Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here with an LAT debut for constructor Aaron Ullman. Congrats, Aaron!
Theme: 
We will begin with the four starred clues:
20 Across. *"I can't make sense of it": DON'T ASK ME WHY.
Tell Me Why was the opening track on Neil Young's After the Gold Rush album (1970).
33 Across. *World Series of Poker game: TEXAS HOLD'EM.
Yes, it's a card game but it is also a song on Beyoncé's new country album, Cowboy Carter (released March 29). This album is getting a lot of attention. Perhaps you've heard about it. I decided to not embed the music video; but, if you are curious, you can catch it here. Warning: language, skin, and incorrect rope swinging (Do not hold onto the honda.)
41 Across. *Natural-horror film franchise featuring superintelligent sharks: DEEP BLUE SEA.
Not my genre but sussable. Here is the trailer:
Warning: It's Samuel L. Jackson intense! (Yes, I just used SLJ as an adjective.)
52 Across. *Catchphrase of the Three Stooges: OH A WISE GUY EH.
I just could not parse the first three letters of this one. That contributed to my loss of patience and a DNF in the southwest. Oof! I bet Chairman Moe knew it! 
The reveal is perfectly placed in the bottom, right corner:
67 Across. Disco classic spelled out with arm motions and by the ends of the answers to the starred clues: YMCA. Sing it with me -- WHY 'EM SEA EH ♪♪
Well, now that we have that all sorted, let's take a look at the other clues:
1. "The Phantom of the Opera" prop: MASK. In the 1909 novel by Gaston Leroux, the phantom was born disfigured. The 1943 film changed this explanation to say that he had acid splashed in his face.
9. Parroting: APING.
14. Wrinkly citrus fruit: UGLI. and 10. Large citrus fruit: POMELO.
 |
| The UGLI fruits look easy to peel. |
15. Slender wind instrument: OBOE.
16. Polite refusal: NO SIR.
17. Inspirational collage for designers: MOODBOARD. more info.
19. Mental picture: IMAGE.
22. Crab or lobster catcher: POT. From what I read online, it seems a lobster POT is another name for a lobster trap. This video explains how a lobster trap works. 25. Told tales: LIED.
26. Feel poorly: AIL. This one reminds me of an example my high school English teacher liked to use: My boyfriend feels well.
27. Puts into law: ENACTS.
29. Losing candidate: ALSO RAN.
36. Brewpub pour: ALE.
37. Scissors sound: SNIP.
38. Spanish day: DÍA.
39. "Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar" actress Kristen: WIIG. Here's the trailer for this 2021 movie:
40. Bowler's target: PIN. and 64 Across. Bowler's place: LANE.
It makes me smile to see these clues on a Monday. 😊
45. African capital on the Mediterranean Sea: ALGIERS.
48. __-cone: icy treat: SNO.
49. "__ well that ends well": ALL'S. This idiom is used to say that a person can forget about how unpleasant or difficult something was because everything ended in a good way. It is a line from Shakespeare:
51. U-turn from NNW: SSE.
57. Euripides tragedy: MEDEA. Medea is an ancient Greek tragedy written by Euripides.
58. Many a charitable organization: NONPROFIT. Generally speaking, the IRS filing due date is March 15 for S-Corps , April 15 for individuals, and May 15 for NONPROFITs. (That's just two days away!)
62. Common font: ARIAL. Arial is the font, Ariel is the mermaid, and aerial is the antenna.
63. Actress Swenson: INGA. (1932 - 2023) Inga was an American actress with a long list of credits from the screen and stage, including Hoss's mother on Bonanza and the housekeeper on Benson (1979-1986).
65. Sidles up to: NEARS. and 12 Down. Close by, quaintly: NIGH.
66. Like pink hair: DYED.
Down:
1. Bluey and Bingo's parent: MUM. If you do not watch cartoons targeted to 5-7 year-olds, you might not know that Bluey is a children's animated TV show on Disney+ about an Australian Blue Healer Cattle Dog (Bluey) and her little sister (Bingo). It does have some controversy. Here is a 1:25 min. clip:
55. Oklahoma city west of Tulsa: ENID.
56. "__ guacamole!": HOLY.
59. Closest peeps: FAM. "Peeps" is short for "people" -- a hint that the answer will be a shortened word, too.
60. Company abbr.: INC. INCorporated
61. Lipton drink: TEA.
45. African capital on the Mediterranean Sea: ALGIERS.
47. Tab key function: INDENT. Also, Shift+Tab will un-indent.
48. __-cone: icy treat: SNO.
49. "__ well that ends well": ALL'S. This idiom is used to say that a person can forget about how unpleasant or difficult something was because everything ended in a good way. It is a line from Shakespeare:
All's well that ends well,
Still the fine's the crown:
Whate'er the course,
The end is the renown.
51. U-turn from NNW: SSE.
57. Euripides tragedy: MEDEA. Medea is an ancient Greek tragedy written by Euripides.
58. Many a charitable organization: NONPROFIT. Generally speaking, the IRS filing due date is March 15 for S-Corps , April 15 for individuals, and May 15 for NONPROFITs. (That's just two days away!)
62. Common font: ARIAL. Arial is the font, Ariel is the mermaid, and aerial is the antenna.
65. Sidles up to: NEARS. and 12 Down. Close by, quaintly: NIGH.
Down:
1. Bluey and Bingo's parent: MUM. If you do not watch cartoons targeted to 5-7 year-olds, you might not know that Bluey is a children's animated TV show on Disney+ about an Australian Blue Healer Cattle Dog (Bluey) and her little sister (Bingo). It does have some controversy. Here is a 1:25 min. clip:
"Bluey" was also the name of the Australian cattle dog with the world record for longevity.
