Theme: Porcine Palace - I pity the fool that has to tell Miss Piggy she didn't make the cut.
17. *Whom Charlotte saved, in an E.B. White classic : WILBUR
18. *"Animal Farm" tyrant : NAPOLEON
23. *GEICO spokscritter who squeals, "Wee wee wee!" : MAXWELL
39. *"Toy Story" toy bank : HAMM
40. *Stutterer in Looney Tunes sign-offs : PORKY
43. *Unlikely title shepherd in a 1995 film : BABE
53. *40-Across' gal : PETUNIA
65. With 67-Across, annual March 1 event celebrated in the answers to starred clues : NATIONAL
67. See 65-Across : PIG DAY
Rabbit Rabbit or should I say, "Oink, Oink"? Argyle here. This site here has a pretty good explanation of today's celebration. Jeffery is often a Friday constructor so a few crunchy nuggets in the mix can be expected. Plus the theme entries may not be all that familiar but should be found doable. Quite satisfying. I best get busy; a lot of linking to do.
Across:
1. Human rights advocate Jagger : BIANCA. Mick's wife from 1971 to 1979.
7. Leaves in a big hurry : RACES OFF
15. Seductive quality : ALLURE
16. Having the capacity for learning : EDUCABLE. [ej-oo-kuh-buh l] or, educatable
19. Reason-based faith : DEISM. As opposed to THEISM.
20. Self-regard : EGO
21. One-__ jack : EYED. Spades and Hearts.
22. QB's gains : YDs
27. Variety : TYPE
28. More pert : SAUCIER
33. Mets' former stadium : SHEA
36. Singer Yoko : ONO
38. "Ninotchka" star Greta : GARBO
44. Reputed UFO pilot : ALIEN
46. "Golly!" : "GEE!"
47. "Great Taste...__ Filling": Miller Lite slogan : LESS
48. Carter's vice president : MONDALE. Walter.
51. Suffix with novel : ETTE
55. __ Grande : RIO. Photo of the Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.
58. Burn slightly : SEAR
62. Latin art : ARS. M-G-M motto, "Ars Gratia Artis", "Art for art's sake"
63. Doggie : POOCH
68. Biological order including eight-armed creatures : OCTOPODA. lol, ISOPODS yesterday.
69. Waiting one's turn : IN LINE
70. Catching-up query : WHAT'S NEW
71. FBI operatives : AGENTS
Down:
1. Ribald : BAWDY
2. Perjurer's confession : "I LIED"
3. "Silent Night" words before calm and bright : ALL IS
4. Used-up pencils : NUBS
5. Really bad : CRUMMY
6. __ Lingus : AER
7. Take more Time? : RENEW
8. Maxims : ADAGEs
9. Domelike building top : CUPOLA
10. Earth-friendly prefix : ECO. Umberto Eco died last month.
11. Mall event : SALE
12. Do as told : OBEY
13. Arctic chunk : FLOE
14. Provide (for oneself) : FEND
24. Per unit : A POP
25. Strange: Pref. : XENO
26. Tote : LUG
27. Domesticated : TAMED
29. Pay television : CABLE
30. "Dies __": Latin hymn : IRAE
31. Flows back : EBBS
32. Some reddish deer : ROEs
33. Bedding accessory : SHAM
34. Saintly glow : HALO
35. Key with one sharp: Abbr. : E MINor
37. Nonprofit URL ending : .ORG
41. Really eager : KEEN. Yesterday we had [Really into : KEEN ON].
42. Bigfoot kin : YETI
45. Rest of the afternoon : NAP
49. Use as support : LEAN ON
50. Online investment service : E*TRADE
52. Music studio activity : TAPING
54. Amer. attorney's study : U.S. LAW
55. "The Thinker" sculptor : RODIN
56. Words of refusal : "I CAN'T"
57. "I remember now!" : "OH, YES!". So maybe you can now.
58. Skiing surface : SNOW
59. Per unit : EACH
60. "__ girl!" : ATTA
61. Real hoot : RIOT
64. Gawk at : OGLE
66. Photo __: media events : OPS
67. Actress Zadora : PIA
Argyle