# Battle of the Network Stars

Battle of the Network Stars is a series of competitions in which television stars from ABC, CBS and NBC would compete in various sporting events. A total of 19 of these competitions were held between 1976 and 1988, all of which were aired by ABC.
In 2003, NBC attempted to revive Battle of the Network Stars with a two-hour special.
In 2005, Bravo premiered a revived version of the show named Battle of the Network Reality Stars. Also in 2005, ESPN premiered a sports-themed spinoff version of Battle of the Network Stars as Battle of the Gridiron Stars featuring twenty players from the AFC and NFC competing in a variety of tasks that had nothing to do with football.
In 2017, ABC revived the series as a summer series; which ran from June 29 to September 7, 2017.

## Broadcast 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 August 2003 with Tony Potts as host, 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 first nineteen competitions (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.
When ABC revived the program as a weekly series in 2017, Mike Greenberg and Joe Tessitore took over the hosting duties. Furthermore, each episode began with a remake of the opening sequence of ABC's Wide World of Sports.

## Format
### 1976–1988

All but one of the competitions took place at the sports facilities of Pepperdine University near Malibu, California, the exception being XVIII which was held in Ixtapa, Mexico.
Each network was represented by eight or ten 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. 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 the final event, the Tug of War.

### 2017

Two teams of five celebrities compete each week with a professional athlete as their coach (The coaches return throughout the season). The teams are typically assigned based on the genre or role of the celebrities' notable TV credits. For example, one episode pitted prime-time soap opera stars against actors associated with comedies, while another had had actors who played lawyers vs. those who played White House employees. Teams often include at least one veteran actor or actress who previously competed in the original Battle of the Network Stars and archive footage of their previous appearance(s) is shown. The venue remains Pepperdine University, as was the original.

## Episodes
### Battle of the Network Stars I (Nov. 13, 1976)

| Host | ABC (winner) | CBS | NBC |
| Howard Cosell | Gabe Kaplan (captain) Darleen Carr Lynda Carter Farrah Fawcett-Majors Richard Hatch Robert Hegyes Ron Howard Hal Linden Penny Marshall John Schuck | Telly Savalas (captain) Adrienne Barbeau Gary Burghoff Kevin Dobson Pat Harrington, Jr. Bill Macy Lee Meriwether Mackenzie Phillips Loretta Swit Jimmie Walker | Robert Conrad (captain) Melissa Sue Anderson Karen Grassle Tim Matheson Ben Murphy Barbara Parkins Joanna Pettet Kevin Tighe Bobby Troup Demond Wilson |

### Battle of the Network Stars II (Feb. 28, 1977)

This edition aired under the title Challenge of the Network Stars.
| Hosts | ABC | CBS | NBC (winner) |
| Howard Cosell Caitlyn Jenner 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 |

### Battle of the Network Stars III (Nov. 4, 1977)

| Hosts | ABC (winner) | CBS | NBC |
| Howard Cosell Telly Savalas Caitlyn Jenner | Gabe Kaplan (captain) Fred Berry Billy Crystal Chris DeRose Victor French Cheryl Ladd Kristy McNichol Penny Marshall Suzanne Somers Parker Stevenson | Jimmie Walker (captain) Adrienne Barbeau Valerie Bertinelli Kevin Dobson Jamie Farr Caren Kaye James MacArthur Jimmy McNichol Loretta Swit Lyle Waggoner | Dan Haggerty (captain) Robert Conrad Elinor Donahue Patrick Duffy Peter Isacksen Lance Kerwin Donna Mills Belinda Montgomery Michelle Phillips Larry Wilcox |

