Theme: Think! - The starred entries are headed up by a euphemism for head(our unifier).
17A. *Scoop for fruit : MELON BALLER
65A. *Single-minded auditor : BEAN COUNTER
11D. *Certain palm tree extract : COCONUT OIL
30D. *Pasta-based first course : NOODLE SOUP
62D. Noggin, and a hint to the starts of the answers to starred clues : HEAD
Argyle here. Interview with Patti here. Only 35 black squares. Definitely some interesting fill.
Across:
1. Given to back talk : LIPPY
6. Not together : APART
11. Org. in many Tom Clancy novels : CIA
14. Love lots : ADORE
15. Serious grime : FILTH
16. Former Boston Bruin Bobby : ORR
19. Photo taker, briefly : CAMera
20. Place to swim : POOL
21. Brand with a "Twist, Lick, Dunk" app : OREO
22. Holy images : ICONs
24. Post-OR place : ICU. After the Operating Room you might go to the ICU(intensive care unit) if you had serious surgery.
26. Like some bases and kisses : STOLEN. And if you add an 'L'...
28. Parade debris : CONFETTI
32. Slump in one's seat : SLOUCH. "SIT UP STRAIGHT!"
35. Stay away from : AVOID
36. The "I" in IBM: Abbr. : INTL. (International Business Machines)
38. However, for short : THO
39. Bishop's domain : DIOCESE
41. Earlier than desired : TOO SOON
44. Finish : END
45. Paris airport : ORLY
47. Totally out there : WEIRD. Wigged out, man.
48. Bank employee : TELLER
51. "M*A*S*H" star : ALAN ALDA. Full name.
53. Firstborn : ELDEST
55. Battleship letters : USS
56. "My Cousin Vinny" star Joe : PESCI
58. Pressure from the cops : HEAT
60. Govt. job-safety gp. : OSHA. Haven't seen this old favorite in awhile. (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
64. Gen. Eisenhower's WWII command : ETO. (European Theater of Operations)
68. Bearded African beast : GNU
69. More pathetic, as excuses go : LAMER
70. French Revolution figure killed by Corday : MARAT. Jean-Paul Marat was murdered in a bathtub.
71. Tree juice : SAP
72. Piano practice piece : ÉTUDE
73. Walks with difficulty : PLODS
Down:
1. Bedside light : LAMP
2. Thought: Pref. : IDEO
3. Sport played on horseback : POLO
4. Very productive, as a writer : PROLIFIC
5. Currency of Japan : YEN
6. Many miles off : AFAR
7. Enters all at once : PILES IN
8. Distribute in shares : ALLOT
9. U.S. 66, for one : RTE.
10. Wave of excitement : THRILL
12. Tehran's country : IRAN
13. "A Farewell to __" : ARMS. A novel by Ernest Hemingway.
18. Prizefight : BOUT
23. Corporate VIP : CEO. (chief executive officer)
25. Hand over : CEDE
27. Norwegian metropolis : OSLO
28. Army trainee : CADET
29. Like ewes and rams : OVINE
31. Ballpark level : TIER
33. Musical triad : CHORD
34. Civic or Accord : HONDA which are 52D. Civic or Accord : AUTO
37. Texter's "until next time" : TTYL. (Talk To You Later)
40. Hopping mad : SORE
42. Possesses : OWNS
43. Like Christmas wrap and tree ornaments : SEASONAL
46. Approached bedtime : LATENED. We haven't had this word in a while.
49. Partners' legal entity: Abbr. : LLC. (Limited Liability Company)
50. Safe to consume : EDIBLE
54. SeaWorld orca : SHAMU
56. Wooden pins : PEGS
57. Europe's highest active volcano : ETNA
59. Land measure : ACRE
61. Houston MLBer : 'STRO. A slang term for the Houston Astros baseball player.
63. Liberal __ : ARTS
66. Do lunch, say : EAT
67. Official behind a catcher : UMP
Argyle
