New 'Battle of the Network Stars' Premieres June 29 on ABC, Stars Include Deidre Hall, Donna Mills, Ryan Paevey

In an ode to Wide World of Sports, 100 TV stars from 14 different network and cable companies will take their athleticism to a new level as they compete - to feel "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat" - in the revival of Battle of the Network Stars, based on the '70s and '80s television pop-culture classic, premiering on Thursday, June 29 at 9 p.m. ET/PT) on ABC. The new Battle of the Network Stars will be a nostalgic throwback to the original series, where TV celebrities blended athleticism with hilarious antics while featuring an array of fan favorites from numerous TV series like Pretty Little Liars, Scandal, Melrose Place, Beverly Hills, 90210, How to Get Away with Murder, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The West Wing, Dallas, and many more. You'll also find a number of current and former daytime and primetime soap opera stars on the various teams.

The original series from ABC Sports began in 1976 and continued for 13 years. The 10-episode summer event will pit teams of current and classic TV stars from multiple eras and different genres against one another in a variety of athletic games. Viewers can look forward to seeing a fresh take at some of the classic show's sporting events like Tug of War, Archery, Kayak Relay, Obstacle Course and Dunk Tank - all from the site of the original series, the beautiful campus of Pepperdine University in Malibu, California.

For this new version, fielding of the teams will be based on the TV characters people love from over the years to the current day - cops vs. TV sitcoms, White House vs. lawyers, TV moms & dads vs. TV kids, etc. In this way, viewers will get to see everyone's favorites from over the years, even if they spanned different networks at the time.

Here are the 20 teams (100 stars), blue and red, competing against each other in separate episodes with athletic contests of physical grace and stamina (* = returning to "Battle of the Network Stars"):

· TV Sitcoms (Bronson Pinchot, Tom Arnold, Dave Coulier, AJ Michalka, Tracey Gold) vs. TV Kids (Joey Lawrence, Corbin Bleu, Nolan Gould, *Lisa Whelchel, *Kim Fields) - Airs June 29

· Primetime Soaps (Ian Ziering, Josh Henderson, Gabrielle Carteris, *Donna Mills, Mischa Barton) vs. ABC Stars (*Olivia d'Abo, *Shari Belafonte, Michael Fishman, Jason Hervey, Anson Williams)

· Variety (Joanna Krupa, Nick Lachey, Vanessa Lachey, Gilles Marini, Jack Osbourne) vs. TV Sex Symbols (Keegan Allen, Traci Bingham, Rosa Blasi, Brant Daugherty, Galen Gering)

· Cops (Erik Estrada, *Larry Wilcox, Kelly Hu, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, *Lorenzo Lamas) vs. TV Sitcoms (*Todd Bridges, Leigh-Allyn Baker, Dave Foley, Willie Garson, Jenna von Oy)

· White House (Cornelius Smith Jr., Marlee Matlin, Joshua Malina, LaMonica Garrett, Mary McCormack) vs. Lawyers (Elisabeth Rohm, Corbin Bernsen, Matt McGorry, Romi Dias, Catherine Bell)

· TV Moms & Dads (Chad Lowe, *Greg Evigan, *Ted McGinley, Lesley Fera, Jackee Harry) vs. TV Kids (*Jimmie Walker, *Mackenzie Phillips, Jonathan Lipnicki, Krista Marie Yu, Jeremy Miller)

· Famous TV Families (Danny Bonaduce, Barry Williams, Beverley Mitchell, *Willie Aames, *Charlene Tilton) vs. Doctors (Thomas Calabro, Taye Diggs, Rachelle Lefevre, *Deidre Hall, Benjamin Hollingsworth)

· Troublemakers (Vivica A. Fox, Paul Johansson, John Barrowman, Julie Benz, Catherine Bach) vs. TV Lifeguards (David Chokachi, Brande Roderick, *Parker Stevenson, Nicole Eggert, Gena Lee Nolin)

· ABC Stars (*Ted Lange, Troy Gentile, *Jill Whelan, Denise Richards, Joely Fisher) vs. Variety (Lance Bass, Joey Fatone, Adrienne Houghton, Cameron Mathison, Kelly Osbourne)

· Cops (Marisol Nichols, Roma Maffia, *Adrian Zmed, Fred Dryer, Ryan Paevey) vs. Sci-Fi Fantasy (*Lou Ferrigno, Vinnie Jones, Charisma Carpenter, Kevin Sorbo, Jill Wagner)

The hosts for Battle of the Network Stars are Mike Greenberg and Joe Tessitore of ESPN; Cassidy Hubbarth and Cari Champion of ESPN will be the sideline reporters; plus Super Bowl 50 winner DeMarcus Ware and MMA fighter/Olympian Ronda Rousey will be the team captains.

