Puzzle

ACROSS

  1 Off in the distance

  5 Scary giant

  9 Hangs in there

 14 Big name in pineapple

 15 Swamp menace, informally

 16 Greek leader?

 17 -

 19 Gymnastics gold medalist Kerri

 20 Baron's title

 21 It may mean "Pet me!"

 23 Opera princess who loves Radames

 24 Payment promises

 26 Rhinoceros part

 28 Daisylike flowers

 31 Slightly cracked

 33 Spy org. that split up in 1991

 36 -

 39 "___ it snappy!"

 40 Stretch of history

 41 Sci-fi princess who loves Han

 42 -

 47 CIA's predecessor

 48 Grape or tomato holder

 49 Floppy-eared hound

 50 Last word of a prayer

 52 Donate

 53 Drink at a sushi bar

 55 "Catch ya later," in London

 58 Children hunt for them annually

 61 Double checkers?

 63 Commonly misused adverb, or how to read the clues to 17-, 36- and 42-Across

 66 Like the best-case scenario

 67 Swear to

 68 Minute ___ (juice brand)

 69 Like the screws in eyeglasses

 70 Achy

 71 Pros at saving lives

DOWN

  1 The second word of this clue, e.g.: Abbr.

  2 Fair's opposite

  3 Additionally

  4 Pet that may be "golden"

  5 Condition with rituals, briefly

  6 International bakers' units

  7 Flower on a float

  8 Automatic response to a call?

  9 ___ Vegas Aces

 10 Wedding site

 11 Parts of a fire safety system

 12 Ungraceful landing sound

 13 Multiseason show's storyline, perhaps

 18 Love to pieces

 22 Alphabetically first of the five W's

 25 Seabees' org.

 27 "... man ___ mouse?"

 28 Have the intention of

 29 Iranian leaders, once

 30 Protests during the national anthem

 31 Button on an electronic contract

 32 Rock icon Jett

 34 Tour leader

 35 Monster

 37 Marine bird

 38 Its final score may be 20-21

 43 The night before

 44 "You ___ lyin'!"

 45 ___-Wan Kenobi

 46 Seesaw on a decision

 51 "Will & Grace" Emmy winner Mullally

 52 Swamp menace, informally

 53 Comedy sketch

 54 Political assistant

 56 "Sad to say ..."

 57 Pioneering DVR

 59 Glitzy rock style

 60 Cut, as a well-taped box

 62 Crafty

 64 Lamb's mother

 65 Three-ft. measures

Solution