3rd Degree!

3rd Degree is a syndicated game show that ran from September 11, 1989 to June 8, 1990 (with repeats airing until September 7). The series was hosted by Bert Convy. Bob Hilton was the announcer.

The show was produced by Burt & Bert Productions, Kline & Friends, and distributed by Warner Bros. Television. The series was similar to the Goodson-Todman game shows What's My Line? and Make the Connection.

Premise
A panel of four celebrities who were split into two teams (two men, two women) faced a team of two contestants who have a special relationship between them. Two rounds were played for each civilian team; in each round, each team of celebrities had a limited time to question the contestants (giving them the third degree (hence the name of the show)). In the first round, each team of celebrities had one minute to question the contestants, and in the second round, the time was cut to 30 seconds.

When the time is up, Bert recapped the clues given via the questions asked, then the celebrity team in control then got to guess the relationship, that's when Bert Convy asks the question, "What's the relationship?" when they are getting close to the correct relationship. An incorrect guess won $250 to the contestants, and stumping the panel completely won an additional $1,000 for a total of $2,000.

Notable contestants

 * I Love Lucy writers Madelyn Pugh Davis and Bob Carroll, Jr. appeared as contestants on the show's premiere.
 * Michael Burger, then of Straight to the Heart, and David Ruprecht of Supermarket Sweep appeared on the show as contestants.
 * Don Messick and Lucille Bliss appeared as contestants on the show and the panel knew after the first minute that they are voice stars from the Smurfs. Don and Lucille had to settle for parting gifts on the show, but did the voices of Papa Smurf and Smurfette when heading off to a commercial break.
 * Thurl Ravenscroft, who did the voice of Tony the Tiger for Frosted Flakes cereal commercials, was a contestant on the show, and he and his teammate stumped the panel and won $2,000.
 * A team of four men, all of whom played the character Jason Voorhees in the Friday the 13th movies, were contestants and stumped the panel to win $2,000.
 * One team attempted to perform a magic trick by sawing Bert Convy in half.
 * Roger Patterson and Robert Gimlin were contestants on the show and ran footage of Bigfoot that they spotted.

Pilot
Peter Marshall (of Hollywood Squares) hosted the pilot, but was forced out after Bert Convy left his other show Win, Lose or Draw to make room for new host Robb Weller. Marshall sued in retaliation, but when Convy died the suit was dropped.

Inventors
Bert Convy & Burt Reynolds

Links
The 3rd Degree page from bertconvy.net (from archive.org) Clips of Marcy Walker on 3rd Degree (along with some gameplay)

YouTube Videos
First Segment of the show (The Palmreaders) Bert Convy gets sawed in half 3rd Degree Contestant/Audience Plug