And away we go

Theme: 59. First out of the gate, and what 17-, 22-, 38- and 51-Across all get: OFF TO A FAST START.

Each theme begins with a word meaning FAST.

17A. It may be drawn without thinking: HASTY CONCLUSION.

22A. Sylvester Pussycat nemesis: SPEEDY GONZALES. A little undercurrent of cartoons in today's effort, including a second appearance for 60D. Sylvester, to Tweety: TAT.

38A. Dubious diet ad promise: RAPID WEIGHT LOSS.

51A. Mentally agile: QUICK ON THE DRAW. One of my favorites QUICK DRAW .

Happy hump to you all; Lemonade here with my second Dan Naddor; it has been more than 6 months since his passing, and it does not get easier. His theme answer are all unique and long, while not too difficult, they show his creativity. He also uses most of the tough letters in the alphabet, missing only J, V and X.



Across

1. Turkish title: AGHA.

5. Kind of appetizer platter: PUPU. I believe this is an Hawaiian word that means appetizer; help me out here our Hawaiian contingent.

9. Refs throw them: FLAGS.

14. Nobleman's mistress: COURTESAN.

16. Artist Neiman: LEROY. The best sports artist ever, you can go and see his work at ORIGINALS .

19. In the know: HIP. With 8D. Not 19-Across: UNCOOL.

20. Buck's partner: DOE. Did you ever think that a Buck is a dollar, and Dough (DOE) is also money? No? Oh well, I did.

21. Emergency PC key: ESC.

27. A/C unit: BTU. British Thermal Units. I know they say Brits are cold, is that why they named the A/C measurer after them?

28. Paul's "Exodus" role: ARI. Paul Newman, and amzing book and MOVIE , which was produced by MGM. which coincidentally (?) is next. 29A. MGM co-founder: LOEW. His story was interesting, MARCUS LOEW . And then we have, 64D. Early MGM rival: RKO.

30. Fridge or freezer: Abbr.: APPL. It is amazing how clues are seen in bunches.

32. Pollution-policing org.: EPA.

34. Fountain orders: SODAS. The days of soda fountains are long gone....

42. Record needles: STYLI. Now we know the rest of the story on our yesterday boo boo.

43. Response of feigned innocence: MOI. Of course you must think of HER .

44. Spill the beans: SING. Often done by criminals, who are also known as CONS....

45. Con: ANTI.

48. Powder parter: SKI. Alliteration and trickery all wrapped into one clue, wonderful.

50. Asian occasion: TET. Follwed by a wonderful rhyme, even if the reference is offensive to some (Dennis?).

56. Network absorbed by The CW: UPN.

57. Long-jawed fish: GAR.

58. ICU test: EEG.

66. Synagogue scroll: TORAH.

67. First felony conviction, in some states: ONE STRIKE. More alliteration.

68. Poet's Muse: ERATO. A real crosswordese, we all should have this one down.

69. Certain squad member: GEEK. Some say Best Buy has spent all the money on ads, and not training for their MEMBERS , I am prejudiced because my nephew is one.

70. "__ off?": ON OR. Dan really liked the word strings as answers.

DOWN

1. German cry: ACH. This is for you Windhover, SING A LONG .

2. ___ few rounds: GO A.

3. Item in a fried side with catfish: HUSH PUPPY. Was the fried necessary?

4. "The Sopranos" chef Bucco: ARTIE. Did anyone remember his last name, which in hidsight sound like OSSO BUCO.

5. Delt neighbor:PEC. Muscles, shoulder and chest...

6. GI entertainers: USO. Gee, we can get Jayne Mansfield again with BOB HOPE .

7. Co. that has sponsored many soaps: P AND G. Proctor and Gamble; I wonder if I will ever do the "AND" words easily.

9. __ shot: FLU.

10. Guitarist Paul: LES. Just BEAUTIFUL .

11. The Little Mermaid: ARIEL. MB, Jeannie, ladies, is she a role model?

12. Ninny: GOOSE. Or just a silly...

13. Matches audio to video, say: SYNCS.

15. Aggressive sort: TYPE A.

18. He preceded and followed O'Brien: LENO.

22. March VIP: ST PAT.

23. Attracted: DREW. This ONE?.

24. "Holy Toledo!": YIPE.

