"Battle of the Network Stars" was a program on ABC that featured a decathlon-type competition between celebrities from the three major broadcast networks.
For the debut episode in 1976, the team captains were Telly Savalas, star of "Kojak" (CBS), Gabe Kaplan from "Welcome Back, Kotter" (ABC), and Robert Conrad, Pappy Boyington in "Baa Baa Black Sheep" (NBC).
Howard Cosell acts as the announcer when controversy breaks out over the results over a relay race in the clip below.
There is SO much here that reflects what a different world we live in today compared to 1976. The hair, the sweat-suits, the smoking, the cultural-stereotype jokes (by the way, that's Pat Harrington, Snyder from "One Day At A Time", who makes the "mick" joke)...unbelievable.
How about Bob Conrad?! Livid!! Turns out that the Kaplan upset over Conrad wasn't so much of an upset considering that Kaplan ran track in high school and that Conrad had to put out his cigarette to run the race.
(Tip of the cap to Bill Simmons, The Sports Guy , for posting about this gem!)
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1 comment:
Mind boggling. Phenomenal.
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