ABC adds to retro lineup
ABC dusts off “Battle of the Network Stars” (9 p.m.). For those too young to remember the Bicentennial era, “Battle” pitted television stars against each other in feats of strength and endurance.
For viewers, it was like attending a company picnic with the cast of their favorite show, providing an opportunity to see familiar faces compete in tug-of-war while wearing short shorts and T-shirts.
“Battle” offered a parody of sports coverage, particularly the breathless “thrill of victory and the agony of defeat” style of Roone Arledge’s “Wide World of Sports.” Howard Cosell of “Monday Night Football” fame added a faux gravitas to the silliness, treating a battle between a young Mark Harmon and Gabe Kaplan as if it had the stakes of an Ali-Frazier bout.
Tonight’s reboot of “Battle” features sitcom stars versus sitcom “kids.” Look for contestants Bronson Pinchot, Tom Arnold, Dave Coulier, AJ Michalka, Tracey Gold, Joey Lawrence, Corbin Bleu, Nolan Gould, Lisa Whelchel and Kim Fields, among others.
In many ways, this is not terribly different from “Hollywood Game Night” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-14), which tonight invites Chris Hardwick, Mike Colter, Charlotte McKinney, Xzibit, David Walton and Sherri Shepherd to play party games.
“Battle” viewers too lazy (or too thoroughly entertained) to “touch that dial” can sit through an hour of “The Gong Show” (10 p.m., ABC, TV-14), featuring appearances by Fred Armisen, Elizabeth Banks and Will Forte.
Both “Battle” and “Gong” first premiered in 1976, back before cable and VCRs became common, a time when three networks dominated viewers’ choices. As venerable as they sound, they’re some of the “newer” ideas floating around ABC this summer. “To Tell the Truth” dates from 1956. “The $100,000 Pyramid” first aired in 1973. Back then, it was only the “$10,000 Pyramid”!
› “Zoo” (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14), the preposterous ecological disaster fantasy, enters its third season. Ten years have passed since the critters have been “cured” of their revolting habits. But now a new threat looms: a species of laboratory mutants bent on destroying the human race. Like the breezy, trashy James Patterson novels that inspired it, “Zoo” can become habit-forming.
TONIGHT’S HIGHLIGHTS
› Jamie Foxx hosts “Beat Shazam” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-PG).
› The architects mold the band’s sound on “Boy Band” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-14).
› Fatherhood changes Drew’s focus on “The Night Shift” (10 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
Contact Kevin McDonough at kevin. tvguy@gmail.com.
To see it “Battle of the Network Stars” tonight at 9 on ABC, Comcast channel 10, EPBFI channel 9 in Chattanooga.