Theme: X
17A. *Guys' hair coloring product : JUST FOR MEN. X-MEN, an odd assortment of superheroes.
39A. *Radioactive emission : BETA RAY. X-RAY
11D. *Root source for a database : MASTER FILE. X-FILE One of several "unsolved files" made famous by Mulder and Scully. It is said the FBI started the term, "X-FILE".
29D. *Big place to play online : YAHOO GAMES. X-GAMES Extreme sports.
62A. Hard-to-define element, or a hint to what can precede each last word in answers to starred clues : THE X FACTOR
Argyle here, and no surprise, C.C. Nice crunch for a Monday.
Across:
1. Bit of talk show self-promotion : PLUG
5. Judean king : HEROD
10. "Hurry up!" : "C'MON!"
14. Real snoozefest : BORE
15. Native New Zealander : MAORI. Queenstown Bay, New Zealand
16. Angelic aura : HALO
19. Cruise stop : ISLE
20. Dry, as bread : STALE
21. Maui memento : LEI
22. Kind of computer error that may cause data loss : FATAL
23. Steel-cut grain : OAT
25. Eccentric person : ODD ONE
27. Chain with headquarters at One Geoffrey Way, Wayne, N.J. : TOYS 'R' US. Geoffrey is their mascot.
31. Former Southwest subsidiary : AIRTRAN. Part of Southwest Airlines now.
34. Give __ on the back: praise : A PAT
35. Criticize nonstop : NAG. Cute pairing with above.
37. Hold in, as a sneeze : STIFLE
38. Cheering word : [RAH!]
41. Suffix with percent : ILE. (percentile)
42. Defeats soundly : TROMPS
44. Actress Ullmann or Tyler : LIV
45. Ran off : FLED
46. Informer, to a cop : STOOLIE
48. Allergy stimulants : POLLENS. Can't be many pollens left now.
50. Pig noises : GRUNTS
52. "__ is me!" : WOE
53. Sends junk e-mail to : SPAMS
55. Busy pro in Apr. : CPA. (Certified Public Accountant)
57. Digilux 3 camera maker : LEICA
61. Red "Sesame Street" puppet : ELMO
64. Bank claim : LIEN
65. Bluesy Memphis street : BEALE
66. Danish shoe brand : ECCO
67. Not as much : LESS
68. Made inquiries : ASKED
69. Like plow horses : SHOD. They don't wear ECCO.
Down:
1. Sandwiches with Jif, briefly : PBJs. Jelly or jam, it's all good.
2. Rude dude : LOUT
3. Heavenly bear : URSA
4. "Beat it!" : "GET LOST!"
5. Gp. with a copay : HMO. (health maintenance organization)
6. Countess' spouse : EARL
7. Lover of Juliet : ROMEO
8. Crispy Crunchies! fries maker : ORE-IDA. Not just Tater-Tots.
9. Noisy clamor : DIN
10. Ristorante red : CHIANTI
12. Southwestern pot : OLLA
13. Holiday season : NOEL
18. Emotion causing quaking : FEAR
22. Winks count : FORTY. Short nap.
24. Listens to, as a radio station : TUNES IN
26. Repudiate : DISAVOW
27. Fruit pastries : TARTS
28. Eye-fooling genre : OP ART
30. Minded the kids : SAT
32. "Magic in the Moonlight" director Woody : ALLEN
33. Food, shelter, etc. : NEEDS
36. Cowboy's lady : GAL
39. Nearly excellent grade : B PLUS
40. Tear apart : RIP
43. Latter-day Saints : MORMONS
45. Defrauds : FLEECES
47. Carves in stone : ETCHES
49. "Copacabana" temptress : LOLA
51. Command to Spot : "SPEAK!"
53. Go like hotcakes : SELL
54. Ballerina's bend : PLIÉ
56. Wheel-connecting rod : AXLE
58. Restless desire : ITCH
59. Chanel of perfume : COCO
60. Yankee with more than 3,000 hits, familiarly : A-ROD. "Alex" Rodriguez.
62. Schedule abbr. : TBA. (To Be Announced)
63. Nourished : FED
Argyle
