| Asset-freezing org. (CONTEST ALERT! My new all-skill, solve-at-home crossword contest benefiting the Alzheimer's Foundation of America is Sept. 30. First prize, $2,500. For details visit www.alzfdn. |
| Darth Vader and his allies |
| A crossword editor has to be very careful when changing one--unlike this puzzle's editor, who was careless four times herein |
| Talladega" singer who goes by his middle name, not first name (Kenneth): 2 wds. |
| Phase of history. |
| Ancient Greek author famous for his fables |
| Australian state whose capital is Sydney: Abbr. |
| First word across in the first-ever crossword (1913) and the first of a dozen appearances of the word in this puzzle's grid, written word search-style (left, right, down, and diagonally) ... Can you f |
| County Clare capital |
| Actor Sandler who was once a regular on "Saturday Night Live |
| African capital formerly called Salisbury |
| Retired outfielder Barry, who was conspicuously denied entry to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013 |
| Conversation is ___ in which a man has all mankind for his competitors": Ralph Waldo Emerson |
| Animated character who graduated from CalTech (Calcutta Technical Institute) and Springfield Heights Institute of Technology (SHIT) |
| Budgetary waste |
| J'accuse" author's first name |
| Broadway's first Willy Loman |
| Actor's first course? |
| Capital of Nepal |
| Activity suggested by this puzzle's theme entries |
| Actress who was the first female host of "Saturday Night Live": 2 wds. |
| Actor who cross-dressed for his role in "Mrs. Doubtfire": 2 wds. |
| Was inventive |
| Actress Gadot of "The Fast and the Furious" franchise |
| #1 song between Phil Collins's "Groovy Kind of Love" and The Escape Club's "Wild Wild West" (1988 wasn't good for music, apparently) |
| All, e.g., for this answer's last six letters? |
| When asked how many slices his pizza should be cut into: "Better make it six. I ___" (Yogi Berra quote): 3 wds. |
| ___ around (wasted time) |
| Wash |
| Elvis's middle name, on his birth certificate |