Theme: I've got the crumpets - Can you find the TEA?
17A. "Calm down" : "TAKE IT EASY"
23A. BBC nature series with the episodes "Jungles" and "Mountains" : PLANET EARTH
37A. Adorable : AS CUTE AS A BUTTON
45A. Delayed flight, e.g. : LATE ARRIVAL
58A. Warm cupful ... and, literally, what's hidden in the answers to 17-, 23-, 37- and 45-Across : A SPOT OF TEA
Argyle here, old chap. Hello! Did you find the TEA hidden in the themes? Two x-xx and two xx-x. A grid spanner. Reveal in the lower right corner. I say, pretty ship-shape, eh wot?
Across:
1. Workers who cross picket lines : SCABS
6. Stare in disbelief : GAPE
10. Con game : SCAM
14. Kept from squeaking : OILED
15. "Yikes!" : "EGAD!"
16. Thomas __ Edison : ALVA
19. Salacious look : LEER
20. Bar in a bathtub : SOAP. Not cake this time.
21. Pint or pixel : UNIT
22. Former Russian rulers : TSARs
25. Starter's gun : PISTOL
29. CVS pickups : RXs. (prescriptions)
30. Inventor Howe : ELIAS. Invented a sewing machine with a lock-stitch. It required placing the eye of the needle at the point.
31. Ark measurement : CUBIT. What's a cubit? Go ask Noah.
34. "Dexter" network, briefly : SHO. (Showtime)
40. Chatter : YAK
41. Greek sandwiches : GYROS. The English spelling, ok?
42. Not throw out : REUSE
43. Rapper Dr. __ : DRE
44. Riviera film festival site : CANNES. The 69th Cannes Film Festival will take place 11-22 May 2016 if you plan on attending.
51. Dropped the ball : ERRED
52. "You're __ 30 seconds!": backstage warning : ON IN
53. Prefix with space : AERO
57. Trim, as a photo : CROP
60. Optimism : HOPE
61. Ancient France : GAUL
62. Film critic, at times : RATER
63. Pitcher with a flared spout : EWER
64. This, to Esteban : ESTA
65. Thin nails : BRADS
Down:
1. They're way more than social drinkers : SOTs
2. "Later, dahling!" : "CIAO!". Heard at Cannes.
3. __-Seltzer : ALKA
4. Driver's warning : [BEEP!]
5. 1980s missile prog. : SDI. (Strategic Defense Initiative)
6. Davis of "Commander in Chief" : GEENA. (on ABC)
7. Another time : AGAIN
8. Something to stick with? : PASTE
9. Ice cream maker Joseph : EDY
10. Dips for tortilla chips : SALSAs
11. Simple to understand : CLEAR. Conversely, 43D. Not as simple to understand : DEEPER
12. Sidestep : AVERT
13. Bog : MARSH
18. Rock's Jethro __ : TULL
22. Relating to roughness or smoothness, say : TEXTURAL
23. Ph.D. candidate, e.g. : POST GRAD. Postgraduate student.
24. Chicago daily, familiarly : TRIB
25. Austin __: Tennessee university : PEAY. Named in honor of Tenn. Gov. Austin Peay.
26. Ingrid's role in "Casablanca" : ILSA
27. Under the weather : SICK
28. Letter after sigma : TAU
31. Sleeping or slot follower : CAR
32. GI show sponsor : USO. (United Service Organizations)
33. __-relief : BAS. An old friend returns.
34. Shock : STUN
35. Garden spigot attachment : HOSE
36. Change for a five : ONEs
38. Spyglass user : EYER
39. Five-and-__ store : TEN. Now that's going way back.
44. "__ Buy Me Love": Beatles hit : CAN'T
45. Café lightener : LECHE. It's Spanish.
46. Traffic light symbol : ARROW
47. Figure of speech : TROPE. The figurative or metaphorical use of a word or expression.
48. Bouquet for a señorita : ROSAS. Deceptive. ROSAS is roses whereas a bouquet may be other flowers.
49. Computer fodder : INPUT
50. String quartet instrument : VIOLA
53. Many miles away : AFAR
54. "At Last" singer James : ETTA
55. Lakeside stalk : REED
56. Rowboat pair : OARS
58. Birthday number : AGE
59. Eye, poetically : ORB
Argyle
Note from C.C.:
Happy 71st Birthday to dear Misty! So pleased to hear your Christmas party went well. I'm raising my mug of tea to celebrate this special day, Misty!