The episode airdates will be announced at a later time.

Battle of the Network Stars is produced by Glassman Media and IMG, who also owns the format. The executive producers are Andrew Glassman, Will Staeger, Michael Antinoro and Chris Carlson.

5th Annual Indie Series Awards: Carolyn Hennesy Steals Amy Acker's ISA, Charlene Tilton Wins for 'DeVanity'

DeVanity guest star Charlene Tilton proudly accepts the ISA from her daughter, Cherish Lee.

The 5th Annual Indie Series Awards were held on April 2, 2014 at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. Lisa Gifford (3some) and Richard Cutting (Milgram and the Fastwalkers) presented the awards for Best Guest Star - Comedy and Best Guest Star - Drama. When Amy Acker (Husbands) was announced as the Comedy winner, ISA5 host Carolyn Hennesy (Single Siblings), also nominated, ran on the stage and stole the award! The stage manager and trophy girl Cherish Lee were able to wrestle the award away from Hennesy and give it to Jane Espenson, who accepted on Acker's behalf. Next, Charlene Tilton (DeVanity) wins in the Drama category, and is given the award by Cherish Lee, her daughter.

Watch it all happen in the highlight clip below:

5th Annual Indie Series Awards Red Carpet Show (Part 4): Charlene Tilton, Michael Caruso, Walt Willey, Sharon Farrell, Brian Beacock, Nate Golon, Lisa Kay Hayward, Jason Leaver, Aaron Tsang, Brent Bailey, Jessica Martin, Robert Bergin & Bhama Roget

In Part 4 of We Love Soaps TV's 5th Annual Indie Series Awards Red Carpet Show, Michael Goldberg chats with chats with Charlene Tilton (DeVanity), Michael Caruso (DeVanity); Walt Willey (Thurston, Tainted Dreams); Sharon Farrell (Broken at Love); Brian Beacock (Acting Dead), Nate Golon (My Synthesized Life), Brent Bailey (My Synthesized Life), Katie Gill (My Synthesized Life), "World's Tallest Actress" Lisa Kay Hayward (Just Like Us), Jason Leaver (Pete Winning and the Pirates, Out With Dad), Aaron Tsang (Pete Winning and the Pirates), Jessica Martin (Wrecked), Robert Bergin (Wrecked), Bhama Roget (Wrecked) and more!

Watch Part 4 (Episode 5.29) below and stayed tuned for more Red Carpet interviews soon.



RELATED:
- 5th Annual Indie Series Awards Red Carpet Show (Part 1): Carolyn Hennesy, Sebastian La Cause, Christine Lakin, Eric Martsolf, Darin Brooks & Kelly Kruger
- 5th Annual Indie Series Awards Red Carpet Show (Part 2): Lisa Roumain, Darcie Siciliano, John Cramer, Jade Harlow, Vanessa Verduga, Michele Kanan, Sean Kanan, Brent Bailey, Joanna Sotomura, Jessica DiGiovanni, Brennan Caldwell & Josh Duboff
- 5th Annual Indie Series Awards Red Carpet Show (Part 3): Cherish Lee, Kit Williamson, Brea Grant, Dane Ohlrogge, Kelsey Jorissen, Coco Fernandez, Jonathan Holbrook, Jillian Clare, Patrika Darbo, Brandon Goins, Colleen Zenk & Philip Cook

Cherish Lee Joins Indie Series Awards Team

With five years of history in the bank, the 5th Annual Indie Series Awards is also starting some new traditions of its own.

We Love Soaps and the Indie Series Network are excited to announce that Ms. Cherish Lee has joined the 5th Annual Indie Series Awards team, entrusted with the prestigious responsibility of wrangling the 26 unique, crystal trophies--each emblazoned with top-secret information--on-stage during the ceremony.

"We were looking for someone young, poised, beautiful, and most of all immune to the siren song of entertainment industry gossip," said Kevin Mulcahy Jr, Director of the Indie Series Network.

"Traditionally one thinks of some kind of 'Hollywood Royalty;' the beautiful 'baby Bacon' at the most recent Golden Globes is where my mind goes."

The role of "Miss Golden Globe" was entrusted to Ms. Sosie Bacon, Daughter of Kyra Sedgewick and Kevin Bacon, at the 2014 Golden Globe Awards.

In addition to being a bona fide scion, Cherish is also an accomplished artist in her own right. She has shared the stage with legendary pop icons Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, and Britney Spears, and made Music Connection Magazine's "Top Hot 100 Live Performers" of 2012 and 2013.

She has also written with some of the best in the business: for example Kevin Fisher (Rascal Flatts & Sara Evans) and Randy Sharp (Reba McEntire & Dixie Chicks). She is extremely excited to now be writing and producing a talented new artist, MIA. In May, she starts filming a new movie with Linda Carter, Dee Wallace and Sally Kellerman.

