20. "The Iceman Cometh" playwright: EUGENE O'NEILL.
28. Sir Winston Churchill's ancestral home: BLENHEIM PALACE.
39. Victim of Artemis, in some accounts: ORION.
47. Cocoa butter treat: WHITE CHOCOLATE.
57. Passenger compartments, and an apt description of this puzzle's circles: CAR INTERIORS.
Without the circles, I never would have seen the cars. It must have taken maxima focus for Ms. Gelfand to roundup this theme. Such a clever word wrangler and explorer. She's a real trooper.
Across:
1. Aesop's "The __ in the Lion's Skin": ASS. Read it here.
4. Rips off: ROBS.
8. Batter's position: STANCE.
14. Phone ringing onstage, perhaps: CUE. Not enough letters for prop.
15. "Star Wars" critter: EWOK.
16. More homey: COZIER.
17. "Don't know yet," on skeds: TBA. To Be Announced.
18. iPad model: MINI.
19. Ways to go: ROUTES.
23. Emmy category: DRAMA. 2018 winner for outstanding drama series was Game of Thrones.
24. Fed. accounting agency: OMB. Office of Management and Budget.
25. Winery vessel: VAT.
33. Pulled in different directions: TORN.
34. High-end watch: ROLEX.
35. Quick punches: JABS.
42. Cream of the crop: BEST. Be cream of the crop.
43. Pungent: ACRID.
45. "NFL on CBS" sportscaster Gumbel: GREG.
53. Stage background: SET.
54. "__-ching!": CHA.
55. Single-handed: ALONE.
61. Italian sub meat: SALAMI.
64. Facility: EASE. Don't see this usage often, "a natural aptitude."
65. Stroller rider: TOT.
66. Gets dolled up: PRIMPS.
67. British singer __ Ora: RITA.
68. "True Detective" network: HBO.
69. Certify: ATTEST.
70. No longer fizzy: FLAT.
71. "Uh-huh": YEP.
Down:
1. Played the part: ACTED.
2. Commuter's destination: SUBURB.
3. Action star Steven: SEAGAL.
4. Leftover: REMNANT.
5. Toddler's scrape, to the toddler: OWIE.
6. Irish singer/philanthropist: BONO.
7. Onion exterior: SKIN.
8. Act frugally: SCRIMP.
9. Handy strip of computer icons: TOOLBAR.
10. Blue, in Barcelona: AZUL.
11. Insect egg: NIT.
12. Chute opening?: CEE. Can't fool me with "opening" any more.
13. Stumbling sounds: ERS.
21. Suffix with morph: EME.
22. Around the 30th: Abbr.: EOM. End of Month.
25. Low-lying area: VALE.
26. Breezes through: ACES.
27. Written words: TEXT.
29. Follower of boo, woo or yoo: HOO.
30. Choose answer (a) instead of (b), say: ERR.
31. "The Princess Bride" swordsman __ Montoya: INIGO. Click below to see Mandy Pitinkin's favorite line from the classic movie. (1:50)
32. Arcing shot: LOB.
35. Top-grossing film of 1975: JAWS.
36. Ice pack target: ACHE.
37. Tube rider, perhaps: BRIT. Interesting. (3:38)
38. Grab a chair: SIT.
40. Tolkien creature: ORC.
41. "The Matrix" hero: NEO.
44. Literally pulls up stakes: DECAMPS. Relocates.
46. Give the evil eye: GLARE AT.
48. Resurrection figure: CHRIST.
49. Japanese yes: HAI.
50. "True Detective" star Mahershala __: ALI.
51. Like some grins: TOOTHY. See above.
52. Dress for the choir: ENROBE.
56. Legally prohibit: ESTOP. "A legal bar to alleging or denying a fact because of one's own previous actions or words to the contrary."
57. Got to the party: CAME.
58. Lightweight ball brand: NERF.
59. Shadow: TAIL.
60. "¿Cómo __ usted?": ESTA. Spanish: How are you?
61. Massage venue: SPA.
62. Hotel lobby display: ART.
63. Illuminated: LIT.
