| 100% | PAUL | 4 | I co-wrote "This Is It" with Michael Jackson and also composed the theme for "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" |
| 37% | ANKA | 4 | Paul who co-wrote the Johnny Carson-era theme for the “Tonight Show” |
| 31% | RICHIE | 6 | Lionel ___," singer who co-wrote "We Are The World" with Michael Jackson, |
| 30% | MIRROR | 6 | Michael Jackson is "starting with the man in" this |
| 30% | BRIAN | 5 | ___ Tyler, composer who wrote original music for the 2010 action film "The Expendables" and also composed music for "Now You See Me" |
| 30% | EVIL | 4 | In November 2018, the "Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" had this doctor as its guest announcing his run for Congress |
| 30% | CRIMESCENE | 10 | "CSI: ___," with 31-Across, the name of a TV show Liev Schreiber - whose birthday it is today - guest starred in as Michael Keppler: 2 wds. |
| 29% | ERIN | 4 | ___ Andrews, American female sportscaster who is a sideline reporter for Fox NFL and co-host on "Dancing with the Stars" |
| 29% | JAYLENO | 7 | The host of The Tonight Show after Johnny Carson |
| 29% | TWISTER | 7 | Game that got a big boost when Johnny Carson demonstrated it with Eva Gabor on "The Tonight Show" |
| 29% | THEXFILES | 9 | American sci-fi TV show starring David Duchovny, that is regarded as one of the best and is returning with its 11th season in 2018: 2 wds. |
| 28% | DAY | 3 | "Today is Gonna Be a Great ___," theme song for the animated show "Phineas and Ferb" |
| 28% | JAMES | 5 | ___ Burrows, TV director who was a co-creator and showrunner for the TV show "Cheers" |
| 28% | ANKA | 4 | Canadian singer Paul who cowrote "This Is It" with Michael Jackson |
| 28% | JLO | 3 | Superstar with the confusingly titled album This Is Me ... Then, for short |
| 28% | PINACOLADA | 10 | What I'm going to have after I've finished writing these clues and it's spelled out with the first two letters of five of the longest puzzle answers |
| 28% | MAEWEST | 7 | “When I was born with this face, it was the same as strikin’ oil” speaker |
| 27% | ANKA | 4 | Paul ___, "Times of Your Life" singer who cowrote "This Is It" with Michael Jackson |
| 27% | BRAFF | 5 | "Wish I Was Here" star/director Zach who raised money for the movie with Kickstarter |
| 27% | GLEN | 4 | ___ and Les Charles, screenwriting duo who are known for being co-creators of the TV show "Cheers" |
| 26% | DIDION | 6 | Joan who co-wrote the screenplay for the 1976 A Star Is Born |
| 26% | PAULANKA | 8 | Co-writer of Michael Jackson's posthumous hit "This Is It" |
| 26% | JUDYBLUME | 9 | Novelist who wrote "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" and the other three frequently banned books in this puzzle (2 wds.) |
| 26% | AMY | 3 | I shared my name with the character I played in "Her" and I've been nominated for the Oscars six times |
| 26% | LADY | 4 | With 34-Across, nominee for the Best Actress and Best Original Song Oscars for her work in "A Star Is Born" |
| 26% | MAIL | 4 | (1/6) This service will deliver your letter ... once you've written it with the help of this puzzle! |
| 26% | DANSONKNIGHT | 12 | "I am forever grateful for 'Cheers'"; "I took bets with everybody we'd go at least five years with the Mary [Tyler Moore] show...and I won" |
| 26% | CHATGPT | 7 | It wrote this clue: "Virtual assistant with the gift of gab (4, 3). Let me know if you'd like any tweaks!" |
| 26% | FRIENDS | 7 | TV series with the theme "I'll Be There for You" |
| 26% | FRIENDS | 7 | Sitcom with the theme song "I'll Be There for You" |