| 100% | MIKEHAMMER | 10 | Fictional detective created by Mickey Spillane: 2 wds. |
| 71% | JANEMARPLE | 10 | Fictional detective created by Agatha Christie: 2 wds. |
| 71% | PHILIPMARLOWE | 13 | Fictional detective created by Raymond Chandler: 2 wds. |
| 68% | SHERLOCKHOLMES | 14 | Fictional detective created by Arthur Conan Doyle: 2 wds. |
| 60% | JESSESTONE | 10 | Fictional detective created by novelist 33-Across and played by actor 43-Across (2 wds.) |
| 59% | NEROWOLFE | 9 | Fictional armchair detective created by Rex Stout who keeps his past murky: 2 wds. |
| 58% | MIKEHAMMER | 10 | Private investigator created by Mickey Spillane played by 43-Across in the 1980s and 1990s (2 wds.) |
| 56% | HERCULEPOIROT | 13 | Belgian detective created by 35-Across: 2 wds. |
| 55% | HERCULEPOIROT | 13 | Fictional Belgian detective created by Agatha Christie who is also one of the most famous and long-running characters: 2 wds. |
| 50% | LINCOLNRHYME | 12 | Fictional quadriplegic detective created by 32-Across who is played by Russell Hornsby in a new NBC crime drama series (2 wds.) |
| 47% | SHERLOCK | 8 | ___ Holmes, fictional detective created by Arthur Conan Doyle |
| 46% | NANCYDREW | 9 | Fictional amateur detective created as the female counterpart to the series in 13a: 2 wds. |
| 46% | JAKEPERALTA | 11 | Fictional detective played by 20-Across in 15-Across/41-Across (2 wds.) |
| 44% | NERO | 4 | Fictional detective Wolfe created by Rex Stout |
| 43% | TAEBO | 5 | Fitness system created by Billy Blanks: 2 wds. |
| 43% | LAMBCHOP | 8 | Sock puppet created by Shari Lewis: 2 wds. |
| 43% | NEROWOLFE | 9 | Rex Stout's fictional detective: 2 wds. |
| 43% | JAMESBOND | 9 | Spy created by Ian Fleming: 2 wds. |
| 41% | HARRYPOTTER | 11 | Orphan wizard created by J.K. Rowling: 2 wds. |
| 41% | SHERLOCK | 8 | ___ Holmes, fictional detective created by Arthur Conan Doyle, who you may associate with 20a, 33a, 42a, 9d, and 36d |
| 41% | DAMEEDNA | 8 | Purple-haired character created by comedian Barry Humphries: 2 wds. |
| 41% | GILMOREGIRLS | 12 | Former WB drama created by Amy Sherman-Palladino: 2 wds. |
| 41% | HARLEESANTOS | 12 | NYPD detective played by 29-Across: 2 wds. |
| 40% | FAMILYGUY | 9 | Fox animated series created by Seth MacFarlane: 2 wds. |
| 40% | TAEBO | 5 | Fitness training regimen created by Billy Blanks: 2 wds. |
| 40% | OLIVERTWIST | 11 | Orphan title character created by Charles Dickens: 2 wds. |
| 40% | HARDYBOYS | 9 | The ___, fictional teenage brothers and amateur detectives Frank and Joe, created by American writer Edward Stratemeyer: 2 wds. |
| 39% | SEALTEAM | 8 | CBS military drama created by Benjamin Cavell and starring David Boreanaz: 2 wds. |
| 39% | DAALI | 5 | "___ G Show", the satirical television series created by actor Sacha Baron Cohen: 2 wds. |
| 39% | RAVINGMAD | 9 | "Stark ___" American sitcom created by Steven Levitan, which stars Neil Patrick Harris: 2 wds. |