Get Down! The circles are all in theDownposition and spell out a type of common type of aSystem.
4-Down. Unauthorized rock recordings: BOOTLEG ALBUMS. LegalSystem. ALegal Systemis the framework of rules, procedures, and institutions that a community uses to interpret and enforce their laws.
8-Down. "SNL" sketch featuring Christopher Walken and a percussion instrument: MORE COWBELL. Ecosystem. An Ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment.
25-Down. Retail rep's quota: SALES TARGET. Star System. A Star system is a group of planets, meteors, or other objects that orbit a large star.
And the unifier:
19-Down. Grammy-winning metal band, or what can be found three times in this puzzle?: SYSTEM OF A DOWN. Hand up if you knew of this Armenian-American band. Apparently it has been active since the mid-1990s. It was unknown to me and if it wasn't for the circles, I would have had trouble with today's theme.
Here's the Grid:
Across:
1. Wound cover: SCAB.
5. Fox or ox: ANIMAL.
11. Tub: VAT.
14. Christmas pageant headwear: HALO.
15. "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" star Lombard: CAROLE. Mr. and Mrs. Smith was a 1941 film. Tragically, the following year Carole Lombard (née Jane Alice Peters; Oct. 6, 1908 ~ Jan. 16, 1942) was killed in a plane crash.
16. Australian bird: EMU.
17. Silicon Valley city Palo __: ALTO.
18. 1920s dance craze that originated in South Carolina: CHARLESTON.
20. Oregon Trail river: PLATTE. The Platte River originates in the Rocky Mountains as two main tributaries, the North Platte and the South Platte, in Colorado and Wyoming. It flows through Nebraska and eventually empties into the Missouri River near Plattsmouth, Nebraska
22. Letters that end a proof: QED. Today's Latin lesson. QED is an abbreviation for the Latin phrase Quod Erat Demonstrandum, which roughly translates to that which was to be proved.
23. Oxen harness: YOKE.
24. Aviator hat features: EARLAPS.
26. T.S. Eliot's "Old Possum's Book of Practical __": CATS.
28. "At Last" singer James: ETTA. Our old friend Etta James (née Jamesettta Hawkins; Jan. 25, 1938 ~ Jan. 20, 2012) is back to grace us with song.
29. Raw bar mollusks: OYSTERS. For a fascinating look into the history of oysters, I recommend The Big Oyster, by Mark Kurlansky.
33. Male deer: STAG. I tried Buck first, but the perps objected.
36. Reuben sammie side: SLAW.
38. Orange __ tea: PEKOE. Everything you didn't know you needed to know about Orange Pekoe Tea.
39. Like ice caps: POLAR.
41. Wane: EBB.
42. Troutlike fish in the Great Lakes: SMELT. Yummers!
43. Use TurboTax, say: E-FILE.
44. Oracle: SEER.
46. Poems of praise: ODES.
47. Give up, informally: CUT BAIT.
49. Laze: LOAF.
51. Arm bone: ULNA.
52. Celebrity chef Emeril: LAGASSE. Although Emeril Lagasse (né Emeril John Lagassé, III; b. Oct. 15, 1959) is known for Creole and Cajun cuisine, he was actually born in Fall River, Massachusetts and is of French and Portuguese descent.
56. Like some margins of victory: SLIM.
59. Globe: ORB.
61. Mellow: SEDATE.
62. The "MO" of FOMO: MISSING OUT. Fear Of Missing Out.
65. Foreboding sign: OMEN.
66. MLB official: UMP.
67. South Dakota's capital: PIERRE. Unless you are from South Dakota, this is probably more than you ever though you would know about Pierre.
68. Troubles: WOES.
69. Identity celebrated during Pride Month: GAY. June is Gay Pride Month.
70. Show up for: ATTEND.
71. __ a soul: NARY.
Down:
1. Circle or triangle: SHAPE.
2. __ lily: trumpet-shaped flower: CALLA. They are beautiful flowers.
3. Religious platform: ALTAR.
5. Says yes to: ACCEPTS.
6. "Nope": NAH.
7. Country where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers meet: IRAQ.
9. From sunrise to sunset: ALL DAY.
10. Olympic gymnast Suni: LEE. Her given name is Sunisa Phabsomphou Lee (b. Mar. 9, 2003). She participated in the 2020 and 2024 Olympics.
11. Presidential power: VETO.
12. Out of control: AMOK.
13. Melody: TUNE.
21. Tit for __: TAT.
27. Recipe amts.: TSPS. As in Teaspoons.
30. Just managed, with "out": EKED.
31. Actor's part: ROLE.
32. Production designer's creations: SETS.
33. Job detail, for short: SPEC. This is becoming a crossword staple.
34. Pad thai protein option: TOFU. Yummers! I love pad thai.
35. Landed: ALIT.
37. "The Godfather" actor Vigoda: ABE. Abraham Vigoda (Feb. 24, 1921 ~ Jan. 26, 2016) portrayed Salvadore Tessio in The Godfather and Phil Fish in the sitcom Barney Miller.
40. Not imagined: REAL.
45. Like some nuts: ROASTED.
48. Complicit: IN ON IT.
50. Life time: AGE.
53. South Pacific island group: SAMOA.
54. Take the wheel: STEER.
55. Itty-bitty: EENSY.
56. Self-satisfied: SMUG.
57. Peru's capital: LIMA.
58. Classic road trip game: I SPY. I Spy with my Little Eye ...
60. Tire through tedium: BORE.
63. Hoppy brew letters: IPA. As in India Pale Ale. Everything you ever wanted to know about IPA.
