Theme: CAROL OF THE BE**S
21. Holiday song whose first line ends, "come sailing in": I SAW THREE SHIPS.
41. Holiday song first recorded by Gene Autry: FROSTY THE SNOWMAN.
61. Holiday song based on a traditional German folk song: O CHRISTMAS TREE.
74. What 21-, 41- or 61-Across is ... and, phonetically, a curiously apt common feature of those answers: NOEL. Each of the theme answers is the name of a popular Christmas song, containing no letter el. From Wikipedia: Christmas, from French Noël (“Christmas season”), may come from the Old French nael, may be derived in turn from Latin natalis, meaning "birth" Christmas carol, a song sung during Christmas. I wonder if the 21, 41, 61 was a lucky coincidence or planned.
Festive theme today, with supporting appearances by Eeyore, Babar, and the Muppets.
Festive theme today, with supporting appearances by Eeyore, Babar, and the Muppets.
Across:
1. Retina 5K computer: IMAC.
5. Pet collar clip-on: ID TAG.
10. Theme park with a geodesic dome: EPCOT.
15. Bite: NOSH.
16. Béte __: NOIRE. French, literally ‘black beast.' A person or thing that one particularly dislikes.
17. Place to get clean: REHAB.
18. Medication unit: DOSE.
19. Crooner who co-wrote the "Chestnuts roasting ... " song: TORME. Another Christmas tune with no el.
20. Swim events: MEETS.
24. Pooh's dour friend: EEYORE.
25. Leader with a dot-edu address: DEAN. Academic institutions have domain names ending in .edu.
26. Brief "If only I could unhear that ... ": TMI. Too Much Information.
29. 2018 US Open winner Osaka: NAOMI.
32. Inductee: MEMBER.
34. Personal: OWN. As in, 'my own laptop.'
37. Marathoner's woes: CRAMPS.
40. One for the road?: AUTO. Nice clue.
45. "The Nutcracker" skirt: TUTU. More Christmas fill.
46. Like some owls: HORNED. Beautiful. A large, bulky owl with prominent ear tufts, white throat, gray beak, and bright yellow eyes.
47. Cottonelle layer: PLY. Bathroom tissue.
48. Jumps in: ENTERS. Wonder who else will jump into the 2020 presidential race.
51. Apply to: USE ON.
53. Nonprofit aid gp.: NGO. Non Governmental Organization. A nonprofit organization that operates independently of any government, typically one whose purpose is to address a social or political issue.
54. Opera set in Egypt: AIDA.
57. Curtains: DRAPES.
65. Storybook pachyderm: BABAR.
67. Pens: STIES. Nice to see the plural form here.
68. __ Kong: HONG. Not King.
69. "Home Alone" actress Catherine: O'HARA. More Christmas theme.
70. Line dance: CONGA.
71. French friend: AMIE. French. Ami is masculine and amie is feminine. They are pronounced exactly the same.
72. Area component: WIDTH.
73. Ready to pour: ON TAP. Ready to dispense, seems more accurate.
Down:
1. Many a low-budget flick: INDIE. Independent, not belonging to or affiliated with a major record or film company.
2. Reindeer cousin: MOOSE. Differences Between Deer, Elk, Moose and Reindeer.
3. Analyze: ASSAY.
4. Ponder: CHEW ON.
5. On paper: IN THEORY.
6. Spot for a wreath: DOOR. 🎄
7. Hankook product: TIRE. Brand.
8. Like bodyguards: ARMED.
9. "Six __ a-laying ... ": GEESE. More theme-related fill, but with els.
10. Valuable fur: ERMINE. Aka weasel or stoat. The species is called ermine especially during its winter white color phase.
11. Sound often not allowed?: PEEP.
12. Celebratory gesture: CHEST BUMP.
13. Granola kernel: OAT.
14. MLB playoffs broadcaster: TBS. Turner Broadcasting System.
22. Stretch of land: TRACT.
23. Holiday roast: HAM. More holiday themeage!
27. Heavy __: METAL.
28. Wry twist: IRONY.
30. "Do the __!": MATH.
31. Texting qualifier: IMHO. In My Honest Opinion.
33. Gaping hole: MAW.
34. Quite a lot: OFTEN.
35. Squeezed (out): WRUNG.
36. Decently: NOT TOO BAD.
38. Where the Amazon begins: PERU.
39. Nine-digit IDs: SSNS. Social Security Numbers.
42. Mystery writer Grafton: SUE.
43. Rush job phrase: NEED ASAP.
44. Fragrances: ODORS.
49. Really spirited: RAH RAH.
50. Title for Patrick Stewart: SIR.
52. Eponymous hot dog guy Handwerker: NATHAN. Nathan's are the best - served at Coney Island.
55. Summer songs?: DISCO. Donna Summer.
56. __ Martin: British car: ASTON.
58. Ad: PROMO.
59. Choice start: EENIE. Eenie, meeny, miney mo ...
60. Jason of "The Muppets": SEGEL. He executive-produced, co-wrote, and starred as Gary
in the 2011 movie.
in the 2011 movie.
62. E-commerce icon: CART.
63. Color variant: TINT.
64. Huge opening?: MEGA.
65. Present prettifier: BOW. Lol.
66. Sashimi choice: AHI. Sashimi is thinly sliced raw seafood served without rice (image below) and is not considered a type of sushi. Sushi is vinegared rice, traditionally rolled with raw fish, but can include cooked seafood, veggies, or even other meats. Nigiri is raw seafood, similar to sashimi, served over hand-balled vinegared rice.
