Battle of the Network Reality Stars to Premiere August 17th  8/9/05

BRAVO'S "BATTLE OF THE NETWORK REALITY STARS" PREMIERES WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17 AT 9:00 P.M. ET/PT

ABOUT THE SERIES: Bravo's "Battle of the Network Reality Stars" is the single biggest gathering of reality stars in a competition-based show, encompassing 16 different series from eight networks. The six episode series originating from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California kicks off on Wednesday, August 17 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT with a 90-minute premiere episode, followed by five one-hour episodes. Nearly 30 years after its 1976 debut, Bravo will resurrect the wildly popular concept behind the original "Battle of the Network Stars," which was hosted by sports broadcasting legend Howard Cosell and featured notable competitors such as Billy Crystal, Farrah Fawcett, David Letterman, and Heather Locklear. Just as Katherine Bach of Daisy Duke fame got dunked repeatedly in the original battle, you'll see Coral Smith from "The Real World" get dunked in the new series. 

The updated format of the much-loved series is complete with teams of sweat suit and Speedo-clad reality stars that will partake in physical and aggressively competitive challenges reminiscent of the original program. TV's most cherished and loathed reality stars will compete in a joust, navigate a kayak race, and battle it out in the famed tug-of-war, among other challenges. In a nod to today's reality shows, twists and turns along the way force team members to vote each other off, create alliances, and generate unending drama and tears. TWI, the global television division of IMG, produces the show for Bravo. TWI's Executive Producers for "Battle of the Network Reality Stars" are Robert Horowitz and Steve Mayer.

ABOUT BRAVO: Bravo is the cable network that plugs people into arts, culture and pop culture with original programming, movies and by showing a whole different side of celebrities. Currently available in more than 79 million homes, Bravo is known for breaking exciting new personalities, shaking up the way we look at style, media, fame and Hollywood, pulling back the curtain on the creative process and making influential and inventive original programming. Its critically acclaimed and award-winning original programming includes "Inside the Actors Studio," "Celebrity Poker Showdown," "Project Greenlight," as well as the 2004 Emmy winner for Outstanding Reality Program, "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." The network's other hits include "Project Runway," "Blow Out" and "Sports Kids Moms & Dads." Bravo is a program service of NBC Universal Cable Entertainment, a division of NBC Universal one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Bravo has been a NBC Cable Network since December 2002 and was the first television service dedicated to film and the performing arts when it launched in December 1980. For more information visit www.bravotv.com.

see also:

8/9/05 Bravo/TV Guide Poll "Clay Aiken is the Most Loved Reality Star of All Time"