| 100% | BFLAT | 5 | Starting key of 35-/43-Across's "Starman" |
| 49% | FRENCH | 6 | Word that can precede the start of 20-, 35-, 43- or 58-Across |
| 48% | HEAD | 4 | Apt attachment to the starts of 14-, 17-, 35- and 43-Across |
| 46% | EIEIO | 5 | Children's song refrain found at the starts of 17-, 26-, 35-, 50- and 57-Across |
| 45% | WHADDYASUPPOSED | 15 | Start of a 35/36 Across quote, after seeing a Murphy bed |
| 45% | FOUNDINGFATHER | 14 | Signer of 35 across |
| 44% | AMINOR | 6 | Musical key that's an anagram of 73 Across |
| 44% | HANNA | 5 | Co-creator of 35 Across |
| 43% | SECURITY | 8 | Mall cop's job ... or a word that can precede the starts of 19-, 32-, 43- and 58-Across |
| 43% | ALABAMA | 7 | State not south of 35 Across |
| 43% | FAIRYTALE | 9 | What the starts of 17-, 26-, 35- and 50-Across are |
| 43% | THEOLYMPICGAMES | 15 | Event suggested by the starts of 17-, 35- and 40-Across |
| 42% | REGAN | 5 | Shakespearean analogue of 35-Across’s Jiro |
| 42% | COLDOPEN | 8 | Start of each "S.N.L." episode ... or a hint to the initials of the words in 17-, 24-, 35- and 47-Across |
| 42% | EYES | 4 | What the starts of 18-, 27-, 43- and 57-Across all have |
| 42% | BERRY | 5 | Word that follows the start of 21-, 26-, 43- and 50-Across |
| 41% | LUCK | 4 | Word that can follow the starts of 20-, 26-, 43- and 52-Across |
| 41% | BOWLINGALLEY | 12 | Where you might roll the starts of 17-, 31-, 43- and 56-Across |
| 41% | WHERETHE | 8 | With 43-Across, an exciting place, and a hint to the starts of the starred answers |
| 40% | NEAR | 4 | With 65-Across, the starts of 20-, 26-, 43- and 51-Across taken together |
| 40% | THATWASCOOL | 11 | "Neato!" (and a hint to the starts of 17-, 25-, 35- and 51-Across) |
| 40% | MATRIXOF | 8 | With 43 Across, grid of numbers illustrating a sports transaction? |
| 40% | WITHANAMELIKE | 13 | Start of an apt phrase about 114 Across |
| 40% | EAST | 4 | John Steinbeck's "___ of 35-Across" |
| 40% | ENTER | 5 | What's the key to getting from the end of a line to the start? |
| 40% | BRAIN | 5 | Word that can precede the starts of 17-, 35- and 54-Across and 16-Down |
| 40% | PROCESSEDMEAT | 13 | Spam or sausage ... or a hint to the starts of 20-, 35- and 42-Across |
| 40% | CAST | 4 | Action that can be done to the starts of 20-, 35-, 44- and 56-Across |
| 40% | CYCLE | 5 | What hitting the starts of 20-, 32-, 43- and 55-Across comprises, in baseball lingo |
| 40% | EAST | 4 | Part of 43 Across |