Theme: Rank - that goes with the first parts of the answers to starred clues: CAPTAIN.(38A.)
17A. *1968 sci-fi classic remade in 2001: "PLANET OF THE APES". Without going to deep into it, CAPTAIN PLANET is a TV animation with a "green" super-hero.
23A. *Chili competitions: COOK-OFFS. CAPTAIN COOK was an actual British explorer of the Pacific Ocean.
50A. *Reason for rhinoplasty: HOOK NOSE. CAPTAIN HOOK, of course, was from the story of Peter Pan.
58A. *1980 Disney comedy about an all-night puzzle-solving race: "MIDNIGHT MADNESS". CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT was first broadcast as a radio serial from 1938. Captain Midnight was a code name. He wasn't a super-hero but an extremely skilled aviator with an ability to fly almost any aircraft superlatively.
Argyle here and running late. This appears to be our first encounter with this constructor. I liked it and thought the grid layout was pleasing to look at.
Across:
1. One with a degree : GRAD. The first of several words are shortened versions of the parent word but seem to stand alone and aren't considered abbreviations, at least by some.
5. Double reed instrument : OBOE
9. Bit of campaign nastiness : SMEAR
14. Assistant : AIDE
15. Course of action : PLAN
16. Croatian-born physicist Nikola : TESLA. He's back!
20. Jewish : SEMITIC
21. Rotten : BAD
22. Conference including Duke and UNC : ACC. Atlantic Coast Conference.
28. Liver secretion : BILE
30. "What's up, __?" : DOC
31. Clean the floor : SWEEP
32. Was victorious : WON
33. Dissertations : THESES. The plural of THESIS.
36. It can be airtight or waterproof : SEAL
37. Fishing pole : ROD
40. Support garment : BRA
41. Slightly : A BIT
43. Jump (on) suddenly : POUNCE
44. Tennis call : LET
45. Keg party attire : TOGAs. A reference to the movie "Animal House".
47. Band-Aid and Barbie, e.g.: Abbr. : TMs. Trademarks.
48. Like much wine and cheese : AGED
52. Rover's warning : "GRR!"
53. Corn unit : EAR
54. Inexpensive brand : CHEAPIE
63. Overindulge, as kids : SPOIL
64. Wrinkle remover : IRON
65. Fight for air : GASP
66. Wedding dresses : GOWNS
67. Fey of "30 Rock" : TINA
68. School attended by many princes and prime ministers : ETON
Down:
1. Spaces : GAPS
2. Annoy : RILE
3. TV Batman West : ADAM
4. "I did not!" is one : DENIAL
5. __ nerve : OPTIC
6. Voting group : BLOC
7. Palooka : OAF
8. Tolkien's Treebeard, for one : ENT
9. Texas Roadhouse fare : STEAKS
10. Grassy fields : MEADOWS
11. Sixth sense, briefly : ESP
12. Pub pick : ALE
13. Dorm supervisors: Abbr. : RAs. Resident Advisors.
18. "And so on and so forth," for short : "ETC., ETC."
19. "True Blood" airer : HBO
23. Party disguise : COSTUME
24. Indian and Arctic : OCEANS
25. Lacking strength : FEEBLE
26. Dreaded : FEARED
27. Bug-hitting-windshield sound : SPLAT
28. Owie : BOO-BOO
29. Spectrum color between blue and violet : INDIGO
30. Train stations : DEPOTS
32. Ire : WRATH
34. Occurrence : HAP
35. Start of a guard dog command : "SIC"
39. Approached : NEARED
42. Deceived : TAKEN IN
46. Slow mollusks : SNAILS
49. Farm : GRANGE. Word Origin & History - c.1112 (implied in granger ), "granary, barn," from O.Fr. grange, from M.L. granica, from L. granum "grain." Sense evolved to "outlying farm" (late 14c.), then "country house" (1550s). per Online Etymology Dictionary.
17A. *1968 sci-fi classic remade in 2001: "PLANET OF THE APES". Without going to deep into it, CAPTAIN PLANET is a TV animation with a "green" super-hero.
23A. *Chili competitions: COOK-OFFS. CAPTAIN COOK was an actual British explorer of the Pacific Ocean.
50A. *Reason for rhinoplasty: HOOK NOSE. CAPTAIN HOOK, of course, was from the story of Peter Pan.
