# Cast the new "Battle of the Network Stars" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 5, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452 "2017-03-05T02:14:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452/1 "2017-03-05T02:14:56Z")
ABC is in the process of making a summer series of _Battle of the Network Stars_. Since it’s a series, it probably won’t be like the original version, where teams of celebrities from ABC, CBS, and NBC series and specials (Fox did not exist yet) competed against each other. However, if they do have an ABC team, a CBS team, an NBC team, a Fox team, and a CW team, who would you want to see on each one? Three restrictions: 1 - limit each team to 10 persons, who are on a current (2016-17) series on that network, even if that series has finished its run and there is little chance of it returning next season. 2 - no animated characters, although you can include voiceover actors (so Dan Castellaneta is OK, but “Homer Simpson” is not) 3 - **no reality show contestants** other than celebrities who were on on _Dancing With the Stars_ this season. You _can_ include reality show hosts or judges. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2017, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452/2 "2017-03-05T04:14:49Z")
Just nostalgizing about what made the original Must See TV. Bathing suits MUST be a single layer of nylon or other clings when wet fabric. And no soft focus photography. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452/3 "2017-05-31T19:35:02Z")
ABC just released a press release about the show, and there’s a major change in the traditional format; it’s not going to be network against network, but more genre against genre or character type against character type (for example, “TV Parents” against “TV Kids.”) Looks like the new version is going to be a glorified version of _All-Star Anything Goes_. If you’re not familiar with that one, it was a syndicated all-celebrity version of ABC’s _Almost Anything Goes_. (For those of you from Europe, AAG was America’s version of _It’s a Knockout / Jeux Sans Frontières_, but with really small cities - I think the maximum population allowed was 20,000.) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452/4 "2017-05-31T19:42:44Z")
If TNT shows are allowed, Rebecca Romijn and Lindy Booth need to be involved. ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2017, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452/5 "2017-05-31T20:40:06Z")
Johnny Galecki needs to be on it just for the exercise. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452/6 "2017-06-01T00:12:51Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > Looks like the new version is going to be a glorified version of _All-Star Anything Goes_. If you’re not familiar with that one, it was a syndicated all-celebrity version of ABC’s _Almost Anything Goes_. (For those of you from Europe, AAG was America’s version of _It’s a Knockout / Jeux Sans Frontières_, but with really small cities - I think the maximum population allowed was 20,000.) Good lord, I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who remembered _Almost Anything Goes_. > [@Skywatcher](#): > > If TNT shows are allowed, Rebecca Romijn and Lindy Booth need to be involved. Would that be the “librarians vs. book-burners” episode? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452/7 "2017-06-01T15:11:24Z")
The thing I really liked about the original (aside from the one piece spandex swimsuits) is that the players actually competed, and cared if they won. And sometimes got hurt. I could be wrong, but I suspect modern actors won’t risk a sprained ankle or other injury these days. Or even risk looking sweaty or in any way less than perfect. Given that, here are some people I could see on teams. I don’t watch enough shows to fill out the rosters: CBS: Lucy Liu, Tom Selleck (a callback to the original series), Alex O’Loughlin, Grace Park, Téa Leoni ABC: Viola Davis, Kiefer Sutherland, Neil Flynn, Eden Sher, Anthony Anderson, Sofía Vergara, Julie Bowen NBC: I don’t think I watch a single NBC show! Still, there’s probably some good choices there. The original series had a lot of surprises, actors who you wouldn’t think were athletic that shined in competition. Like Gabe Kaplan beating Robert Conrad head to head. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452/8 "2017-06-01T15:20:03Z")
