Theme: Good Rap - Three types of wrap I can stand.
17A. Boil out of the pot : BUBBLE OVER. Bubble wrap, my favorite.
27A. Present in lieu of cash : GIFT CERTIFICATE. Gift wrap.
48A. Doctors doing reconstructive work : PLASTIC SURGEONS. Plastic wrap.
64A. Director's "We're done," and hint to the starts of 17-, 27- and 48-Across : "THAT'S A WRAP"
Argyle here. Matt has given us a pleasant start to the week. A couple of spans and tight stacks all around.
Across:
1. Headliners : STARS
6. Prefix with final or trailer : SEMI
10. Ward of "CSI: NY" : SELA
14. "Wowie!" : "OH BOY!"
15. Frau's home : HAUS and 67A. Frau's mate : HERR
16. Medicine cabinet swab : Q-TIP
19. Sch. near the Rio Grande : UTEP University of Texas at El Paso.
20. Old Testament twin : ESAU
21. Leaves : GOES. The leaves are turning, getting ready to go.
22. Goethe classic : FAUST. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust is a tragic play in two parts: ... read more here.
23. Sun. message : SER. (sermon)
25. Shortening for pie-making : LARD
35. Genetics lab subject : RNA
36. Mix with a spoon : STIR
37. Hard to lift : LEADEN. Often used to describe one's extremities.
38. Where serve-and-volley tennis players win a lot of points : AT NET
40. Dict. entry : DEF. (definition)
42. Sturm und __ : DRANG. Tumult; turmoil; upheaval; Dunder and Blixem.
43. Attacks : SETS AT. "Sic 'em!"
45. Gin flavoring : SLOE
47. Neither here __ there : NOR
51. Verdi opera : AIDA
52. Turkish bigwig : AGA
53. Where to find Houston St. and Penn Sta. : IN NYC
56. Hammer or saw : TOOL
59. Stadium cheers : RAHs
63. Hawaii's "Valley Isle" : MAUI
66. Requests : ASKS
68. Backyard barbecue site : PATIO
69. Newsman Huntley : CHET
70. Celestial bear : URSA
71. Wield : EXERT
Down:
1. Tea brand with a lizard logo : SOBE
2. Consequently : THUS
3. "Dancing Queen" band : ABBA. Sing along!
4. Strong and healthy : ROBUST
5. Word segment: Abbr. : SYL. (syllable)
6. "Scram, fly!" : "SHOO!"
7. Roof overhang : EAVE
8. Rolled oats cereal : MUESLI. From the fine folks that also bring us spelt flour.
9. Jerusalem's land: Abbr. : ISR. (Israel)
10. Cop show wheels : SQUAD CAR
11. Caesar's disbelieving words : "ET TU...?"
12. Golfers' concerns : LIES
18. "Snowy" heron : EGRET
22. Breakfast sandwich item : FRIED EGG
24. Deliriously happy : ECSTATIC
26. CIO partner : AFL. The American Federation of Labor / Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL–CIO)
27. Clutch tightly : GRASP
28. "__ inside": chipmaker's slogan : INTEL
29. Classic orange soda : FANTA
30. Get __ of: throw out : RID
31. Rapunzel feature : TRESS
32. Hersey's "A Bell for __" : ADANO
33. Mortise insert : TENON
34. Some MIT grads : ENGRs. (engineers)
39. Charles Lamb, notably : ESSAYIST
41. Winter ailment : FLU
44. Three times daily, on an Rx : TID. (Latin: ter in die)
46. Tough tests : ORALS
49. Novelist Willa : CATHER. There are some things you learn best in calm, and some in storm. ~ Willa Cather
50. Auditory canal blocker : EARWAX. Don't stick 16-Across in there.
53. Colorful old Apple : iMAC
54. "Parsley is gharsley" poet Ogden : NASH
55. Microwave : NUKE
57. Paddles, e.g. : OARS. Noun or verb, either works.
58. Mexican's "other" : OTRA
60. Comic Johnson : ARTE
61. Word with spray or style : HAIR
62. Laundry challenge : SPOT
64. Day before Fri. : THU.
65. Swinger in the jungle : APE
Argyle