There was a fabulous reunion of The Love Boat yesterday, when all six of the original cast members of the classic/kitsch show from the 70s and 80s were presented with an honorary star plaque on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
In recognition of their contribution to the history of television, Gavin MacLeod (Captain Stubing), Jill Whelan (Vicki, the captain’s daughter), Ted Lange (Isaac the bartender), Bernie Kopell (Doc), Lauren Tewes (cruise director Julie) and Fred Grandy (Gopher, the purser), along with Princess Cruises, were presented with the honorary star plaque on Hollywood Boulevard, in front of the main entrance to the Dolby Theater.
The Love Boat – which is basically responsible for introducing the world to the idea of pleasure cruising – premiered in the USA in May 1977. It’s incredible to think the show is more than 40 years old!
Originally set aboard the Pacific Princess and Island Princess, as The Love Boat grew in popularity it was filmed on many other Princess ships as well, at destinations all over the world.
The premise of the show was simple: viewers were invited to “set a course for adventure” before being treated to stories of romance and fun on the high seas – or a glam port in an exotic location.
Every week the main cast was joined by Hollywood’s biggest stars of the day, with more than 1,000 celebrity guest stars boarding The Love Boat during its 10-year run. The huge roll-call of stars included such luminaries as Ginger Rogers, Billy Crystal, Jamie Lee Curtis, Michael J. Fox, Gene Kelly, Vincent Price, Tom Hanks and even Andy Warhol!