### Battle of the Network Stars IV (May 7, 1978)

| Hosts | ABC | CBS (winner) | NBC |
| Howard Cosell Caitlyn Jenner Suzanne Somers | Gabe Kaplan (captain) Debby Boone Daryl Dragon Kene Holliday Steve Landesberg Parker Stevenson Toni Tennille Cheryl Tiegs | Tony Randall (captain) Kevin Dobson James MacArthur Denise Nicholas Mackenzie Phillips Victoria Principal Bo Svenson Jimmie Walker | Richard Benjamin (captain) Rhonda Bates Jane Curtin Dennis Dugan Melissa Gilbert Arte Johnson Lance Kerwin Larry Wilcox |

### Battle of the Network Stars V (Nov. 18, 1978)

| Hosts | ABC | CBS | NBC (winner) |
| Howard Cosell Frank Gifford | Gabe 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 |

### Battle of the Network Stars VI (May 7, 1979)

| Host | ABC | CBS (winner) | NBC |
| 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 |

### Battle of the Network Stars VII (Nov. 2, 1979)

| Hosts | ABC | CBS | NBC (winner) |
| 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 |

### Battle of the Network Stars VIII (May 4, 1980)

| Hosts | ABC (winner) | CBS | NBC |
| 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 |

### Battle of the Network Stars IX (Dec. 5, 1980)

| Hosts | ABC | CBS (winner) | NBC |
| 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 |

### Battle of the Network Stars X (May 8, 1981)

| Hosts | ABC | CBS (winner) | NBC |
| 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 |

### Battle of the Network Stars XI (Nov. 20, 1981)

| Hosts | ABC | CBS | NBC (winner) |
| 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 |

### Battle of the Network Stars XII (May 5, 1982)

| Hosts | ABC | CBS (winner) | NBC |
| 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 |

### Battle of the Network Stars XIII (Oct. 1, 1982)

| Hosts | ABC (winner) | CBS | NBC |
| 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 |

### Battle of the Network Stars XIV (May 4, 1983)

| Hosts | ABC (winner) | CBS | NBC |
| 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 |

### Battle of the Network Stars XV (Nov. 3, 1983)

| Hosts | ABC (winner) | CBS | NBC |
| 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 |

### Battle of the Network Stars XVI (May 3, 1984)

| Hosts | ABC | CBS (winner) | NBC |
| 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 |

### Battle of the Network Stars XVII (Dec. 20, 1984)

| Hosts | ABC | CBS | NBC (winner) |
| Howard Cosell Shari Belafonte | William Shatner (captain) Douglas Barr Mary Cadorette Tony Danza Tony Lo Bianco Heather Locklear Tracy Scoggins Brenda Vaccaro | William Devane (captain) Constance McCashin Jennifer O'Neill Tim Reid Douglas Sheehan Deborah Shelton Parker Stevenson Charlene Tilton | Mark Harmon (captain) Jane Badler Teri Copley Kim Fields Michael J. Fox Stepfanie Kramer James B. Sikking Marc Singer |

### Battle of the Network Stars XVIII (May 23, 1985)

| Hosts | ABC | CBS | NBC (winner) |
| 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 |

### Battle of the Network Stars XIX (Dec. 10, 1988)

| Hosts | ABC Team (Winner) | 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 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 |
Total overall wins – ABC: 7, CBS: 6, NBC: 6

