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The original cast of "The love Boat". in back from left are Ted Lange and Bernie Kopell; while in front from left are Fred Grandy; Gavin McLeod; and Lauren Tewes. Source: https://www.biography.com/movies-tv/the-love-boat-cast-where-are-they-now (May be subject to copyright) |
Yesterday, I was at a rehearsal for a local production of “The Sound of Music.” I saw the actor playing Baron Von Trapp, and he was dressed in his military uniform.
“I feel like I should be selling fish sticks,” he joked.
“That’s not at all what I think, “ I said. “But I am wondering if you have seen Gopher or Doc.”
He and his wife doubled over in laughter.
That got me thinking about “The Love Boat”, a great show that docked on Channel 13 on the peasant vision dial on Fridays.
Cruisin’
The Pacific Princess, a luxury cruise ship, was the setting for the show and the aforementioned “The Love Boat”. The show centred around the crew of the ship, and the weekly guests. There were usually two or three stories running simultaneously that would begin and end in that week’s episode.
The Pacific Princess, a luxury cruise ship, was the setting for the show and the aforementioned “The Love Boat”. The show centred around the crew of the ship, and the weekly guests. There were usually two or three stories running simultaneously that would begin and end in that week’s episode.
The crew was led by Captain Merill Stubing, played by Gavin McLeod, who to that point was best known as news writer Murray Slaughter in “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”. There was also Adam “Doc” Bricker, the ship’s doctor, played by Bernie Kopell, who had done a turn as a nefarious operative in “Get Smart”. Berl “Gopher” Smith, the ship’s purser, was played by Fred Grandy, who would go on to become a real-life United States Congressman representing Iowa. Isaac Washington was the ship’s bartender, and he was played by Ted Lange. Finally, Julie McCoy, played by Lauren Tewes, was the ship’s cruise director.
Every week, the show would begin with an introduction of various passengers as they boarded the ship, then pan across them as the ship departed in a fanfare of confetti and streamers. Virtually every cruise would go down to Mexico, so viewers became familiar with the names of places such as Puerto Vallarta ands Mazatlan.
The comedy – and drama – came on the ship between trips ashore. I am sure, pragmatically, that was because it cut down on production costs to have all the action take place in a confined space.
But that too familiarized viewers with shuffleboard, the Promenade Deck, lazing by the pool, and fancy dining at the captain’s table – if you were lucky or special.
Special guests
What made the show was the guest stars. Many were actors on other weekly comedies and drama, while some were actors from bygone eras and the past. Still others were celebrities in other fields such as athletes, singers, politicians and more.
What made the show was the guest stars. Many were actors on other weekly comedies and drama, while some were actors from bygone eras and the past. Still others were celebrities in other fields such as athletes, singers, politicians and more.
I am sure Wikipedia has a full list but I can recall a lot of guest stars as I sit here. There was Beth Howland and Vic Tayback from “Alice”; Robert Hegyes from “Welcome Back, Kotter”; John James from “Dynasty”; Douglas Barr from “The Fall Guy”; Jimmy Baio and Cathryn Damon from “Soap”; Ethel Merman, who played Gopher's mom; Kent McCord from “Adam-12”; Marion Ross, Tom Bosley, Anson Williams, Erin Moran and Al Molinaro from “Happy Days”; and Priscilla Barnes and John Ritter from “Three’s Company”.
There was also Ted Knight from “Too Close for Comfort”; John Astin from “Operation Pettitcoat”; Mellissa Sue Anderson from “Little House on the Prairie” playing Gopher’s sister; Lisa Hartman and Michelle Lee from “Knot’s Landing”; Alan Hale from “Gilliagn’s Island”; Kim Richards from “Hello Larry”; singer Charo; baseball player Reggie Jackson; football player Rosie Greer; Georgia Engel from “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”; David Doyle from “Charlie’s Angels”; Jack Jones, who actually sings the show’s theme song; Barbi Benton; Stella Stevens; Maren Jensen from “Battlestar Galactica”; Arte Johnson from “Laugh In”; Dick Sargent from “Bewitched”; Slim Pickens; Eve Arden; Bill Bixby and literally hundreds more.
Special episodes
As “The Love Boat” got its sea legs as a series, it started having these special episodes that were two parts or more. There are a few I remember well. In one, crew members and passengers are held captive by this jungle man, played by John Astin, who has not seen civilization for a long time. A storm hits and, afterwards, they discover his gun is filled with mud bullets.
As “The Love Boat” got its sea legs as a series, it started having these special episodes that were two parts or more. There are a few I remember well. In one, crew members and passengers are held captive by this jungle man, played by John Astin, who has not seen civilization for a long time. A storm hits and, afterwards, they discover his gun is filled with mud bullets.
“I’ll make you dirty,” he exclaims when his secret is revealed, as he waves his gun.
In another special episode, the Pacific Princess goes to Alaska. In a previous episode, Julie had fallen in love with a man played by Tony Roberts who lived in Alaska. In this episode, she finds him in Alaska and makes the excruciating decision to stay on the Pacific Princess.
