The Love Boat Promises Something for Everyone

I like watching old TV shows before I got to bed. Something about them helps me relax. So, I’ve been queuing up random shows in the DVR including Hogan’s Heroes, Columbo, Different Strokes among others.

The shows are wonderful time capsules: often with hidden marvels. – Sometimes the shows are remarkably clever, others are so bad that it’s stunning to imagine how many people tuned into these shows for years.  This latter point brings me to The Love Boat: a show that ran  for nine years – from May 5, 1977, until May 24, 1986 (with three-hour specials aired in 1986–87 and 1990).

The episode that I recorded had a trifecta title, “Miss Mom/Who’s the Champ/Gopher’s Delusion“.  It was first released on February 1, 1986.

The cast was surreal. My, how some things have changed…

IMDB credits Caitlyn Jenner as the wrestler “Lover Boy Bob” (as Bruce Jenner).

In the story arc, “Who’s the Champ”, Lover Boy Bob is wooing another wrestler’s sister. And both wrestlers Lover Boy and the ‘The Mangler’ Sharkey (played by Tim Rossovich) are smacked around by none other than Hulk Hogan before the sister, Linda Sharkey (played by Jennifer Holmes) settles the dispute by locking them into a steam room together.

And of course, the show wouldn’t be complete without the patron saint of shark jumping: Ted McGinley.

“Love, exciting and new
Come Aboard. We’re expecting you.
And Love, life’s sweetest reward.
Let it flow, it floats back to you.

Love Boat soon will be making another run
The Love Boat promises something for everyone
Set a course for adventure,
Your mind on a new romance.

And Love won’t hurt anymore
It’s an open smile on a friendly shore.
Yes LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE!

Welcome Aboard. It’s LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE!”