| 100% | AANDE | 5 | "The First 48" network (3 wds.) |
| 76% | DOREMI | 6 | The first three notes: 3 wds. |
| 69% | AANDE | 5 | “The First 48” network |
| 67% | WHITEHOUSEDOG | 13 | Barking member of the First Family: 3 wds. |
| 66% | JOHNBELUSHI | 11 | Star of the first four seasons of 48-Down: 2 wds. |
| 66% | CHARLESKURALT | 13 | Journalist who was the first host of 48-Across (2 wds.) |
| 64% | DAWNOFJUSTICE | 13 | "Batman v Superman: ___," the first live action theatrical film featuring Aquaman: 3 wds. |
| 64% | ULYSSESSGRANT | 13 | President who established Yellowstone as the first national park in 1872: 3 wds. |
| 62% | JAMESBOND | 9 | British spy played by 33-Across for the first time in 48-Across (2 wds.) |
| 58% | JOANRIVERS | 10 | Comedian who was the first woman to host a late-night talk show on a major network: 2 wds. |
| 57% | WOMENSWORLDCUP | 14 | FIFA event held for the first time in 1991 (3 wds.) |
| 57% | LOOKWHATYOU | 11 | "___ Made Me Do," the first single from 16a that was released late August and is a huge hit: 3 wds. |
| 57% | KISSMEKATE | 10 | 1948 Broadway show, with music and lyrics by 41-Across, that won the first Tony for Best Musical: 3 wds. |
| 56% | THEWILDANGELS | 13 | Biker film directed by Roger Corman which was the first film to associate Peter Fonda with Harley-Davidson motorcycles: 3 wds |
| 56% | JOHNMADDEN | 10 | Football player turned broadcaster who was the first one to have worked for all of the "Big Four" TV networks: 2 wds. |
| 56% | HROSSPEROT | 10 | Participant in the first three-way presidential debate (October 11, 1992) (3 wds.) |
| 55% | DRNO | 4 | The first James Bond film: 2 wds. |
| 55% | DRNO | 4 | The first James Bond movie: 2 wds. |
| 55% | EATMYSHORTS | 11 | Catchphrase improvised by Nancy Cartwright for the first time on 28-Across (3 wds.) |
| 53% | JOHNCARPENTER | 13 | Director of the first "Halloween": 2 wds. |
| 53% | MYFRIENDIRMA | 12 | 1949 comedy film starring 17-Across and 39-Across together for the first time (3 wds.) |
| 53% | TOOMUCHHEAVEN | 13 | Song that was the first of three #1 singles by 42-Across in 1979 (3 wds.) |
| 53% | TNT | 3 | "Murder in the First" network |
| 52% | EMERIL | 6 | First name on the Food Network |
| 51% | OSAY | 4 | The first two words in the American national anthem: 2 wds |
| 51% | HOPON | 5 | The first "HO" of a tourist's HOHO bus: 2 wds. |
| 51% | SHIALABEOUF | 11 | Star of the first three "Transformers" movies: 2 wds. |
| 51% | LEADOFF | 7 | Be the first baseball player to bat: 2 wds. |
| 51% | INWAR | 5 | "___, truth is the first casualty" (famous quote): 2 wds. |
| 51% | ONEPIN | 6 | Bowler's target, on the first ball (2 wds.) |