Across

• 1a. Owl’s rodent prey

  RAT

• 4a. Not bright, like an old light bulb

  DIM

• 7a. The “k” in kg

  KILO

• 11a. Vowel trio after “a”

  EIO

• 12a. Single-stranded genetic molecule: Abbr.

  RNA

• 13a. Surrounded by, as a crowd

  AMID

• 14a. ___ Georgia Line, country music duo with the hit “Cruise” who share a name with Miami’s state

  FLORIDA

• 16a. Back of the neck

  NAPE

• 17a. Prefix with “dermis” or “glottis”

  EPI

• 18a. South Korean pop star with the hit “Gangnam Style”

  PSY

• 19a. Expected behavior?

  NORM

• 22a. Kuwait’s continent

  ASIA

• 24a. The ___ Express, pop band with the hit “Yummy Yummy Yummy” who share a name with Columbus’ state

  OHIO

• 25a. Lengthy answer, in an English exam

  ESSAY

• 28a. “___ Stop the Music,” Rihanna song

  DONT

• 29a. “Straight Outta Compton” hip hop group: Abbr.

  NWA

• 30a. Mr

  BEAN

• 33a. Wish-granting spirit in a bottle

  GENIE

• 35a. Girl Scout uniform band

  SASH

• 36a. “Wyatt ___,” 1994 Western about a famous lawman

  EARP

• 38a. ___-B, dental hygiene brand

  ORAL

• 39a. Like a teacher’s pet, for short

  FAV

• 41a. Type of fryer

  AIR

• 43a. Lady who sang “Bad Romance”

  GAGA

• 44a. Country music band with the hit “Mountain Music” who share a name with Montgomery’s state

  ALABAMA

• 48a. Made an earnest appeal, in court

  PLED

• 49a. Table part

  LEG

• 50a. “Stairway to Heaven” band ___ Zeppelin

  LED

• 51a. Actor Alan who starred in “M*A*S*H”

  ALDA

  ads
  
   
• 52a. Dave Grohl’s ___ Fighters

  FOO

• 53a. ___-faced (dishonest)

  TWO

Down

• 1d. One who cries “Foul!” in a basketball game, for short

  REF

• 2d. Feel seriously out of sorts (homophone of “ale”)

  AIL

• 3d. “You’re ___ kind!” (“You’re so nice!”)

  TOO

• 4d. Slow faucet leak, say

  DRIP

• 5d. Mumbai’s country

  INDIA

• 6d. Sound from a little goat

  MAA

• 7d. Rock band with the hit “Carry On Wayward Son” who share a name with Topeka’s state

  KANSAS

• 8d. “If ___ be so bold…”: 2 wds.

  IMAY

• 9d. ___-smacking good (very tasty)

  LIP

• 10d. Poet’s praiseful poem

  ODE

• 15d. TV-controlling implement

  REMOTE

• 18d. Leaning Tower of ___

  PISA

• 19d. Gesture “yes,” silently

  NOD

• 20d. Palindromic cry similar to “Aha!”

  OHO

• 21d. Wedding jewelry piece

  RING

• 23d. Underground drainage system

  SEWER

• 26d. Soak up, like a sponge

  ABSORB

• 27d. Once around the sun

  YEAR

• 29d. Actress Peeples of “Pretty Little Liars”

  NIA

• 31d. Dry ___ bone: 2 wds.

  ASA

• 32d. Stanley Cup organization: Abbr.

  NHL

• 34d. Artist with the hit “The Mack,” who shares a name with Las Vegas’ state

  NEVADA

• 37d. Hunter-gatherer diet

  PALEO

• 39d. Leaf-raking season

  FALL

• 40d. Like fine wine

  AGED

• 42d. Jafar’s parrot, in “Aladdin”

  IAGO

• 43d. 4.0 is a perfect one: Abbr.

  GPA

• 44d. Alien from Melmac in a popular TV series

  ALF

• 45d. ___-J, “Breezeblocks” band

  ALT

• 46d. Kitten’s soft cry

  MEW

• 47d. Brouhaha

  ADO