Macho in Malibu Battle of the Network Stars. A TV genre took hold, as did a 40-year grudge. Gabe Kaplan In late 2018, I went to have lunch with Robert Conrad, a man I once thought might kill me on national TV. Conrad was a fiery guy, and we'd had a few words on-and off-camera on ABC's first Battle of the Network Stars. Our controversy has been the subject of countless mentions over the last 40 years, but this would be the first time we'd ever broken bread. I'd always had questions for him. I assume he felt the same way, given his immediate "yes" when I asked through an intermediary if he would like to finally get together.