The New York Times crossword puzzle

Across 1 Fan group? 7 Centerpiece of a holiday gathering 14 The “R” of E. R. 15 No- parking area in a parking lot 16 Holiday

cupful 17 Brought out

of hibernation 18 Stock 19 Boxing ring

producer 20 Worker with a saving plan, for short 21 Dog team’s

burden 22 With 40- Across, exposed 23 Cricket field

shape 24 The American Messenger Co., today 25 Racketeering

outfit 26 Drip chamber

contents 28 Idled 31 “I’m counting

on you!” 33 Harold Hill’s portrayer in the original cast of “The Music Man” 35 Bugs 37 Lemon oil

source 38 Green on

a screen 39 Most important

part 40 See

22- Across 41 Wild catch? 42 Rested 43 Party spread 44 Garden assets 45 Test of

effectiveness 48 Bright

yellow fruit 49 Some Kings’

Scholars 50 Exceeding

the usual rate 51 Like the papacy of Pius IX, after St. Peter 52 Another name for Michaelmas daisies

Down 1 Creates,

as trouble 2 Yellow pages? 3 Hostile

territory? 4 Took courses 5 Genesis

grandson 6 Succumb

to gravity 7 Admit defeat 8 Eurasian boundary 9 Dr. Kildare portrayer Ayres 10 Longtime band with the 2015 album “Alone in the Universe” 11 Los Angeles suburb next to San Fernando 12 Very small, as an operation 13 Gradual,

as a slope 15 They’re good for the long haul 19 Talk show talk 22 Cafeteria utensils 23 “American Me”

star, 1992 25 Do well

enough 26 Tristram Shandy’s creator 27 Came

through for 29 High- hat 30 TV drama starring Terrence Howard 32 It begins with All Saints’ Day 34 Offers

objections to 35 Brewery named for a Dutch river 36 Approaching 40 Principal force 41 Presuppose 43 Two- piece

tops 44 Private engagements? 46 First name of 2012’ s Best Director 47 Misrepresentation 48 1040 preparer,

for short