Theme: Not Meme - Four two word entries that end in ME.
17A. AABBA, in limericks : RHYME SCHEME
33A. Evening TV viewing period : PRIME TIME
41A. Pass-the-buck accusations : BLAME GAME
61A. Words on a banner for returning soldiers : WELCOME HOME
59D. Kid's response to "Who wants some?" ... and a hint to what's hidden in 17-, 33-, 41- and 61-Across : "ME, ME!"
Argyle here. After 33- and 41-Across, I wondered if 17-Across was the theme reveal but that was just me.
Across:
1. Bandage often signed by friends : CAST
5. Top NFL player : ALL PRO
11. Piercing spot : EAR
14. Bjorn Borg's org. : USTA. (United States Tennis Association)
15. Like tall wedding cakes : TIERED
16. Reason for overtime : TIE
19. TV buying channel : HSN. (Home Shopping Network)
20. Crude from a well, slangily : TEXAS TEA. Black gold, oil, that is.
21. Coat with a precious metal : GILD
22. Baton Rouge sch. : LSU. (Louisiana State University)
23. Love stories : ROMANCES
27. Butter and cream cheese, e.g. : SPREADS
31. Type size : PICA
32. Like jackhammers : NOISY
38. Alley in comics : OOP
39. Rice-__ : A-RONI
40. Neighbor of Arg. : BOL. Argentina and Bolivia.
44. Little League precursor : T-BALL. Such potential.
46. "Son of __!" : A GUN
47. Resort with trails : SKI AREA
49. Becomes foolishly passionate (over) : GOES GAGA
53. Hosp. personnel : RNs
54. Isn't feeling up to snuff : AILS
55. Parent in the wings : STAGE MOM. In the performing arts, a stage mother is the mother of a child actor. The mother will often drive her child to auditions, make sure he or she is on the set on time, etc.
60. Winter bug : FLU
64. Nourished : FED. “Feed a cold, starve a flu”?
65. Fly : AVIATE
66. Newsy bit : ITEM
67. Lyrical "before" : ERE
68. Shrill barker : YELPER. Watch your ankles around them.
69. "If you want to leave a message, please wait for the __" : TONE
Down:
1. Rudely abrupt : CURT
2. 1975 Wimbledon winner Arthur : ASHE
3. River of Hades : STYX
4. Cantina fare : TAMALES
5. Ready to sire, as a retired racehorse : AT STUD
6. Scalp parasites : LICE
7. "The Merry Widow" composer Franz : LEHÁR. Have a Listen(5:41)
8. Lead-in for school or season : PRE
9. Sleep phase initials : REM. (rapid eye movement)
10. "__ on a Grecian Urn" : ODE
11. Value system : ETHIC
12. Theater divider : AISLE
13. Tears apart : RENDS
18. Writing assignment : ESSAY
21. Itty-bitty biter : GNAT. Bad but not as bad as "out for blood" black flies.
24. Speaks one's mind : OPINEs
25. Actress Rogers : MIMI
26. Unreturnable serve : ACE
27. Snooty sort : SNOB
28. "No lifeguard on duty" site, perhaps : POOL. There was a problem during the 2013 sequestration.
29. TV host Kelly : RIPA
30. Leapt : SPRANG
34. CD-__ : ROM. compact disk - read only memory
35. Letter-shaped beam : I-BAR
36. Lawn burrower : MOLE
37. Jazzy Fitzgerald : ELLA
39. Water, to Juan : AGUA
42. Sunday rite : MASS
43. One may be sunnyside up : EGG
44. Hint of color : TINGE
45. Batter's success : BASE HIT
48. "Seinfeld" character who dreams up a coffee table book about coffee tables : KRAMER
49. Social blunder : GAFFE
50. Crude carrier : OILER. From Edmonton or Houston.
51. Slip away from : ELUDE
52. Music licensing fee-collecting org. : ASCAP. (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers)
56. Handy bag : TOTE
57. Fictional sleuth Mr. __ : MOTO. These include eight motion pictures starring Peter Lorre between 1937 and 1939. You can find the full length movies on YouTube and a lot more information on Wikipedia.
58. Broken mirror, to some : OMEN
61. Method : WAY
62. Anticipatory night : EVE
63. "__ Abner" : LI'L
Argyle
