29 Old-School Photos From the 'Battle of the Network Stars' That Rival the Olympics

Carly Tennes Published 08/07/2024 in wow

Long before the high-flying, big schlonging, E. coli-sponsored action of the 2024 Paris Olympics graced our TV screens, audiences flocked to watch another athletic competition play out on air: The Battle of the Network Stars.

From 1976 to 1988 (with a one-off season taking place in 2017) the Battle of the Network Stars put sitcom icons from ABC, NBC, and CBS to the test, tasking them with showing their athletic prowess — and their hot bods — in challenges like Volleyball, Tennis, Tandem Bike Race, and even a Baseball Dunk. And with exciting challenges came even more exciting photos, one capturing all the '70s glory of this iconic TV series.

From Robin Williams relaxing between events to Heather Locklear paddling for her life, here are 29 old-school photos from the Battle of the Network Stars that put the Olympics to shame.

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1.
Tony Danza aims a football, 1977.
2.
O.J. Simpson partakes in the games, 1976.
3.
Suzanne Somers kayaks during an event, 1977.
4.
Penny Marshall and Jaclyn Smith run down a track, 1977.
5.
Michael J. Fox paddles a kayak, 1984.
6.
Heather Locklear gets in the zone, 1984.
7.
“47 years ago, 1977, Battle of the Network Stars.”
8.
“Gabe Kaplan and Joyce DeWitt discuss strategy, Battle of the Network Stars, 1978.”
9.
“Dan ‘Grizzly Adams’ Haggerty being helped by Kristy McNichol and Joyce Dewitt after an injury on the Battle of the Network Stars, 1977.”
10.
“Nancy McKeon at Battle of the Network Stars 1983.”
11.
“Lynda Carter - Battle of the Network Stars - 1976.”
12.
“Heather Locklear and Heather Thomas at the Battle of the Network Stars, 1984.” 
13.
“Catherine Bach, Battle of the Network Stars (1979).”
14.
“Heather Thomas in Battle of the Network Stars, 1983.”
15.
“Valerie Bertinelli aims for the dunk tank in ‘The Battle of the Network Stars’, 1977.”
16.
“Battle of the Network Stars competitors Lou Ferrigno and Billy Crystal, 1978.”
17.
“Battle of the Network Stars with (L to R) [Caitlyn] Jenner, Howard Cosell, and Telly Savalas, 1984.”
18.
“William Shatner and Heather Thomas compete for the honor of ABC in Battle of the Network Stars, 1982.”
19.
“Joyce Dewitt [in] Battle of the Network stars 1978.”
20.
“Valerie Bertinelli at The Battle of the Network Stars - 1979.”
21.
“Cheryl Ladd and Kristy McNichol at the 1977 Battle of The Network Stars.”
22.
“Penny Marshall and [Caitlyn] Jenner on the set of Battle of The Network Stars (at Pepperdine University) (1977).”
23.
“Tom Selleck in the dunk tank, Battle of the Network Stars, 1980s.”
24.
“Lynda Carter and Gabe Kaplan, Battle of the Network Stars, November 1976.”
25.
“Jacklyn Smith and Penny Marshall, Battle of the Network Stars, February 1977.”
26.
Andrew Stevens and Sam J. Jones don their green uniforms during the ‘Battle of the Network Stars’,1981.
27.
“Gabe Kaplan and Robin Williams, 1978.”
28.
TV stars kayak in a pool, date unknown.
29.
Farrah Fawcett sports her Battle of the Network Stars uniform, date unknown.

1.
Tony Danza aims a football, 1977.
2.
O.J. Simpson partakes in the games, 1976.
3.
Suzanne Somers kayaks during an event, 1977.
4.
Penny Marshall and Jaclyn Smith run down a track, 1977.
5.
Michael J. Fox paddles a kayak, 1984.
6.
Heather Locklear gets in the zone, 1984.
7.
“47 years ago, 1977, Battle of the Network Stars.”
8.
“Gabe Kaplan and Joyce DeWitt discuss strategy, Battle of the Network Stars, 1978.”
9.
“Dan ‘Grizzly Adams’ Haggerty being helped by Kristy McNichol and Joyce Dewitt after an injury on the Battle of the Network Stars, 1977.”
10.
“Nancy McKeon at Battle of the Network Stars 1983.”
11.
“Lynda Carter - Battle of the Network Stars - 1976.”
12.
“Heather Locklear and Heather Thomas at the Battle of the Network Stars, 1984.” 
13.
“Catherine Bach, Battle of the Network Stars (1979).”
14.
“Heather Thomas in Battle of the Network Stars, 1983.”
15.
“Valerie Bertinelli aims for the dunk tank in ‘The Battle of the Network Stars’, 1977.”
16.
“Battle of the Network Stars competitors Lou Ferrigno and Billy Crystal, 1978.”
17.
“Battle of the Network Stars with (L to R) [Caitlyn] Jenner, Howard Cosell, and Telly Savalas, 1984.”
18.
“William Shatner and Heather Thomas compete for the honor of ABC in Battle of the Network Stars, 1982.”
19.
“Joyce Dewitt [in] Battle of the Network stars 1978.”
20.
“Valerie Bertinelli at The Battle of the Network Stars - 1979.”
21.
“Cheryl Ladd and Kristy McNichol at the 1977 Battle of The Network Stars.”
22.
“Penny Marshall and [Caitlyn] Jenner on the set of Battle of The Network Stars (at Pepperdine University) (1977).”
23.
“Tom Selleck in the dunk tank, Battle of the Network Stars, 1980s.”
24.
“Lynda Carter and Gabe Kaplan, Battle of the Network Stars, November 1976.”
25.
“Jacklyn Smith and Penny Marshall, Battle of the Network Stars, February 1977.”
26.
Andrew Stevens and Sam J. Jones don their green uniforms during the ‘Battle of the Network Stars’,1981.
27.
“Gabe Kaplan and Robin Williams, 1978.”
28.
TV stars kayak in a pool, date unknown.
29.
Farrah Fawcett sports her Battle of the Network Stars uniform, date unknown.

