Battle of the Network Stars
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| Battle of the Network Stars | |
|---|---|
| Presented by | Howard Cosell with various others (see below) |
| Country of origin | USA |
| No. of episodes | 19 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 120 minutes |
| Production company(s) | Trans World International ABC Sports |
| Release | |
| Original network | ABC |
| Original release | November 13, 1976 – December 10, 1988 |
| External links | |
| [{{#property:P856}} Website] | |
Battle of the Network Stars was a series of competitions where television stars from ABC, CBS, and NBC would compete in various sporting events. A total of nineteen of these competitions were held, all of which were aired by ABC.
Contents
History
The first Battle was broadcast on ABC starting in November 1976. The program proved popular and continued for an additional eight and a half years, with subsequent episodes airing approximately every six months until May 1985. One final competition aired in December 1988. NBC tried to revive the competition in 2003, but with an intra-network contest consisting of personalities from the NBC family of networks. Typically, episodes were aired twice per calendar year, once during the spring and once during the fall during Nielsen Ratings sweeps weeks.
Sports broadcaster Howard Cosell hosted or co-hosted all but one of the specials (he did not host the 1985 edition due to a falling-out with ABC, but he returned for the final edition in 1988), and commented on the action with a semi-serious version of the style for which he was famous.
As of 2016, Battle of the Network Stars airs in reruns on Monday nights on ESPN Classic.
Format
Each network was represented by eight or nine of its stars from various series, and one of those people from each team would be elected to serve as the network's team captain.
Some of the events were modeled after those used on The Superstars, another Trans World-ABC production that featured athletes from all sports competing against each other for an overall title. Regular events included swimming, kayaking, volleyball, golf, tennis, bowling (on custom-made outdoor lanes), cycling, 3-on-3 football, the baseball dunk, running, and the obstacle course. Also featured as a regular event was a game of "Simon Says", directed by Catskill hotel Grossinger's entertainer Lou Goldstein.[1] Each network received points based on how it performed in the event.
After the regular events were over, the lowest scoring network was eliminated from further competition and the two remaining networks determined the day's winner with a tug of war.
(1) - 1976
1977
(2) - May
This edition aired under the title Challenge of the Network Stars.
| Hosts: | ABC Team | CBS Team | NBC Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Cosell Bruce Jenner[lower-alpha 1] O.J. Simpson |
Gabe Kaplan (captain) LeVar Burton Darleen Carr Richard Hatch Lawrence Hilton-Jacobs Ron Howard Hal Linden Kristy McNichol Penny Marshall Jaclyn Smith |
Telly Savalas (captain) Sonny Bono Kevin Dobson Mike Farrell David Groh Linda Lavin Lee Meriwether Rob Reiner Loretta Swit Marcia Wallace |
Robert Conrad (captain) Elizabeth Allen Lynda Day George Carl Franklin Karen Grassle Dan Haggerty Art Hindle Kurt Russell Jane Seymour W. K. Stratton |
(3) - November
1978
(4) - May
(5) - November
| Hosts: | ABC Team | CBS Team | NBC Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Cosell Frank Gifford |
Gabriel Kaplan (captain) Debby Boone Billy Crystal Joyce DeWitt Richard Hatch Maren Jensen Robert Urich Robin Williams |
