ACROSS

  1 Common pill for heart health

  8 Gizmos used on Granny Smiths

 12 Comedian's line while waiting for laughs

 14 Degrees for future execs

 15 Single-helix genetic molecule

 16 Soft or crunchy food item at Chipotle

 17 Bar projectile

 18 "Play the music, band!"

 20 Poke

 22 Self-reverence

 23 Literal mama's boy

 24 Hummus, e.g.

 26 Scrape (by)

 27 ___ for compliments

 29 Like the ancient Greek army in "300"

 31 Marriage

 32 Old Swedish sedans

 33 Boardwalk thief with wings

 36 Incurring late fees, maybe

 38 UFO crew members

 39 Visualize

 40 "Where the Wild Things ___"

 41 ___ Potato Head ("Toy Story" character)

 42 Cushy rug style

 44 Get to work

 46 Filth

 47 "Sigh ..."

 49 2022 US Open winner Swiatek

 50 ___ Lee cheesecake

 51 Dungeons & Dragons, Scrabble, etc.

 54 It disqualifies a romantic partner

 55 Finish suiting up?

DOWN

  1 Great or lesser primates

  2 Camera type, briefly

  3 Looking narrowly (at)

  4 "This is unbearable!"

  5 "How do you spell relief?" brand

  6 Face-to-face, for short

  7 Small salamander

  8 Creamy dessert made with a fruit medley

  9 Awesome, in '90s slang

 10 "You ___ what you sow"

 11 Valentine source, possibly

 12 "Can you believe it?!"

 13 Laughing flock

 17 Stops from exploding

 18 Bae

 19 One for a bartender, say?

 21 Like neutron stars, vis-a-vis everything else

 23 Type of headache

 25 No longer fashionable

 28 Not share

 30 Snitch

 34 The, in French

 35 Beatles hit with the lyric "Whisper words of wisdom"

 36 Protective castle wall

 37 Mosaics and murals, e.g.

 43 Name hidden in "ring a bell"

 45 Prefix for "phobia" that relates to open places

 46 Judi Dench title

 48 Fence strip

 50 Sushi bar drink

 52 Former Giant Manning

 53 Moo goo ___ pan