I want to see a three-way “Battle of the NCIS Teams”. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452/9 "2017-06-01T16:28:22Z")
All the superheroes could team up for real - Grant Gustin, Melissa Benoist, Stephen Amell, Caity Lotz. Although Stephen Amell would probably cream the competition all by his lonesome, given the way he [demolished the American Ninja Warrior course](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCzInz6i3jI). ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452/10 "2017-06-01T17:10:41Z")
For the ladies, and a few fellas I’m sure, [Milo Ventimiglia](https://media1.popsugar-assets.com/files/thumbor/VRkFecavMwM_mr87HA7wKrbWWLo/fit-in/2048xorig/filters:format_auto-!!-:strip_icc-!!-/2016/10/18/920/n/1922398/6434f92e58068ebdedc2a2.49771477_edit_img_image_42577370_1476819636/i/Milo-Ventimiglia-Shirtless-Pictures.jpg)from _This Is Us_. To guarantee my viewership, Kaley Cuoco. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452/11 "2017-06-01T17:25:13Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Just nostalgizing about what made the original Must See TV. Bathing suits MUST be a single layer of nylon or other clings when wet fabric. And no soft focus photography. Right. That was the real star. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452/12 "2017-06-01T17:36:12Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > All the superheroes could team up for real - Grant Gustin, Melissa Benoist, Stephen Amell, Caity Lotz. Although Stephen Amell would probably cream the competition all by his lonesome, given the way he [demolished the American Ninja Warrior course](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCzInz6i3jI). I was just about to post the same thing. That guy is the real deal. He can also really shoot a bow very well. So if it’s a network battle to the death, I’ll put my money on him. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2017, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452/13 "2017-06-01T18:24:22Z")
What’s the odds on there being a _Celebrity Death Race!_ within the next ten years? ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452/14 "2017-06-12T18:26:53Z")
Here are the teams, paired up by episode - indicates someone who was on the previous version of _Battle of the Network Stars_ **TV Sitcoms** Bronson Pinchot (Perfect Strangers) Tom Arnold (Roseanne) Dave Coulier AJ Michalka Tracey Gold (Growing Pains) \*\*TV Kids \*\* Joey Lawrence (Gimme a Break; Blossom) Corbin Bleu Nolan Gould Lisa Whelchel \* (The Facts of Life) Kim Fields \* (The Facts of Life) \*\*Primetime Soaps \*\* Ian Ziering (Beverly Hills 90210) Josh Henderson Gabrielle Carteris (Beverly Hills 90210) Donna Mills \* Mischa Barton \*\*ABC Stars \*\* Olivia d’Abo (Life Goes On) \* Shari Belafonte (Hotel) \* Michael Fishman (Roseanne) Jason Hervey (The Wonder Years) Anson Williams (Happy Days) \*\*Variety \*\* Joanna Krupa Nick Lachey Vanessa Lachey Gilles Marini Jack Osbourne \*\*TV Sex Symbols \*\* Keegan Allen Traci Bingham Rosa Blasi Brant Daugherty Galen Gering **Cops** Erik Estrada (CHiPs) Larry Wilcox (CHiPs) Kelly Hu (Hawaii Five-O) Jodi Lyn O’Keefe (Prison Break) Lorenzo Lamas \* \*\*TV Sitcoms \*\* Todd Bridges \* (Diff’rent Strokes) Leigh-Allyn Baker (Will & Grace) Dave Foley (NewsRadio) Willie Garson Jenna von Oy (Blossom) \*\*White House \*\* Cornelius Smith Jr. Marlee Matlin Joshua Malina LaMonica Garrett Mary McCormack \*\*Lawyers \*\* Elisabeth Rohm Corbin Bernsen (L.A. Law) Matt McGorry Romi Dias Catherine Bell) \*\*TV Moms & Dads \*\* Chad Lowe Greg Evigan \* (My Two Dads) Ted McGinley \* Lesley Fera Jackee Harry \*\*TV Kids \*\* Jimmie Walker \* (Good Times) Mackenzie Phillips \* (One Day at a Time) Jonathan Lipnicki Krista Marie Yu Jeremy Miller (Growing Pains) **Famous TV Families** Danny Bonaduce (The Partridge Family) Barry Williams (The Brady Bunch) Beverley Mitchell Willie Aames \* (Eight is Enough; Charles in Charge) Charlene Tilton \* \*\*Doctors \*\* Thomas Calabro