Across
1
Committed a minor act of vandalism and asked to be beheaded? (5)
7
Company’s digging into telecom giant for what it took to make it (2,4)
12
Hustle? I prefer to! (9)
14
Graduate from a large university and start on master’s (4)
15
In favor of taking break before finally watching the last word in baseball movie starring Tom Hanks (7,4)
16
Come down in support of golf protégé (7)
18
Prime purveyor of a flippin’ delicious food that’s taking on pizza (6)
20
Loudly express sorrow for Dawn (4)
22
Secretly listen to Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's collab, as it includes treatment of tiger that’s heartless (7)
23
Ate lunch messily many times in one of Europe’s biggest Subways? (7,6)
25
System of values from Hawaii adopted by others (5)
27
Became acquainted on a short date before adding a tag on an Instagram post, for instance (8)
28
Advertises lo-fi metal groups? (11)
32
Eats after drinking liter—that’s way too much water? (5)
33
Dramatic advance made by charming one lacking hesitation with playful plea (7,4)
37
Use a pun artfully in hit play (7)
38
Question dedication when securing registered trademark and copyright for cryptic black and white grid? (2,4)
39
“PS: I plan to stay upset” (11)
Down
2
Cleans up after closing of struggling Bed Bath & Beyond? (6)
3
Pierce is the creator of the internet? (4)
4
Birdie’s last three feathers fall off (3,4)
5
Stinson, removing clothes and drunk: "Challenge Accepted!" (3,2)
6
Inappropriately look over Times correspondent’s piece (6)
8
Not-quite-loyal soldier is AWOL (6)
9
Top computer on the rise (4)
10
Video game remade despite rumor (5,7)
11
I don’t want to hear any more about this cut of filet mignon (3)
13
Fixed hairstyle at Buddhist school (6)
15
Nice place to be: fourth (out of twenty) in early half of F1 race? (6)
17
Swollen glands secreting a notably damp spot? (7)
19
Fighters in tanks listened to superiors in Boston (6)
20
Nobel Peace Prize winner and radical named Al (7)
21
Sure loves making whoopee (5)
24
Stan’s packing mug up in peanuts, say (7)
26
Sort of following couplet’s odd parts (4)
28
Indignation to reach highest point when shouting (5)
29
Stewart’s drinking a Spanish drink for everyone (5)
30
Miserable year after soul’s crushed (5)
31
Deep down, Alan Alda’s really fastidious (4)
34
In retrospect, live in a remarkable time (3)
35
Without a bit of hesitation, IHOP brought back traditional dish (3)
36
X-rated scenes’ centerpieces (3)
Cryptic of the Year #6