Another special episode saw the Pacific Princess going head to head with the Sun Princess, another cruise ship, in a series of games kind of like the luxury Olympics. The Sun Princess’ captain is played by Ted Knight, who Gavin McLeod had co-starred with on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”. The opposing captain drills his crew with military precision to avenge some grudge he had against Captain Stubing. The cruise director of the Sun Princess is a Swedish woman, played by Priscilla Barnes. In the final contest she and Doc end up mud wrestling, before getting together.
Memorable moments
There are several stories I remember well, some funny and some quite dramatic.
There are several stories I remember well, some funny and some quite dramatic.
She did it for love
The most memorable involves a woman named Penelope who boards the Pacific Princess with her millionaire fiancé. She catches the eye of another passenger, Nick Rondo, who swears that not only did he grow up with her when she was known as Penny, but they used to date – seriously. At first she ignores him, and denies they ever met. Nick is persistent. Finally, Penelope says she just doesn’t want to end up poor like her mom. She even shares this story of how her mother’s biggest dream was having her hair done at a salon.
The most memorable involves a woman named Penelope who boards the Pacific Princess with her millionaire fiancé. She catches the eye of another passenger, Nick Rondo, who swears that not only did he grow up with her when she was known as Penny, but they used to date – seriously. At first she ignores him, and denies they ever met. Nick is persistent. Finally, Penelope says she just doesn’t want to end up poor like her mom. She even shares this story of how her mother’s biggest dream was having her hair done at a salon.
Nick persists, but then acknowledges he has lost. In the end, Penny comes to him. She realized through it all, her parents had love and that was all that really mattered in the end. She chose Nick and their love was more important than having money or possessions.
He then reveals that when they were kids and he was playing with radios, he turned that into a business. In fact, he says, in a trade for him over her fiancé, it was pretty much even. He’s a millionaire too.
A mile in her chair
An injured professional tennis player comes aboard, confined to a wheel chair. She is angry generally, but gets worse when a sports reporter, played by Bill Bixby, comes aboard. He had been quite critical of her on the court, and she had not forgotten. Then he is injured and – confined to a wheel chair. Now, he walks a mile in her shoes and they end up hitting it off.
An injured professional tennis player comes aboard, confined to a wheel chair. She is angry generally, but gets worse when a sports reporter, played by Bill Bixby, comes aboard. He had been quite critical of her on the court, and she had not forgotten. Then he is injured and – confined to a wheel chair. Now, he walks a mile in her shoes and they end up hitting it off.
Puppy love
Jimmy Baio plays a boy who develops a crush on a girl from another town, played by Kim Richards. They really hit it off, but know when the cruise ends, so will their relationship. In the end, her parents break some bad news to her. They are moving to a new town. She said she is not moving to some dump. He says El Paso is not a dump. He knows because that’s where he lives too.
Jimmy Baio plays a boy who develops a crush on a girl from another town, played by Kim Richards. They really hit it off, but know when the cruise ends, so will their relationship. In the end, her parents break some bad news to her. They are moving to a new town. She said she is not moving to some dump. He says El Paso is not a dump. He knows because that’s where he lives too.
Three-timer
David Doyle plays Alvin McNair, a nebbish of a man who goes solo on his cruise. He meets a woman and introduces himself as Alvin. Then he meets another woman and they hit it off too. This time he answers to the name Vinny. Incredibly, he meets a third woman and this time calls himself McNair. Predictably, the women meet and get to know each other, sharing stories about the great guys they have met. Then the secret is revealed.
David Doyle plays Alvin McNair, a nebbish of a man who goes solo on his cruise. He meets a woman and introduces himself as Alvin. Then he meets another woman and they hit it off too. This time he answers to the name Vinny. Incredibly, he meets a third woman and this time calls himself McNair. Predictably, the women meet and get to know each other, sharing stories about the great guys they have met. Then the secret is revealed.
Rags to riches
Maren Jensen plays a woman who suddenly becomes rich and doesn’t know how to act. She even tries to tip the captain when he holds the door open for her. Watching all of this is her former boyfriend, who sees her for who she really is, not the money she now has that others are clamouring to get a piece of.
Maren Jensen plays a woman who suddenly becomes rich and doesn’t know how to act. She even tries to tip the captain when he holds the door open for her. Watching all of this is her former boyfriend, who sees her for who she really is, not the money she now has that others are clamouring to get a piece of.
Colour blind
Captain Stubing is excited to have his cabin painted in a special colour he has chosen. It is called Singapore Sunset Saffron, and he repeats it so often, I still remember that colour to this day. Whenever he shows someone a swatch, especially Gopher, the response is “Oh, yellow”. Stubing insists it's not yellow. Then Gopher takes the swatch and holds it up against the wall in the halls of the ship. It is the same colour.
