One show I could never get enough of in the late 1970s was BATTLE OF THE NETWORK STARS, a series in which each of the three major TV networks supplied stars as a team to compete in various Olympic style (or more like Field Day, actually) events. I was never into sports but it was so much fun watching the stars of all teb other shows out of character and having fun themselves...even though some such as Robert Conrad seemed to take it all TO seriously. Host Howard Cosell (seen above with team captain Telly Savalas), a polarizing figure in sports announcing, was the closest thing to a star of the series but just about anyone who was anyone in show biz at that time appeared at one time or another.Not sure what channel it's on but I accidentally came across episodes on TV recently so they're still out there even though most folks today wouldn't recognize half the folks who appeared!
Penny Marshall and Bruce (Caitlyn) Jenner.
Ron Howard, Penny Marshall, Telly, and Robert Conrad. (How was Ronny's hairpiece staying on?)
Lynda Carter and Gabe Kaplan
Billy Crystal and Bob Conrad
Farrah Fawcett-Majors and Penny
Jaclyn Smith
Sonny Bono and Suzie Coehlo
Dan Haggerty
Loretta Swit
Suzanne Somers
Jamie Farr
Gabe Kaplan and Robin Williams
Levar Burton
Mackenzie Phillips and Lance Kerwin
Tom Selleck
William Shatner
Mr. T
Trump supporter Scott Baio with TJ Jooker co-stars Adrian Zmed and Heather Locklear
My wife, Morgan Fairchild. (That's the ticket.)
Captain Kirk as you've never seen him!
Ben Murphy, Heather Thomas and Jill Whelan
Captain Daryl Dragon
Michael J. Fox and Kim Fields
I suppose by now you know that this goofy series occasionally pops up on late night ESPN Classic. BATTLE is a joy just for its pure, unapologetic dumbness. However, it had its moments: Future husband/wife Gregory Harrison and Randi Oakes obviously falling in love on air, and Billy Crystal's brilliant Muhammad Ali/Howard Cosell "interview." Oh, and how Howard loved the ladies! So'70s!
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