Taye Diggs Rachelle Lefevre Deidre Hall \* Benjamin Hollingsworth \*\*Troublemakers \*\* Vivica A. Fox Paul Johansson John Barrowman Julie Benz Catherine Bach \*\*TV Lifeguards \*\* David Chokachi Brande Roderick Parker Stevenson \* Nicole Eggert Gena Lee Nolin \*\*ABC Stars \*\* Ted Lange \* (That’s My Mama; The Love Boat) Troy Gentile Jill Whelan \* (The Love Boat) Denise Richards Joely Fisher \*\*Variety \*\* Lance Bass Joey Fatone Adrienne Houghton Cameron Mathison Kelly Osbourne \*\*Cops \*\* Marisol Nichols Roma Maffia Adrian Zmed \* (T.J. Hooker) Fred Dryer Ryan Paevey \*\*Sci-Fi/Fantasy \*\* Lou Ferrigno (The Incredible Hulk) Vinnie Jones Charisma Carpenter Kevin Sorbo Jill Wagner ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452/15 "2017-06-12T18:44:24Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > The original series had a lot of surprises, actors who you wouldn’t think were athletic that shined in competition. Like Gabe Kaplan beating Robert Conrad head to head. That was the greatest moment of TV history, IMHO. They were the coaches of their respective teams, and Kaplan (ABC) and Telly Savalas (CBS) had (correctly) accused Conrad’s team (NBC) of cheating in a relay race - the anchor runner had taken several steps behind the line to speed the transfer, because the previous runner was really struggling. The judges assessed NBC a 2 second penalty, which cost them the race. Conrad blew his top, challenged Kaplan to a foot race to decide it, then lost by a mile to Mr. Kotter. All announced by Howard Cosell. Here’s the [whole segment](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqWU9huMMco). ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452/16 "2017-06-12T20:44:41Z")
Wow, given the list of ‘stars’, they better have some wheelchair races. (: ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2017, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452/17 "2017-06-12T20:55:58Z")
> [@Sam\_Stone](#): > > Wow, given the list of ‘stars’, they better have some wheelchair races. (: Yeah. Bunch of has-beens and never-heard-ofs, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452/18 "2017-06-13T02:28:04Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Yeah. Bunch of has-beens and never-heard-ofs, IMHO. They could have appeared in the original Battle of the Network Stars. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452/19 "2017-06-13T02:36:35Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > That was the greatest moment of TV history, IMHO. They were the coaches of their respective teams, and Kaplan (ABC) and Telly Savalas (CBS) had (correctly) accused Conrad’s team (NBC) of cheating in a relay race - the anchor runner had taken several steps behind the line to speed the transfer, because the previous runner was really struggling. > > The judges assessed NBC a 2 second penalty, which cost them the race. Conrad blew his top, challenged Kaplan to a foot race to decide it, then lost by a mile to Mr. Kotter. All announced by Howard Cosell. > > Here’s the [whole segment](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqWU9huMMco). That is absolutely hilarious. I was around way back then, I was in the show’s target demographic, and I was ignorant of this event until now. WOW!!! ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2017, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452/20 "2017-06-13T15:42:22Z")
ESPN Classic has shown several of the episodes recently, though I think right now they are not. It’s fun to see them, but I think they edit the heck out of them. I remember seeing entire events - each team’s full football game, all the competitors in the obstacle course, etc, but ESPNC seems to have much less coverage than I remember. Still, quite enjoyable to watch. They don’t seem to have the early episodes, the ones that led SNL to make a “Battle of the Network T’s and A’s” parody commercial. No Linda Carter, no Adrienne Barbeau, no Farrah. And while they do show the later ones ('85 and '88) they could be skipped. The idea had run its course by then and those weren’t that fun. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cast-the-new-battle-of-the-network-stars/781452.md?page=2)