Crossword puzzle clue "starting five"

Starting a project ... and what the letters between the starting and ending pairs of letters in each starred answer are doing?

Fifth in a series of five TV personalities (starting June 1, 2009)

Ocean predator, of which there are five types starting this puzzle's longest answers

Most valuable player who isn't among the starting five

Starting five of Chamberlain, Bol, Ewing et al.?

Starting five?

Game with five red and five white balls

Nine and five, in nine-to-five: Abbr.