Cherish is also (of course) the proud daughter of Charlene Tilton (Lucy Ewing on DALLAS; nominated at this year's Indie Series Awards) and Johnny Lee (Urban Cowboy's "Lookin' for Love").

"Each year we raise the bar, we add a little more glamour and a little more fun. When Susan (Bernhardt, ISA5 Producer) suggested Cherish, Kevin and I immediately thought, 'Perfect!' Her choice was unanimous. We're just so so glad she said, 'Yes.'"

The 5th annual Indie Series Awards will be broadcast live, worldwide, on JTS, at 8 p.m. PT, on April 2, 2014.

First Round of Presenters for the 5th Annual Indie Series Awards Revealed

We Love Soaps and the Indie Series Network are excited to reveal the first round of presenters for the 5th Annual Indie Series Awards, which celebrate the best in independently produced, scripted entertainment created for the Web. Stars from Television, Film, Broadway and the Internet are coming together to celebrate the very best of the World Wide Web.

The Indie Series Awards, hosted by Carolyn Hennesy, will take place on April 2, 2014 at the historic El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood.

The first 10 presenters are listed below:

Charlene Tilton

Tilton is nominated for her work in DeVanity. She is best known for playing the role of "Lucy Ewing" on the smash primetime hit Dallas. Her many television appearances include The Love Boat, Eight is Enough, Fantasy Island and Murder, She Wrote. Film credits include Edge of Salvation, Hemingway and Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker. In 2012, she appeared as a contestant on the British ice-skating show, Dancing on Ice.

Christine Lakin

Lakin made her film debut at age 11 in TNT’s The Rose and The Jackal. She is still remembered fondly for her work as “Al” in the sitcom Step By Step, which ran for a successful 7 seasons. Lakin voices multiple roles on FOX’s Family Guy, most notably as news anchor “Joyce Kinney”. She also stars in a recurring role on ABC Family’s Melissa & Joey. Other TV credits include True Blood, Breaking In, The Hard Times of RJ Berger. Her film credits include New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, Reefer Madness, You Again and the feature adaption of Veronica Mars. She will be appearing in the upcoming zombie comedy web series Acting Dead.

PREVIEW: "Ewings Unite!" On DALLAS

Charlene Tilton, Joan Van Ark & Patrick Duffy - Photo: TNT

TNT's DALLAS continues its second season on Monday, March 18 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Joan Van Ark, Charlene Tilton and Ted Shackelford guest star.

In "Ewings Unite!," as Bobby, Christopher and John Ross get to work on J.R.'s masterpiece, J.R.'s will has lasting ramifications for the family legacy and Southfork. Pamela proves her loyalty to John Ross by giving him information against her father, and Christopher's relationship with Elena is tested when Christopher resorts to a tactic worthy of J.R.

Goodbye J.R.: Thoughts On DALLAS

Photo: Zade Rosenthal / TNT

The Ewing family, friends, a few enemies, and fans old and new said goodbye to J.R. last night in a poignant episode of DALLAS on TNT. The script, written by Cynthia Cidre, was excellent and you could feel the history without any flashbacks being used. I will probably watch the entire episode again at some point and notice many things I didn't pick up on at first viewing, but here are some things I really enjoyed most.

The special opening sequence created for Larry Hagman was perfect.

Ken Kercheval (Cliff), Steve Kanaly (Ray), Deborah Shelton (Mandy), Cathy Podewell (Cally), Charlene Tilton (Lucy) and Ted Shackelford (Gary) guest-starred and each one had some type of "moment" in the show, a big improvement over the blink-and-you-miss-it cameos by Ray and Lucy in Season 1. Gary and Ray were naturally conflicted over how to feel about their brother's death. Lucy was reflective and seemed to have at least some appreciation for her Uncle J.R.'s dirty dealings at this point in her live. Mandy and Cally reminded us of what a playboy J.R. was and that he was hard to get over. Surprisingly, the least satisfying of all these appearances was Cliff barging in. For some reason, Cliff had continued to be written as a one-note villain on the new DALLAS.

PREVIEW: J.R.'s Funeral On DALLAS

Photo: Skip Bolen / TNT

In a heartrending farewell episode on March 11 at 9 p.m. ET, TNT's DALLAS says goodbye to the legendary J.R. Ewing, who, after a lifetime of scheming and dealing, has finally met his end.

Ken Kercheval, Steve Kanaly, Deborah Shelton, Cathy Podewell, Charlene Tilton and Ted Shackelford guest star.  Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban also make appearances.

