| MADEIN | With "the" and 32-Across, describing an old Matryoshka doll |
| TONIGHT | With "the" and 32-Across: Jimmy Fallon's program, where David Letterman and 1-Across reunited on Monday when Letterman crashed the taping |
| INCAN | Main candidate in part describing an old civilisation? (5) |
| TINIER | Like the inner matryoshka doll, compared to the outer |
| LARGEST | Like the outer matryoshka doll |
| NESTS | Emulates a matryoshka doll, save one |
| KINGOFTHEBEASTS | Has pride in 10 across describing the monsters (4,2,3,6) |
| PASTTHEPOST | With 1 Across, describing our domestic electoral system (4-3-4) |
| NESTED | Like matryoshka dolls, e.g. (6) |
| CONEHEADS | Classic 'Saturday Night Live' family, with 'the' ... and, literally, what the starts of the answers |
| PIPES | The Greek starts pestering us with the ... and drums (5) |
| FAULTINOURSTARS | 2012 John Green novel with "The," and a hint to the circled letters |
| NEST | What matryoshka dolls do |
| NESTING | Feature of Matryoshka dolls |
| NESTABLE | Like Matryoshka dolls |
| SUPREMES | Diana Ross's group, with "the" ... and a hint to the power group detectable in half of 21, 29, 37, a |
| SALOME | Strauss work with the "Dance of the Seven Veils" |
| JAPAN | Country associated with the ??, ?, and ? emoji |
| GETA | Words that may precede the first words of 18-, 40- and 62- Across and 3- and 32- |
| SEER | One gifted with the "inner eye" |
