| 100% | FRIDAY | 6 | * Black ___ Sale, annual Thanksgiving time event or a hint to solve 16a, 36a, 43a, 55a, and 27d |
| 33% | MAMMOTH | 7 | *Woolly ___, extinct gigantic tusker...and a hint to solve 16a, 33a, 11d, 15d, and 44d |
| 31% | NUMBERS | 7 | Singers' selections...and a hint to solve 20a, 43a, 51a, 6d, 24d, and 45d |
| 30% | FALL | 4 | Humpty Dumpty had a "great one"... or a hint to solve 15a, 27a, 47a, 19d, 21d, and 33d. |
| 29% | QRCODE | 6 | Scannable black-and-white square … or a hint to 17-, 30-, 45- and 57-Across |
| 28% | FATHERSDAY | 10 | *June celebration of a certain parent... and a hint to solve 34a, 39a, 51a, 18d, 24d, and 36d |
| 26% | ROYAL | 5 | Regal and kingly... and a clue to solve 21a, 37a and 43a |
| 26% | NIGHT | 5 | *"Saturday ___ Theatre," British TV anthology series...and a hint to solve 20a, 28a, 48a, 22d, and 55d |
| 26% | COLORCOMMENTARY | 15 | Broadcast booth analysis … or a hint to 17-, 27- and 47-Across |
| 25% | WESTERNMEDICINE | 15 | Allopathy ... or a hint to the beginnings of 16-, 25-, and 47-Across |
| 25% | CATCHINGFEELINGS | 16 | Developing a crush ... or a hint to 18-, 25-, 37-, and 52-Across? |
| 25% | FINISHLINE | 10 | End of a race … or a hint to the conversation closers at 18-, 26- and 42-Across |
| 25% | ANIMALHOUSE | 11 | 1978 comedy hit, or a hint to 16-, 23-, 47- and 57-Across |
| 25% | BLOWYOURTOP | 11 | Absolutely lose it … or a hint to 6-, 18-, 21- and 24-Down |
| 25% | FROMMETOYOU | 11 | 1963 Beatles hit ... or a hint to 16-, 26-, and 42-Across |
| 25% | BEE | 3 | Stinging, pollinating insect with a World Day on May 20th... and a clue to solve 22a, 26a, 37a, 55a and 43d |
| 25% | LADYBUGS | 8 | Insects known for their distinctive spots ... or a hint to 15-, 23-, 36-, and 48-Across |
| 24% | SILENTNIGHT | 11 | Popular Christmas carol by Franz Gruber and Joseph Mohr...and a hint to solve 28a, 41a, 52a, 6d, and 35d: 2 wds. |
| 24% | THINKONONESFEET | 15 | Make spot decisions in a crisis ... or a hint to 17-, 29-, 34-, and 42-Across? |
| 24% | CONDENSEDMILK | 13 | Ingredient of sweetened Thai tea, and a hint to solving some squares in this puzzle |
| 24% | THESIMPSONS | 11 | TV show with an iconic yellow family whose members are a hint to solve 17a, 30a, 8d and 25d: 2 wds. |
| 24% | METALBAND | 9 | Wedding ring, for example ... or a hint to 20-, 29-, and 49-Across? |
| 24% | TREETOPS | 8 | Common spots for eagles' nests … or a hint to 2-, 9-, 21- and 24-Down |
| 24% | YOUHADTOBETHERE | 15 | "It was even funnier at the time," or a hint to making the starred clues match their answers |
| 24% | SECRET | 6 | With 46-Across, some areas in Clue … or a hint to the first, fourth, twelfth and fifteenth rows of this puzzle |
| 24% | BANANA | 6 | With 37-Across, some ice cream confections … or a hint to the second, fifth, eleventh and fourteenth rows of this puzzle |
| 24% | KEEPITBETWEENUS | 15 | "Let this be our little secret" … or a hint to letter sequences hidden in 16-, 32- and 40-Across |
| 24% | TECHSTARTUP | 11 | Many a new venture in Silicon Valley … or a hint to 17-, 26-, 37- and 52-Across |
| 24% | ITSMEAGAIN | 10 | "I'm back!" … or a hint to 17-, 24-, 38- and 51- Across |
| 24% | IFIWEREYOU | 10 | Start of some advice … or a phonetic hint to 17-, 24-, 37- and 48-Across |