Theme: "Off to a Good Start" - The first words of all the theme entries are synonyms of "good".
22A. Awesome product component?: CHILL FACTOR.
24A. Awesome mattress covering?: DOPE SHEET.
43A. Awesome plumbing connector?: TIGHT FITTING.
68A. Awesome hobby?: HOT PURSUIT.
70A. Awesome hunting dog?: HIP POINTER.
88A. Awesome entitlement?: RADICAL RIGHT.
113A. Awesome suit fabric?: BOSS TWEED.
115A. Awesome predicament?: SWEET PICKLE.
Each first word has a totally different meaning than "good", awesome!
I'm not familiar with "tight" and "radical" as "good". Is it common or new slang?
Across:
1. Dojo maneuver: CHOP.
5. Guitarist Joe of The Eagles: WALSH.
10. Wilts: SAGS.
14. Start of an incantation: ABRA. Do you have Abra auto repair shop in your area?
18. The last Mrs. Chaplin: OONA.
19. Slow down: BRAKE.
20. Shiraz's land: IRAN.
21. Trickle: SEEP.
26. Step on it: INSOLE. Nice clue.
27. Stuck a fork in: STABBED.
29. Glenn Miller Orchestra singer Ray: EBERLE. Unknown to me. The guy on the left.
30. Immortal name in dance: ASTAIRE.
32. Ultimatum word: ELSE.
33. Staring-into-space experiences: TRANCES.
34. DEA agent: NARCO.
36. Court game word: ALAI. Jai alai.
39. Routine: ACT.
40. Stubborn critter: ASS.
48. Tiny toiler: ANT.
49. Fall collection?: LEAVES. We have quite a collection in our yard.
51. More consequence?: MERRIER. The more, the merrier.
52. Poetic adverb: OFT.
54. "__ & Basie": 1963 jazz collaboration: ELLA.
55. "True Detective" actor McNairy: SCOOT.
56. Bump from the schedule: PREEMPT.
60. Peacock's pride: PLUMAGE. I'll be proud too if I have plumage like this.
64. QVC sister channel: HSN.
65. Shot in the arm: BOOST.
66. Wall St. trader: ARB. Arbitrator. (Correction: It's arbitrager. Thanks, Sandyanon.)
72. Bit of legal advice: SUE.
73. Lose control: GO APE.
74. Chicken dinner choice: LEG. Roasted pigeons are very popular in Guangzhou.
75. Support: ENDORSE.
76. Gallivant: TRAIPSE.
78. Sound: NOISE.
80. Wine choice: ROSE.
81. Originally called: NEE. Wang for me.
82. Tool in a kit: NAIL GUN.
84. Shadowed: TAILED.
86. Low-tech note-taking aid: PAD. Scored a few cute pads during my last Marshalls' trip.
91. Snake's sound: SSS.
92. Zodiac animal: RAM.
93. Vacation spot: ISLE.
94. "Truly, the souls of men are full of __": Shak.: DREAD.
96. "We the Living" novelist: AYN RAND. Never heard of the book.
100. Big drink of water: SWIG.
104. Retail outlets: EMPORIA.
108. Low wind: BREEZE.
109. Like some receptions: CATERED.
112. In a showily pretentious manner: ARTILY.
117. Tennis great Nastase: ILIE.
118. Villain named Julius: DR NO.
119. Points at the dinner table: TINES.
120. Pepsi rival: COKE. Only Pepsi in our home.
121. Picnic staple: SLAW.
122. Cereal grain: OATS. I finally tried oat milk for the first time. It's a bit thin but pretty good with cocoa powder.
123. Mocking sarcasm: SNARK.
124. Arab leader: EMIR.
Down:
1. Movie mogul Harry and sportscaster Linda: COHNS. Wiki said Harry Cohn co-founded Columbia Pictures.
2. Lift: HOIST.
3. Checked out at the library: ON LOAN.
4. Ease, as symptoms: PALLIATE.
5. Ring org.: WBA. Boxing ring.
6. Scythe blade shapes: ARCS.
7. Starbucks serving: LATTE.
8. Bar word meaning "cup" in Danish: SKOAL. The fight song for Vikings is "Skol,Vikings".
9. Sage and thyme: HERBS.
10. Pro or con: SIDE.
11. 2000s Yankee nickname: A-ROD.
12. Sign of something missing: GAP.
13. Unkind look: SNEER.
14. Whitish: ASHEN.
15. Tailgate party recyclable: BEER CAN.
16. Campaign poster word: REELECT.
17. Most pertinent: APTEST.
22. Org. in Clancy novels: CIA.
23. Wheel inventor: FERRIS.
25. Govt. agency that aids entrepreneurs: SBA. Small Business Administration.
28. "Get lost!": BEAT IT.
31. Hosp. readout: ECG. All too familiar to Dennis.
33. Bolivian export: TIN.
35. Units of resistance: OHMS.
37. '80s-'90s Compaq laptop model: LTE. No idea.
38. Prepare sans oil, as a movie treat: AIR POP.
40. Israeli leaders?: ALEPHS. First letter in Hebrew.
41. Betray: SELL OUT.
42. Soldier, at times: SALUTER.
44. Electronics whiz: TECHIE. A few T's on our blog. Tony, TTP and the Hainan Tom (a la Carmen, D-Otto), all vets.
45. "Mending Wall" poet: FROST.
46. Wrinkle remover: IRON.
47. Continues: GOES ON.
48. Supplier of bills: ATM.
50. Seductress: VAMP.
53. Far from fragrant: FETID.
57. It may be skipped: ROPE.
58. Security rounds: PATROLS.
59. Locks: TRESSES.
61. Bellow title hero March: AUGIE. Also unknown to me.
62. One looking for a switch, maybe: GROPER.
63. Those, in Tijuana: ESAS.
65. Coastal California scenic attraction: BIG SUR.
67. Basenji and Borzoi: BREEDS.
69. Flips: UPENDS.
70. Katherine of "Suits": HEIGL.
71. Edible seaweed: NORI.
74. 1970 Kinks hit: LOLA.
77. What's more: AND.
78. Like Miss Congeniality: NICEST.
79. Writer Bagnold: ENID.
83. Trouble: AIL.
84. Prominent, after "on": THE MAP. Took me forever to identify this song. Has anyone heard of Mindme or Ebba? The song is amazing.
85. "... but it'll cost you": AT A PRICE.
86. __ tax: PAYROLL.
87. "The Bourne Identity" malady: AMNESIA.
89. Assist: AID.
90. Test for M.A. seekers: GRE.
92. Yeshiva leaders: RABBIS.
95. One involved in a speculative "bubble": DOTCOM.
97. Fix, as a hem: RESEW.
98. AIDS-fighting drug: AZT.
99. Salon overhaul: NEW DO.
101. Bridge positions: WESTS.
102. Novelist Shaw: IRWIN.
103. Actress Davis: GEENA.
105. Kipling's "__-Tikki-Tavi": RIKKI.
106. Less well: ILLER. Ill is good too.
107. Word of support: AYE.
109. Small change: CENT.
110. Bothers: ADOS.
111. Critter on XING signs: DEER.
114. Notable time: ERA.
116. Word of reproof: TSK.
C.C.