Battle of the Network Stars was a popular television series that was aired between the 1970s and the 1980s. In 2017, a Battle of the Network Stars Reboot was launched. However, the reboot has made many changes to the original version, so how do the two stack up?
In the original series, stars competed against each other from three television networks; ABC, CBS, and NBC. The show was launched in 1976 and 1988 and included a total of 19 competitions. The teams competed in a variety of different sporting events.
Battle of the Network Stars Reboot
In 2017, ABC decided to relaunch the show as a weekly series and the first episode was aired on June 29, 2017. The show has retained the same premise of having the teams compete in sporting events but they have also introduced some changes that make this series differ to the original. This is not the first comeback of the show as in 2005, Battle of the Network Reality Stars premiered on Bravo for just one series.
The Hosts
The host for the original series was Howard Cosell in all but one series between 1976 and 1988. In 1985, Cosell did not present the show following a fall out with ABC. However, he returned the following year. As a presenter, Cosell was well-known for his semi-serious style.
The new series is presented by Mike Greenberg who is an experienced sports presenter and commentator. Although he has a serious side, he will bring an element of fun to the show as he has a good sense of humor. This is evident in the first book he launched in 2006, ‘Why My Wife Thinks I’m An Idiot: The Life and Times of a Sportscaster Dad.
The Format
The format of the show is one of the biggest changes. In the original series, the teams comprised eight or nine stars from a network with one member of the team being nominated as the team captain. Some of the sporting events included golf, tennis, bowling, volleyball, swimming, kayaking, and tennis. Teams were given points for their performance.
In the 2017 version, the structure of the teams is different for three reasons. The first is that the teams consist of only six players. Secondly, the teams are not necessarily from different networks. Instead, they are grouped in accordance with character types. For example, cops versus TV sitcoms or TV moms and dads versus TV kids. Finally, the team captain is the only permanent member of the team. The other five team members change each week.
Reboot Reviews
The Battle of the Network Stars Reboot has received mixed reviews and these have predominantly depended on whether the reviewer is old enough to have watched the original. While younger reviewers suggest that this is a fun series to watch, the views of older reviewers differ. They have fond memories of the original version and this nostalgia may have clouded their opinions of the reboot. Not only do they think that the games lack fun, they also suggest that the original had a better atmosphere as there were crowds cheering on the teams; something which is lacking in the revamped version.
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