Battle of the Network Stars (1976)
The classic ABC competition series where TV celebrities from rival networks traded their scripts for sneakers and went head-to-head in real athletic events.
Battle of the Network Stars - Series Information
- Original Title: Battle of the Network Stars
- First Air Year: 1976
- Last Air Year: 1988
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Comedy
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (75 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 1
- Number of Episodes: 19
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Networks: ABC
Battle of the Network Stars - Plot
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. In 2013, the show appeared in TV Guide's list of the 60 greatest game shows ever.
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Battle of the Network Stars - Cast & Crew
Main Cast
- Howard Cosell
- William Shatner
- Richard Hatch
- Gregory Harrison
- Greg Evigan
- Catherine Bach
- Lorenzo Lamas
- Robert Urich
- Cristina Raines
- Parker Stevenson
Battle of the Network Stars - FAQs
What made Battle of the Network Stars so entertaining?
The show's magic came from watching beloved TV stars step outside their fictional roles and compete as real athletes. Seeing familiar faces from prime-time dramas and sitcoms race, swim, and tug-of-war against each other created a genuinely unpredictable spectacle that felt fresh and fun for late-1970s audiences.
Which networks competed in Battle of the Network Stars?
Stars from all three major American broadcast networks — ABC, CBS, and NBC — formed rival teams and faced off in athletic events. The competitions were broadcast exclusively on ABC across all 19 events, giving the network a unique home-field advantage in its own celebrity sporting spectacle.
Where can you watch Battle of the Network Stars?
You can check current streaming availability for Battle of the Network Stars on JustWatch, which tracks viewing options across all major platforms in your region. Availability may vary depending on your location, so JustWatch is the best place to find the most up-to-date options.
Did Battle of the Network Stars win any awards or recognition?
The show earned lasting recognition when TV Guide included it in its list of the 60 greatest game shows ever in 2013 — a remarkable honor for a series that originally aired between 1976 and 1988. That kind of retrospective acclaim speaks to its enduring place in American television history.
Who hosted Battle of the Network Stars?
Legendary sportscaster Howard Cosell served as the prominent on-air presence for the competitions, lending the events a sense of genuine athletic gravitas. His authoritative commentary style, already famous from Monday Night Football, gave the celebrity contests a surprisingly serious and exciting broadcast feel.
How many episodes did Battle of the Network Stars have?
A total of 19 competitions were produced and broadcast over the show's run from 1976 to 1988. Each event was a standalone special rather than a traditional weekly episode, making the series a recurring prime-time event that audiences looked forward to throughout its twelve-year broadcast history.
Which celebrities appeared on Battle of the Network Stars?
The show featured a rotating roster of prime-time stars, including William Shatner, Catherine Bach, Lorenzo Lamas, Robert Urich, Greg Evigan, Parker Stevenson, Richard Hatch, and Gregory Harrison, among many others. These were some of the biggest names on American television during the late 1970s and 1980s.
What are some shows similar to Battle of the Network Stars?
If you enjoy celebrity-driven entertainment, Hollywood Game Night and Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out offer a similar mix of famous faces in playful competition. For classic variety-style fun, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In captures the same breezy, star-studded energy that made Battle of the Network Stars so appealing.
More About Battle of the Network Stars
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