puzzle

 ACROSS

  1 *

  5 Apt rhyme for "trim"

  9 Widen, as one's nostrils

 14 Strong of "Ben 10"

 15 Game akin to bingo

 16 Primate such as Madagascar's aye-aye

 17 "Goodness me!"

 18 Flowt sandal maker

 19 River mammal

 20 Taboo topic (Hint: Start by reading this answer's middle 8 letters)

 23 Acts as peacemaker

 24 Boxing venue

 27 "Yes, monsieur!"

 28 "___ a trap!"

 29 ___ carte

 31 Ride the breeze

 34 Final mistake that contributes to a failure (... middle 4 letters)

 38 Speak at length

 40 "The Matrix" hero

 41 Lugged along

 42 Song originally dedicated to Marilyn Monroe (... middle 6 letters)

 45 Comic ___ (font in many memes)

 46 "What'd I tell ya?"

 47 Craft kit initials

 48 Snitch

 50 One of 50 in America

 52 Admirable sort

 57 Having divided loyalties (... middle 6 letters)

 59 Religion for Malcolm X

 62 Stockpile in a zombie movie

 63 Idyllic garden

 64 Take suddenly

 65 Like excellent eyesight

 66 "Woe is me!"

 67 Mental fogs

 68 Like, forever

 69 ___ mortal

DOWN

  1 Leave angrily, with "off"

  2 Sierra Nevada lake

  3 Ready for a duel

  4 "Goodfellas" actor

  5 One with reservations

  6 Cafe con ___

  7 Ancient Peruvians

  8 It isn't made of green cheese

  9 Burns rubber

 10 "I'll handle it"

 11 Qty.

 12 Feel remorse over

 13 Bark up the wrong tree

 21 ___ de cologne

 22 "So long, old chap!"

 25 '90s commerce treaty

 26 Crop circle creator, some say

 28 Privy to

 30 No ifs, ___ or buts

 31 Dazzles

 32 Sagittarius : archer :: ___ : ram

 33 Diamond side

 35 No more than

 36 Finder's ___

 37 Ran low on energy

 39 When meetings wrap up

 43 Conked out

 44 Fantasy creatures that hoard gold

 49 "Pokemon" protagonist Ketchum

 51 Stupefy

 52 Short appearance in a movie

 53 Lightbulb unit

 54 Throw for a loop

 55 Unambiguous

 56 On pins and needles

 58 Word after "crumb" or "crab"

 59 Suffix with "self"

 60 Briny deep

 61 Congresswoman Cheney

solution