ABC Bringing Back "Superstars"
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
I don't know how many of you folks out there are old enough to remember ABC's "Superstars", but the network is planning on dusting off the old "Wide World of Sports" program for a six-episode run in 2009. Via Variety....
ABC has given a six-episode order to a new celeb take on the sports-themed franchise "Superstars."While there is no word on who is involved this go around, back in the day the show was called by both Jim McKay and Keith Jackson, and featured such athletes as: Herschel Walker, Willie Gault, Dave Johnson (decathlete), Jason Sehorn and Joe Frazier. Frazier even almost drowned during an episode, so anything is possible this year!
"ABC was the most aggressive, and they were big on getting the authenticity of the original 'Superstars' format," said Juma prexy Bob Horowitz. "And the fact that they have the NBA Finals in June makes it a phenomenal springboard for promoting the series."
In bringing out the franchise last summer, Horowitz had cited the success of ABC's "Wipeout," as well as the popularity of celebrity reality competitions like the Alphabet's "Dancing With the Stars."
In "Superstars," eight celebs will be paired with eight male and female pro athletes to compete in various events, including swimming, biking, running and kayaking. Teams will be eliminated each week, until one athlete/celebrity pair is crowned the champs.
ABC fields 'Superstars' (Variety)
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12 Comments:
I hope there's no dancing involved.
There's, like, 100 shitty "dancing" shows on tv.
Amazing! This show must have had some kind of cache/clout back then. The story of the Ranger hockey player who played a game in NY the night before then flew down to compete in this thing??? No way would that happen today...what's the point of bringing this back if it will be just another rehash of D-list celebs/athletes.
Somewhere Drew Lachey is pumping his fist.
Yea the Cheap Seats guys were gold..what the hell happened to that show?
Hmmm. First, NBC's Ben Silverman brings back shows like "American Gladiators" and "Knight Rider"; now ABC brings back 'Superstars'. Wonder if the ABC programming execs are snorting the same coke NBC Entertainment head Ben Silverman might be snorting. Personally, I'd like to see "Battle of the Network Stars" come back. :)
Battle of the Network Stars did come back twice.
First, an NBC only version in the early naughts, and most recently, a "Battle of the Network Reality Stars" hosted by Mike Adamle - yes, the former WWE employee - a couple years ago. What's next, CBS returning "Battle of the Sexes"?
I was hoping this would happen last year and I'm pumped that they are bringing it back. You know TO is probably going to make an appearance on this too so it will we'll all have someone to root against and to entertain us at the same time.
Bill Simmons had a funny article about the Superstars a few months ago. It's worth a read.
"Yea the Cheap Seats guys were gold..what the hell happened to that show?"
Sklars thought it was time.
What I really liked about the original Superstars (mid-70's or so) was how we got to see Olympic/minor sport stars like Bob Seagren (pole vaulting) and Kyle Rote, Jr. (soccer) prove they were as good in an all-around spors competition as anybody else. However, I remember guys like Reggie Jackson, etc. participating then, but I just don't think we're going to see future Hall of Famers participating in this thing. Maybe we'll see baseball "superstars" like Mark DeRosa, baseketball "superstars" like Linus Kleiza and football "superstars" like Kevin Curtis.....
This is really just going for another "Wipeout".
The cheap Seats guy used to bust on those shows, very funny stuff.
Bill Bergey!
Ron Cey!
Youtubes of it
I always thought those guys were funny as hell.