Theme: "Two-Way Switch" - D is changed into W, then W is changed into D. Repeat 3 times.
28. Fashion accessory found in an ancient tomb?: ARCHAEOLOGICAL WIG. Dig.
41. Awkward sorts who are into classic novels?: LITERARY DORKS. Works.
61. Historic roads such as Route 66?: GOOD OLD WAYS. Days.
68. Penalty against the Bills?: BUFFALO DING. Wing.
86. Irrational urge to go to the moon?: SATELLITE WISH. Dish.
100. Comment about a sweetheart who has to work incessantly?: NO REST FOR THE DEARY. Weary.
Reveal:
105D. Scrabble play, or, when parsed in three parts, a hint to the switch featured in this puzzle's longest answers: WORD. Parse it as W or D.
Orderly W/D switch. This adds some grid constricts as you can shift the theme entries around.
Great to see Mark back for a Sunday. He's a generous mentors to many new constructors.
Across:
5. ID-checking org.: TSA.
8. Italian tower city: PISA.
12. Actresses Cheryl and Diane: LADDS.
17. "Sweet Surrender" artist McLachlan: SARAH. Her song ADIA appears in our puzzle from time to time.
19. Data, for Spiner: ROLE. Brent Spiner.
21. Deity for whom Wednesday is named: ODIN.
22. Half-birthday month for someone born in October: APRIL.
23. __-bouche: AMUSE. AI overview: Amuse-bouche is a French phrase that refers to small bites served before a meal to whet the appetite. OK, I guess Korean banchan dishes fit the bill.
24. Toiling away: AT IT.
25. Go blonder, perhaps: TINT.
26. Puck's eatery in Beverly Hills: SPAGO.
27. Fluffy lapdog, familiarly: POM.
32. Anatomical roofs: PALATES.
34. Whirs: HUMS.
35. "Men in Black" characters: AGENTS.
36. Got away quickly: FLED.
38. Goopy mass: GOB.
39. Scottish name prefix: MAC.
40. Dryer trap stuff: LINT. The guy at 5507 probably never cleaned his lint. Caught fire a while ago.
45. Glass on NPR: IRA.
46. Tree "blood": SAP.
49. Of no value: USELESS.
50. With 40-Down, "Honest" prez: ABE. And 40. See 50-Across: LINCOLN.
51. "Deal __ Deal": OR NO.
53. "Thanks, I __ it": HATE. Are you familiar with the meme? It's a sarcastic response to a jarring image.
54. Openly displayed: BARED.
55. Cleverly funny: WRY.
56. Actor Guinness: ALEC.
57. Major vessel: AORTA.
58. Loaded, as computer data: FED IN.
63. Big rig drivers: HAULERS.
66. Cowboys quarterback Prescott: DAK. Now we don't need the terr. angle.
67. High rolls: ELEVENS.
70. Nerve-wracking: TENSE.
71. Record again: RE-LOG.
72. Cold-smoked salmon: NOVA.
73. Drive-thru device: ATM.
74. Popadam dip: RAITA. Made with legume flour.
79. Spacewalks, briefly: EVAS. EVA = Extravehicular Activity.
80. Image shared in a group chat, perhaps: MEME.
81. Not outgoing: SHY.
82. Advanced univ. pursuit: POSTDOC.
84. "i" requirement: DOT.
85. Barn sound: MOO. And
89. Barn or sound: NOUN.
90. "__ Sam": Seussian declaration: I AM.
91. Colony member: ANT.
92. Grayish: ASHY.
93. Aft: ASTERN.
96. Targets of some PETA protests: FURS.
98. Acura compact: INTEGRA.
103. LAL rivals: GSW. LA Lakers. Golden State Warriors
106. School level: GRADE.
107. Smoothie berry: ACAI.
108. H.G. Wells race: ELOI. From "The Time Machine".
109. Explorer Polo: MARCO.
111. To this day: STILL.
112. Not excited: CALM. Turns out my RA doctor was out of network. Holy cow, guys, you won't believe my bill. Scary.
113. __ Ration: pet food brand: KEN-L.
114. Hurled weapon: SPEAR.
115. Poe works: TALES.
116. "Who __ knows this?": ELSE.
117. __ Plaines, Illinois: DES.
118. Look after: TEND.
Down:
2. Mil. print: CAMO.
3. Dizzy Gillespie, for one: TRUMPETER.
4. Flier to Oslo: SAS. Scandinavian Airlines System.
5. Deere products: TRACTORS.
6. Big name in high-end auctions: SOTHEBY. I just learned that Sotheby's is named after John Sotheby, the nephew of the original founder.
7. Assumed identity: ALIAS.
8. Dinner at which everyone does the dishes?: POTLUCK. Great fill & clue.
9. Piece of cake, e.g.: IDIOM.
10. Does karaoke: SINGS.
11. Start to trust?: ANTI. Antitrust.
12. Layered pasta dish: LASAGNA.
13. Small program: APPLET.
14. Depicted with a crayon: DRAWN.
15. Toe, for one: DIGIT.
16. Exhausting treks: SLOGS.
18. Make better: HEAL.
20. Summer on the Loire: ETE.
29. Classical sitar compositions: RAGAS.
30. Airport on the L: O'HARE.
31. North African capital: CAIRO.
33. "30" vocalist: ADELE. All her albums are her age when she released the albums.
36. Silly error: FLUB.
37. Maggie Simpson's sister: LISA.
39. "__-Dick": Melville novel: MOBY.
42. Warning sign: RED FLAG. My first time visiting a specialist. I didn't even know what a red flag was. The PA referred me there, so I went.
43. "Oh, heck!": DARN.
44. Audition piece, often: SOLO.
46. Kitchen wrap brand: SARAN.
47. Firm partners, briefly: ATTYS.
48. Pod residents: PEAS.
52. Exchange, as a coupon: REDEEM.
53. Gordie in the Hockey Hall of Fame: HOWE.
55. Great leader's trait: WISDOM.
56. Just perfect: A-OK.
57. Harmful: ADVERSE.
59. Slippery critter: EEL.
60. Talk and talk and talk: DRONE ON.
61. Clown's bit: GAG.
62. "You're what the French call __ incompétents": "Home Alone" line: LES. Incompetent ones.
63. Spanish egg: HUEVO.
64. Key next to G: A FLAT.
65. Mysterious blips: UFOS.
66. Genetic letters: DNA.
68. __-in-the-bone: BRED.
69. St. __: Cornwall town: IVES.
70. Texter's sign-off: TTYL.
73. Attention-seeking sound: AHEM.
75. Not just quarreling: AT WAR. And
76. "You're wrong!": I DISAGREE.
77. Brit's "Baloney!": TOSH.
78. Somewhat sore: ACHY.
80. Everest or Etna: MOUNT.
81. Secret supply: STASH.
82. Mallard cousins with distinctive rear feathers: PINTAILS.
83. Playful river mammal: OTTER.
85. Tasty bits: MORSELS.
87. Opportunity to talk: AIRTIME.
88. Bowling area nearest the wall: LANE ONE. Also my spot in the pool, because I'm the weakest link.
89. Pine tree feature: NEEDLE.
93. Uneasy feeling: ANGST.
94. In a way: SORTA.
95. Hiker's route: TRAIL. Can't wait to get better and hike again. Haven't been on the trails for ages.
96. __ point: FOCAL.
97. Eurasian range: URALS.
98. Sat around: IDLED.
99. Personal trainer employers: GYMS.
101. Nose locale: FACE.
102. "A mouse!": EEK.
104. Read a barcode: SCAN.
110. Perfectly suited: APT.
C.C.