Bluey ---> Australia ---> + parent = MUM
2. Many moons __: AGO. This is also the title of a song from the Broadway show Once Upon a Mattress. Here is Harry Snow as the Minstrel (1959-1960). You will likely recognize the first two names on the Playbill.3. __-mo replay: SLO.
4. "The Mermaid Chair" novelist Sue Monk __: KIDD. goodreads link
5. Vague promise from a procrastinator: SOONISH. The opposite of many moons ago???
6. Tail off, as a storm: ABATE.
7. U.S./Canada military acronym: NORAD. The North American Aerospace Defense Command is a bi-national organization charged with the missions of aerospace warning and aerospace control for North America.
4. "The Mermaid Chair" novelist Sue Monk __: KIDD. goodreads link
5. Vague promise from a procrastinator: SOONISH. The opposite of many moons ago???
6. Tail off, as a storm: ABATE.
7. U.S./Canada military acronym: NORAD. The North American Aerospace Defense Command is a bi-national organization charged with the missions of aerospace warning and aerospace control for North America.
Additionally, every Christmas Eve NORAD tracks Santa's flight around the world to ensure his safety. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to help man the phones in 2019. #BestChristmasEveEver
8. Canvas shoe brand that makes bridal sneakers: KEDS.
9. Belief that all beings have a spirit: ANIMISM. You can read more here.
11. "__ it first!": "Dibs!": I SAW.
13. __ Goose vodka: GREY.
18. Runs away fast: BOLTS.
8. Canvas shoe brand that makes bridal sneakers: KEDS.
9. Belief that all beings have a spirit: ANIMISM. You can read more here.
11. "__ it first!": "Dibs!": I SAW.
 |
| It is just now occurring to Calvin that his no-nonsense babysitter will be coming over tonight. |
13. __ Goose vodka: GREY.
18. Runs away fast: BOLTS.
An aptronym is a name that matches the occupation or character of its owner, often in a humorous or ironic way. One example is the Jamaican sprinter, Usain Bolt. Wiki list
21. Leafy vegetable in a green smoothie: KALE.
22. Pampering place for furry friends: PET SPA.
23. Close soccer score: ONE-NIL. Hand up for first having ONE-one.
24. Exhausting: TAXING.
28. Baseball hat: CAP.
29. Not much (of): A DAB.
30. Salary hikes: RAISES.
31. Sci-fi beings: ALIENS.
32. Invalidate: NEGATE.
34. Celebratory poems: ODES. Jimmy Stewart shared this heartwarming ODE with Johnny Carson about a dog named Beau:
35. Place for a piercing: LIP.
39. Married: WED.
41. "Wasn't me!" and "I didn't do it!": DENIALS. It is a bit unusual to see two quotes in one clue but it works for the plural answer.
42. Greek god of love: EROS.
43. Perch for a frog in an ornamental pond: LILY PAD.
44. Al or Bobby of auto racing: UNSER. The Unser family has won the Indianapolis 500 a record nine times, with Bobby and Al Unser Sr. being the only set of brothers to win in the race's history.
46. "Pinkie promise!": I SWEAR.
49. Great pain: AGONY. AGnst also fit ... for a while.
50. Fencing thrust: LUNGE.
52. Muscat's land: OMAN.
53. "Take this": HERE. Well clued, Aaron!
54. 1998 Sarah McLachlan hit: ADIA. Adia is a song by Canadian singer Sarah McLachlan from her fourth studio album, Surfacing (1997). It was co-written by McLachlan and her longtime producer, Pierre Marchand.
21. Leafy vegetable in a green smoothie: KALE.
22. Pampering place for furry friends: PET SPA.
23. Close soccer score: ONE-NIL. Hand up for first having ONE-one.
24. Exhausting: TAXING.
28. Baseball hat: CAP.
29. Not much (of): A DAB.
30. Salary hikes: RAISES.
31. Sci-fi beings: ALIENS.
32. Invalidate: NEGATE.
34. Celebratory poems: ODES. Jimmy Stewart shared this heartwarming ODE with Johnny Carson about a dog named Beau:
35. Place for a piercing: LIP.
39. Married: WED.
41. "Wasn't me!" and "I didn't do it!": DENIALS. It is a bit unusual to see two quotes in one clue but it works for the plural answer.
42. Greek god of love: EROS.
43. Perch for a frog in an ornamental pond: LILY PAD.
44. Al or Bobby of auto racing: UNSER. The Unser family has won the Indianapolis 500 a record nine times, with Bobby and Al Unser Sr. being the only set of brothers to win in the race's history.
46. "Pinkie promise!": I SWEAR.
49. Great pain: AGONY. AGnst also fit ... for a while.
50. Fencing thrust: LUNGE.
52. Muscat's land: OMAN.
54. 1998 Sarah McLachlan hit: ADIA. Adia is a song by Canadian singer Sarah McLachlan from her fourth studio album, Surfacing (1997). It was co-written by McLachlan and her longtime producer, Pierre Marchand.
Oh, that song!
55. Oklahoma city west of Tulsa: ENID.
56. "__ guacamole!": HOLY.
59. Closest peeps: FAM. "Peeps" is short for "people" -- a hint that the answer will be a shortened word, too.
60. Company abbr.: INC. INCorporated
61. Lipton drink: TEA.
The grid: 
C ya!
