| 100% | TRACKDOWNARUMOR | 15 | Find the start of the story, so to speak |
| 58% | PILLARS | 7 | Important members of the community, so to speak |
| 57% | RAWDEAL | 7 | The short end of the stick, so to speak |
| 57% | NOSE | 4 | Scenter of the face, so to speak |
| 57% | HAIRSALON | 9 | Permanent place ... and where to find the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| 57% | RECIPEBOOK | 10 | Kitchen guide ... and where to find the starts of the answers to starred clues |
| 56% | INVOGUE | 7 | Fashionable ... or where you might find the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| 55% | PACMAN | 6 | Where to find the starts of 17-, 28-, 45- and 58-Across? |
| 55% | TOLD | 4 | Let the cat out of the bag, so to speak |
| 55% | MACOPERATINGSYSTEMS | 19 | Things found at the starts of the answers to the six starred clues |
| 54% | SPLIT | 5 | Start of the contest answer, and a nudge to finding the rest |
| 54% | ABCTV | 5 | Part of the Disney family, so to speak |
| 54% | JUGBAND | 7 | *Where the starts of the answers to the five starred clues can all be found |
| 54% | PICNICAREAS | 11 | Outside eating spots, and where to find the starts of 17-, 27-, and 47-Across |
| 53% | AWAKE | 5 | Out of the arms of Morpheus, so to speak |
| 53% | MOVIEMAGIC | 10 | Razzle-dazzle of the film industry, so to speak |
| 53% | TESTED | 6 | Kicked the tires of, so to speak |
| 53% | TESTS | 5 | Kicks the tires of, so to speak |
| 53% | URGE | 4 | Twist the arm of, so to speak |
| 53% | PENNAMES | 8 | Writers' aliases, and what are found at the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| 53% | BOARDGAME | 9 | Entertainment found at the start of the answer to 17-, 21-, 27-, 45- or 54-Across |
| 53% | FAILURETOLAUNCH | 15 | Rocket mishap, or what can be found at the start of the answer to each starred clue |
| 53% | AFTERSCHOOL | 11 | Common time for homework, and where to find the starts of 17-, 26-, 37-, and 49-Across |
| 52% | ONTHATNOTE | 10 | Speaking of which ... or where the starts of 16-, 30- and 45-Across can be found? |
| 51% | FATHERFIGURES | 13 | Some male role models, and what can be found at the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| 51% | SINKORSWIM | 10 | Success-versus-failure metaphor, and what can be found at the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| 51% | FOURQUARTERS | 12 | Change for a dollar, and what can be found at the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| 51% | WILDFLOWERS | 11 | Colorful elements of a meadow, and what can be found at the starts of the answers to the starred clues? |
| 49% | DISFAVOR | 8 | The doghouse, so to speak |
| 49% | WORDOFMOUTH | 11 | The grapevine, so to speak |