| Date | Grid | Clue | Author | Editor |
| Fri, Sep 08, 2023 | 47D | You might take one to a new friend | Rachel Fabi and Ken Stern | Shortz |
| Wed, Aug 02, 2023 | 22A | Excel (at) | Barbara Lin | Shortz |
| Sun, Jan 01, 2023 | 121A | Excel | Adam Wagner, Michael Lieberman and Rafael Musa | Shortz |
| Wed, Jan 05, 2022 | 62A | *Certain forecast | Damon Gulczynski | Shortz |
| Thu, Jul 30, 2020 | 9D | Perform brilliantly | Joel Fagliano | Shortz |
| Sun, May 03, 2020 | 24D | Stand out from the crowd | Ben Zimmer and Brendan Emmett Quigley | Shortz |
| Thu, Apr 30, 2020 | 7D | Liking | Caitlin Reid | Shortz |
| Mon, Apr 27, 2020 | 52D | What stars and bootblacks both do | Ed Sessa | Shortz |
| Mon, Jun 24, 2019 | 60A | What diamonds and straight-A students do | Ross Trudeau | Shortz |
| Tue, Dec 04, 2018 | 13D | Bootblack's job | Peter Gordon | Shortz |
| Tue, Dec 12, 2017 | 51A | Excel | David J. Kahn | Shortz |
| Sun, Oct 15, 2017 | 93A | Excel | John Guzzetta and Michael Hawkins | Shortz |
| Sat, Jun 21, 2014 | 8D | Buff | Brad Wilber and Byron Walden | Shortz |
| Thu, Dec 12, 2013 | 42D | Excel | David Steinberg | Shortz |
| Sun, Nov 27, 2011 | 5A | Scintillate | Jeff Chen | Shortz |
| Wed, Oct 14, 2009 | 49D | Perform very well | Richard Silvestri | Shortz |
| Sun, Sep 27, 2009 | 19A | Excel | Patrick Berry | Shortz |
| Mon, Aug 31, 2009 | 31A | "Rise and ___!" | Fred Piscop | Shortz |
| Mon, Jul 27, 2009 | 68A | What light bulbs and bootblacks do | Allan E. Parrish | Shortz |
| Sun, Jun 14, 2009 | 108A | Perform superbly | Brendan Emmett Quigley | Shortz |
| Sun, Aug 03, 2008 | 22A | Glow | Peter A. Collins and Joe Krozel | Shortz |
| Sat, Nov 24, 2007 | 34D | Perform superbly | Victor Fleming | Shortz |
| Thu, Oct 26, 2006 | 52A | Liking | Todd McClary and Dave Tuller | Shortz |
| Wed, Jul 26, 2006 | 50D | Distinguish oneself | Dave Mackey | Shortz |
| Mon, Feb 06, 2006 | 14D | Rise and ___ | Sheldon Benardo | Shortz |
| Fri, Feb 04, 2005 | 47A | Stand out | Robert Bridges | Shortz |
| Mon, Mar 24, 2003 | 51D | Sparkle | Alison D. Donald | Shortz |
| Sun, Sep 02, 2001 | 79A | Perform well | Manny Nosowsky | Shortz |
| Mon, May 21, 2001 | 26D | Bootblack's job | Joan Yanofsky | Shortz |
| Thu, May 25, 2000 | 7D | Excel | Elizabeth C. Gorski | Shortz |
| Tue, Jul 07, 1998 | 18A | 1996 film for which Geoffrey Rush won Best Actor | Elizabeth C. Gorski | Shortz |
| Mon, Oct 28, 1996 | 27D | "Rise and ___!" | R. Norris | Shortz |
| Sat, Jun 22, 1996 | 43D | Fancy | B. White | Shortz |
| Sun, May 12, 1996 | 40D | Stand out | R. Silvestri | Shortz |
| Mon, Jan 08, 1996 | 20A | Patina | N. Steinberg | Shortz |
| Thu, Oct 26, 1995 | 60A | Excel | Jim Page | Shortz |
| Sun, Oct 30, 1994 | 32A | Excel | R. M. Hopkins | Shortz |