Theme: Synonyms
54. Virtually zero, and where the ends of 20-, 32- and 43-Across are literally situated: NEXT TO NOTHING. That means they start with a synonym for zilch.
20. Player who shoots par regularly: SCRATCH GOLFER. Zero handicap.
32. Floppy disk backup device: ZIP DRIVE. Nil.
43. Ballad for a valentine: LOVE SONG. Zero score in tennis.
Argyle here. No complaints.
Across:
1. Most musicals have two: ACTS
5. Start to faceted or purpose: MULTI
10. Modern organizers, for short: PDAs. (personal digital assistant)
14. Countenance: MIEN
15. In front: AHEAD
16. Wine prefix: OENO. Vowel friendly.
17. First chip in the poker pot: ANTE
18. Football with scrums: RUGBY
19. Songwriter Kristofferson: KRIS
23. Malted relative: SHAKE
24. Magnolia State school, familiarly: OLE MISS. University of Mississippi.
27. Baseball misplays: ERRORS
31. Calendar page: MONTH
35. Forest official: RANGER
36. Angsty rock genre: EMO
37. Michelangelo statue: PIETA
39. R&B's __ Hill: DRU. Such costumes!
40. Changes gears: SHIFTS
46. Start of a Poitier film title: TO SIR, WITH LOVE.
47. Seek ambitiously: ASPIRE
48. O. Henry works: STORIES. Easy to overthink this one.
50. Mexican dip: SALSA
58. Slick-talking: GLIB
60. Jokes and such: HUMOR
61. Cupid: AMOR
62. Save for binge-watching, say: TIVO
63. '50s nuclear trial: A-TEST
64. Dressed in: WORE
65. River of Hades: STYX
66. Barcelona babies: NENEs
67. Joint commonly replaced: KNEE
Down:
1. Accumulate, as a fortune: AMASS
2. Easy-peasy task: CINCH. This puzzle?
3. Aquarium fish: TETRA
4. Moved stealthily: SNEAKED
5. Artist Chagall: MARC
6. "Nah": "UH UH"
7. __ Mason: investment giant: LEGG. Founded in 1899 as a brokerage firm in Baltimore, MD.
8. No-nos: TABOOs
9. Poem of rustic life: IDYLL
10. Critters hunted with a hugely popular 2016 mobile app: POKÉMON
11. Heroic exploits: DERRING DO
12. Young Darth's nickname: ANI
13. Distress signal at sea: SOS
21. La. or Dak., once: TERR. (Territories)
22. Disaster relief org.: FEMA. (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
25. Titanic rear end: STERN
26. "So what" shoulder gesture: SHRUG. meh.
28. Fabric flaws: RIPS
29. Egg: Pref.: OVI
30. Fishing line holders: REELS
32. Thin citrus peels: ZESTS
33. Words spoken by a sweater?: "I'M HOT"
34. Plant responsible for much itching: POISON IVY
35. Sitarist Shankar: RAVI
38. High side: TOP
41. Locomotive furnace: FIREBOX
42. Cereal coveted by a silly rabbit: TRIX
44. Former "formerly": ERST
45. Seattle football pro: SEAHAWK
47. Sharp as a tack: ASTUTE
49. Wharton's Frome: ETHAN
51. Chihuahua citrus fruit: LIMÓN. (Spanish for "lemon") Tricky.
52. Boring lecture, for example: SNORE
53. Share the same opinion: AGREE
55. Dark clouds, perhaps: OMEN
56. Aroma detector: NOSE
57. Leftover bits: ORTs
58. Classic sports cars: GTs. No particular make.
59. Set fire to: LIT
Argyle
