Theme: Takin' Care of Business
Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Takin' Care of Business (1973)
Happy Monday, everyone! sumdaze here. We'll waste no time getting down to business. Constructor Amanda Cook has placed the reveal across the equator:
37 Across. Sign outside a new store, or what the first words of 18-, 24-, 52-, and 59-Across can do?: OPEN FOR BUSINESS.
The words FUNNY, MONKEY, SHOW, and BIG can all make an in-the-language phrase when place in front of (open for) the word BUSINESS.
18 Across. Sunday comics locale: FUNNY PAGES.
FUNNY BUSINESS refers to dishonest behavior intended to trick someone. 
24 Across. Pull-apart breakfast treat: MONKEY BREAD.
MONKEY BUSINESS is silly, mischievous, or deceitful conduct. 
52 Across. Broadway number that brings the house down: SHOW STOPPER.
SHOW BUSINESS is the performance arts that constitute the entertainment industry. 
59 Across. High roller: BIG SPENDER.
BIG BUSINESS is large-scale or important financial or commercial activity. 
And now for the remaining 71 clues:
Across:
1. Nudge: PROD. A NUDGE in the right direction can go a long way. I like the saying, "Make the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult." In other words, use your brain to engineer the situation so it is easier for everyone to make better choices.
5. Photocopier unit: REAM.
9. __ Day: tree-planting occasion: ARBOR. This year, National ARBOR Day in the U.S. is Friday, April 26.
14. "The Real" co-host Love: LONI. Unknown to me but she has 2 million Instagram followers so that shows what I know....
15. Ill at __: troubled: EASE.
16. "Make like a tree and __!": LEAVE. You know ... make like a check and bounce; make like a baby and head out; make like Tom and Cruise; make like a bread truck and haul buns; or make like a banana and split!
17. In the thick of: AMID.
20. Shaggy's sidekick, familiarly: SCOOB.
1. Nudge: PROD. A NUDGE in the right direction can go a long way. I like the saying, "Make the right thing easy and the wrong thing difficult." In other words, use your brain to engineer the situation so it is easier for everyone to make better choices.
5. Photocopier unit: REAM.
9. __ Day: tree-planting occasion: ARBOR. This year, National ARBOR Day in the U.S. is Friday, April 26.
14. "The Real" co-host Love: LONI. Unknown to me but she has 2 million Instagram followers so that shows what I know....
15. Ill at __: troubled: EASE.
16. "Make like a tree and __!": LEAVE. You know ... make like a check and bounce; make like a baby and head out; make like Tom and Cruise; make like a bread truck and haul buns; or make like a banana and split!
17. In the thick of: AMID.
20. Shaggy's sidekick, familiarly: SCOOB.
Scooby Doo theme song (1 min.)
This cartoon gave me nightmares when I was a kid.
22. Season for the 2024 Olympiques: ETE. The French spelling tips us off that we need the French word for "summer". BTW, the official languages of the Olympics are English, French, and the host country's language(s).
23. Brita rival: PUR.
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| very similar |
28. That, in Tijuana: ESO. "Tijuana" tips us off that the answer will be a Spanish word. No digas ESO translates to "Don't say that."
30. "Russian Doll" co-creator Poehler: AMY.
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| Amy Poehler (left) with the star of Russian Doll, Natasha Lyonne. |
31. "There's __ in team": NO I. But there is an M and an E.
32. Built: ERECTED.
34. Conger catcher: EELER.
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| This is a conger eel. |
36. Did one's civic duty: VOTED. When I worked at the Australian Embassy in D.C., expats came from all over to vote. Voting is compulsory for them. Table 1 on this site shows 32 countries with compulsory voting. Nineteen pursue it with enforcement.
42. Language of India that derives from Sanskrit: HINDI. I've learned several Sanskrit words from practicing yoga.
43. Cuba y Cozumel: ISLAS. Both are islands in Spanish-speaking countries.
44. All together: IN TOTAL. This one adds up.
47. Go through dots like Pac-Man, e.g.: EAT.
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| Pac-Man EATs the dots. |
48. Amiss: OFF. as in "not quite right"
51. Happy Greek cry: OPA.
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| Has anyone seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding 3 yet? I'm waiting for my turn at the library. Rotten Tomatoes only gives it 29%. Oof-a! |
55. Turn __ dime: ON A. Is this good or bad?
57. Endeavour astronaut Jemison: MAE.
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| National Women's History Museum link |
58. 29-Down, for example: RATIO. and 29. FanDuel stat: ODDS.
FanDuel is an online gambling company.
63. Corgis and collies: DOGS.
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| A Borgi is a Border Collie / Corgi mix. |
64. Like seven candles on the first night of Hanukkah: UNLIT.
65. Volcano associated with Hephaestus: ETNA. I got this at 4-letter volcano, but a little Googling taught me that Hephaestus is the Greek god of fire, smiths, craftsmen, metalworking, stonemasonry, and sculpture. It seems he was thrown out of Mount Olympus after a bad argument with Jupiter. He fell on a lovely island, creating a deep hole in a high mountain. He decided to use that mountain as his blacksmith forge and (you guessed it) the result was a sparking Mt. ETNA.
66. Litter's littlest: RUNT. There are several reasons for variations in the size of newborn puppies and kittens. A RUNT might occur in a very large litter because of positioning in the womb or because matings took place over several days.
67. Fitbit units: STEPS.
68. Tragic fate: DOOM.
69. Online artisan marketplace: ETSY.
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| You can order this pink brain beanie for your Valentine on Etsy. |
Down:
1. Life-saving donation: PLASMA.
2. Enemies-to-lovers movie genre: ROM-COM. ROMantic COMedies sometimes start with two people getting off on the wrong foot, like the time when Harry met Sally.
Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally ... (1989) (2 min.)
My chives have woken up from their winter naps and are already 5-inches tall.
4. Got a C, say: DID OK.
5. NHL whistle blower: REF. Here is a list of not-National Hockey League whistle blowers in the U.S. going back to 1777.
6. __ de parfum: EAU. French for "water"
7. Ed of "Elf": ASNER.
8. Protégé: MENTEE. A protégé is someone who is protected or trained or whose career is furthered by a person of experience, prominence, or influence. You know, like a mentor's MENTEE.
4. Got a C, say: DID OK.
"I got an A-, Tina". "You got an Asian F?" (40 sec.)
Glee (2011)
5. NHL whistle blower: REF. Here is a list of not-National Hockey League whistle blowers in the U.S. going back to 1777.
6. __ de parfum: EAU. French for "water"
7. Ed of "Elf": ASNER.
Will Ferrell and Ed Asner in Elf. (2003) (1 min.)
[Yeah, I think someone just pointed the video camera at their TV.]
8. Protégé: MENTEE. A protégé is someone who is protected or trained or whose career is furthered by a person of experience, prominence, or influence. You know, like a mentor's MENTEE.
9. Tour de France mountain: ALP. This year, Le Tour begins on Saturday, June 29 in Florence, Italy. (You know I'll be watching!)
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| Click to enlarge. |
11. Boulangerie loaf: BAGUETTE. There seems to be a French mini-theme in today's puzzle.
The Flight of the Conchords show off their French in Foux du fa fa.
12. Supervises: OVERSEES. If you are an expat supervisor, you OVERSEE while you are overseas.
13. Hi-__ photo: RES.
19. Date component: YEAR. alas, neither roses nor chocolates
DH and I had a Valentine's date on Saturday. We did a couple's candle-making class. Mine is the pink one -- eucalyptus/lemongrass/library book scent 
21. Health insurance, paid time off, etc.: BENEFITS. Both are perks that might come with one's job.
25. "Here goes nothing" hashtag: YOLO. You Only Live Once
26. Oktoberfest quaff: BIER. The German spelling tips us off that we need the German word for beer.
27. One straying from the norm: DEVIATOR.
33. Downsides: CONS.
34. Exo- opposite: ENDO. This one made me think of skeletons.
35. Cleanup hitter's stat: RBI. "Statistic" is abbreviated, so is Runs Batted In.
37. Pro Football Hall of Fame location: OHIO. I read the clue too quickly and thought it was asking about the Pro Bowl so I entered Oahu.
38. Zero in on: PINPOINT. Here is the Pro Football Hall of Fame PINPOINTed on a map.
39. Get wrapped up in a sticky situation: ENTANGLE.
40. Doesn't waste: USES. Waste not, want not.
41. Bedframe part: SLAT.
45. "Alas ... ": AH, ME.
46. Gave temporarily: LOANED.
48. Say "I pass": OPT OUT.
49. Pretends: FEIGNS. It is nice to FEIGN interest when someone you care about is excited to tell you something about which you do not care.
50. Snowman with a magic hat: FROSTY.
53. Joined with: WED TO.
54. San Diego slugger: PADRE. Their mascot is the Swinging Friar.
56. Small taste of liquid: A SIP.
59. Magic vehicle for Ms. Frizzle: BUS. This refers to a set of children's books (and later TV show) where the teacher, Ms. Frizzle, takes the students on extraordinary Science field trips.
60. TD's six: PTS. Touch Downs are worth six Points (I hope your team got them yesterday.)
61. Brian of Roxy Music: ENO. Brian often frequents our girds.
62. Male sheep: RAM.
21. Health insurance, paid time off, etc.: BENEFITS. Both are perks that might come with one's job.
25. "Here goes nothing" hashtag: YOLO. You Only Live Once
26. Oktoberfest quaff: BIER. The German spelling tips us off that we need the German word for beer.
27. One straying from the norm: DEVIATOR.
33. Downsides: CONS.
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| Pros and CONS of adulthood |
34. Exo- opposite: ENDO. This one made me think of skeletons.
35. Cleanup hitter's stat: RBI. "Statistic" is abbreviated, so is Runs Batted In.
37. Pro Football Hall of Fame location: OHIO. I read the clue too quickly and thought it was asking about the Pro Bowl so I entered Oahu.
38. Zero in on: PINPOINT. Here is the Pro Football Hall of Fame PINPOINTed on a map.
39. Get wrapped up in a sticky situation: ENTANGLE.
40. Doesn't waste: USES. Waste not, want not.
41. Bedframe part: SLAT.
45. "Alas ... ": AH, ME.
46. Gave temporarily: LOANED.
48. Say "I pass": OPT OUT.
49. Pretends: FEIGNS. It is nice to FEIGN interest when someone you care about is excited to tell you something about which you do not care.
50. Snowman with a magic hat: FROSTY.
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| You know the hat is magic because of all the sparkles. |
53. Joined with: WED TO.
54. San Diego slugger: PADRE. Their mascot is the Swinging Friar.
59. Magic vehicle for Ms. Frizzle: BUS. This refers to a set of children's books (and later TV show) where the teacher, Ms. Frizzle, takes the students on extraordinary Science field trips.
61. Brian of Roxy Music: ENO. Brian often frequents our girds.
62. Male sheep: RAM.
Here's the grid: 
It seems were are nearing close of business so I will bid you adieu!
It seems were are nearing close of business so I will bid you adieu!
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