| 100% | IDOL | 4 | "American ___" (reality show competition that Kelly Clarkson won) |
| 73% | IDOL | 4 | Reality show that Kelly Clarkson won in 2002, for short |
| 43% | IDOL | 4 | Show that made Kelly Clarkson famous, for short |
| 43% | IDOL | 4 | Show that launched Kelly Clarkson's career, familiarly |
| 42% | AMAZINGRACE | 11 | American reality competition show "The ___," which began in 2001 and which has Phil Keoghan as the host: 2 wds. |
| 40% | AGT | 3 | American reality show created by Simon Cowell: Abbr. |
| 40% | THE | 3 | "___ Americans," FX show that won the 2019 Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series in Drama |
| 40% | AMAZING | 7 | The __ Race, global reality show competition |
| 40% | IDOL | 4 | TV show that launched Kelly Clarkson's career, familiarly |
| 40% | RACE | 4 | "The Amazing ___" (Emmy-winning reality competition show) |
| 39% | COPS | 4 | Reality show that follows police officers |
| 38% | IDOL | 4 | "American ___" (reality competition show) |
| 37% | IDOL | 4 | "American ___" (show first won by Kelly Clarkson) |
| 37% | RODEO | 5 | Competition that might be paired with a livestock show |
| 36% | NINJA | 5 | "American ___ Warrior," sports reality show that is based on the Japanese show "Sasuke" |
| 36% | PAULA | 5 | Singer Abdul who's judged several reality competition shows since "American Idol" |
| 36% | SURVIVOR | 8 | American reality show hosted by Jeff Probst, where contestants are marooned in an isolated location |
| 36% | IDOL | 4 | "American ___" (show that launched Kelly Clarkson's and Carrie Underwood's careers) |
| 35% | SURVIVOR | 8 | Reality show that tells its losing contestants "The tribe has spoken" |
| 35% | THEAPPRENTICE | 13 | Reality show that told its losing contestants "You're fired": 2 wds. |
| 34% | AGT | 3 | Reality competition show hosted by Terry Crews: Abbr. |
| 34% | ROCK | 4 | "30 ___," American television show that won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2007 |
| 34% | OFFICE | 6 | "The ___," American television show that won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2006 |
| 34% | IDOL | 4 | Most popular American singing competition show |
| 34% | CLARKSON | 8 | Kelly, who won the first series of American Idol |
| 34% | THEVOICE | 8 | American reality show hosted by Carson Daly, which works in a format similar to 21-Across: 2 wds. |
| 34% | LIP | 3 | Musical reality competition TV show "___ Sync Battle" |
| 34% | GRACE | 5 | "Will & ___," American television show that won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2000 |
| 33% | ANDTHECITY | 10 | "Sex ___," American television show that won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2001: 3 wds. |
| 33% | SNL | 3 | Comedy show that has won 65 Emmys: Abbr. |