In "J.R.'s Masterpiece," the Ewing family reels at hearing the news about J.R.'s death and is even more shocked to learn the cause. Striving to set aside their differences, J.R.'s family comes together to mourn his passing, accompanied by many characters from his past. But their tears are soon overpowered by a shocking revelation worthy of one of televisions most iconic characters. In life – and now in death – nothing is ever as it seems when it comes to J.R. Ewing.

DALLAS will air a special opening sequence in the episode as a tribute to Larry Hagman.

Check out more photos and watch a sneak peek video below:

WATCH: Epic DEVANITY Season 3 Finale

DEVANITY creator Michael Caruso took home the Indie Soap Award this week for Best Writing (Drama) for his writing during Season 2 of the hit web series. Season 3 has been even better and the season finale is now online. The previous two episodes featuring entertaining appearances by DYNASTY alum Gordon Thomson, DALLAS star Charlene Tilton and DAYS OF OUR LIVES actress Arianne Zucker. Watch those episodes below and then enjoy the must-watch season finale with Thomson and a shocking ending!

WATCH: DEVANITY Interviews With Charlene Tilton, Gordon Thompson, Maxwell Caulfield & Robin Riker

DEVANITY was nominated for nine Indie Soap Awards for its phenomenal second season. The hit web series returns on January 10 for Season 3 and have been offering backstage looks at some of the shows biggest guest stars. Watch new interviews with Charlene Tilton (DALLAS), Gordon Thomson (DYNASTY, SANTA BARBARA), ISA nominee Robin Riker (THE BOLD AND THE BEAUTIFUL) and Maxwell Caulfield (THE COLBYS) below:

DEVANITY Season 3 Trailer Released!

Michael Caruso's brilliant indie soap, DEVANITY, released its Season 3 trailer on Sunday and the countdown is now on to the January 10, 2013 premiere (66 more days!). Watch the trailer below which includes the returning Kyle Lowder, and sneak peeks of guest stars Charlene Tilton, Gordon Thomson, Arianne Zucker and many more.

DALLAS Update On The Return Gary, Val, Lucy & Afton; Plus, No Plans For Pam

Joan Van Ark, Ted Sheckelford, Charlene Tilton and Audrey Landers will be bringing their former DALLAS (and KNOTS LANDING) characters to TNT's DALLAS in Season 2. TVGuide.com published new details in an article this week.

Exec producer Cynthia Cidre confirms that Shackelford will pop up as J.R. and Bobby's brother a couple episodes before Val and Lucy. "Gary comes because he is a third owner of the oil under Southfork," says Cidre. "Then Val comes for a big event. We have some really fun stuff with Gary and Val back together with J.R. and Sue Ellen."

INDIE HOUSE: DEVANITY, FUMBLING THRU THE PIECES, ANACOSTIA, THE OUTS, TINY APARTMENT, IN BETWEEN MEN, HUSBANDS & More

ARIANNE ZUCKER: "Drama, drama, drama on the set."

Gossip, secrets, leaks; kudos, picks, congrats - in the Indie Soap Web Series (Indies) world, this is where they live. Listen up: Kevin's Indie House.

DEVANITY, that luscious, lurid nexus of glamour, drama, and camp, has been shooting scenes with soap heavy-hitters Arianne Zucker, Kyle Lowder and Charlene Tilton for season 3 (enjoy our exclusive photos from the set). Showrunner Michael Caruso predicts we'll see a trailer "late September, early October" and promises big, beefy episodes with running times of around 22 minutes each - or longer.

I just happened to be chatting with Arianne on the phone Friday evening, and so I turned the conversation to DEVANITY.  How did it go?

DALLAS Star Charlene Tilton Joins DEVANITY!

Actress Charlene Tilton has joined the cast of indie soap DEVANITY. Soap fans loved Tilton in the role of Lucy Ewing, Gary and Val's troubled daughter on DALLAS, for many years. She's returning this summer in TNT's new version of the show.

In her new role Tilton will play Francesca DeVanity, the bitter sister of the late Richard DeVanity, who returns to Los Angeles after being exiled to Paris for committing crimes which only a DeVanity is capable of executing.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Charlene Tilton, Kelli Williams, Oprah, Dragton Abbey

CHARLENE TILTON: I Kept My Deafness A Secret Since Childhood
When she took to the ice for preliminary training for DANCING ON ICE in Los Angeles with partner Matt Gonzalez, Tilton realized she had taken on a bigger challenge than she thought. It was impossible to hide the hearing loss that she had kept secret throughout her acting career.

She explains: “As a child I had chronic ear infections. I was a bit of a sickly kid.” But her mother could not always afford to take Tilton to a doctor. “She was a single mom and it was hard. She just didn’t have the money.”

"When I worked on DALLAS I had to go to black-tie events for work and I would just smile and say ‘Yes’ to whatever anyone was saying."