41. Windex targets : STREAKS
45. Free TV ad : PSA
46. Words before "Can you give me directions?" : "I'M LOST!". Needed 50-Across.
47. Cellist who performed at Steve Jobs's funeral : YO-YO MA
48. Like a single-performer show : ONE MAN
49. Leads, as to a seat : USHERS
52. Garçon's handout : CARTE. French menu.
55. AutoCorrect target : TYPO
56. Keynes's sci. : ECON. (economics)
58. Male heirs : SONS
62. Appt. book rows : HRs. Hours this time, not home runs.
63. Soak (up), as gravy : SOP
Argyle
