Crossword puzzle clue "first editor's note this would have been a better title for this puzzle"

"___ first!" (Editor's note: this would have been a better title for this puzzle)

Title heroine who says "I would much rather have been merry than wise"

A crossword editor has to be very careful when changing one--unlike this puzzle's editor, who was careless four times herein

"Been better, been worse"

"Been better, been worse"

Intrepid [Editor's note: This clue appears in heavier type (without the asterisks) in the print version of the puzzle. AcrossLite can't handle that, so just imaging that it's written in darker type.]

They would've been next in this puzzle's theme

Sounds you might make when I say "Would you rather watch your parents have sex or have your parents watch you have sex?"