McLean Stevenson (captain) Valerie Bertinelli LeVar Burton Lou Ferrigno Pat Klous David Letterman Tim Reid Charlene Tilton |
Robert Conrad (captain) Joseph Bottoms William Devane Pamela Hensley Brianne Leary Wendy Rastatter William Shatner Caskey Swaim |
1979
(6) - May
| Host | ABC Team | CBS Team | NBC Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Cosell | Dick Van Patten (captain) Scott Baio Billy Crystal Richard Hatch Donna Pescow Susan Richardson Toni Tennille Robert Urich |
Jamie Farr (captain) Catherine Bach Valerie Bertinelli Patrick Duffy Lou Ferrigno Leif Garrett Victoria Principal Gary Sandy |
Robert Conrad (captain) Todd Bridges Mary Crosby Jane Curtin William Devane Greg Evigan Brianne Leary Larry Wilcox |
(7) - November
| Hosts | ABC Team | CBS Team | NBC Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Cosell Billy Crystal |
Dick Van Patten (captain) Willie Aames Diana Canova Joanna Cassidy Robert Hays Max Gail Kristy McNichol Shelley Smith |
Ed Asner (captain) Valerie Bertinelli Gregory Harrison Howard Hesseman Kathryn Leigh Scott Judy Norton Taylor Jan Smithers Allen Williams |
Robert Conrad (captain) Greg Evigan Gil Gerard Melissa Gilbert Erin Gray Randi Oakes Sarah Purcell Patrick Wayne |
1980
(8) - May
| Hosts | ABC Team | CBS Team | NBC Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Cosell Joyce DeWitt |
Cathy Lee Crosby (captain) Scott Baio Robyn Douglass Grant Goodeve Robert Hays Kent McCord Caroline McWilliams Joan Prather |
Chad Everett (captain) Jonelle Allen Catherine Bach Gregory Harrison Sherman Hemsley Gary Sandy Charlene Tilton Joan Van Ark |
William Devane (captain) Gil Gerard Karen Grassle Pamela Hensley Brian Kerwin Randi Oakes Sarah Purcell Larry Wilcox |
(9) - December
| Hosts | ABC Team | CBS Team | NBC Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Cosell Cathy Lee Crosby |
John Davidson (captain) Willie Aames Scott Baio Phyllis Davis Donna Dixon Max Gail Ann Jillian Susan Richardson |
Jamie Farr (captain) Gregory Harrison Diane Ladd Donna Mills Judy Norton Taylor Tom Selleck Joan Van Ark Robert Walden |
Arte Johnson (captain) Byron Allen John Beck Greg Evigan Erin Gray Judy Landers Sarah Purcell Cristina Raines |
1981
(10) - May
| Hosts | ABC Team | CBS Team | NBC Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Cosell Erin Gray |
Robert Urich (captain) Scott Baio Melanie Chartoff Jeff Conaway Linda Evans Jenilee Harrison Bo Hopkins Ann Jillian |
Tom Selleck (captain) Danielle Brisebois Gregory Harrison Michele Lee Leigh McCloskey Judy Norton Taylor Tim Reid Charlene Tilton |
Barbara Mandrell (captain) Woody Brown Melissa Gilbert Brian Kerwin Louise Mandrell Randi Oakes Skip Stephenson Michael Warren |
(11) - December
| Hosts | ABC Team | CBS Team | NBC Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Cosell Lee Majors |
Scott Baio (captain) Douglas Barr Cathy Lee Crosby Donna Dixon Telma Hopkins Ann Jillian Sam J. Jones Andrew Stevens |
Pernell Roberts (captain) Mimi Kennedy Lorenzo Lamas Jared Martin Donna Mills Tim Reid Charlene Tilton Berlinda Tolbert |
Gabe Kaplan (captain) Maud Adams Melissa Gilbert Mark Harmon Randi Oakes Cristina Raines James B. Sikking Fred Willard |
1982
(12) - May
| Hosts | ABC Team | CBS Team | NBC Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Cosell Randi Oakes |
William Shatner (captain) Douglas Barr Joan Collins Lydia Cornell John Davidson Telma Hopkins John James Heather Thomas |
Pernell Roberts (captain) Catherine Bach Danielle Brisebois Audrey Landers Brian Stokes Mitchell Joan Van Ark Robert Walden Tom Wopat |
Daniel J. Travanti (captain) Debbie Allen Mark Harmon Nancy McKeon Joe Piscopo Cristina Raines Lynn Redgrave Bruce Weitz |
(13) - December
