| DONTGIVEMETHAT | "Save your excuses!" (or an appropriate response to being handed 20-, 33- or 39-Across) |
| MAHJONGTILE | Game piece on which 20-, 33- or 39-Across might be pictured |
| SPAREME | "Save your excuses" |
| WTH | Appropriate response to an infernal text |
| YAY | Appropriate response to "Abbott Elementary" getting renewed for another season |
| CHARACTERACTOR | 15-, 26-, 33- or 39-Across, punnily? |
| HEARTOFGLASS | Late-'70s Blondie hit, or a hint to the middle word in 20-, 33- or 41-Across |
| BUT | With 57-Down, possible response to 20-, 31- or 39-Across |
| HIDDENCAMERA | Common security device ... or a feature of 20-, 33- or 38-Across |
| SAVEIT | "I don't want to hear your excuses!" |
| OHSPAREME | "I don't want to hear your excuses!" (Last 2 letters + ...) |
| ITUNES | Where to find the songs in this grid ... or an appropriate title for this puzzle? |
| LINEAL | Bar has a heady libation that's being handed down from one generation to the next (6) |
| CONSEQUENCES | The results of Harry met Sally being handed on from writer to writer (12) |
| GOLLYITSRENT | "Jeepers, we're about to watch the 'Light My Candle' musical!" ... or an alternative form of storytelling? |
| IMDOWN | "Count me in!," or an apt description of the answers to the starred clues |
| STATESPEOPLE | Ambassadors and such, or an appropriate title for this puzzle |
| CONVERSATIONSTOPPER | Comment to which there is no appropriate response |
| HUMPDAY | Middle of the week ... or an appropriate title for this puzzle |
| DPLUS | Low grade, or an appropriate title for this puzzle |
