Stop For More Pop
◆ · By Darth · Published 2024-09-16T18:45:57.747Z
Meta Prompt
The answer to the meta is a well-known pop group.
The idea for this puzzle was conceived last April to mark a “particular” anniversary, but life became busy for me and the anniversary date passed before I had time to construct, polish and publish properly.
Is the grid fill too difficult, the metanism too obvious? Is some tweaking needed to create a more satisfying “aha” moment? My test solvers said they liked it, but as with any puzzle, results may vary. Enjoy! 
Checking for previous play data...
Fun stuff, thanks. And thanks for filling the breach!1A
* First blank on many forms
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Across
- 1A* First blank on many forms
- 5ANBC for "Law & Order"
- 10A* Assignment for a detective
- 14ACNN correspondent Liebermann, or "Saw" producer Koules
- 15APart of a play
- 16ALike "lama" per a Nash poem (the "priest" not the "beast")
- 17AXXVII years from now
- 18AStart for "star", "man", or "market"
- 19ACake-and-candles time, in a txt msg
- 20AOn the train
- 22AMcAdams and Maddow, for two
- 24ATango or twist
- 25AOveract on stage
- 27APlea at sea
- 28AProm attendees, for short
- 29ABig ___, nickname for Boston baseball's David Ortiz
- 31AMark Twain's burial place in south central New York
- 33ATender touch
- 35ASince Jan. 1 on a pay stub
- 36APoetic pattern (for limericks and sonnets, but not haiku)
- 39AGovt. mortgage agency
- 40AOverly sweet; sappy
- 41AAlert with a honk, like the Road Runner
- 44ASolemn vow
- 45ASong by rapper A$AP Rocky, meant as an ode to Rihanna
- 48AFood scrap
- 49AFormal name for "sleep" or "eye boogers"
- 51AAnimator Tex, who created Daffy Duck and Droopy
- 53AReliable, hard-working type
- 55AUnplanned, as an encounter
- 56AMister, in Munich
- 57A"The King's Speech" actor Colin
- 60ABrexit Secretary Dominic (or a kale-like salad green)
- 61ANot a duplicate, for short
- 62ACreator of Asteroids and Centipede
- 63AIn a lazy, aimless manner
- 64A* Place for a smile
- 65APowerful chess piece
- 66A* Darts or dominoes
Down
- 1DTheir lives are in tents
- 2DUpper-body hold in mixed martial arts
- 3DCasabas and cantaloupe
- 4DPioneering computer
- 5DMade a tax valuation on property (Abbr.)
- 6DPost-op area
- 7DA single curl (at the gym)
- 8DFirst month in Madrid
- 9DAdd or remove a star to, maybe
- 10DPort near Cork (Gaelic for "cove")
- 11DMinecraft stone (derived from Peru's mountains?)
- 12DRoyal Navy senior officer (or a title for Poseidon?)
- 13DGirl's name derived from "blissful" fields of Greek myth
- 21DSettle a debt
- 23DToon collectible
- 25DFencing swords
- 26DLove letter line, in closing
- 30DWhat's up your sleeve
- 32D"Well, well" ("What have we here?")
- 33DLondon fellow ("I say, old ___")
- 34D"Get outta here!"
- 36DArt of persuasion, per Aristotle
- 37DCastaway's makeshift dwelling
- 38DHebrew dry measure (roughly a bushel)
- 39DAmerica of "Barbie" (2023) and "Ugly Betty" fame
- 41DWords to the bride and groom: "Congrats to ___ you!"
- 42DDada artist Jean
- 43DWhere to find answers on a website
- 45D"You're welcome," in Spanish
- 46DBritish children's book character ("Monsieur Tranquille" in France)
- 47D"Talk to ya later!"
- 50D"It was you," in a Verdi aria
- 52DBrazil's leading airline, once
- 54DHankering
- 55DViolin holder
- 58D"Norma ___" (Sally Field role)
- 59D"Uno" + "due"