Letterman bit exemplified in the six starred theme entries

Question:

Answer:

SPITTAKES

Length:

Similar Crossword Questions:

Theme of the starred entries
Word that has two diametrically opposed meanings (like this puzzle's eight theme entries)
How to communicate with any of the seven theme entries
Word hidden in this puzzle's theme entries
When spelled out, word that follows the beginnings of the starred answers in a memorable kids' show theme song
Many people get one in the summer (and so do this puzzle's theme entries)
Nickname for the three-letter abbreviation hidden in this puzzle's theme entries
State celebrating its 50th anniversary in January 2009 (and a hint to the three theme entries)
Program that the figures at the end of the starred entries have in common
What the names in this puzzle's theme entries begin with
What the theme entries are full of
Challenged, or what the theme entries in this puzzle should be
Attendance check, and a hint to the puzzle theme in the first words of the starred answers
Activity suggested by this puzzle's theme entries
Office building problem that's a hint to this puzzle's theme entries (see their last three letters)
Disaster, like the four movies in the theme entries
Collective name for this puzzle's half-dozen starred entries
The three in each of this puzzle's theme entries
What's missing from the theme entries
Recipe amt. found in all theme entries
Spy device dropped into each of the theme entries
"Lid" in each of this puzzle's theme entries
What this puzzle's theme entries probably do?
Sound that was changed in each of the theme entries
Card found in the middle of all four theme entries