### Battle of the Network Stars (2017)

For this edition, rather than the standard network vs. network format, fielding of the teams is based on the TV characters attributed to each celebrity—cops vs. TV sitcoms, White House vs. lawyers, TV moms & dads vs. TV kids, etc.
| Hosts | Sideline Reporters | Blue Team DeMarcus Ware (captain) | Red Team Ronda Rousey (captain) | Air date | Prod. code | U.S. viewers (millions) |
| Mike Greenberg and Joe Tessitore | Cari Champion and Cassidy Hubbarth | TV Sitcoms (1) (19) (Winner) Tom Arnold Dave Coulier Tracey Gold AJ Michalka Bronson Pinchot | TV Kids (1) (12) Corbin Bleu Kim Fields Nolan Gould Joey Lawrence Lisa Whelchel | June 29, 2017 (2017-06-29) | 101 | 4.141 |
| Mike Greenberg and Joe Tessitore | Cari Champion and Cassidy Hubbarth | Variety (1) (10) Joanna Krupa Nick Lachey Vanessa Lachey Gilles Marini Jack Osbourne | TV Sex Symbols (21) (Winner) Keegan Allen Traci Bingham Rosa Blasi Brant Daugherty Galen Gering | July 6, 2017 (2017-07-06) | 103 | 3.059 |
| Mike Greenberg and Joe Tessitore | Cari Champion and Cassidy Hubbarth | White House (16) (Winner) LaMonica Garrett Joshua Malina Marlee Matlin Mary McCormack Cornelius Smith Jr. | Lawyers (13) Catherine Bell Corbin Bernsen Romi Dias Matt McGorry Elisabeth Röhm | July 13, 2017 (2017-07-13) | 105 | 2.707 |
| Mike Greenberg and Joe Tessitore | Cari Champion and Cassidy Hubbarth | Primetime Soaps (11) Mischa Barton Gabrielle Carteris Josh Henderson Donna Mills Ian Ziering | ABC Stars (1) (19) (Winner) Shari Belafonte Olivia d'Abo Michael Fishman Jason Hervey Anson Williams | July 20, 2017 (2017-07-20) | 102 | 2.587 |
| Mike Greenberg and Joe Tessitore | Cari Champion and Cassidy Hubbarth | Cops (1) (19) (Winner) Erik Estrada Kelly Hu Lorenzo Lamas Jodi Lyn O'Keefe Larry Wilcox | TV Sitcoms (2) (11) Leigh-Allyn Baker Todd Bridges Dave Foley Willie Garson Jenna von Oy | July 27, 2017 (2017-07-27) | 104 | 2.573 |
| Mike Greenberg and Joe Tessitore | Cari Champion and Cassidy Hubbarth | TV Moms & Dads (19) (Winner) Greg Evigan Lesley Fera Jackee Harry Chad Lowe Ted McGinley | TV Kids (2) (12) Jonathan Lipnicki Jeremy Miller Mackenzie Phillips Jimmie Walker Krista Marie Yu | August 3, 2017 (2017-08-03) | 106 | 2.531 |
| Mike Greenberg and Joe Tessitore | Cari Champion and Cassidy Hubbarth | Cops (2) (8) Fred Dryer Roma Maffia Marisol Nichols Ryan Paevey Adrian Zmed | Sci-Fi Fantasy (21) (Winner) Charisma Carpenter Lou Ferrigno Vinnie Jones Kevin Sorbo Jill Wagner | August 17, 2017 (2017-08-17) | 110 | 2.319 |
| Mike Greenberg and Joe Tessitore | Cari Champion and Cassidy Hubbarth | ABC Stars (2) (8) Joely Fisher Troy Gentile Ted Lange Denise Richards Jill Whelan | Variety (2) (21) (Winner) Adrienne Bailon Lance Bass Joey Fatone Cameron Mathison Kelly Osbourne | August 24, 2017 (2017-08-24) | 109 | 2.053 |
| Mike Greenberg and Joe Tessitore | Cari Champion and Cassidy Hubbarth | Famous TV Families (3) Willie Aames Danny Bonaduce Beverley Mitchell Charlene Tilton Barry Williams | Doctors (32) (Winner) Thomas Calabro Taye Diggs Deidre Hall Benjamin Hollingsworth Rachelle Lefevre | September 7, 2017 (2017-09-07) | 107 | 2.979 |
| Mike Greenberg and Joe Tessitore | Cari Champion and Cassidy Hubbarth | Troublemakers (20) (Winner) Catherine Bach John Barrowman Julie Benz Vivica A. Fox Paul Johansson | TV Lifeguards (11) David Chokachi Nicole Eggert Gena Lee Nolin Brande Roderick Parker Stevenson | September 7, 2017 (2017-09-07) | 108 | 2.470 |