Wide World of Women

Yes, it is true--ABC is bringing back the crazy battles that were quite intense from 1976 through most of the 1980's.

Instead of Howard Cosell chasing around to find any cute ladies to talk to from the late 1970's, it will be another reason that Greeny won't be on the radio too much longer.

He has been tapped along with college football play-by-play announcer Joe Tessitore on the reboot to the late 1970's classic competition series Battle of The Network Stars:

http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2017/05/battle-network-stars-returns-abc-june-29/

Staged again along the shores of Malibu on the campus of Pepperdine University, the same events of kayak, running relay, the obstacle course, dunk tank (then was the baseball dunk), and tug-of-war will feature coaches in Super Bowl 50 champion DeMarcus Ware and MMA fighter Ronda Rousey.

Unlike back in the day with CBS, NBC, and ABC duking it out for bragging rights and lots of money ($25,000 was the top prize in the late 1970's version)...

There will be 100 TV stars participating across not only from CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox, but also there will be tons of people to consider from ten other cable networks.

This new twist will be having current stars and vintage stars either teaming up or playing against each other.

But perhaps the biggest change, since there will be so many different channels competing--they will have the matchups determined by the genre each character that the stars played or are currently playing on TV.

The ESPN press release mentioned some possible matchups like:
Cops vs. TV Sitcoms, White House vs. Lawyers, TV Moms & Dads vs. TV Kids.

Let your imaginations run wild, as if you were going to come up with a fantasy roster to take part in this grueling/hilarious competition (but hopefully, there won't be any weird protests like back in the day where CBS's Jamie Farr and NBC's Artie Johnson almost coming to blows over fairness in the rule book).

Try to think of some names of current TV stars that you think would be athletic enough to show off their stuff, even possibly in sports like outdoor bowling.

Best tip, check out sideline reporters Cassidy Hubbarth and Cari Champion on Twitter for behind-the-scenes information.

The show will air for 10 weeks, starting Thursday June 29 at 9 p.m. Eastern prior to the zany reboot of The Gong Show.

I like to see that. I know I saw the Battle of the Reality Stars but it wasn't no MTV's The Challenge. Like to see who they get.

I always figured that any newer editions of Battle Of The Network Stars in today's television landscape would probably resemble the NCAA basketball tournament with all the networks out there now. The category method sounds like a good idea.

If we can find a starlet willing to put on a swimsuit like Lynda Carter's back in the day, then it'll be an even better idea.

During a promo that aired during Game 1 of the NBA Finals, one of the potential matchups would be Studs vs. Vixens.

I'm sure there's a few out there.

If there's any possible matchups like MSNBC vs. CNN or SportsCenter past and present vs. The Weather Channel past and present, it would be huge.

Especially the ESPN/Sportscenter past vs present matchup.

We like the idea. Might add MLB Network vs. NFL Network matchup and The CW vs. E! matchup to that as well.

There were two different things...the network stars competing in challenges then on weekends they had on cbs or abc sports stars from different sports competing against each other.

Woah Chucky Baby...did not see a new Gong Show version coming.

"Let your imaginations run wild, as if you were going to come up with a fantasy roster to take part in this grueling/hilarious competition (but hopefully, there won't be any weird protests like back in the day where CBS's Jamie Farr and NBC's Artie Johnson almost coming to blows over fairness in the rule book)."

I want FNC vs. msnbc in fast pitch softball.

I want chin music, spikes up slides, and the ensuing bench clearing brawls.

Jus' sayin'.

The other show was called Superstars.

Only 1 hour? How the hell can you do BOTNS in 1 Hour!?!?!?

Also if its Theme shows it aint Battle of the NETWORK Stars!

If its not ABC-NBC-CBS it aint real!
(FOX Aint a newtork no matter what they claim. 2hrs of primetime a night & no nightly news after 30 years = NOT A NETWORK!)

They are going to ruin this too arent they?

Again, the only point to mention is about the characters each person played on certain shows--hence the new twist.

Hopefully, the competitions will be fun to watch.

Even without network news, Fox is a network because they've got sports: NFL, MLB, NASCAR, European soccer, UFC, college football/basketball, etc.

By the way...there was a Fox team on ABC's "Superstar American Gladiators" special in 1995, hosted by Pat O'Brien (when he was still employed with CBS).

I think it's a network if it produces prime time programming so Fox is a network and so are PBS and The CW. If all they do is sports then they are a sports network, like ESPN. Fox was pretty smart when it came to not doing news. There's lots of competition and not a lot of money to be made in news compared to entertainment or sports programs.

Great, you just had to mention PBS in a Battle Of The Network Stars thread!

SNL spoofed it years ago the battle of the T and A

EW released the full 100 name roster and the 10 team matchups that will be seen again on ABC from Thursday, June 29 to August 31. Each show lasts an hour going from 9 to 10 p.m. Eastern time.

Some brief tidbits:
11 celebs competed in the original version (which ran between 1976 and 1988 during ratings sweeps periods) and three ladies posed at one time for Playboy. One of them was a Playmate of the Year.

Just wait until you see the team pics at the bottom of the page :

http://ew.com/tv/2017/06/12/battle-of-the-network-stars-vivica-a-fox-baywatch-abc/

Yes, it does seem more like it should be called
"Battle Of The Classic Network Stars"...

Going to guess that it skews that way for two main reasons;
that ABC is going for a more retro audience, and that a decent number of current
TV series' cast wanted no parts of it.
(which is a shame -- there's a lot of potential there, just like back in the day)





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