Theme: Make Them Laugh - Three funny characters.
17A. Bil Keane comic strip : THE FAMILY CIRCUS. Circus Clown. Family Circus web site.
28A. Bygone Honda CR-V rival : ISUZU RODEO. The very important Rodeo Clown.
44A. Flier's upgrade : FIRST CLASS. Class Clown
60A. Sondheim song, and a hint to the ends of 17-, 28- and 44-Across : "SEND IN THE CLOWNS". Clip(4:11) by Judy Collins with lyrics and an extensive write-up.
Argyle here and one time 44-Across. Two spanners today and some sneaky fill. Some nits that if you're doing LAT puzzles, you should know and get over it. I think Bruce(interview) had fun constructing this one.
Across:
1. Class with numbers : MATH
5. One making a coffee run, say : GOFER. (from 'go for')
10. Spot to shop : MALL
14. Lot measurement : ACRE
15. Skip over, in speech : ELIDE
16. Reed to which an orchestra tunes : OBOE
20. Briny : SEA
21. Buzzing homes : HIVES
22. Tree houses? : NESTS
23. Journalist Sawyer : DIANE
25. Chess pieces : MEN
26. Chess piece : PAWN. If a pawn makes it all the way across the board, it may become any man it wants, excepting the King.
34. Teacher's Apple : iMAC
35. Expansive : VAST
36. Gardner of Hollywood : AVA
37. Strip of latticework : LATH. Makein' lath the old way.
38. Low card : DEUCE
40. "It's Your Space" rental company : AVIS
41. Gobbled up : ATE
42. "The Clan of the Cave Bear" author Jean : AUEL. I almost remember her now.
43. Diet label word : LITE
48. Fruity quenchers : ADEs
49. It may be doffed : HAT
50. Backup strategy : PLAN B
52. Like an enthusiastic crowd : AROAR. …asmell of the greasepaint, aroar of the crowd…(sic)
55. Guiding principle : ETHIC
57. Sub sandwich dressing item : OIL
63. Wear a hole in the carpet : PACE
64. Dance studio rail : BARRE
65. Actress Fey : TINA
66. Winter transport : SLED
67. Prints and threads, to detectives : CLUES
68. __ in Show: dog prize : BEST
Down:
1. Wrestling surfaces : MATS
2. Workout woe : ACHE
3. Stay afloat in place : TREAD WATER. Do you remember Bill Cosby's, "Noah, how long can you tread water?"
4. Pajamaed mogul, familiarly : HEF. (Hugh Hefner)
5. Zodiac's Twins : GEMINI
6. Martini garnishes : OLIVEs
7. Store in a folder : FILE
8. Ice cream brand : EDY'S
9. TiVo button : REC
10. Multitalented Rita : MORENO
11. Basic lessons : ABCs
12. Big oaf : LOUT
13. Not as much : LESS
18. "Figured it out!" : "A-HA!"
19. Unmoving : INERT
24. Creep (along) : INCH
25. Source of inspiration : MUSE
26. Rice dish : PILAF
27. Vintage violin : AMATI
29. Throat dangler : UVULA
30. Tween heartthrob Efron : ZAC
31. "Life on Mars?" singer : DAVID BOWIE. Video(3:57)
32. Online party notice : EVITE
33. Desert retreats : OASES
38. Conduit for tears : DUCT
39. Slippery swimmer : EEL
40. Oscar winner Arkin : ALAN. Best Supporting Actor for "Little Miss Sunshine"(2006)
42. Arcade pioneer : ATARI
45. Out of the sun : SHADED
46. Region of influence : SPHERE
47. Cuts for a sandwich : SLICES
51. Commonly injured knee ligament, for short : ACL. (anterior cruciate ligament)
52. Deadly snakes : ASPs
53. Genuine : REAL
54. A single time : ONCE
55. List finisher: Abbr. : ET AL.
56. No __ traffic : THRU
58. Travelers' stops : INNs
59. Future D.A.'s hurdle : LSAT. (Law School Admission Test)
61. "The Voice" network : NBC
62. Gambling letters : OTB. (off-track betting)
Argyle
