| 100% | ALIAR | 5 | "Pinocchio was ___" ("big" and "fat" are adjectives used for such people): 2 wds. |
| 43% | BEACHBUM | 8 | Person who is a big fan of sun and sand (2 wds.) |
| 43% | BEACHBUM | 8 | Person who is a big fan of surf, sun, and sand (2 wds.) |
| 42% | SPARETIME | 9 | Leisure period for hobbies and such: 2 wds. |
| 42% | AWAR | 4 | "The swords have been drawn and both parties are ready for ___.": 2 wds. |
| 41% | ONEMORE | 7 | "___ Time," 2023 movie about a person stuck in the same day ... which is also a hint for 18a, 30a, 35a, 4d, and 39d: 2 wds. |
| 40% | LYNNREDGRAVE | 12 | "Gods and Monsters" actress who has been a spokesperson for Weight Watchers: 2 wds. |
| 40% | MARIEOSMOND | 11 | Singer and talk show host who has been a spokesperson for Nutrisystem: 2 wds. |
| 40% | GOTO | 4 | Person who is turned to for his knowledge (2 wds) |
| 40% | CABCALLOWAY | 11 | Big-band leader and jazz singer whose signature song was "Minnie the Moocher": 2 wds. |
| 40% | JIMMYDORSEY | 11 | Big-band leader known for "I'm Glad There Is You": 2 wds. |
| 40% | MINNESOTALYNX | 13 | 2011, 2013, and 2015 WNBA champions named for a big cat: 2 wds. |
| 39% | MANDYMOORE | 10 | "This Is Us" actress named one of People's Most Beautiful for 2017: 2 wds. |
| 39% | GUYLOMBARDO | 11 | Big-band leader whose Royal Canadians were known for playing "Auld Lang Syne": 2 wds. |
| 39% | FOLKSONGS | 9 | "If I Had a Hammer" and "This Land Is Your Land," for two: 2 wds. |
| 39% | KIRKDOUGLAS | 11 | "Lust for Life" and "Spartacus" actor who lived to be 103: 2 wds. |
| 38% | ROBERTFROST | 11 | 17-Across and 26-Across writer who is the only person to win four Pulitzer Prizes for Poetry (2 wds.) |
| 38% | UNDERPRESSURE | 13 | 1981 hit for David Bowie and Queen that was sampled in "Ice Ice Baby": 2 wds. |
| 38% | ELIAKAZAN | 9 | "On the Waterfront" director who was a role model and mentor for Mike Nichols: 2 wds. |
| 38% | SESAMESTREET | 12 | PBS/HBO series for preschoolers featuring Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch: 2 wds. |
| 38% | PAULMCCARTNEY | 13 | Singer and bass guitarist for the Beatles who was knighted in 1997: 2 wds. |
| 38% | AUDREYHEPBURN | 13 | Actress who won the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (the Oscar was for "Roman Holiday"): 2 wds. |
| 38% | ANDREWJACKSON | 13 | President and War of 1812 hero, for whom Mississippi's capital is named: 2 wds. |
| 38% | NOBLE | 5 | Adjective for an honorable person that is an antonym and alliteration for "nasty" |
| 38% | SMART | 5 | Adjective for a clever person that is an antonym and alliteration for "silly" |
| 38% | GENEROUS | 8 | Adjective for a charitable person that is an antonym and alliteration for "grasping" |
| 37% | DAVIDBLAINE | 11 | Popular magician known for such stunts as being frozen in a block of ice: 2 wds. |
| 37% | KENNYCHESNEY | 12 | Country star known for such songs as "Come Over" and "The Boys of Fall": 2 wds. |
| 37% | BARACKOBAMA | 11 | Political victor who was Time's Person of the Year in 2008 and 2012: 2 wds. |
| 37% | ANNLANDERS | 10 | Pen name used for 56 years by advice columnists Ruth Crowley and Eppie Lederer: 2 wds. |