Welcome mat spot (our puzzle title hints at the theme revealed by the pattern of circled squares)

Question:

Answer:

DOORSTEP

Length:

Similar Crossword Questions:

Wintry mix revealed in the circled letters (it's the puzzle theme!)
Pithy sayings (four well-known ones containing the circled word are the keys to unlocking this puzzle's theme)
1999 film whose title is a hint to this puzzle's theme
Company whose movies, not counting sequels, are all included in this puzzle [Circled Squares: 2009]
Film title that's apropos to this puzzle's theme
Playoff series finale ... or an apt title for this puzzle considering the number and length of its theme entries
Question asked by a customs officer or a kid on Christmas ... with a hint to this puzzle's circled squares
Contract clone (whose abbreviation hints at this puzzle's theme)
This puzzle's theme, whose first notes are indicated by shaded squares
Start of a brainteaser whose answer appears in order, from top to bottom, in this puzzle's circled squares
Classic rap outfit whose more famous members are circled in this puzzle's theme answers
Job title (giving a hint to this puzzle's theme)
What one needs to spot this puzzle's theme?
What the three sets of circled squares in this puzzle represent
Gather wealth by exploitation ... as hinted at by this puzzle's circled squares?
Geographical features ... or what the circled squares in this puzzle represent
What's revealed by connecting the special squares in this puzzle in order
Auto additives co. that hints at this puzzle's theme
Music channel host whose abbreviation hints at this puzzle's theme
Company "sorted" in this puzzle's circled squares
Type of gear on which the letters in this puzzle's nine theme squares are arrayed
Secret get-together, or what occurs literally in each of this puzzle's circled squares
"500" index that hints at this puzzle's theme
Movie good guys responsible for the circled squares in eight long puzzle answers
Where GIs fought Charlie[LAST WEEK: "Lady X" was Ingrid Bergman, whose first name is revealed in the circled squares (IN + GRID). Seven of her one-word movie titles can be seen "straddling" black squa