GRADE A? NO WAY!

ACROSS 1 Be in the running 4 Southern Slav 9 Substantial 14 “Mission: Impossible” org. 15 Intoxicating, as perfume 16 Host 17 Luftwaffe foe, for short 18 Fizzes 20 Catlike 22 Russell Crowe flick 23 Tracked down 26 Barrel parts 30 Sun-burned flier of myth 32 Swallow kin 34 “___ Maria” 36 They played Sinatra 38 What Dr. J wore 39 Jamboree shelter 41 Sam Spade’s secretary 43 Bit of foliage 44 More than suspicious of 45 Scarecrow stuffing 47 Bean counter, for short 48 Minister’s platform 51 Hush-hush 53 Pupil’s bath? 55 Generous act 58 Bibliographical abbr. 60 Enjoy immensely 61 Having a striking effect 67 ___ out a win 68 One way to cook steak 69 Fertilization site 70 Certain deception 71 Locomotive undercarriage 72 Knave’s loot, in rhyme 73 Talk, talk, talk DOWN 1 How popular videos go 2 Adult insect 3 In a productive manner 4 Extremely fast runner 5 Call, as a game 6 Big ol’ stumblebum 7 Gulf east of the Sinai 8 They’re not well-seasoned 9 Donkey’s bray 10 Dash lengths 11 TV monitor? 12 Comfy shirt 13 “Affirmative” 19 Brewery equipment 21 Part of a Wisconsin cit y’s name 24 Niagara River source 25 Fannies 27 Container for nitroglycerin 28 In a manner that works well 29 Boot closure 31 Prepares flour for baking 33 Chesterfield, e.g. 34 Straddling 35 Event locale 37 Begets 40 Hit the bottle 42 A head 46 Colorful marine fishes 49 Site of a cold snap? 50 Heaviest band member? 52 Victorian, for one 54 Ornamental loop 56 Big name in mobile phones 57 From Athens 59 Opera star 61 Recede to the sea 62 In the opposite direction 63 Shore concealer 64 Second sequel designation 65 Sharer’s word 66 Maximum degree (Abbr.)