The New York Times crossword puzzle

Across

1 “Save your excuses” 8 Part of the Constitution 15 Grant access 16 Half of the digits have this 17 Edible kernel 18 Built up 19 Cross-shaped mil. award 20 Not so lenient 22 You, overseas 23 Death or destruction 25 “___ the Agent” (old comic strip) 26 Naval Academy students, informally 27 Auntie ___ (pretzel chain) 29 Target of a heist 32 Not let go of something 34 In advance of 35 A to Z 36 Platform for chatting 44 Filmmaker whose directorial debut was “This Is Spinal Tap” 45 “You’re making me blush!” 46 Forever and a day 47 Suffragist Carrie Chapman ___ 49 Word after who, what, where, when, why or how 50 Utterance made while shaking 51 Hit 2014 musical based on a 1992 film 54 Abbr. in a financial report 55 White whales 57 English headwear with a short visor 59 Time off 60 Target, as an audience 61 The Muses and others 62 Like many of the Minions in “Despicable Me”

Down

1 Pacific flatfish 2 With a guest, on a guest list 3 Penn State campus site 4 DVD attachment? 5 Much of a flock 6 Car whose name means “reward” 7 Ugandan city on Lake Victoria 8 Finished 9 Setting for Broadway’s “The Light in the Piazza” 10 Common sports injury 11 They can help you get jobs 12 Senator who was one of the assassins of Julius Caesar 13 Go unused 14 Destined to inherit the throne 21 Gold-certifying org. 24 Things seen in a shower 26 “Hero and Leander” poet 28 Platoon V.I.P. 30 Sadiq ___, London mayor elected in 2016 31 Gorky Reservoir river 33 Grocery section 36 Stop wasting energy, say 37 Ohio school 38 Boxes 39 Source of a river 40 Style symbolizing luxury and glamour 41 Intense sobbing with a contorted face, in modern lingo 42 Willful? 43 Green bean, e.g. 44 Hoi polloi sorts 48 God father? 51 Tequila chaser 52 It’s used in preparing tamales 53 “See here …” 56 “It’s no ___” 58 Previously