Captain Stubing is excited to have his cabin painted in a special colour he has chosen. It is called Singapore Sunset Saffron, and he repeats it so often, I still remember that colour to this day. Whenever he shows someone a swatch, especially Gopher, the response is “Oh, yellow”. Stubing insists it's not yellow. Then Gopher takes the swatch and holds it up against the wall in the halls of the ship. It is the same colour.
“See, yellow,” Gopher says.
Stubing snaps and orders the painters, one played by Arte Johnson I believe, to paint the whole cabin blue. When he arrives after they are finished, he discovers they have painted everything blue – the walls, the TV, planters, everything.
A matter of taste
The ship gets a new crew member, Chef Borga, played by Al Molinaro. He too has a grudge with Captain Stubing, only this one is open from the outset. Stubing put ketchup on his boulliabase. When he confronts Stubing, the captain said he did it because it needed it. To accentuate the point, later at dinner, he again puts ketchup on his dinner – only after he makes sure Chef Borga sees him do it. They do eventually make up.
The ship gets a new crew member, Chef Borga, played by Al Molinaro. He too has a grudge with Captain Stubing, only this one is open from the outset. Stubing put ketchup on his boulliabase. When he confronts Stubing, the captain said he did it because it needed it. To accentuate the point, later at dinner, he again puts ketchup on his dinner – only after he makes sure Chef Borga sees him do it. They do eventually make up.
Christmas spirit
Dick Sargent play a priest , the head of an orphanage who brings a group of boys on a cruise. They are pretty rambunctious, with one boy always being left out. No matter how hard he tries, Captain Stubing only makes the boy feel worse. It is Christmas time, and Stubing plays Santa. He hands presents to all the boys – except one. The boy is dejected, but Stubing makes things right by giving the boy a sextet for a present. It belonged to Stubing’s family for generations, and meant a great deal to Stubing. The boy is so excited, he shows the others what he got.
Dick Sargent play a priest , the head of an orphanage who brings a group of boys on a cruise. They are pretty rambunctious, with one boy always being left out. No matter how hard he tries, Captain Stubing only makes the boy feel worse. It is Christmas time, and Stubing plays Santa. He hands presents to all the boys – except one. The boy is dejected, but Stubing makes things right by giving the boy a sextet for a present. It belonged to Stubing’s family for generations, and meant a great deal to Stubing. The boy is so excited, he shows the others what he got.
Joke or no joke
A ladies man is cheating on his partner, so she and Doc cook up a scheme. They do something to make him feel sick enough to see Doc. When he gets to sick bay, Doc gives him a rough time, like soaking his stethoscope in ice and applying it to the man’s bare skin. Doc intimates the man may be dying. However, in the midst of his playing, Doc notices something troubling for real, and the man really could be dying. I think the man was played by Dack Rambo.
A ladies man is cheating on his partner, so she and Doc cook up a scheme. They do something to make him feel sick enough to see Doc. When he gets to sick bay, Doc gives him a rough time, like soaking his stethoscope in ice and applying it to the man’s bare skin. Doc intimates the man may be dying. However, in the midst of his playing, Doc notices something troubling for real, and the man really could be dying. I think the man was played by Dack Rambo.
Back in the pros
Real-life football player Rosey Greer plays Virgil Plummer, a professional football player who looks as if his career is over. He admits he has nothing else but football. That’s all he knows how to do. Isaac takes an interest in him and tries to comfort him. Virgil bakes cookies to relieve stress, and people think they are amazing when they taste them. Isaac encourages Virgil to make a business out of it – until Virgil’s wife tells him he has been picked up by Tampa Bay.
Real-life football player Rosey Greer plays Virgil Plummer, a professional football player who looks as if his career is over. He admits he has nothing else but football. That’s all he knows how to do. Isaac takes an interest in him and tries to comfort him. Virgil bakes cookies to relieve stress, and people think they are amazing when they taste them. Isaac encourages Virgil to make a business out of it – until Virgil’s wife tells him he has been picked up by Tampa Bay.
There are so many more but, after all these years, in some cases more than 40, I still remember these ones vividly.
Theme song
“The Love Boat” theme song was also unforgettable. It was performed by Jack Jones, who actually appeared on an episode of the show and sang the song.
“The Love Boat” theme song was also unforgettable. It was performed by Jack Jones, who actually appeared on an episode of the show and sang the song.
When my brother left for college, he left behind an old tape recorder that covered the better part of a full shelf, and had a chorded microphone. I used to use that machine to tape music off the TV.
One of the songs I taped off TV was that theme song from “The Love Boat”.
Parting thoughts
“The Love Boat” was must-see TV on Friday nights. I remember looking forward to watching it right after the evening news on Channel 13 on the peasant vision dial.
“The Love Boat” was must-see TV on Friday nights. I remember looking forward to watching it right after the evening news on Channel 13 on the peasant vision dial.
The stories may be cheesy and predictable by today’s standards, but they definitely are memorable. As I reflected on them, some still brought a tear to my eye 40 years later.
That says it all.
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