I've read here that panelists on "What's My Line?" were given areas of questioning to produce laughs. Was this widespread on "The Name's the Same"? The questioning of A. Blonde might suggest it was.

Yes, G-T thought nothing of giving the panelists on their shows hints for a line of questioning to pursue that would lead to laughs. Watching the shows with a half-century of hindsight, it's fairly easy to see the times when panelists were given that nudge.

Yep, A. Blonde.

I thought that was the DUMBEST rule they had to
abbreviate ANY contestant's first name that started
with an "A," and whose last name was a noun. For that
reason alone, I stopped watching the show.

I'm still waiting for Gwendolyn Spott or Patricia Ness. ;)