Long before Twitter offered a forum for celebrities to beef with each other, ABC was encouraging them to settle their differences as well as vie for bragging rights on Battle Of The Network Stars. The competition series originally ran from 1976-1988, with a shortlived revival in 2005, and saw actors from TV shows on the major networks—ABC, CBS, and NBC—perform various feats of athleticism. In the late ‘70s, it was where you could go to watch Ron Howard, Billy Crystal, Penny Marshall, LeVar Burton, and Jane Curtin (among so many others) hike up their tube socks and get down to competitive business.
Despite all the cord cutting going on in the world, the networks still offer up plenty of programming, so ABC’s revived the series. But the contestant pool will now be made up of 100 celebrities from network, cable, and syndication. These actors span decades of TV, hailing from everything from The Brady Brunch and Good Times to Baywatch and Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Ahead of the show’s June 29 premiere, ABC’s released the names of 60 celeb-testants, including Battle alums Todd Bridges, Jimmie Walker, Willie Aames, and Lou Ferrigno. The match-ups have themes, including pitting Sci-fi Fantasy TV regulars like Charisma Carpenter and Vinnie Jones (who’s appeared on Arrow and Galavant) against TV Cops like Marisol Nichols and Adrian Zmed. There are actually enough fictional law enforcement types to compete in another bracket, which is why we’ll see Erik Estrada take on TV Sitcom actors like Dave Foley.
Here’s a the full list of the famous competitors and a couple photos. Battle Of The Network Stars commences once more June 29 on ABC.
TV Sitcoms Versus Cops
Sitcom folks: Todd Bridges, Leigh-Allyn Baker, Dave Foley, Willie Garson, Jenna von Oy)
Cops: Erik Estrada, Larry Wilcox, Kelly Hu, Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, Lorenzo Lamas
Sci-Fi Fantasy Versus Cops
SFF: Lou Ferrigno, Vinnie Jones, Charisma Carpenter, Kevin Sorbo, Jill Wagner
Cops: Marisol Nichols, Roma Maffia, Adrian Zmed, Fred Dryer, Ryan Paevey
TV Moms & Dads Versus TV Kids
TV Parents: Chad Lowe, Greg Evigan, Ted McGinley, Lesley Fera, Jackee Harry
TV Kids: Jimmie Walker, Mackenzie Phillips, Jonathan Lipnicki, Krista Marie Yu, Jeremy Miller
Famous TV Families Versus Doctors
Families: Danny Bonaduce, Barry Williams, Beverley Mitchell, Willie Aames, Charlene Tilton
Doctors: Thomas Calabro, Taye Diggs, Rachelle Lefevre, Deidre Hall, Benjamin Hollingsworth
TV Lifeguards Versus Troublemakers
Lifeguards: David Chokachi, Brande Roderick, Parker Stevenson, Nicole Eggert, Gena Lee Nolin
Troublemakers: Vivica A. Fox, Paul Johansson, John Barrowman, Julie Benz, Catherine Bach
TV Sitcoms Versus TV Kids
Sitcoms: Bronson Pinchot, Tom Arnold, Dave Coulier, A.J. Michalka, Tracey Gold
TV Kids: Joey Lawrence, Corbin Bleu, Nolan Gould, Lisa Whelchel, Kim Fields
Primetime Soaps Versus ABC Stars
Soaps: Ian Ziering, Josh Henderson, Gabrielle Carteris, Donna Mills, Mischa Barton) Stars: Olivia d’Abo, Shari Belafonte, Michael Fishman, Jason Hervey, Anson Williams
White House Shows Versus Lawyers
White House Reps: Cornelius Smith Jr., Marlee Matlin, Joshua Malina, LaMonica Garrett, Mary McCormack
Lawyers: Elisabeth Rohm, Corbin Bernsen, Matt McGorry, Romi Dias, Catherine Bell
Variety Versus ABC Stars
Variety: Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, Adrienne Houghton, Cameron Mathison, Kelly Osbourne
Stars: Ted Lange, Troy Gentile, Jill Whelan, Denise Richards, Joely Fisher