Battle of the Network Shows

Each week, hosts Rick Brooks and Mike Cowgill explore the TV of the '70s and '80s through hand-picked episodes.

The TV Guide Game March 30, 1981 03/30/2021

The TV Guide Game March 30, 1981 This week, we go back 40 years for the TV Guide game to March 30, 1981, when a major historical event disrupted the TV schedule. Rick tries to guess what Mike would have watched from the originally planned schedule, and we ponder a number important questions raised by the schedule and the day's events. /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/18500189

Michael Learned or Michael Lerner 03/11/2021

Michael Learned or Michael Lerner In the grand tradition of Patrick Simmons or Gary Sandy, we proudly present another unique podcast game when Mike asks Rick to determine whether Ma Walton herself Michael Learned or venerable character actor Michael Lerner fits a given trivia question. Is Rick learned enough to face the challenge? /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/18217316

Fame Game 7 02/18/2021

Fame Game 7 When last we played The Fame Game, Mike secured a victory after the previous "Ruth Buzzi Fiasco." Can he turn that victory into a streak, or will the ghosts of previous losses once again haunt him? Find out now when Rick puts Mike through another round of The Fame Game! /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/17938400

Season 8 BATTY Awards 02/04/2021

Season 8 BATTY Awards night in retro TV podcasting," the BATTY Awards. As always, the awards include the expected like outstanding male and female performances, the unique like outstanding facial hair and nonhuman, and the downright unexpected--you'll have to listen to find out. Plus, we hand out another Robert Pine Genius Award! /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/17765231

Mailbag at Battle of the Network Shows 01/28/2021

Mailbag at Battle of the Network Shows This week, we answer open up the mailbag and answer questions from our Facebook group. We give our thoughts on expanding our format, how we got started, our favorite shows from the seventies and eighties, and, perhaps most importantly, our thoughts on Elvis. Also, we commit to a subject for season nine. /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/17664020

Episode 8-13: Holiday Special "The Little Rascals Christmas Special" 12/17/2020

Episode 8-13: Holiday Special "The Little Rascals Christmas Special" On this year's holiday special, cartoon versions of the Little Rascals learn some difficult lessons about eavesdropping, paying attention to weather forecasts, running scams, and being greedy, little so-and-sos during difficult economic times. It's really sweet. /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/17170031

Episode 8-12: Night of One Hundred Stars 1982 12/10/2020

Episode 8-12: Night of One Hundred Stars 1982 To celebrate our 100th episode, more or less, we look at Night of One Hundred stars and ask the important questions like: what do you do for 2 ½ hours with 200 stars; if you have 200 stars, why call it night of 100 stars; and will this song ever end? /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/17078306

Episode 8-11: Darkroom: "The Partnership, Daisies, Catnip" 12/03/2020

Episode 8-11: Darkroom: "The Partnership, Daisies, Catnip" In another listener request episode, we discuss the short-lived horror anthology Darkroom. Hosted by James Coburn, Darkroom delves into the macabre and mysterious lurking, sometimes literally, under the mundane world. In this episode, Mr. Haney has plans for an unsuspecting David Carradine, Rue McClanahan talks to the daises, and guy learns the hard way not to mess with cats. /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/16984991

Episode 8-10: Newhart "Thanksgiving For the Memories" 11/26/2020

Episode 8-10: Newhart "Thanksgiving For the Memories" Celebrate Thanksgiving BOTNS style with classic eighties sitcom Newhart. Dick Loudon loves Thanksgiving at home the way children love Christmas, so naturally, a series of unforeseen events nearly ruins it until three wise men save the day. /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/16909400

Episode 8-9: 60 Minutes March 13, 1983 11/19/2020

Episode 8-9: 60 Minutes March 13, 1983 This week, we put on our reporters' caps, riffle through the papers on our desks, and try to parse out what makes ratings juggernaut 60 Minutes so iconic. Along the way, we also get to explore some vintage commercials, the sartorial choices of some of the reporters, and ask some unexpected what-if questions? It doesn't get more hard-hitting than this! /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/16818128

