Battle of the Network Stars

Last week, I was watching CNN's special on the 70's and saw a clip of one of my favorite television shows from childhood. Who else LOVED Battle of the Network Stars? I could not get enough that show. So, I started digging through YouTube and found some awesome clips from the running relay, the dunking booth and, of course, the tug-of-war! Check these out. They're hilarious, campy, borderline sexist, but so much fun!

One of the most popular Battle of the Network Stars competitions was the running relay. And I found this clip featuring country music star Barbara Mandrell running alongside some very famous TV stars of the day. Just look at these names . . .

May 1981 Running Relay with Tom Selleck, Scott Baio, Judy Norton-Taylor, Tim Reid, Jenilee Harrison, Robert Urich, Bo Hopkins, Linda Evans, Melanie Chartoff, Gregory Harrison, Brian Kerwin, Melissa Gilbert, Barbara Mandrell, Randi Oakes, Woody Brown, Michael Warren, Michele Lee, Danielle Brisebois.

When I mentioned that Battle of the Network Stars tended to be a little sexist, I meant a lot. Many critics still label this show part of the 1970's T&A invasion and this clip is a prime example why. Remember Andrew Stevens? He stepped up to the mound for his team and try to dunk Heather Thomas in the dunking booth. Remember this part of the show? LOL! I mean, just look at this description . . .

ANDREW STEVENS dunks HEATHER THOMAS in the December 1983 BOTNS, but not before JOAN VAN ARK dunks MR T.

And the show didn't just force its female stars into swimsuits. Remember the swimming relay? It was a Speedo-Fest and even people like Robin Williams and David Letterman put them on to compete. Check out this swimming relay from 1978. It features the following stars . . .

Swimming Relay from November 1978 featuring Robert Urich, Richard Hatch, Robin Williams, Maren Jensen, Debby Boone, Tim Reid, Pamela Hensley, William Devane, David Letterman, Valerie Bertinelli, Joseph Bottoms and Brianne Leary.

But I will say this . . . for as campy and looney as The Battle of the Network Stars was, there were some really good athletes involved and the celebrities poured their hearts and souls into every competition- especially the tug-of-war. Remember the rope? The puddle of water separating the teams? The sand and flags? The thrill of victory? The agony of defeat? Check out this clip . . . featuring these stars!

John James, Helen Hunt, Dean Butler, Leigh Taylor-Young, Michael Warren, Tina Gayle, Daniel J. Travanti, Stephen Collins, Heather Thomas, & William Shatner.

I don't know about you, but I would LOVE to have the complete Battle of the Network Stars series on DVD. And I would love to see the show make a comeback. I'm just not sure today's celebrities would be willing to put their vanity aside for some gritty athletic competition. Are am I wrong? Is there a celebrity out there that would climb on a tandem bicycle or into a dunking booth? Is there a TV celebrity out there that would dig down into the sand to win a tug-of-war! Come on TV execs, find them and make this happen! I'm ready for some more Battle of the Network Stars!

**Huge credit to teeveegold, whose YouTube videos brought bake amazing childhood memories and made this blog possible!