Two years after To Tell the Truth wrapped up its long run in syndication, another version hit the airwaves in the fall of 1980. Like the first two, it was taped in New York. But unlike the first two, it featured a new host, Robin Ward and a panel that rotated from week to week instead of the familiar trio of Peggy Cass, Kitty Carlisle and Bill Cullen. Also, a new feature was added called "One on One", which featured the impostors from the two games, one of them had a unique claim to fame. Each of the four panelists would question one of the impostors and then would vote Yes or No.
To me, the addition of One on One was one unneeded addition to a format that has been successful for more than 20 years. The regular games seemed more rushed and there were no demonstrations, expect at the end of the show. Ward, another in the line of game show hosts from Canada along with Monty Hall and Alex Trebek was OK, but wasn't as good as his predecessors Bud Collyer and Garry Moore. The hurried format also left no time for banter between Ward and the panel.
On the positive side, there was interesting guests, including Larry King, the inventor of racquetball and a contestant who judges pickles. IMHO, it was why To Tell the Truth has been one of the best game shows of all-time, the extraordinary contestants on stage to stump the panel. This version had a run of only one season, way shorter than the first two. The third time wasn't the charm.