58A. *1980 Disney comedy about an all-night puzzle-solving race: "MIDNIGHT MADNESS". CAPTAIN MIDNIGHT was first broadcast as a radio serial from 1938. Captain Midnight was a code name. He wasn't a super-hero but an extremely skilled aviator with an ability to fly almost any aircraft superlatively.
Argyle here and running late. This appears to be our first encounter with this constructor. I liked it and thought the grid layout was pleasing to look at.
Across:
1. One with a degree : GRAD. The first of several words are shortened versions of the parent word but seem to stand alone and aren't considered abbreviations, at least by some.
5. Double reed instrument : OBOE
9. Bit of campaign nastiness : SMEAR
14. Assistant : AIDE
15. Course of action : PLAN
16. Croatian-born physicist Nikola : TESLA. He's back!
20. Jewish : SEMITIC
21. Rotten : BAD
22. Conference including Duke and UNC : ACC. Atlantic Coast Conference.
28. Liver secretion : BILE
30. "What's up, __?" : DOC
31. Clean the floor : SWEEP
32. Was victorious : WON
33. Dissertations : THESES. The plural of THESIS.
36. It can be airtight or waterproof : SEAL
37. Fishing pole : ROD
40. Support garment : BRA
41. Slightly : A BIT
43. Jump (on) suddenly : POUNCE
44. Tennis call : LET
45. Keg party attire : TOGAs. A reference to the movie "Animal House".
47. Band-Aid and Barbie, e.g.: Abbr. : TMs. Trademarks.
48. Like much wine and cheese : AGED
52. Rover's warning : "GRR!"
53. Corn unit : EAR
54. Inexpensive brand : CHEAPIE
63. Overindulge, as kids : SPOIL
64. Wrinkle remover : IRON
65. Fight for air : GASP
66. Wedding dresses : GOWNS
67. Fey of "30 Rock" : TINA
68. School attended by many princes and prime ministers : ETON
Down:
1. Spaces : GAPS
2. Annoy : RILE
3. TV Batman West : ADAM
4. "I did not!" is one : DENIAL
5. __ nerve : OPTIC
6. Voting group : BLOC
7. Palooka : OAF
8. Tolkien's Treebeard, for one : ENT
9. Texas Roadhouse fare : STEAKS
10. Grassy fields : MEADOWS
11. Sixth sense, briefly : ESP
12. Pub pick : ALE
13. Dorm supervisors: Abbr. : RAs. Resident Advisors.
18. "And so on and so forth," for short : "ETC., ETC."
19. "True Blood" airer : HBO
23. Party disguise : COSTUME
24. Indian and Arctic : OCEANS
25. Lacking strength : FEEBLE
26. Dreaded : FEARED
27. Bug-hitting-windshield sound : SPLAT
28. Owie : BOO-BOO
29. Spectrum color between blue and violet : INDIGO
30. Train stations : DEPOTS
32. Ire : WRATH
34. Occurrence : HAP
35. Start of a guard dog command : "SIC"
39. Approached : NEARED
42. Deceived : TAKEN IN
46. Slow mollusks : SNAILS
49. Farm : GRANGE. Word Origin & History - c.1112 (implied in granger ), "granary, barn," from O.Fr. grange, from M.L. granica, from L. granum "grain." Sense evolved to "outlying farm" (late 14c.), then "country house" (1550s). per Online Etymology Dictionary.
51. Nonprofit's URL ending : .ORG
52. The Gold Coast, since 1957 : GHANA
54. "Let's roll!" : "C'MON!"
55. __ moss : PEAT
56. "This __ silly!" : IS SO
57. "Monday Night Football" channel : ESPN
58. Chinese food additive : MSG
59. Wall St. debut : IPO. Initial Public Offering, a chance to get in on the ground floor, assuming the price goes up; not guaranteed.
60. Wall Street index, with "the" : DOW. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA).
61. Smack : HIT
62. Prefix with athlete : TRI
Answer grid.
Argyle. I picked a good day to run late. Phew!
52. The Gold Coast, since 1957 : GHANA
54. "Let's roll!" : "C'MON!"
55. __ moss : PEAT
56. "This __ silly!" : IS SO
57. "Monday Night Football" channel : ESPN
58. Chinese food additive : MSG
59. Wall St. debut : IPO. Initial Public Offering, a chance to get in on the ground floor, assuming the price goes up; not guaranteed.
60. Wall Street index, with "the" : DOW. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA).
61. Smack : HIT
62. Prefix with athlete : TRI
Answer grid.
Argyle. I picked a good day to run late. Phew!
