Theme: CC - in more ways than one. One more way is that it is actually CH* CH *, but I'm ignoring that.
8A. Affectedly trendy : CHI-CHI
17A. Chinese dog with a blue-black tongue : CHOW CHOW
31A. Tot's toy on a track : CHOO-CHOO
46A. "Make it snappy!" : "CHOP CHOP!"
64A. "Bottoms up!" : "CHIN CHIN!"
69A. Mambo cousin : CHACHA
Argyle here. We've had "OO" and "WWW" and now we have "CC", with the twist that the second word is a Carbon Copy
of the first. And our fearless leader, C.C., is today's constructor.
The two longest words are necessarily relegated to the Down columns. I
want to be here when we get the Double "D" puzzle.
Across:
1. Furry foot : PAW
4. Sign of healing : SCAB
14. Earth Day prefix : ECO
15. Corn Belt state : IOWA
16. Muzzleloading aid : RAMROD. We had this last Tuesday.
19. Pierce with a point : IMPALE
20. Ward on TV : SELA. Her Fan Club.
21. New York's __ Island : ELLIS
23. 26th of 26 : ZEE
24. NBA position : CTR. (center)
26. Doctor whom Captain Kirk calls "Bones" : McCOY.
"I'm a doctor, Jim, not a [moon shuttle conductor / bricklayer /
psychiatrist / mechanic / engineer / scientist / physicist / escalator /
magician / miracle worker / flesh peddler / veterinarian]."
29. Love, Italian-style : AMORE
34. Doo-wop syllable : SHA na na
35. College football's Famous __ Potato Bowl : IDAHO. With sour cream, at half time.
37. Molecule parts : ATOMS
38. Adds color to : TINTS. Or tincts, last Thursday.
40. Cup edge : RIM
41. Sensitive spots : SORES
42. Texas A&M athlete : AGGIE.
The letters "A&M", originally short for "Agricultural and
Mechanical", are retained only as a link to the university's past.
43. Port west of Paris : BREST
45. __-Caps: candy : SNO
48. Walks without going anywhere : PACES
50. Red giant in the night sky : S STAR
51. "Sting like a bee" boxer : ALI, Muhammad
52. Chicken __ king : À LA
54. Winner's gesture : V SIGN
57. A dime a dozen, e.g. : RATE. Pretty cheap!
61. One-named Tejano singer : SELENA. Sadly, she was murdered in 1995.
66. Pennsylvania home of Lafayette College : EASTON. Just across the river from NJ.
67. Steaks and burgers : BEEF
68. Off-road ride, briefly : ATV. (all-terrain vehicle)
70. Pell-__: hastily : MELL
71. Dim sum sauce : SOY
Down:
1. Bench-presser's pride : PECs
2. Aleve target : ACHE
3. What daydreamers gather, metaphorically : WOOL. This is a good explanation.
4. [Not a typo] : [SIC]
5. Made logical sense : COHERED
6. Troop truant : AWOL
7. Cry like a baby : BAWL
8. Big name in cooking oil : CRISCO
9. It's often smoked : HAM
10. Little troublemaker : IMP
11. Victor at Little Bighorn : CRAZY HORSE
12. Swiss cheese feature : HOLE
13. Nantes notion : IDÉE. Here's an idea; take a canal boat from Nantes to Brest.
18. City SSW of Dallas : WACO
22. Announcement while coming through the door : "I'M HOME"
25. Divide in threes : TRI-SECT
27. By the seashore : COASTAL
28. Septi- plus one : OCTO
29. End on __ note : A HIGH
30. Fruit-based chip dip : MANGO SALSA (C.C. This is Argyle's clue. Remember Geico Caveman's Roast duck with Mango Salsa?)
31. Tweet : CHIRP
32. Broken mirrors, to some : OMENS
33. __ buco: veal dish : OSSO
34. Opp. of legato, in music : STAC. (staccato)
36. Shady spots : ARBORs
39. Helpful hints : TIPS
44. Brittany or cocker : SPANIEL
47. Largest city of the West Indies : HAVANA
49. Cosmo concern: Abbr. : CIRC. The magazine worried about circulation.
52. "Hang on __!" : A SEC
53. Rachel's sister : LEAH
55. SALT subject : ICBM. Missiles/Strategic Arms Limitation Talks
56. Indian butter : GHEE
58. "Got it!" cries : AHAs
59. Longtime Yugoslav president : TITO. No, not one of the Jackson Five.
60. Green emotion? : ENVY
62. And so on: Abbr. : ETC
63. Japanese drama : NOH
65. Org. with Giants and Titans : NFL. Their season is almost over.
That's it, so "CHIN CHIN" everybody and let's CHA CHA outta here and hope we get back to the Corner soon.
Argyle
Notes from C.C.:
1) I'm sad to say that Jazzbumpa (Ron) lost his mother-in-law Rita on Sunday morning. Ron and his wife Gloria traveled to Toledo often in the past few years to take care of Rita, who is now in a peaceful place and pain-free.
2) Happy 5-year anniversary to our Crossword Corner blog! I'm sorry things have been out of whack lately. Thank you so much for sticking with us.