Episode 8-8: The Greatest American Hero "The Shock Will Kill You" 11/12/2020

Episode 8-8: The Greatest American Hero "The Shock Will Kill You" Believe it or not, it took eight seasons for us to get to The Greatest American Hero. After steering a powerless space shuttle to a safe landing, Ralph turns into a walking magnet, and only he, Bill, and Pam stand in between a electricity-eating space monster and doom! What a scenario! /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/16722137

Episode 8-7: Tucker's Witch Aired and Unaired Pilot 11/05/2020

Episode 8-7: Tucker's Witch Aired and Unaired Pilot In short-lived detective series "Tucker's Witch," a married couple solves crimes with a little help from the wife's extra psychic abilities. In a twist, Ted Danson plays the villain. In another twist, producers recast the leads and refilmed the pilot for air. In another twist...we talk about both. /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/16576421

Episode 8-6: Poor Devil 10/28/2020

Episode 8-6: Poor Devil In TV movie "Poor Devil," Sammy Davis Jr. the demon sees a chance to get out of the furnace room if Christopher "Lucifer" Lee will just let him convince Jack Klugman to sign over his soul. Also, Adam West plays a jerk. What the h-e-double-hockey-sticks?! /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/16402220

Episode 8-5: Duck Tales "Once Upon a Dime" 10/22/2020

Episode 8-5: Duck Tales "Once Upon a Dime" This week, we dive into the deep end of the money bin as we take on a lister request, eighties cartoon Duck Tales. On every duck's favorite holiday, Dime Polishing Day, Scrooge McDuck tells the duck tale of how he got his number one dime and became the world's richest duck. /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/16297073

Episode 8-4: Columbo "A Stitch in Crime" 10/15/2020

Episode 8-4: Columbo "A Stitch in Crime" Classic detective Columbo squares off with a doctor as arrogant as Columbo is rumpled. That doctor--Leonard Nimoy. We're not sure, but it might be possible that Columbo, if things go right, could maybe catch him...but will we ever really know? /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/16296902

Episode 8-3: Evel Knieval meets Wide World of Sports 10/08/2020

Episode 8-3: Evel Knieval meets Wide World of Sports This week, we span the globe to bring you our most daring episode yet! Join us for all the thrills, spills, and chills when Evel Knieval meets ABC's Wide World of Sports! /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/16168721

Episode 8-2: Back to the Egg--1980-81 TV Season 40th Anniversary 10/01/2020

Episode 8-2: Back to the Egg--1980-81 TV Season 40th Anniversary This week, we take a broader approach than normal as we celebrate the--oof--40th anniversary of the troubled 1980-81 TV season. Strikes, Olympic boycotts, elections, "Shogun," "Who Shot J.R.?" and more--we try to cover it all. Plus, a surprising amount of egg talk. /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/16076348

A Very Brady Bonus 09/28/2020

A Very Brady Bonus You might think we'd run out of things to say about The Brady Bunch, but we've found a little more to say. In this supplemental episode, we talk about the iconic opening credit sequence. Who looks the most awkward? Plus, what effects wizard created the sequence, and how did he do it? /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/16160333

Episode 8-1: The Brady Bunch: The Big Bet 09/24/2020

Episode 8-1: The Brady Bunch: The Big Bet It only took eight seasons, but we finally talk about our second-favorite 8-member family--9 if you count Alice, which we do--the Brady Bunch! Bobby and Greg make a bet, and the unexpected winner becomes a tyrant! Plus one of our hosts wrestles with his complicated feelings about the show. /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/16051931

A Preview of Things to Come: Season 8 09/17/2020

A Preview of Things to Come: Season 8 This week, we give you a quick preview of our upcoming season 8, which premieres Thursday, September 24, 2020. We also tell you where else you can hear Rick and Mike, and we somehow manage to work Jeffrey Scott and Kenny Rogers into the discussion. /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/16005293

