| CANDYCOATED | Like M&M's, and an apt description of 17-, 27- and 48- Across |
| MINI | Like some M&Ms and skirts |
| POINTEDEARS | Trait shared by 17-, 27- and 48- Across |
| WATERSHEDMOMENT | Historical turning point ... and, as three words, a literal description of 17-, 27- and 48-Across |
| SOUNDSRIGHT | "That tracks," and an apt description of 17-, 27-, and 43-Across? |
| GAMECHANGER | Cause of a major paradigm shift, and an apt description of 17-, 25-, 37-, and 51-Across as well as their sets of circled letters |
| WHATABOUTISM | Rhetorical strategy of countering an accusation with another accusation, and an apt description of the answers to the starred clues |
| SPLITTICKET | Politically diverse ballot ... and an apt description of each set of puzzle circles |
| SHOWSUP | Arrives, and an apt description of the sets of circled letters |
| CLOSINGSALE | Going-out-of-business bargain event, and an apt description of this puzzle's circles |
| RANGEROVER | High-end SUV, and an apt description of each set of circled letters? |
| SURROUNDSOUND | Audiophile's setup, and an apt description of the perimeter of this puzzle |
| PASSINGCOMMENTS | Offhand remarks, and an apt description of 17-, 23-, 35- and 53-Across |
| INCIDENTALMUSIC | Score that sets the mood, and an apt description of 17-, 25-, 50-, and 62-Across? |
| NOMDEPLUME | Literary alias, and an apt description of 17-, 23-, 36- and 49-Across |
| WHOVILLE | Town targeted by the Grinch, and an apt description of the ends of the answers to the starred clues? |
| MONSTERMASH | Novelty song (and #1 hit) with the lyric "Whatever happened to my Transylvania twist?" ... and an apt description of the puzzle's theme |
| DOUBLEPLAY | Exciting inning ender, and an apt description of the answers to the starred clues |
| CARINTERIORS | Passenger compartments, and an apt description of this puzzle's circles |
| CORNERSTORE | Local retailer, and an apt description of eight entries in this puzzle |
