Theme: The 'T' is Silent
41A. Valentine symbol ... or, when read as two words, what you can't do when the answers to starred clues are spoken : HEART or "hear T".
17A. *"The Color Purple," for Oprah Winfrey : MOVIE DEBUT
66A. *Special Forces soldier : GREEN BERET
10D. *1990s Reform Party candidate : H. ROSS PEROT
30D. *Boneless seafood option : FISH FILLET
Argyle here. I doubt anyone would be surprised that all four entries are derived from French. Welcome to our old friend Jerome. You've been silent too long. Interview Another pinwheel grid with the unifier in the middle. C.C. pointed out to me the other day this design is prohibitive of longer fill. OK, OK say I, I still like it.
Across:
1. High-ranking Indian : RAJA
5. Jack rabbits, e.g. : HARES
10. Mr. Ed's foot : HOOF
14. Like Bond foes : EVIL
15. RLX automaker : ACURA
16. Bring down with a big ball : RAZE
19. Great Plains tribe : OTOE. Another old friend.
20. Soccer game tie, often : ONE ALL
21. Infiltrator : SPY
22. Email command : SEND
23. Hitch, as a ride : BUM
25. Long locks : TRESSES
27. Retailer known for little blue boxes : TIFFANY'S. Not on my income.
32. Maple output : SAP. Done for this year.
33. Singer Amos : TORI
34. Bottom corner of a square sail : CLEW. I didn't have a clue. It's part of a triangular sail, also.
36. Pass along : RELAY
40. Is obliged to pay : OWEs
43. Dallas quarterback Tony : ROMO. Signed as a free agent with the Cowboys in 2003.
44. Hiking trails : PATHS
46. Word before cook or burn : SLOW
47. "Yeah, yeah, I get it" : "OK, OK"
48. Monk's title : FRA
50. Winter traction aid : SNOWTIRE
52. Game divisions : PERIODS
56. Car in a '60s song : GTO
57. Stagger : REEL
58. Off-road transp. : ATV. (all-terrain vehicle)
60. Horseshoe-shaped letters : OMEGAs. Greek.
65. Inland Asian sea : ARAL. Sad.
68. Dry with a towel : WIPE
69. Words on a Wonderland cake : [EAT ME]
70. Turkish currency : LIRA
71. Egg container : NEST
72. Got off one's duff : STOOD
73. Mexico City problem : SMOG
Down:
1. Riviera resort San __ : REMO. Wonder if Romo ever visited Remo.
2. CoverGirl competitor : AVON
3. Jazzy jargon : JIVE
4. Et __: and others : ALIA
5. Went for a burger, say : HAD LUNCH
6. Unhittable serve : ACE
7. Pre-grilling spice mixtures : RUBS
8. Blow one's stack : ERUPT
9. Lascivious deities : SATYRS. Great for Halloween.
11. Hall's pop music partner : OATES. Still performing. 2014 Clip(7:52)
12. Holey layer : OZONE
13. Nourishes : FEEDS
18. Site of Napoleon's exile : ELBA
24. Pilgrim Standish : MYLES. I thought it was spelt with an "I".
26. Corn serving : EAR
27. Sporty car roof : T-TOP. But not on a GTO, I believe.
28. State whose straw poll was discontinued in 2015 : IOWA
29. Banjo ridge : FRET
31. Tapes up tightly : SEALS
35. Like a test answer with an "x" next to it : WRONG
37. Norse mischief-maker : LOKI
38. Love, to Ovid : AMOR. (Roman poet)
39. Oxen harness : YOKE
42. Black-and-white, e.g. : TWO-TONED
45. "No seats" letters : SRO. No tickets at all, SOL.
49. Traditional sayings : ADAGEs
51. Gestation location : WOMB. We've all been there, eh?
52. Shrimp relative : PRAWN
53. Spooky : EERIE. Halloween is coming soon.
54. Brings in : REAPS
55. Fender guitar model, briefly : STRAT. Stratocaster®
59. White House no : VETO
61. Slim swimmers : EELs
62. Bleak : GRIM
63. Prefix with dynamic : AERO
64. Guys-only : STAG
67. Punk rock offshoot : EMO
Argyle
