Telly Savalas

Zounds.

That must surely have been the highlight of Byron Cherry's career.

 

Hey Simmons. 30 for 30: Battle of the Network Stars....make it happen.

Should have been a back hair weaving competition between Ed Asner, Robin Williams and Dick Van Patten at some point.

 

I sure don't miss Howard Cosell. And I mean not at all.

 

I remember watching as a kid and loving it. Still vividly recall the guy who played Grizzly Adams flexing his Pec in the dunk tank iirc and causing a stir with the ladies.

I also loved Superstars. Renaldo Nehemiah kicking ass on the Obstacle course seemed like the coolest thing in the world.

 

Keith Olberman has a lot of Howard Cosell in him

 

Winning team members received $20k in the first one - pretty serious scratch back in 1976 - more than their per episode pay for sure.
Perhaps the definitive "article" on BOTNS
http://mentalfloss.com/node/12649&bypass=1

 

And don't forget "Circus of the Stars." I have a vague recollection of Pat Harrington (Schneider from "One Day at a Time") walking on hot coals.

 

Letterman vs. Crystal?

Wow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=aW14c5kOLhM

 

I can't remember if it was Nehemiah or somebody else, but I remember there was a high jump part of the course, which most people would dive over and land on the padding, although a few of them couldn't make it. Nehemiah proceeded to hurdle it.

 

That's an interesting comparison and, yeah you're right, a snumber of striking similarities:

Both extremely intelligent and verbally skilled, but both also widely hated for a similar type of pompous/vain bombasticity, both known for left wing political views and tendency to poke sticks at those who thought differently, both known for thinking they were too good to just be doing sports and seeking to extend into other areas, etc. Solid comparison, Boom.

 

On one hand this conversation may be a bit '70s syrup. On the other hand, it's as good as it gets.

http://youtu.be/zeuP-UE2ynk?t=17m53s