Season 7 BATTY Awards 08/27/2020

Season 7 BATTY Awards BROADCASTING FROM ACROSS ALL TIME AND AND SPACE, BATTLE OF THE NETWORK SHOWS PROUDLY PRESENTS THE SEASON SEVEN BATTY AWARDS! EXPECT THE BIGGEST AND BRIGHTEST NAMES OF THE SEVENTIES AND EIGHTIES...AND YAKOV SMIRNOV. AWWW. THRILL AT CLASSIC CATEGORIES LIKE BEST SHOW, BEST EPISODE, AND OF COURSE OUTSTANDING FACIAL HAIR. SQUEAL WITH DELIGHT WHEN CHARO PLAYS A MEDLEY OF THE BEST THEME SONG NOMINEES! AND PRAY THAT NO ONE GETS MURDERED WITH JESSICA FLETCHER AROUND! JOIN US NOW FOR THE SEASON SEVEN BATTY AWARDS! /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/15754193

Fame Game Six 08/13/2020

Fame Game Six It's time for another round of everybody's favorite TV-related game The Fame Game. This time, Mike tries to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Also, as a PSA, we plea for proper treatment of produce. /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/15359402

Catching Up 07/30/2020

Catching Up Between an intended break between seasons and the state of the world in 2020, we've taken a longer hiatus than expected. This week, we catch up on the state of the show, the state of the hosts, and the state of the Season 7 BATTYS. We also talk about some of the TV we've watched during lockdown. /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/15359354

Fame Game: Round Five 04/30/2020

Fame Game: Round Five We return for another exciting round of the Fame Game! Will Mike be able to guess this week's BOTNS-era celebrity, character, or possibly location, or will he go down trying? Plus, what have Bobby and the BOTNS Orchestra been up to? Find out this week! /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/13969499

List-o-rama: Action Figure Wish List 04/16/2020

List-o-rama: Action Figure Wish List While shows ranging from Transformers all the way to M*A*S*H had action figures during the BOTNS era, plenty didn't, so we offer up a double-decker wish list. First, we look at toys we would have wanted as kids at the time. Then we list toys based on the era we'd love to have now. Join us for all the action and play along with your BOTNS action figures! /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/13969367

7-12: Transformers "Auto-Bop" and "Prime Target" 03/19/2020

7-12: Transformers "Auto-Bop" and "Prime Target" Nothing screams the eighties more than break dancing and transforming robots. You wouldn't expect to find them in the same place, but "Auto-Bop" does just that as Blaster and Tracks help some break dancers stop the Decepticons from hypnotizing patrons of Club Dancetron in order to build an office building. Plus, a big game hunter and his immortal butler try to capture Optimus Prime! /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/13575155

Episode 7-11: Battle of the Network Promos 03/12/2020

Episode 7-11: Battle of the Network Promos Back in the seventies and eighties, the big three networks used elaborate promotional campaigns involving memorable slogans, catchy jingles, celebrity appearances, and everything from picnics to fantasy sequences to hot air balloon rides. This week, we pit some of these campaigns against each other in a heated, yet celebratory competition. /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/13512800

Episode 7-10: Soap "Pilot" 03/05/2020

Episode 7-10: Soap "Pilot" Part soap opera parody, part socially relevant comedy, Soap broke new ground in the late seventies and early eighties, stirring up controversy months before it ever aired. Writer Susan Harris and and a stellar cast covered everything from feminism to gay rights to ventriloquism. Confused? You won't be after listening to this episode of Battle of the Network Shows. /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/13384802

Episode 7-9: The Beachcombers "Blue Plate Special" 02/27/2020

Episode 7-9: The Beachcombers "Blue Plate Special" This week, we head north to Canada to take a look at venerable institution The Beachcombers. In "Blue Plate Special," Nick and the gang to save local cafe Molly's Reach from getting bulldozed for condos. Meanwhile ne'er-do-well Relic tries to sabotage their efforts from the inside so that the can profit from them later. /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/13286999

Episode 7-8: Charo! 02/20/2020

Episode 7-8: Charo! Charo! World-renowned flamenco guitarist! Charo! Frequent guest on the Love Boat! Charo! Mysterious! Charo! We couldn't do a podcast about seventies and eighties TV and not eventually talk about Charo! In this case, we talk about her 1976 variety special with bandleader Frank DeVol and special guest star Mike "Mannix" Connors! Say it with us one more time. Charo! /episode/index/show/battleofthenetworkshows/id/13191890

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