Love Boat

"The Love Boat" is one of those old-fashioned, nostalgic and memorable TV series from the 70's and 80's. I used to watch it frequently when I was younger and I always enjoyed it. A great TV show and even unique. After all, this show takes place mostly in a cruise liner, where its passengers and crew live romances and adventures.

"The Love Boat" usually took place in the liner "Pacific Princess", but other alternative yet similar ships were used as well. That was the case of the "Island Princess", the "Stella Solaris", the "Pearl of Scandinavia", the "Royal Viking Sky" and the "Royal Princess".

This is a charming TV series which is also famous for its timeless and wonderful opening song, "The Love Boat".

Even though this TV series was very popular in its time, it seems to me that it has become forgotten and much less popular as the years go by. Besides, it seems to be largely unknown in our generation, a generation with eyes mostly for uninteresting, mediocre and crappy TV shows. However, for those who knew "The Love Boat", it remains alive in their memories and won't be forgotten.

Spelling productions did not make Love, American Style. They took the basic concept of it, added places for the love to happen (on a Princess Cruise ship & in ports of call), a regular crew, & mass produced 10 years of the Love Boat. Part of the reason it worked was the ship as you could dream of being on a cruise & never leave your living room.

Each episode usually had 2 or three plot lines with different guests involved. Each one would involve the crew interacting with the guests. Each one would usually have a happy ending. Sometimes, episodes would even go 2 hours. Princess Cruises definitely got a lot of valuable promo from this series.

Like Love American Style, the love aspect would get by with a wink, a grin, & some subtle hints of the feelings that were really going on. The crew was a pretty talented ensemble. Gavin McCloud as your Captain became more of less the star of the show. Bernie Kopell as the ships playboy Doctor became a key factor a lot of times. Lauren Tewes was the supposed hot cruise director. Then there was Gopher & the bartender always around either when you need them or not around when you need them.

The guest stars would read like a whose who of 1960's & 70's actors & actresses. It was amazing how many folks would get drawn on board this ship. Realism, this show has little. Bubble gum for the brain, that is where this show comes from. "Come Aboard, We're Expecting you!"

Let's face it, it was not the best of shows but not the worst either. It had lots of wonderful guest stars who livened up the show. When I finally took a cruise to Alaska, I was expecting a love boat scenario but that's not what I got. Love Boat is indeed fantasy with a great theme song sung by Dionne Warwick and a decent cast that included Gavin McLeod, Jill Whelan, Lauren Tewes, Fred Grady, Bernie Kopell, and Isaac (what is his real name?). Anyway the scenario was usual about a three day cruise to Mexico and back to Los Angeles with guest stars that included several of Hollywood top stars and the ones that were not on top. For a while, I think the Love Boat provided a great service of keeping the B-list guest stars working. I won't name names but we know who they were and we don't care. Love Boat is a comedy mixed with a little bit of drama. They never did anything serious or offensive. Of course, it was a Spelling show which meant that it was eye candy, sugar and sweet, and everything nice.

I enjoyed "The Love Boat" for the simple reason It was great to see all the Movie Stars from the Past that one never got to see anymore since Hollywood Is run by 20-year-old boys. Murder She wrote also had the same idea with guest stars And I enjoyed that show also... My favorite TV shows of all time would be The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, Seinfeld,Cannon,I Love Lucy,Dark Shadows, Keeping up Appearances and Faulty Towers.... Love Boat is not in that group but it was still enjoyable to watch.

I just commented on "The Love Boat", but I just realized there is so much I forgot to say about it. There are so many great episodes that have touched my heart. I was reminded of this when one of my favorites came on TV Land tonight. In it, a young girl (Maureen "Marcia Brady" Mc Cormick) falls in love, and then learns she may only have monthes to live. It is exceptional, real entertaiment that has a wonderful life lesson attached to it. There is another one where the crew is critical of an apparent relationship between an older man and a younger woman that turns out to be not what they imagined at all. Also, there is an episode that features first love between a pair of teenagers (Scott Baio and Kristy Mc Nichol) that rings true. I also enjoy the episode where Vicki's T.V. idol (Alison "Nellie Oleson" Arngrim) comes on board,and turns out to be not what she appears, either.

The series is exceptional in that it was able to deal with serious, sometimes even controversial themes, and balance it out with good, old fashioned screwball and sophisticated comedy. Contrary to many people's belief that the show's quality went down as it matured, I would have to disaggree. I have enjoyed every episode of this show I have ever seen, early or late in the series. And I find Charo to be adorable and funny.

"The Love Boat" has a permanent place on my favorite shows list, and a permanent spot in my heart, as well.