25. Energy: ZEST.

26. Mil. truants: AWOLS.

27. Ivory units?: BARS. Loved this ones, could not figure out how to squeeze tusks in here.

31. The purple one is New Hampshire's state flower: LILAC.

33. Fire preceder?: AIM. Another Naddor left fielder.

35. "Encore!": DO IT AGAIN.

36. Good __: repaired: AS NEW.

37. USMC rank: SSGT.

39. Drop shot, in tennis: DINK. Like this MEMORY .

40. "No kidding!": GOSH.

41. Increase: HIKE. Another one that took a while to see.

46. Frat party attire: TOGA.

47. Dazed: IN A FOG.

49. Latin clarifier: ID EST.

51. Bit of term paper color: QUOTE. Okay he fooled me again.

52. Enthusiastic about: UP FOR.

53. Prefix with structure: INFRA.

54. Big name in air conditioning: TRANE. They used my friends' SONG .

55. In once more: RETRO.

61. "So that's your game!": O HO.

62. "What'd I tell ya?": SEE.

63. "That wasn't nice!": TSK.

65. Three times, in Rx's: TER. I actually remember TID, but all in all a fun Wednesday, that perhaps was softened by the editor. Keep the cards and letters coming, especially you newbies, tell us what you think, your humble servant....

Across Down
1. Rhine tributary: RUHR.
5. Word spoken while pointing, perhaps: HER.
8. Slow tempo: ADAGIO.
14. Sitcom redhead : OPIE
15. Stock ending? : ADE
16. Sole sauce : TARTAR
17. Hosp. workers : LPNS
18. Temporary teacher's lot? : SUBPARKING
20. Escorted : LEDIN
22. Where to kiss the Blarney Stone : EIRE
23. What it would have been if 10-Down went down? : ORIGINALSINKING
30. Nat or Red : NLER
31. "The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom" author : ORMAN
32. '60s activist gp. : SDS
35. Former sergeant, perhaps : EXCOP
38. Classic Callas role : TOSCA
39. "Very funny" : HAHA
41. Greenish blues : TEALS
43. Links sight: CART
44. Memorable mission: ALAMO
46. Pond papa: DRAKE
48. __ Arc, Arkansas: DES
49. Former name of the Mariinsky Ballet: KIROV
50. Fanatics: NUTS
52. Brusque words about strong coffee?: ESPRESSOBARKING
59. Like an undeliverable pkg.: RETD
60. Where to get down: EIDER
61. Actress Brenneman losing on purpose?: AMYTANKING
67. Normal opening?: PARA
68. Hunts diligently: SCOURS
69. Date: SEE
70. It acquired Applebee's in 2007: IHOP
71. Board game demand, and hint to this puzzle's theme: KINGME
72. Little shaver: TOT
73. Peter of reggae: TOSH

1. Rich kid in "Nancy" comics: ROLLO
2. Berth place: UPPER
3. Language that gives us "cheetah" and "chutney": HINDI
4. Quit: RESIGN
5. Holds: HAS
6. 13-Down relative: EDU
7. Rise up: REBEL
8. Pong creator: ATARI
9. Are more than reluctant to: DARENOT
10. Ararat arrival: ARK
11. VW hatchback: GTI
12. Creator of Q and M: IAN
13. 6-Down relative: ORG
19. Circle constants: PIS
21. __ green: NILE
24. "What happened __?": NEXT
25. Bowed: ARCED
26. McDonald's founder: KROC
27. "When __ she comes to me with a thousand smiles": "Little Wing" lyric: IMSAD
28. Shell layer: NACRE
29. Punkies : GNATS
32. Wooden shingle : SHAKE
33. "The Sacrament of the Last Supper" and others : DALIS
34. Off-key, in a way : SHARP
36. Watercraft control : OAR
37. Alternate strategy : PLANB
40. Cupid : AMOR
42. Arctic predator : SKUA
45. Like many a baseball pitch : OVERARM
47. French 101 verb : ETRE
51. "Never mind" : SKIPIT
53. Common quality? : SENSE
54. NYSE buy : STK
55. Lyrical poet : ODIST
56. Only state that borders six states and Canada: IDAHO
57. __ Circus, where St. Peter was crucified: NEROS
58. Plotting device: GRAPH
61. Quiz: ASK
62. Verizon subsidiary: MCI
63. That, old-style: YON
64. Harbor vessel: TUG
65. Revival prefix: NEO
66. Fetch: GET