| BOOKENDS | They keep spines upright ... or the first and last two letters of the starred clues' answers, in two ways? |
| TEALEAVES | *Bits steeped in a bag (Theme hint: Say the first words of the starred clues' answers in order) |
| BOOKSHELF | It holds the spines upright (9) |
| BACKGAMMONBOARD | What ancient game is played on used to keep spine straight around cured limb (10,5) |
| POSTS | Four uprights supporting the canopy or tester and curtains of an antique style of bed; or, the first and last military bugle calls (5) |
| ALPHABET | Every letter, or the first and second nearly (8) |
| SPELT | Like this clue's answer, in five letters |
| QWERTYKEYBOARDS | Standard PC accessories ... on which the first two letters of the starred clues' answers are neighbors |
| HOST | Emcee: the circled letters of the starred entries, in clue order, spell out the name of the late star of the puzzle's title show |
| SCIENTIST | Person who would wear the article of clothing spelled out in the first letters of the starred answers |
| DOUBLESIDED | Like some tape ... and each starred clue's answer, based on its first and last two letters |
| FINGERWAVE | *S-shaped hairstyle (In this clue's answer, note the first two and last two letters) |
| ANIMALHOUSE | 1978 John Belushi movie, and a hint to the first three or four letters of the starred answers |
| WRAPPINGGIFTS | Holiday season task, and a theme hint (Note what the first letters of the starred clues' answers spell) |
| GOOFFCOURSE | Stray, or what the first six letters of the starred answers do (each by one letter)? |
| CAROL | "Deck the Halls," for one ... or a hint to the first two letters of each word in the starred answers |
| YOUANDMEBOTH | "That makes two of us!" (... first three and last two letters) |
| NICELYDONE | *"Great job!" (... the first two and last two letters) |
| MINIATUREPOODLE | Small dog with curly fur (In this answer, note the first 2 and last 2 letters) |
| THATSAYSALOT | "How telling" (... first and last two letters) |
