Solution: Average American, allusively - NYT Crossword

Mr. Westwig cites his cozy northwest corner in his notes. Agreed, but I think a pairing in the opposing southeast corner is dazzling. The first clue is “Average American, allusively” — amazing alliteration. The answer is PEORIAN, a reference to a Vaudeville-era concern about an act’s potential: “Will it play in Peoria?” Next comes a “Press secretary’s asset, informally”; the answer is PR SAVVY, which juxtaposes really well with PEORIAN in both pronunciation and meaning. Think of the PR SAVVY that PEORIA still has, a century after the Illinois city became a testing ground for popularity.