| RUDOLPH | Who's depicted in this puzzle when the circled letters are |
| PETERI | Who's depicted in Russia's "Bronze Horseman" statue |
| FIFTHWHEEL | Extra person on a double date ... who's depicted by the last O in 17-, 24-, 39- and 52-Across? |
| STRAIGHTMEN | Some actors ... like the four in this puzzle, when their names are written in uppercase letters |
| PHONETIC | Spelled as spoken, and what's spelled out by the sounds added to eight phrases in this puzzle when said aloud |
| SNAKE | Creature that grows longer in a classic video game (also in this puzzle, when it "eats" a black square) |
| AUDITORY | Hearing-related ... and what's spelled out by eight words in this puzzle when you say them out loud |
| STARTSCHOOL | What many kids do at the end of summer, or what the circled letters are in relation to each phrase |
| OUTOFORDER | Like a nonfunctioning vending machine, or what the circled letters are, in two ways |
| TOPHATS | Items sported by the answers to the starred clues ... and something depicted in this puzzle in more |
| BIRDIE | Something needed to play the game depicted in this puzzle ... or a hint to the six circled answers |
| DARWIN | Evolution theorist ... or what the circled letters are evolving toward? |
| SAGAWARDS | Hollywood honors since 1995, and what the circled letters are? |
| AGAINSTTHEGRAIN | Contrary to what's expected, or how the circled letters are flowing |
| SEXPARTNERS | People with whom open communication is important ... and what the circled letters are? |
| OFFEND | Insult, and a clue to the theme of this puzzle (when divided properly) |
| OREOCOOKIES | Stackable snacks depicted in this puzzle's grid ... and whose middle layer is spelled by the grid's uncrossed letters |
| SERVES | Starts the game depicted in this puzzle |
| DANTE | Author of the work depicted in this puzzle |
| RACKET | Something needed to play the game depicted in this puzzle |
