| MIDDLESEAT | Cramped spot for an plane passenger ... or a hint to something hidden in 17-, 26-, 34-, 42- and 51-Across |
| DOUBLEDATE | It consists of a couple of couples ... and, when divided differently, a hint to something hidden in 17-, 24-, 38- and 47-Across |
| BALDHEADS | What 17-A, 23-A, 36-A and 51-A have in common |
| TOLETTHE | With, 35-A and 51-A, the Mikado's goal in penal proceedings |
| BEAN | Bop on the noggin (and hint to something hidden in the four long answers) |
| REARENDS | Causes a fender bender, and literally parts of 17-, 21-, 27-, 34-, 42- and 51-Across |
| KAL | Word on an plane from Seoul |
| PLATFORM | From "ground plan" , 'flat shape", a raised level, surface of planks etc, such as a stage for speakers, a place for mounting guns, the floor of a bus or a pavement for rail passengers; or, a basis of |
| SARDINECAN | Cramped spot, metaphorically |
| PACKET | A wrapper for biscuits, crisps, sweets etc; a datagram sent over a network; a boat for carrying mail or passengers; or, a "king's ransom" (6) |
| THREEHOLEPUNCH | Spring-loaded office device ... or a collective hint to 16-, 26-, 34- and 41-Across |
| COACH | Railway carriage for passengers; or, a professional who trains athletes or sports teams (5) |
| ACADEMYAWARDS | Golden statuettes won by 15- and 26-/34-Across during a February 22 ceremony: 2 wds. |
| MIXED | Shaken or stirred, or what may precede the ends of 20-, 28-, 42-, and 51-Across |
| ELMERFUDD | Archenemy of Bugs Bunny ... who might say things like 17-, 24-, 32-, 42- and 51-Across |
| CLOSET | An old word for a small private room for prayer or study from which a verb meaning to keep something hidden or secret derives |
| SHRUNKENHEAD | Spiritual totem for a Jivaro warrior (and a hint to something in this puzzle) |
| LITTLEWOMEN | Classic novel written at the Orchard House in Concord, Mass. (and a hint to something in this puzzle) |
| SMALLWONDER | Show with an android named Vicki (and a hint to something in this puzzle) |
| ANIMALHOUSE | 1978 misfit comedy ... and something hidden in each answer to a starred clue |
