| RIVERS | "I was smart enough to go through any door that opened." A stand-up comedian, she hosted The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson many times. |
| FLY | Smart enough to go by air (3) |
| SCRIVE | Namely, bolt not quite long enough to go through lots of sheets for McAlpine? |
| SKELETONKEYS | Thousands backing the Spanish and French on Florida islands; they will open any door (8,4) |
| EXIT | When you're leaving a building, you can use any door except one marked "emergency ___" |
| KATIE | In an arranged swap, she guest-hosted "The Tonight Show" in 2003 on the same day Jay guest-hosted "The Today Show" |
| WILLIAMS | Robin ___ actor who was a stand-up comedian before rising to fame after playing Mork in the TV series Mork & Mindy |
| STEVE | ___ Martin actor who was a stand-up comedian before rising to fame in the musical Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band |
| DEGENERES | She's hosted the Oscars, the Emmys, and the Grammys |
| ALECK | He's smart enough to get a drink, with a bit of luck |
| HATCHBACK | A sloping rear end of a car, having a single door that is lifted to open (9) |
| AJAR | "The courage of the poet is to keep ___ the door that leads into madness": Christopher Morley (4) |
| EDDIE | ___ Murphy actor who was a stand-up comedian before rising to fame as a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1980-1984 |
| MAISEL | The Marvelous Mrs. ___ TV series starring Rachel Brosnahan as a housewife who becomes a stand-up comedian |
| ESTHER | She hosted the consumer affairs show That's Life! _ Rantzen (6) |
| DANI | She hosted the 1990s music show The Word, _ Behr (4) |
| AJODUDU | She hosted the ITV reboot of Big Brother in 2023 alongside Will Best (2,5) |
| GROOM | Get smart enough to take a partner? (5) |
| ASTUTE | Smart enough to remodel the statue (6) |
| KEVIN | ___ Hart actor who is a stand-up comedian and rose to fame after playing Luke in Judd Apatow's Undeclared |