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1. Tony Danza aims a football, 1977.

2. O.J. Simpson partakes in the games, 1976.

3. Suzanne Somers kayaks during an event, 1977.

4. Penny Marshall and Jaclyn Smith run down a track, 1977.

5. Michael J. Fox paddles a kayak, 1984.

6. Heather Locklear gets in the zone, 1984.

7. “47 years ago, 1977, Battle of the Network Stars.”

8. “Gabe Kaplan and Joyce DeWitt discuss strategy, Battle of the Network Stars, 1978.”

9. “Dan ‘Grizzly Adams’ Haggerty being helped by Kristy McNichol and Joyce Dewitt after an injury on the Battle of the Network Stars, 1977.”

10. “Nancy McKeon at Battle of the Network Stars 1983.”

11. “Lynda Carter - Battle of the Network Stars - 1976.”

12. “Heather Locklear and Heather Thomas at the Battle of the Network Stars, 1984.”

13. “Catherine Bach, Battle of the Network Stars (1979).”

14. “Heather Thomas in Battle of the Network Stars, 1983.”

15. “Valerie Bertinelli aims for the dunk tank in ‘The Battle of the Network Stars’, 1977.”

16. “Battle of the Network Stars competitors Lou Ferrigno and Billy Crystal, 1978.”

17. “Battle of the Network Stars with (L to R) [Caitlyn] Jenner, Howard Cosell, and Telly Savalas, 1984.”

18. “William Shatner and Heather Thomas compete for the honor of ABC in Battle of the Network Stars, 1982.”

19. “Joyce Dewitt [in] Battle of the Network stars 1978.”

20. “Valerie Bertinelli at The Battle of the Network Stars - 1979.”

21. “Cheryl Ladd and Kristy McNichol at the 1977 Battle of The Network Stars.”

22. “Penny Marshall and [Caitlyn] Jenner on the set of Battle of The Network Stars (at Pepperdine University) (1977).”

23. “Tom Selleck in the dunk tank, Battle of the Network Stars, 1980s.”

24. “Lynda Carter and Gabe Kaplan, Battle of the Network Stars, November 1976.”

25. “Jacklyn Smith and Penny Marshall, Battle of the Network Stars, February 1977.”

26. Andrew Stevens and Sam J. Jones don their green uniforms during the ‘Battle of the Network Stars’,1981.

27. “Gabe Kaplan and Robin Williams, 1978.”

28. TV stars kayak in a pool, date unknown.

29. Farrah Fawcett sports her Battle of the Network Stars uniform, date unknown.

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1.
Tony Danza aims a football, 1977.

2.
O.J. Simpson partakes in the games, 1976.

3.
Suzanne Somers kayaks during an event, 1977.

4.
Penny Marshall and Jaclyn Smith run down a track, 1977.

5.
Michael J. Fox paddles a kayak, 1984.

6.
Heather Locklear gets in the zone, 1984.

7.
“47 years ago, 1977, Battle of the Network Stars.”

8.
“Gabe Kaplan and Joyce DeWitt discuss strategy, Battle of the Network Stars, 1978.”

9.
“Dan ‘Grizzly Adams’ Haggerty being helped by Kristy McNichol and Joyce Dewitt after an injury on the Battle of the Network Stars, 1977.”

10.
“Nancy McKeon at Battle of the Network Stars 1983.”

11.
“Lynda Carter - Battle of the Network Stars - 1976.”

12.
“Heather Locklear and Heather Thomas at the Battle of the Network Stars, 1984.” 

13.
“Catherine Bach, Battle of the Network Stars (1979).”

14.
“Heather Thomas in Battle of the Network Stars, 1983.”

15.
“Valerie Bertinelli aims for the dunk tank in ‘The Battle of the Network Stars’, 1977.”

16.
“Battle of the Network Stars competitors Lou Ferrigno and Billy Crystal, 1978.”

17.
“Battle of the Network Stars with (L to R) [Caitlyn] Jenner, Howard Cosell, and Telly Savalas, 1984.”

18.
“William Shatner and Heather Thomas compete for the honor of ABC in Battle of the Network Stars, 1982.”

19.
“Joyce Dewitt [in] Battle of the Network stars 1978.”

20.
“Valerie Bertinelli at The Battle of the Network Stars - 1979.”

21.
“Cheryl Ladd and Kristy McNichol at the 1977 Battle of The Network Stars.”

22.
“Penny Marshall and [Caitlyn] Jenner on the set of Battle of The Network Stars (at Pepperdine University) (1977).”

23.
“Tom Selleck in the dunk tank, Battle of the Network Stars, 1980s.”

24.
“Lynda Carter and Gabe Kaplan, Battle of the Network Stars, November 1976.”

25.
“Jacklyn Smith and Penny Marshall, Battle of the Network Stars, February 1977.”

26.
Andrew Stevens and Sam J. Jones don their green uniforms during the ‘Battle of the Network Stars’,1981.

27.
“Gabe Kaplan and Robin Williams, 1978.”

28.
TV stars kayak in a pool, date unknown.

29.
Farrah Fawcett sports her Battle of the Network Stars uniform, date unknown.