But things went off the rails in the southeast corner, not helped by having on end for {Interminably} ... no, I wasn't crazy, it does fit the clue just as well. I compounded that mistake with sign for {The Olympic rings, e.g.}. It took a couple of minutes to disentangle the mess I got into there, not helped by a strange inability to spell Mickey Mouse.
Anyway, I thought it a great achievement to implement the theme with six differently spelled examples ... until the arrival of the indispensable Wikipedia, I imagine it would have been tough to reach that number.
Solving time: 9 mins (solo, no solving aids)Solution
Clue of the puzz: 17a picky eaters {They're choosy about what they chew}
Grid art by Sympathy [about the grid colors]
Theme
Different ways the "icky" sound can be spelled:
17a picky eaters {They're choosy about what they chew}Crucimetrics
37a Ricki Lake {Sensational 1990s-2000s talk show host}
42a Wikipedia {Popular online reference}
62a Mickey Mouse {Walt Disney creation}
11d Kwik-E-Mart {Store on TV that sells KrustyO's cereal}
36d Vikki Carr {"It Must Be Him" singer, 1967}
New To Me
Compilers Scott Atkinson / Will Shortz Grid 15x15 with 36 (16.0%) black squares Answers 78 (average length 4.85) Theme squares 56 (29.6%) Scrabble points 331 (average 1.75) Letters used ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ


66a Ogden {Nash who wrote "I don't mind eels / Except as meals"}. I've encountered a lot of Ogden Nash (1902–1971) poems over the years, but not this one. It's so short the clue just about has the whole thing (brevity is the soul of wit).
I don’t mind eels
Except as meals,
And the way they feels.
The Eel by Ogden Nash

52d Maude {Bea Arthur role}. If I've come across Bea Arthur (1922–2009) before, then I'm sorry to say that my memory let me down today. Bea achieved fame as the character Maude Findlay on the 1970s sitcoms All in the Family and its spin-off Maude. Maude was an outspoken, middle-aged, politically liberal woman living in suburban Tuckahoe, Westchester County, NY with her fourth husband. She embraced the tenets of women's liberation, always voted for Democratic Party candidates, strongly supported legal abortion, and advocated for civil rights and racial and gender equality. However, her overbearing and sometimes domineering personality often got her into trouble when speaking out on these issues.
Noteworthy
1a Ramis {Harold of "Ghostbusters"}. I doubt I'd have heard of Harold Ramis if Ghostbusters (1984) hadn't been one of my favorite comedies. I see that Ramis also directed Groundhog Day (1993), coming up on Tuesday ... though why any groundhog should want to come out of hibernation at the beginning of February I don't know - in our corner of PA, we experienced a low of -1°F last night. Anyway, it's very refreshing to sit down to do a crossword and be able to solve 1-Across right away ... hello Monday!

- main course
- side dish
- dessert or snack (often commercial candy, fortified pastry, or HOOAH! Bar)
- crackers or bread
- spread of cheese, peanut butter, or jelly
- powdered beverage mix: fruit flavored drink, cocoa, instant coffee or tea, sport drink, or dairy shake.
- utensils (usually just a plastic spoon)
- flameless ration heater (FRH)
- beverage mixing bag
- Accessory pack:
- xylitol chewing gum
- water-resistant matches
- napkin / toilet paper
- moist towelette
- seasonings, including salt, pepper, sugar, creamer, and/or Tabasco sauce

The Rest
6a steel {"Stainless" metal}; 14a alack {"Alas and ___"}; 15a no way! {"You gotta be kidding me!"}; 16a woe {Misery}; 19a inn {Quaint lodging}; 20a in a year {12 months from now}; 21a smocked {Dressed in lab attire}; 23a dew {Morning droplets}; 24a sew {Use a Singer machine}; 26a aloe {___ vera}; 27a SST {Mach 1 breaker}; 29a Hur {"Ben-___"}; 31a Omsk {Siberian city}; 34a Javan {Certain Indonesian}; 40a enl. {Blown-up photo: Abbr.}; 41a acred {Many-___ (large, as an estate)}; 44a mates {Couples (with)}; 45a sake {Drink at a sushi bar}; 46a MSN {AOL alternative}; 47a fat {Round about the belly}; 48a in re {Concerning, on a memo}; 50a Gro {Miracle-___ (garden care brand)}; 55a lectern {Speaker's stand}; 58a exclaim {Say "Holy cow!" or "Hot dog!"}; 64a air {Tire fill}; 65a e-tail {Sell online}; 67a Her {"On ___ Majesty's Secret Service"}; 68a tarts {Small baked desserts}; 69a no end {Interminably}.
1d rapid {Swift}; 2d A-line {1950s Dior dress style}; 4d icky {Very unpleasant}; 5d Skye {___ terrier}; 6d snare {Trap}; 7d tot {Tyke}; 8d ewes {Providers of sheep's milk}; 9d earmark {Politician's add-on}; 10d Lysol {Disinfectant brand}; 12d A-one {Super-duper}; 13d tend {Care for, with "to"}; 18d east {Sunup direction}; 25d whining {Annoying complaining}; 27d salient {Noteworthy}; 28d snap {Lose it}; 30d UCLA {The Bruins of the N.C.A.A.}; 32d Skee {___-Ball (arcade game)}; 33d keds {Some colorful sneakers}; 34d Jaws {Highest-grossing film before "Star Wars"}; 35d Avia {Adidas alternative}; 37d reds {Ruby and scarlet}; 38d I Am a {"___ Rock" (Simon & Garfunkel hit)}; 43d emerita {Retired, as a female professor}; 47d foxy {Cunning}; 49d remet {Convened anew, as the Senate}; 51d reels {Projector items}; 53d risen {No longer in bed}; 54d emend {Alter, as text}; 55d Leah {Sister of Rachel}; 56d Erie {Upstate New York's ___ Canal}; 57d NCAR {Raleigh's home: Abbr.}; 59d c'mon {"Get the lead out!"}; 60d logo {The Olympic rings, e.g.}; 63d kit {Collection of items for a modelist}.