| 100% | GOODNEWSBADNEWS | 15 | Start of a mixed message, as illustrated by 17-, 23-, 39- and 54-Across |
| 43% | THEDEADMANSHAND | 15 | Aces over eights, in poker, as illustrated by 17- & 20-Across and 54- & 60-Across |
| 42% | BIRDIE | 6 | Term illustrated by the starts of 17- and 20-Across |
| 40% | TASTEMAKERS | 11 | Influential sorts ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 23-, 39- and 50-Across |
| 40% | BOGEY | 5 | Term illustrated by the starts of 39- and 44-Across |
| 39% | IREALLYDIDNTSAY | 15 | Start of a quote by 39-Across |
| 39% | RENTACARS | 9 | Some vacation expenses ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 23-, 38- and 54-Across |
| 39% | BEERCHASER | 10 | Shot follower, often ... and a hint to the starts of 17-, 23-, 39- and 48-Across |
| 38% | BEATBOXING | 10 | Percussive activity you can imitate by reading the starts of 17-, 23-, 37-, and 49-Across in a loop |
| 38% | TOERRISHUMAN | 12 | Start of a Pope line about fallibility ... as shown by 19-, 25-, 42- and 55-Across? |
| 38% | JOHNLECARREBOOK | 15 | Theme of this puzzle, as hinted at by 17-, 23-, 45- and 59-Across |
| 37% | MYFAKEPLANTS | 12 | Start of a one-liner by 54-Across |
| 37% | BACKUPPLAN | 10 | Safety net, of a sort, and a literal feature of 17-, 23-, 39- and 52-Across |
| 37% | CLUE | 4 | Game associated with the starts of 17-, 23-, 32-, 40-, 47- and 54-Across |
| 37% | OPENINGDAY | 10 | Start of a sports season, and what each half of 17-, 28-, 39- and 48-Across can have |
| 36% | TREAT | 5 | Reward for a pup who obeys the commands at the starts of 17-, 23-, 39-, 47-, and 61-Across |
| 36% | SHAKESHAKESHAKE | 15 | Start of a KC and the Sunshine Band title, and 17-, 29-, and 46-Across |
| 36% | ONETWOTHREEFOUR | 15 | Start of a march chant … or a hint to 17-, 27-, 47- and 63-Across |
| 36% | POOR | 4 | Start of a word ladder whose first and last words are suggested by 36-Across |
| 36% | ONETWOTHREEFOUR | 15 | Start of a count ... or the letter frequencies in 17-, 30-, 46- and 64-Across |
| 35% | BESTMUSICAL | 11 | Award won by the starts of 17-, 25-, 39- and 52-Across and 11- and 29-Down |
| 35% | PRIMECUTS | 9 | The starts of 18-, 23-, 39- and 52-Across |
| 35% | WORKISTHERUINOF | 15 | Start of a quote by 26- and 32-Down |
| 35% | MYOUTPUTISDOWNBUT | 17 | Start of a comment by 3- and 126-Down |
| 35% | ADDTOCART | 9 | Message clicked on by an online buyer ... or a hint for 17-, 24-, 39- and 51-Across |
| 35% | CHILDSTOYS | 10 | Bearers of a phrase suggested by saying the starts of 17-, 24-, 38- and 49-Across |
| 35% | SOMETHINGWICKED | 15 | Start of a Ray Bradbury title ... or a hint to the ends of 17-, 26-, 49- and 62-Across |
| 34% | FASTBREAK | 9 | Dynamic basketball sequence represented by the starts of 17-, 23-, 30-, 40- and 49-Across |
| 34% | IFATFIRST | 9 | Start of a quote about creativity by 58-Across/39-Down |
| 34% | THEMAMAS | 8 | With 41- and 54-Across, group with a 1967 ballad version of 39-/41-/ 42-Across |