| 100% | THOMAS | 6 | ___ Keller, celebrity chef who did not go to culinary school and learned on the job |
| 66% | DEEN | 4 | Paula ___, celebrity chef who did not go to culinary school and started off as a caterer |
| 65% | PADMA | 5 | ___ Lakshmi, celebrity chef who did not go to culinary school and has a degree in theatre and literature |
| 65% | INA | 3 | ___ Garten, celebrity chef who did not go to culinary school and previously worked as a nuclear policy analyst |
| 34% | LATECOMER | 9 | Person who did not get to the party on time |
| 30% | BEVERLYSILLS | 12 | Brooklyn-born soprano who went on to chair Lincoln Center and the Metropolitan Opera: 2 wds. |
| 30% | PEYTONMANNING | 13 | Former NFL quarterback who did not play in 2011 due to multiple surgeries and won the Comeback Player of the Year in 2012: 2 wds. |
| 30% | NASH | 4 | Clarence ___, actor who voiced Donald Duck and went on to voice the dog barks for "101 Dalmatians" |
| 29% | MICHAELCOLLINS | 14 | Apollo 11 astronaut who did not walk on the moon |
| 29% | GORDONRAMSAY | 12 | English celebrity chef who's the chief judge on "MasterChef": 2 wds. |
| 28% | TOM | 3 | ___ Brady, NFL quarterback who suffered a major knee injury and went on to become the Comeback Player of the Year in 2009 |
| 28% | MIDDLEC | 7 | First note learned on the piano, and a homophonic hint to the starred answers |
| 28% | WOUK | 4 | Herman, who got his first publisher's contract serving onboard the USS Southard and went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1952 |
| 28% | FIERI | 5 | Celebrity chef central to the Rax King essay "Love, Peace, and Taco Grease" |
| 27% | TRUANCY | 7 | The act of purposefully not going to school |
| 27% | BYRONSCOTT | 10 | One of the greatest players of the LA Lakers who won three NBA Championships and went on to coach the team for two years: 2 wds. |
| 27% | KYLETURLEY | 10 | Former NFL lineman who played for the St. Louis Rams who went on to form a self-titled band and establish his own record label: 2 wds. |
| 27% | TRAINEE | 7 | One learning on the job |
| 27% | APPRENTICES | 11 | They learn on the job |
| 27% | PROMENADE | 9 | To walk, and the seaside strip on which to do it |
| 27% | MISSUSA | 7 | One who goes on to try to conquer the Universe? |
| 26% | EXTERN | 6 | Law student learning on the job |
| 26% | WILLIAMHOWARDTA | 15 | Who said "Presidents come and go, but the Supreme Court goes on forever" |
| 26% | AIDAN | 5 | Furniture designer who proposes to Carrie on Sex and the City |
| 26% | TIMTEBOW | 8 | 2007 Heisman winner who went on to play for the Broncos |
| 26% | DALIPSINGH | 10 | Wrestler known as "The Great Khali," who went on to act in movies like "Get Smart" and "The Longest Yard" |
| 26% | REINDEER | 8 | Beast on the back of a Canadian quarter, to everyone who's not a North American |
| 26% | SKIPPING | 8 | Not going to class, __ school |
| 26% | PAULHOLLYWOOD | 13 | Celebrity chef who is a judge on "The Great British Baking Show": 2 wds. |
| 26% | RITE | 4 | Learning to read and w___ is one of the first things taught in school |