10 Stars You Won't Believe Were on Battle of the Network Stars

When the original Battle of the Network Stars aired from 1976-1985(plus one more in 1988), many of biggest television stars of that era competed in the event like Lynda Carter, Telly Savalas, Heather Locklear, Melissa Gilbert, Scott Baio, etc, etc.
But if you go back and watch some of the old BOTNS on Youtube or look at the list of competitors in some of the battles, some of the names may surprise you.
Here now are what I think are the 10 most surprising celebrities to ever appear on the original Battle of the Network Stars:
Maud Adams

Not counting Miss Moneypenny or M from the Pierce Bronson and Daniel Craig era, but Adams was one of the few Bond girls to appear in more than one 007 movie(The Man with the Golden Gun, Octopussy)
So it makes that even more surprising that she appeared on BOTNS, as part of the NBC team in the November 1981 battle, representing the short-lived show, Chicago Story.
Highlight: Adams does the first leg of the kayak relay for NBC.

Debby Boone

The singer of "You Light Up My Life" made two appearances on BOTNS, thanks to two specials that aired on ABC, Pat Boone and Family in the spring of 1978 and then the Pat Boone and Family Thanksgiving Special in the fall of 1978.

Highlight: Boone makes a touchdown in the 3-on-3 football competition during the fall 1978 battle.

Sarah Douglas

Yes, Ursa from Superman II and Queen Taramis from Conan The Destroyer made an appearance on the Battle of the Network Stars, as she reprsented the show Falcon Crest for CBS in the May 1984 battle.
Highlight: Douglas makes an interception to seal the win for CBS in the 3-on-3 football competition.

Leif Garrett

I guess ABC was trying to get young girls to watch BOTNS, so they enlisted Garrett who had a 1-hour variety special that aired on CBS in May of 1979.
Highlight: Garrett swims the first leg of the swimming relay for CBS.

C. Thomas Howell

Following his movie debut in the blockbuster E.T.: The Extraterrestrial and first leading role in The Outsiders, Howell participated in the May 1984 Battle of the Network Stars, even though he appeared in only one episode of the short-lived ABC drama, Two Marriages.
Highlight: Howell duels with Mark Harmon and Abby Dalton in the first leg of the kayak relay.

David Letterman

A few years before he began 33-year career as a late-night talk show host, Letterman was a cast member or Mary Tyler Moore's variety show on CBS, which was cancelled after only three episodes.
However, this allowed for  Letterman to participate in the November 1978 edition of Battle of the Network Stars.
Highlight: Letterman opens the kayak relay for CBS, though finishes in 3rd and gets mocked by Howard Cosell.

Tim Matheson

Two years later before his most famous role as "Otter" in Animal House, Matheson participated in the inaugural Battle of the Network Stars as a member of the NBC team with his show, The Quest, a Western that lasted only one season.
Highlight: Matheson swims the anchor leg in the swimming relay to give NBC the win.

Kurt Russell

Before becoming one of the biggest movie stars of the 1980s, Russell was a Disney star as he took part in a number of movies for NBC's Wonderful World of Disney, which lead to appear in the February 1977 edition of BOTNS.
Highlight: Russell defeats Sonny Bono(Yeah, I know, Sonny Bono) in the obstacle course.

Jane Seymour

Four years after her breakout performance in the James Bond movie Live and Let Die, Seymour participated in the February 1977 edition of BOTNS, representing NBC because of her role in the six-part miniseries, Seventh Avenue.

Highlight: Seymour takes part in the golfing portion(which to my knowledge was used only twice in the history of BOTNS) and gets closest to the hole, which was the object of this part of the competition.

Cheryl Tiegs

The Sports Illustrated Swimsuit model was able to participate in the May 1978 BOTNS, because she was co-hosting some sort of special for ABC called ABC Presents Tommorrow's Stars.
Highlight: Tiegs defeats Victoria Principal in a obstacle course heat(The more intriguing battle is who is hotter: Tiegs or Principal).