17. 2005 reality show featuring Whitney Houston: BEING BOBBY BROWN. Private Ivy League research university in Providence, Rhode Island.
23. '60s sitcom portrayer of Cathy Lane and her "identical cousin": PATTY DUKE. Private, non-profit, research university located in Durham, North Carolina.
38. Ginger-ale-and-grenadine "cocktail": SHIRLEY TEMPLE. State-related university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
55. Chinese menu standard: FRIED RICE. Private research university in Houston, Texas.
62. Where social graces are taught, and what 17-, 23-, 38-, and 55-Across each has: FINISHING SCHOOL.
Melissa here. Interesting, from Wikipedia: "The term finishing school is occasionally used, or misused, in American parlance to refer to certain small women's colleges, primarily on the East Coast, that were once known for preparing their female students for marriage. Since the 1960s, many of these schools have closed as a result of financial difficulties stemming from changing societal norms, making it easier for women to pursue academic and professional paths not open to previous generations."
Sad fact: In too many states, it costs more to house a prisoner for one year than one year of university tuition. One example.
Across:
1. Recurring theme: MOTIF.
6. Contemporary of Dashiell: ERLE. Hammett and Stanley Gardner, mystery writers. Both contributors to pulp genre publication Black Mask magazine.
10. Apple debut of 1998: IMAC.
14. Childish retort: I DO SO.
15. Group of two: DUAD. Makes sense, but I don't think I've ever seen or heard this word. Googled "how to pronounce duad," and found at least three different ways (audio clips). Cambridge dictionary doesn't have an entry at all.
16. Santa __: Sonoma County seat: ROSA. California and Florida both have Santa Rosa Counties - but according to Wikipedia, only Florida's Santa Rosa is a County Seat.
20. War on Poverty org.: OEO.
21. "In that event ... ": IF SO.
22. Kipling python: KAA. From The Jungle Book.
27. Spin, as a baton: TWIRL.
29. "The Simpsons" storekeeper: APU.
30. Leb. neighbor: SYR.
31. Looks up to: ESTEEMS.
33. Show of rural respect: YES'M.
35. Army NCO: SGT. Non-commissioned officer.
37. Little piggy: TOE. Cute.
43. 1988 noir remake: DOA. 1949 Film Noir classic, public domain, full length avail on YouTube.
44. Ewe, say: SHE. Cute.
45. Website with business reviews: YELP.
47. Supple: LISSOME.
51. Many a microbrew: ALE.
53. One in the middle of Knoxville?: VEE. I still get fooled by these sometimes.
54. FDR and JFK: INITS. Initials.
58. Announcer Hall: EDD. Jay Leno's announcer on The Tonight Show from 1992 to 2004.
59. Protein-rich food: TOFU.
61. Wish undone: RUE.
68. McFlurry cookie: OREO.
69. Start of a hymn: O GOD.
70. Creeps-inducing: EERIE. Timely for October.
71. Arms of a starfish: RAYS.
72. Over and above: Abbr.: SYNS.
73. Silvery little fish: SMELT.
Down:
1. Will Smith sci-fi series: MIB. Men in Black.
2. Laudatory piece: ODE.
3. French pronoun: TOI.
4. "You're lying!" in a playground: IS NOT. Is too!
5. "Old" old-fashioned sorts: FOGEYS.
6. Old name for Tokyo: EDO.
7. Cube creator: RUBIK. I had a classmate in HS who learned to speed-solve - was impressive to watch.
8. Bio class cost: LAB FEE.
9. Slow Churned ice cream brand: EDYS.
10. Like the vb. "be": IRR. Irregular.
11. Red Sox star Betts: MOOKIE.
12. Like angry bees: A SWARM.
13. Lock sites: CANALS. A lock is is a device used for raising and lowering boats, ships and other watercraft between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways.
18. Pro wrestling throw: BODY SLAM.
19. Deepest level: BOTTOM.
23. Shell out: PAY.
24. Jungle swingers: APES.
25. Rear: TUSH.
26. Impulse: URGE.
28. Tearful: WEEPY.
32. Team with the most Super Bowl victories: STEELERS.
34. Central spot: MIDST.
36. TV host Pennington and Hall of Famer Cobb: TYS.
39. Places to perch: ROOSTS.
40. Bangkok native: THAI.
41. Big name in denim: LEVI.
42. Power co. product: ELEC.
46. Peruvian capital?: PEE. Nice clue.
47. Commit perjury to protect: LIE FOR.
48. Former Indian prime minister Gandhi: INDIRA.
49. "Dog Day Afternoon" director Lumet: SIDNEY.
50. Crude model used for public ridicule: EFFIGY.
52. Elicits: EDUCES.
56. Long sentence: RUN ON.
57. Turn a midi into a mini, say: RE-HEM.
60. Cries of discovery: OHOS. Okay.
63. Platform for Siri: IOS.
64. Mdse.: GDS.
65. Malachite, e.g.: ORE.
66. Many a Monet: OIL.
67. Permit: LET.
