| 100% | ATTHEDROPOFAHAT | 15 | Immediately ... or where this puzzle's five shaded squares appear? |
| 44% | AFTERTHOUGHT | 12 | “P.S.” comment ... or where the ends of eight answers in this puzzle might appear? |
| 44% | BEFOREHAND | 10 | In advance ... or where nine key words in this puzzle might appear |
| 43% | AFTERPARTY | 10 | Post-event bash ... or where eight key words in this puzzle might appear |
| 43% | STAFF | 5 | Locale for this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 43% | USS | 3 | Inits. for this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 42% | ADROPINTHEOCEAN | 15 | Insignificant amount ... or hint to this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 41% | THESTARSPANGLEDBANNER | 21 | This puzzle's theme, whose first notes are indicated by shaded squares |
| 41% | BEETHOVENSFIFTH | 15 | Work suggested by this puzzle's circled and shaded squares |
| 41% | MONTH | 5 | Any of 12 represented in this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 41% | GOESFORASPIN | 12 | Drives around awhile ... as suggested by this puzzle's shaded squares? |
| 40% | TURNTURNTURN | 12 | 1965 #1 Byrds hit ... as suggested by this puzzle's shaded squares? |
| 40% | BLACKJACK | 9 | *Casino game associated with the sum of this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 40% | THEE | 4 | Iconic sci-fi setting spelled out in this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 40% | TOYBOXES | 8 | Places for playthings, with a hint to this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 40% | MEETINTHEMIDDLE | 15 | Compromise ... or a phonetic hint to this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 40% | TALLORDER | 9 | Big ask ... or a hint to this puzzle's shaded squares? |
| 39% | BADBREAKUP | 10 | Messy end to a relationship, with a hint to this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 39% | DOUBLE | 6 | With 63-Across, tricky football play ... as represented by this puzzle's shaded squares? |
| 39% | SPREADTHEGOSPEL | 15 | Evangelize ... or what this puzzle's circled squares do? |
| 39% | SPOONBENDING | 12 | Display of mentalism ... or a hint to this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 38% | GREYMATTER | 10 | Brains ... or this puzzle's four shaded names? |
| 37% | MISTERSCOTT | 11 | Member of this puzzle's shaded squares who might say "I cannot change the laws of physics, Captain!" |
| 37% | INTHESHADE | 10 | Where this puzzle's "animals" might congregate? |
| 37% | TICKALLTHEBOXES | 15 | Be fully qualified ... or a hint to interpreting this puzzle's shaded squares |
| 37% | PUTONTHESPOT | 12 | Pressured, or what five squares in this puzzle do |
| 37% | FOSSIL | 6 | What each shaded square in this puzzle represents |
| 37% | LIVERPOOL | 9 | Where this puzzle's subjects got their start |
| 36% | AFRICA | 6 | Where this puzzle's circled letters can be found |
| 36% | EARTHRISE | 9 | Phenomenon witnessed from space … or a hint to this puzzle's sequence of shaded squares |