Theme: More than upset - Star answers begin with synonyms of irate
20A. *Publication featuring Alfred E. Neuman : MAD MAGAZINE
57A. *Chinese food staple : STEAMED RICE
11D. *Cold symptom : SORE THROAT
29D. *Lines that help you 9-Down : CROSSHAIRS
41D. Personal source of annoyance ... which might make one feel the first word of the answers to starred clues : PET PEEVE
Argyle here. The reveal isn't in the middle this time but still a nice pin wheel grid. Fill is on the easy side, as it should be, but still lively.
Across:
1. Cabbage side dish : SLAW
5. Costume shop supply : WIGS
9. Croatian-born physicist Nikola : TESLA
14. Spanish appetizer : TAPA
15. In couch-potato mode : IDLE
16. Like a cheering capacity crowd : AROAR
17. Happily __ after : EVER
18. Tidy : NEAT
19. Destiny : KARMA
23. Tidal retreat : EBB
24. The ones right in front of us : THESE
25. Lt.'s superior : CAPT. lieutenant / captain
27. Engraved with acid : ETCHED
30. "The Firm" author John : GRISHAM
33. Sea, to Cousteau : MER. Both French.
34. Worker in a shaft : MINER
37. __ Gras : MARDI
38. Coll. hot shot : BMOC. (Big Man on Campus)
40. Garden bulb : TULIP
42. Tugboat sound : TOOT
43. WF-3640 printer maker : EPSON. Model # was of no help.(to me)
45. Traveler's stop : MOTEL
47. "__ you happy now?" : ARE
48. "Do not" follower, on a closed-door sign : DISTURB
50. Ride a seesaw : TEETER
52. Roll call reply : HERE
53. Channel covering Capitol Hill : C-SPAN. acronym for Cable-Satellite Public Affairs Network.
55. Cute __ button : AS A
62. Light brown : BEIGE
64. Beech or birch : TREE
65. Many Keats poems : ODEs
66. Flub by a fielder : ERROR
67. Balkan native : SLAV
68. Cowpoke's footwear : BOOT
69. "Yum!" : "TASTY!"
70. Knight times : YORE
71. "Born Free" lioness : ELSA
Down:
1. Wineglass part : STEM
2. Volcanic output : LAVA
3. Did an impression of : APED
4. Fireside feeling : WARMTH
5. Didn't follow a script, say : WINGED IT. Ad libs. Improv.
6. Brainstorms : IDEAs
7. Classic Krispy Kreme coating : GLAZE
8. "The X-Files" org. : SETI. (Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence )
9. Get ready to shoot : TAKE AIM
10. Open __: tennis period since 1968 : ERA. When the professional players first competed with amateurs.
12. Rack of __ : LAMB
13. Many an Iraqi : ARAB
21. "Excuse me ... " : "AHEM ... "
22. Big name in ATMs : NCR. The NCR Corporation was formerly National Cash Register.
26. Exam for H.S. jrs. : PSAT. Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test, formerly.
27. Nestle snugly : EMBED
28. Allegro, scherzo, andante, etc. : TEMPI. Plural of tempo.
30. Sandpaper feature : GRIT
31. Worship : ADORE
32. Bishop's headdress : MITER. Make your own. Origami.
35. Unfeeling : NUMB
36. Symphonic rock gp. : ELO. (Electric Light Orchestra)
39. Sheep shelter : COTE
44. Room with a crib : NURSERY
46. Starring role : LEAD. Often 59D. Big screen star : IDOL
49. On a pension: Abbr. : RET. (retired)
51. Dress for the choir : ENROBE
53. Monte __: gambling mecca : CARLO
54. Ink mishap : SMEAR
55. Aid in wrongdoing : ABET
56. Doris Day song word : SERA
58. Online handicraft market : ETSY. Have we learned it yet?
60. Corp. heads : CEOs. (Chief Executive Officer)
61. "¿Cómo __ usted?" : ESTÁ. "How are you?"
63. Understood, as a joke : GOT
Argyle
