Theme: The show must go on.
20. *Artsy Lower Manhattan neighborhood : EAST VILLAGE
58. *Drug bust calculation : STREET VALUE
11. *Panel decision that's not unanimous : SPLIT VOTE
35. *Became a YouTube sensation : WENT VIRAL
40. Set in a den, slangily ... or, initially, what can be found in each answer to a starred clue : THE TUBE.
Most TV's in use now are LCD or plasma. The old style CRT, or Cathode Ray Tube is a vacuum tube - and that's about all I know about that. Even though the CRT didn't last, the term "The Tube" might just be around forever.
Melissa here. I had to work way too hard for this one, for no particular reason that I can say. Only two total unknowns but I had to work for the tada just the same.
Across
1. __ and flows : EBBS
5. Stepped heavily : TROD
9. __ Rica : COSTA
14. Pitcher's goof : BALK
15. Inflatable mattress prefix with Bed : AERO. Great crossword word, three vowels.
16. Colorado ski mecca : ASPEN
17. Muslim denomination : SHIA. Tried SIKH first, and discovered after looking it up that Sikhs are neither Hindu nor Muslim. Learning moment.
18. Not fatty, as meat : LEAN
19. Lease again : RELET
23. Car owner's premium pmt. : INS
24. American of Japanese descent : NISEI. Unknwown #1.
25. Dieter's catchword : LOFAT. Had to wait for the L to fill in - LOFAT or NOFAT?
27. Sweat unit : BEAD
30. Originates (from) : DERIVES
33. Like morning grass : DEWY
36. Title for Doubtfire or Dash : MRS.
38. Site of Arizona's Red Rock State Park : SEDONA
39. Rocks in bars : ICE
42. Gratuity : TIP
43. Dessert with a cherry : SUNDAE
45. Refreshing retreat : SPA
46. Wines that usually go well with beef : REDS
47. __ seat: advantageous spot : CATBIRD. I don't hear this phrase often, do you?
49. In couch-potato mode : IDLE. Watching the tube, perhaps.
51. France dance : VALSE. Second unknown for me. So sneaky, once I realized that VALSE is the French word for waltz. Oh.
52. Up to one's ears (in) : AWASH
56. Architect I.M. __ : PEI
62. Throat ailment : STREP
64. Modest skirt : MIDI. Tried MAXI first.
65. Writer Jaffe : RONA. Author of "The Best of Everything," made into a movie. Died in 2005.
66. Video game pioneer : ATARI
67. Region : AREA
68. Sullen : DOUR
69. Makeover place : SALON
70. Camera attachment : LENS
71. Bay Area cop gp. : SFPD
Down:
1. "Barnaby Jones" actor Buddy : EBSEN
2. Persian faith : BAHA'I
3. Utter joy : BLISS
4. Glide past on the ice : SKATE BY
5. Anklebones : TALI
6. Movie spool : REEL
7. Verbal : ORAL
8. Name on a Trump card? : DONALD
9. Untroubled : CAREFREE
10. Suffix with fruct- : OSE
12. "The Hunger Games" extra : TEEN
13. Picnic invaders : ANTS
21. "C'est la __!" : VIE
22. Turns sour : GOES BAD
26. Help : AID
28. UMass town : AMHERST
29. Hip-hop Dr. : DRE
31. Oklahoma's "Wheat Capital" : ENID
32. Drains of strength : SAPS
33. Phonograph record : DISC
34. Quito's country: Abbr. : ECUA. Quito is the capital of Ecuador.
37. N.Y. and Calif. : STs
40. Dramatic downturn : TAILSPIN
41. Wire service letters : UPI. United Press International
44. Corporate alias abbr. : DBA. (Doing Business As)
46. Bounty hunters' goals : REWARDS
48. Of the skin : DERMAL
50. Where a Brit may powder her nose : LAV. (Britain, slang) Short for lavatory.
53. Unlikely to get excited : ALOOF
54. Dawn : SUN UP
55. Listened to : HEARD
56. "This is your brain on drugs" ads, briefly : PSAs. Public Service Announcement
57. Singer James : ETTA
59. Irish name for Ireland : EIRE
60. Xanadu : EDEN
61. Spanish aunts : TIAs
63. Suffix with ranch : ERO
