All right, BOTNS was kind of cheesy and Cosell's commentary, as if each segment were the Olympics, can give you a chuckle. Plus, we can all point and laugh at the hairstyles and such, at least before we remember (some of us anyway) that we used to wear such styles ourselves. But still, it's great fun to watch these old shows. The stars tended to acquit themselves better as amateur athletes than as intellectuals at Celebrity Jeopardy. :)

That tug of war is something else, a triumph of the underdog. Remember, one of the three women on the CBS team was only a 13- year-old slip of a girl, Danielle Brisebois. And Pernell Roberts was not, as one reviewer said, 52; he was 54 (born in 1928) and had anywhere from 12 years to 23 years on any of the other men. He was amazing as the anchor, the "rock of Gibraltar," as Cosell put it.

Harmon and Wopat were the same age (almost to the day) and fairly evenly matched; Harmon as a trained athlete might even have had an edge. But Pernell is who made the difference. He just dug in there and wouldn't let go. And the women gave it their all, too. And with Catherine Bach suffering from an earlier injury. Go, CBS women! :)

The family genre features stories specifically created to be suitable for a wide range of age groups within a family. Family-oriented content is designed to be enjoyed by both children and adults, often providing entertainment that is wholesome, relatable, and appropriate for all members of a family to watch or experience together.

Drew Barrymore and Pat Welsh in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

The game show genre features TV series with contestants competing against each other in various challenges, tasks, or quizzes to win prizes or rewards. Game shows are designed to engage viewers by presenting exciting and often competitive scenarios that involve participants using their knowledge, skills, and strategies to outperform their opponents and win.

Bill Barretta and Pat Sajak in Wheel of Fortune (1983)

The sport genre features the world of sports, capturing the excitement, competition, and personal journeys of athletes, coaches, and teams. The stories cover a wide range of sports and activities, each with its own unique characteristics and themes.

Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill in Moneyball (2011)

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

Streaming Stars, Then and Now

Farrah Fawcett and Penny Marshall in Battle of the Network Stars (1976)

Andrew Stevens and Sam J. Jones in Battle of the Network Stars XI (1981)

Willie Aames in Battle of the Network Stars IX (1980)

Robert Conrad, Gil Gerard, Melissa Gilbert, Erin Gray, Karen Grassle, Sarah Purcell, Greg Evigan, Randi Oakes, and Patrick Wayne in Battle of the Network Stars VII (1979)

Randi Oakes at an event for Battle of the Network Stars XII (1982)

Battle of the Network Stars XII

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