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US Against the World
(1977)
Rod Taylor participated in NBC's "trash sports" rival to the "Battle of the
Network Stars" franchise on ABC.
The action was filmed Sunday, Aug. 28, 1977, on the UCLA campus
and aired Sept. 7, 1977, as a two-hour TV special.
At this time, NBC was promoting Rod in his new show "The
Oregon Trail," which would premiere later in the month.
Three teams of five men and three women represented their native lands,
competing on behalf of the United States, the United Kingdom and "the
rest of the world." They competed in events that
included rowing, swimming, relay running, bowling, soccer goal kicking,
volleyball, darts, pinball, tug-o-war, and a sled pull in which team members
compete in a distance pull of a huge steel globe.
A three-horse thoroughbred race was also conducted for the special,
featuring three of the world's leading jockeys: Bill Shoemaker, Laffit
Pincay and Angel Cordero Jr.
An article that appeared prior to the taping of the competition
listed the sports as tennis doubles, swimming relay, bowling,
running relay, obstacle course relay, rowing relay, soccer goal
kicking and golf. The preview also said the jockeys would be Steve
Cauthen, Bill Shoemaker and Laffit
Pincay.
The U.S. squad included Linda Blair, Chevy Chase, Dan Haggerty, Kate
Jackson, Gabriel Kaplan, Kristy McNichol, Jennifer O'Neill, Rob Reiner,
David Soul and Flip Wilson.
The U.K. team had Roger Daltrey, Richard Dawson, Marty Feldman, Susan George,
Andy Gibb, Sara Miles, Roger Moore, Rod Stewart and Twiggy.
Rod represented Australia on the "rest of the world" team, which also had Canadians
Susan Clark, Rich Little (captain), Michael Ontkean; German-born Levar Burton and Elke
Sommer; Sergio Mendes of Brazil; and Britt Ekland of Sweden.
Don Rickles, Ed McMahon and Jack Klugman provided hosting and announcing
duties.
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