![]() The Dunk tank has been modified with a bit of a 2017 spin it’s now a 15-foot free-fall into the pool, which I think was a highlight of everyone’s day. TVLINE | What sort of events are involved? Most importantly, is there still a Dunk Tank? Yes, we have a lot of Howard Cosell blaring out of the speakers here. TVLINE | Do you cut away to pretaped video packages about that? “Previously on Battle of the Network Stars, Donna Mills….” Those are the stories that I was focused on telling, sort of reliving the height of Knots Landing, if you were lucky enough to experience that era of TV, and watching someone like her come out three decades later and really compete. I mean, Donna Mills came back with her tennis gear and crushed it. ….Kim Fields ( The Facts of Life), Jimmie Walker ( Good Times)…. TVLINE | I see Erik Estrada ( CHiPs), Lisa Whelchel ( The Facts of Life)… We have 15 or 20 people who had done the show 30, 35 years ago… TVLINE | Was anybody who had done a previous edition particularly excited to be back for this? We also saw some of the “legacy” sitcom stars turning to their modern-day counterparts and saying, “This is probably what’s going to happen to you over the next five, 10 years….” There was a real organic crossover between stars that span the generations, really. The mix of some CHiPs, some High School Musical, seems to have that appeal of something for everyone. “ But then there are other people in the cast that when I told my nieces about them, she freaked out and was totally excited. I really appreciate the people that I grew up with, watching them on television, so my focus was on the “retro”- the “nostalgia”- stars that I looked up to as a kid and were and sort of my “TV friends for life. When this was first announced, I assumed/feared that we’d end up with a couple dozen Bachelor and Big Brother rejects - “Battle of the Also-Ran Reality-TV Stars!” Was it by design that you ended up with this half-retro, half-current mix of actors? TVLINE | I have to say, the cast as a whole impresses me. The athletic part of the competition broke down on two lines: people who were determined to set records and excel, and a second tier of competitors who just wanted to go home with no broken bones, no torn ligaments and no extended hospitalization. It’s just about positive energy and everyone giving their best. But this time around it’s not about arguing line calls, and it’s not even about conflict. We did have Robert Conrad come back for half an hour, just to walk around and give us a history lesson, which I loved. TVLINE | Do you have a “Robert Conrad” and “Gabe Kaplan” in the mix? ![]() The essence of competition of amateur sports was really pleasantly surprising to see. Everyone wants to be the hero that hits the walk-off home run. No one wants to be the person who drops the ball with one second left in the game. Everyone does want to win, even though they’re not fighting for money. But once the whistle blows, playtime is over. It started on the red carpet, where everyone had a very playful attitude. Though I will say, all kidding aside, that one of the things we found is that everyone showed up with a premium on winning. Yes, correct! It’s definitely in the vein of that. TVLINE | Or at least less aftermarket value than the Dancing With the Stars disco globe. It has probably very little aftermarket value, other than the thrill of victory. The winner takes a truly ornate, one-of-a-kind medal with the ABC logo on it. TVLINE | And what exactly does the winner take? It’s a series of head-to-heads, five-on-five, winner take all. TVLINE | For starters, what’s the format here? Is it a bracket tournament or a series of head-to-heads? Even the current or emerging stars who are part of the cast also said they grew up with it, because their parents had watched it or they’d seen clips of Scott Baio doing it on YouTube… It’s one of those names or titles that evokes a lot of memories in all of us. Battle of the Network Stars was appointment television for Young Matt. TVLINE | You are my hero, man, bringing this back. What else is new or familiar? TVLine invited executive producer Andrew Glassman to set the stage for the series of 10 face-offs. ![]() The 20 teams of five (see photos) are now themed, and populated by TV stars both current and from days gone by - including many that vied in the original competitions. Now, the Battle is back on, but with some updates. Heels: Stephen Amell and Kelli Berglund Talk Crystal’s Big Win, Building the Women’s Division in Season 2
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