Won't you be my friend.
19-Across. Aid for shade at the shore: BEACH UMBRELLA. Chum.
29-Across. Award first won by Naughty by Nature: BEST RAP ALBUM. Pal.
39-Across. "Breaking news!" teaser: FILM AT ELEVEN. Mate.
And the unifier:
50-Across. Facebook invite ... to which the circled letters respond: FRIEND REQUEST.
Across:
1. Hit the jackpot: GET RICH.
8. One with faulty "I" sight?: EGOTIST.
15. Deficiency of red blood cells, across the pond: ANAEMIA. Too many letters for Americans. Here it is spelled Anemia.
16. Pasta specification: AL DENTE. Today's Italian lesson. Al Dente comes from the Italian phrase which means "to the tooth." When cooked, pasta should be tender, but still firm to the bite.
17. Symbol on the "5" key: PER CENT.
18. Handyman's carryall: TOOLBOX.
21. Abdomen neighbor: GROIN.
23. Parisian article: LES. Today's French lesson.
24. Pool sticks: CUES. // And 45-Across. Pool hall triangle: RACK.
25. Chain with links: iHOP.
26. Nine-digit ID: SSN. As in Social Security Number.
28. Rivals: FOES.
33. Scrooge's cry: BAH.
34. Norwegian pop band that sounds like a revelation: A-HA. A-Ha is considered a synth-pop band and has been around since 1982. You have probably heard this song. I know I have, I just didn't know the band.
35. "http" often begins one: URL. The Uniform Resource Locator often finds its way into the crossword puzzles.
36. Judoka's belt: OBI. A Judoka is one who practices Judo.
42. Washer cycle: SPIN.
44. Rx item: MED.
46. Jefferson's vice president: BURR. Aaron Burr, Jr. (Feb. 6, 1756 ~ Sept. 14, 1836) is probably best known for killing Alexander Hamilton (1750s ~ July 12, 1804) in a duel.
47. News agcy.: UPI. As in United Press International.
49. Obstinate: BALKY.
54. Area sheltered from the wind: LEE SIDE.
55. Former weekly with home viewing listings: TV GUIDE. I think it may still be available.
58. Most of Google's revenue: AD SALES.
59. Had a hankering: YEARNED.
60. Wobbles: TOTTERS.
61. Glossy cottons: SATEENS.
Down:
1. Generation divide: GAP.
2. LA-to-Denver dir.: ENE. If you are going from Los Angeles to Denver, then you are going East-North-East.
3. Hat similar to a fez: TARBOOSH. Is there a difference?
4. Proof of purchase: RECEIPT.
5. "Let me explain ... ": I MEAN.
6. Prez's title: CINC. As in the Commander in Chief. I'm not sure I have ever seen this abbreviation.
7. Biblical word of possession: HATH.
8. Cake's instruction to Alice: EAT ME.
9. Chunks: GLOBS.
10. Prominent garlic feature: ODOR.
11. Verizon's biz: TELE-COM.
12. Dressed like many Union soldiers: IN BLUE. A reference to the American Civil War. The Union Army uniforms were blue and the Confederate uniforms were gray.
13. Mink wraps: STOLES.
14. Laredo's state: TEXAS.
20. Forearm bone: ULNA.
21. Barry, Robin or Maurice of pop music: GIBB. I'll spare you the musical interlude. Sadly, however, Barry (b. Sept. 1, 1946) is the only surviving brother of the band.
22. Seehorn of "Better Call Saul": RHEA. I never watched Better Call Saul and never heard of Rhea Seehorn (née Deborah Rhea Seehorn; b. May 12, 1972).
26. Humorist Mort: SAHL. Mort Sahl (né Morton Lyon Sahl; b. May 11, 1927) will celebrate his 94th birthday next Tuesday. He was a political satirist.
27. Email filter target: SPAM.
28. __ moon: FULL.
30. Word before check or forest: RAIN.
31. Minstrel's strings: LUTE.
32. Raised, as cattle: BRED.
36. Malt drink since 1904: OVALTINE. Yummers! This brings back childhood memories.
37. At one's __ and call: BECK.
38. Pac-Man ghost: INKY.
39. Tries to hit, as a rifle range target: FIRES AT.
40. Friendly femme: AMIE. Today's French lesson.
41. Evidence of an error: ERASURE.
42. "You bet!": SURE DO!
43. Mass leader: PRIEST.
46. Note above A: B FLAT.
47. Farm milk "dispenser": UDDER.
48. Newspaper media: PRESS.
49. Sired, biblically: BEGAT.
51. Giza's river: NILE. Giza is home to the Great Pyramids.
52. Col. headings on many spreadsheets: QTYS. Quantity. Meh!
53. Iris layer: UVEA. Eye anatomy.
56. Lair: DEN.
57. Newsroom staff members, for short: EDs. As in Editors
Here's the Grid:
חתולה
