18A. *Delayed reaction : DOUBLE TAKE
20A. *Radioactive decay measure : HALF LIFE
31A. *Aviation display : AIR SHOW
37A. Repeatedly ... and a hint to the answers to starred clues : TIME AFTER TIME
44A. *Military hobbyist's pastime : WAR GAME
58A. *Prom time, to prom-goers : BIG NIGHT
60A. *Modern : PRESENT DAY
Argyle 95% here. Of course, I've been told I'm not all there anyway so that's probably as good as I'll get. This is Patti's second puzzle; the debut was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in April. An interesting grid and easy fill and yet seven theme entries. The unifier and explanation placed right in the middle. Patti Varol, you've done it again.
Author:
1. Programmer's banes : BUGS. Elmer Fudd doesn't like him either.
5. Hollywood tree : PALM. As seen in movies and TV shows that include scenes of Hollywood.
9. Soup base : BROTH. I started with STOCK.
14. Subj. to bone up on? : ANAT.
15. Airline with blue-striped jets : EL AL
16. Washer cycle : RINSE
17. Poor boy seller : DELI
22. Baa nana? : EWE. (chuckle)
23. "__ Mio": classic Italian song : 'O SOLE
24. Treasure-__ : TROVE
26. Question of identity : WHO
29. Pre-euro Spanish coin : PESETA. Image.
33. Reykjavik-born one-named singer : BJORK. Google images.
36. Iron-rich green veggie : KALE
42. Beret perch : TÊTE
43. Choir part : TENOR
47. It makes Tom frisky : CATNIP. (another chuckle)
52. "Little Women" sister : AMY and 39D. "Little Women" sister : MEG
53. Alimentary route : CANAL. Digestive system.
56. "Seinfeld" specialty : IRONY
57. __-fi : SCI
64. Fireworks reaction : "OOOH!". Yes, there are three O's.
65. Knocks for a loop : JOLTS
66. 1804 duelist : BURR. Aaron Burr vs. Alexander Hamilton.
67. "__ arigato": Japanese "thank you very much" : DOMO. Gotta do it. Clip.(5:31)
68. Provolone alternative : SWISS
69. Part of a.k.a. : ALSO
70. Paradise : EDEN
Down:
1. Tough play for Derek Jeter : BAD HOP. Baseball.
2. The heebie-jeebies : UNEASE
3. Winemakers Ernest and Julio : GALLOs
4. Put the kibosh on : STIFLE
5. Salon foot treatment, briefly : PEDIcure.
6. High, as a kite : ALOFT. Ah, the importance of punctuation.
7. "Today" co-host : LAUER. Matt
8. Diamond org. : MLB. Major League Baseball (MLB).
9. Stout maker : BREWER. Image.
10. Bat mitzvah, e.g. : RITE
11. "Come __ My House": Rosemary Clooney hit : ON-A. Released on June 6, 1951.
12. "Have you no shame?" : "TSK!"
13. Laugh syllable : HEE
19. First name in jeans : LEVI
21. Leave alone : LET BE
25. Like bourbon barrels : OAKEN
26. "Kapow!" cousin : "WHAM!"
27. Links target : HOLE. Golf.
28. Run a tab, say : OWE
30. Double-platinum Steely Dan album : "AJA"
32. Deal with moguls? : SKI. What are moguls? A bump on a ski slope formed by the repeated turns of skiers over the same path.
34. Quite a lot : OFTEN
35. 66, notably: Abbr. : RTE.
37. Nine of diamonds? : TEAM. My goodness, more baseball.
38. "Just doing my job" : "I TRY"
40. Mythical big bird : ROC. Described in the Arabian Nights as being able to carry off and eat elephants.
41. Get fit : TRAIN
42. "Up, up and away" carrier : TWA
45. The "A" in RAM : ACCESS. Random Access Memory (RAM).
46. Principal : MAIN
48. Vacuum tube type : TRIODE. Wiki article, if you need to know more.
49. Call after a missed field goal : NO GOOD
50. Like some health care : IN HOME
51. Slithering squeezer : PYTHON
54. Kareem __-Jabbar : ABDUL. Basketball.
55. Perjurers : LIARS
57. Grounded fleet: Abbr. : SSTs
59. Pita sandwich : GYRO
60. Jammies : PJs
61. Obey the coxswain : ROW, ROW, ROW your boat, gently down the stream.
62. Actor Wallach : ELI
63. Sched. question mark : TBA. To Be Announced.
Argyle