| Hosts | ABC Team | CBS Team | NBC Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Cosell Debbie Allen |
William Shatner (captain) Stephen Collins Helen Hunt John James Heather Locklear Kathy Maisnik Heather Thomas Demond Wilson |
Kevin Dobson (captain) Bruce Boxleitner Delta Burke Byron Cherry Christopher Norris Jameson Parker Penny Peyser Joan Van Ark |
Daniel J. Travanti (captain) Dean Butler Tina Gayle Melissa Gilbert Ricky Schroder Leigh Taylor-Young Betty Thomas Michael Warren |
1983
(14) - May
| Hosts | ABC Team | CBS Team | NBC Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Cosell Morgan Fairchild |
John James (captain) Scott Baio Rachel Dennison Lisa Eilbacher Heather Locklear Randi Oakes Geoffrey Scott Adrian Zmed |
Tom Wopat (captain) John Beck Danielle Brisebois Audrey Landers Denise Miller William R. Moses Tracy Nelson Ted Shackelford |
Bruce Weitz (captain) Peter Barton David Birney Meredith Baxter-Birney Nancy McKeon Cynthia Sikes Mr. T Betty Thomas |
(15) - December
| Hosts | ABC Team | CBS Team | NBC Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Cosell Robert Conrad Donna Mills |
William Shatner (captain) Shari Belafonte Daniel Hugh Kelly Heather Locklear Ben Murphy Geoffrey Scott Heather Thomas Jill Whelan |
William Devane (captain) Ana Alicia Rosalind Chao Charles Frank William R. Moses Martha Smith Andrew Stevens Joan Van Ark |
Mr. T (captain) Edward Albert Teri Copley Melinda Culea Chad Everett Charles Haid Vicki Lawrence Cynthia Sikes |
1984
(16) - May
| Hosts | ABC Team | CBS Team | NBC Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Cosell Scott Baio Debby Boone |
John James (captain) Shari Belafonte Pamela Bellwood James Darren C. Thomas Howell Ted Lange Heather Locklear Shawn Weatherly |
William Devane (captain) Richard Dean Anderson Abby Dalton Sarah Douglas William R. Moses Douglas Sheehan Charlene Tilton Celia Weston |
Flip Wilson (captain) Ellen Bry Kim Fields Michael J. Fox Charles Haid Mark Harmon Vicki Lawrence Lisa Whelchel |
(17) - December
(18) - 1985
| Hosts | ABC Team | CBS Team | NBC Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joan Van Ark Dick Van Dyke |
Tony Danza (captain) Deborah Adair Mary Cadorette Jack Coleman Pat Klous Ted McGinley Emma Samms Michael Spound |
Lorenzo Lamas (captain) Lucie Arnaz Mary Frann Jenilee Harrison Doug McKeon William R. Moses Jennifer O'Neill Dack Rambo |
Bubba Smith (captain) Lisa Bonet Erin Gray Kiel Martin Nancy McKeon Patricia McPherson Ken Olin Philip Michael Thomas |
(19) - 1988
| Hosts | ABC Team | CBS Team | NBC Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard Cosell Shari Belafonte |
John Davidson (captain) Rebeca Arthur Allyce Beasley Olivia d'Abo Brian Robbins Rob Stone JoAnn Willette Brian Wimmer |
Lorenzo Lamas (captain) Kristian Alfonso Steve Kanaly Daphne Reid (as Daphne Maxwell Reid) William Sanderson Jack Scalia Nicollette Sheridan Charlene Tilton |
Greg Evigan (captain) Teri Copley Clifton Davis Deidre Hall Dawnn Lewis Blair Underwood Malcolm-Jamal Warner Tina Yothers |
See also
- Battle of the Network Reality Stars
- Circus of the Stars
- Disney Channel Games
- Laff-a-Lympics
- Family Feud (the All-Star Specials on ABC switched from all-ABC to "Battle of the Network Stars"-type matches)
- Star Games
- Second City Television which featured a parody, "Battle of the PBS Stars".
Notes
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- Lua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). Battle of the Network Stars at IMDb
- YouTube Video of Simon Says – Link last verified January 4, 2008
- ↑ SRO Productions
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