Emlyn Travis, a seasoned news writer at Entertainment Weekly, recently highlighted the enduring legacy of late actor Ed Asner and his defense of fellow star Valerie Bertinelli during a memorable moment in the history of reality competition programming. Bertinelli was CBS’s contestant in the 1979 Battle of the Network Stars. As she remembered one time when Asner, in his usual courageous fashion, stood up for her, which allowed her to compete after being controversially ruled out.
Bertinelli’s disqualification was in the middle of an obstacle course run in November, 1979. Competing against notable stars such as Erin Gray and Kristy McNichol, she led her qualifying heat against Gray but was later penalized for failing to grasp the last monkey bar before advancing to the next challenge. This unusual ruling, which Bertinelli referred to as a technicality, eliminated her from being able to advance in the competition.
Asner, who led the CBS squad as its quarterback, was not one to accept the unfair decision without protest. He jumped in on Bertinelli’s behalf, calling out individual judges for what he considered “bad judging” or “inefficient judging.” His zealous defense of Bertinelli was a memorable moment as he made it clear that he thought she deserved to be treated with more respect.
“Her hand slipped off — she had grabbed it, though!” – Ed Asner
Bertinelli had fond memories of that support during her recent guest stint on The Drew Barrymore Show. There, she talked about her journey and the greater impact it has on women within sports. She revealed that Asner’s actions resonated with her deeply, stating, “Ed Asner, who was playing the coach, went to bat for you.”
Despite her disqualification, Bertinelli held significant affection for Asner, saying, “He did! I have known Ed forever. God rest his soul. Yeah, he was just — I got tagged. I got a penalty.” She explained more about the incident, noting her frustration with the decision: “I got tagged because I only touched the last bar. I didn’t hold on to the last bar, and so they took away my score… I didn’t win because they took away my score.”
Asner’s advocacy extended beyond just Bertinelli’s case. He pointed out inconsistencies in judging throughout the competition. In his defense of Bertinelli, he stated, “Well, Kristy slipped on the last bar just as Valerie did on this bar, Valerie was caught.”
Emlyn Travis comes equipped with over five years of entertainment journalism. Her work (focusing on the intersections of pop culture, politics, and activism) has appeared in MTV News, Teen Vogue, BuzzFeed, Paper Magazine, Dazed and NME. Travis is a proud Kingston University alum. He jumped to Entertainment Weekly in August 2022, where he continues to aggressively cover important changes and stories in the entertainment ecosystem.
The late Ed Asner’s legacy includes much more than his extraordinary show business career. He will always be missed and celebrated both for his genius and his fierce dedication to justice and uplifting his fellow artists. He died in 2021 at 91, but his legacy of warmth, kindness and advocacy lives on.
