Q 01/05

Which future late-night host competed for CBS at the November 1978 Battle of the Network Stars?

A) Jay Leno

B) David Letterman

C) Arsenio Hall

D) Garry Shandling

Answer · why

B) David Letterman

David Letterman had been a cast member of Mary, Mary Tyler Moore's CBS variety show, cancelled that autumn after three episodes. His own late-night sh...

Q 02/05

Which stand-up comedian, new to ABC that fall, competed at the November 1978 Battle of the Network Stars?

A) Robin Williams

B) Andy Kaufman

C) Rodney Dangerfield

D) Richard Pryor

Answer · why

A) Robin Williams

Robin Williams joined the ABC team barely two months after Mork & Mindy premiered and made him a star. His side lost to NBC.

Q 03/05

Which Charlie's Angels star competed for ABC at the very first Battle of the Network Stars in 1976?

A) Kate Jackson

B) Jaclyn Smith

C) Farrah Fawcett

D) Cheryl Ladd

Answer · why

C) Farrah Fawcett

Farrah Fawcett, billed then as Farrah Fawcett-Majors, was on ABC's winning team in 1976. Jaclyn Smith and Cheryl Ladd each took a turn the following y...

Q 04/05

Which final event decided the winner between the last two teams at each original Battle of the Network Stars?

A) Obstacle course

B) Tug of war

C) Relay race

D) Kayak race

Answer · why

B) Tug of war

Tug of war settled every contest after the lowest-scoring network was eliminated. By one captain's account, a single pull stayed deadlocked for more t...

Q 05/05

Which blunt boxing and football commentator hosted nearly every original Battle of the Network Stars?

A) Jim McKay

B) Keith Jackson

C) Curt Gowdy

D) Howard Cosell

Answer · why

D) Howard Cosell

Howard Cosell missed only the 1985 edition, the one staged abroad, and came back for the final special in 1988.