Gavin McLeod, Bernie Koppell, Ted Lange, Fred Grandy

My first memory of “The Love Boat” – Aaron Spelling’s super cheesy, but super-addictive, 70s comedy series set aboard an Ocean Liner – dates back to when I was barely out of nappies. I’d have to have been 2 or 3-years-old when I found myself out of bed and on my way out of the darkened bedroom – I think that’s what spurred on what happened next, being scared and all – and into the lounge room where my parents let me watch Television with them for an hour or so. For some reason I vividly recall it being “The Love Boat” that was airing at the time, but more than that, I remember the episode – it was the one with the ‘Village People’. How’s that for a super memory, huh!?
I was too young to know any better, but the story goes that I really enjoyed the show, at one stage even doing the YMCA with the show-pony’s on the telly.

Needless to say, the show didn’t have the same affect on me thirty odd years later – but I still kept watching, didn’t I?

“The Love Boat” may have been trashy, but it was good trash – the kind only Aaron Spelling (“Dynasty”, “Beverly Hills 90210”) knew how to make.

Unlike a lot of the late producer’s shows though (“Charlie's Angels” was a bit of a hybrid – probably more action-centric than comedy-centric), the emphasis here was on comedy – and despite being in unfamiliar terrain, Spelling did pull in the laughs - for the most part (some of the humour was a bit on the nose). I don’t know whether it was the writing though that’s responsible for those laughs, because the scripts were pretty atrocious, as were the storylines, which were rather run-of-the-mill. No, I’m thinking it might’ve been the capable cast playing the Ship’s crew. Led by the charming Gavin McLeod as the legendary Captain Stubing (yes kids, the same guy that opens the door for Jim Carrey in “Ace Ventura, Pet Detective”), everyone on the show gave it their best – and most knew how to deliver a joke – whether it was a good one or not.

It didn’t hurt that the show had a great roster of guest-stars popping by each and every episode either – be it The Village People, Michael J.Fox, Willie Aames, Don Adams or Polly Bergen.

“The Love Boat” has dated dramatically, but that doesn’t mean it’s not still entertaining. 12 episodes from the show’s first season are included on this, the first volume of what’ll assumingly be the whole dang “Love Boat” collection.

Rating :
Reviewer : Clint Morris