Welcome aboard to the stars I recognize, Bert Convy (I think he was on game shows) and Florence Henderson (Brady Bunch) who we will welcome aboard many, many times to come. Pat Harrington who in full disclosure I have always thought was Ray Jay Johnson? The guy who said you can call me Ray, or you can call me Jay or you can call me Johnny? They are NOT the same person. But, I know we’ll enjoy having Pat Harrington aboard. And I learned something. I sense a large cruise ship full of fun and knowledge!
In our open we see members of the crew washing windows! The better to see the incredible views of our exotic ports, and dolphins.
There is a new brass heavy reprise of the theme as we see the ship. The streamer/confetti good-bye scene has been generic for a few episodes now.
Also, as Dee mentioned, there’s a laugh track? 🤷 And we see the lighthouse that proudly stands at the Port of LA!
First, some limericks.
Captain’s Cup:
There once was a friendly old lad Whose impersonation wasn’t too bad Though he had the cup He was surely a gump And the Captain in the end, was mad.
Diane (Florence Henderson) and Hank (Pat Harrington–not Ray Jay Johnson)
The Folks from Home:
Here you will see our Doc Whose loving heart you can’t knock When Gloria did fall Doc was brave for the call Her life he did save, that’s no crock.
Gloria (Jeanette Nolan) and George Hancock (John McIntire), Amber (Cisse Cameron) as Doc/Gopher love interest. Crew assist: Doc and Gopher.
Legal Eagle:
Come here, take a look at this man Whose wife did give him the can But when her lawyer he met, He wasn’t thru yet Now these two have a big future plan
Danny (Bert Convy), and Ann (Leigh-Taylor Young).
Hey, Good Lookin’ Hank (Pat Harrington), who is holding WD-40 and is on top of a ladder in what I think is an attempt to make him look involved in maintenance on the Love Boat, notices Diane (Florence Henderson) as she is boarding and whistles at her. He is scolded by Julie for making “leering remarks” at a passenger and then she says to Diane, “This really never happens…”
Uhhh…..Julie…didn’t we just see Doc ask another passenger, Amber (Cisse Cameron), if she’s ever seen a real stethoscope before? And later Gopher says, “look at the legs on that filly?”
I’m in Trouble… Sheridan Winthrop didn’t show up to give Captain Stubing his Silver Cup for Captain of the Year. Diane is afraid she’ll lose her job, as Captain Stubing is expecting him. Diane asks Hank if he’d fill in and pretend to be Winthrop to protect her job. Hank agrees.
Dinnertime! In the Coral Dining Room, Danny is seated with his ex-wife’s divorce attorney, Ann.
There is a dessert buffet available in the Coral Dining room for pre (post?)-dinner noshing.
Unfortunately, this does not sweeten the exchange between Danny and Ann. No matter how Ann tries to lighten the mood, Danny is not interested.
The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly on the…Diane coaches Hank in her cabin to prepare for the Captain of the Year Cup presentation as a faux Winthrop.
Hank puts his hand in his pocket, clenches his jaw, references fancy places like the Champs Elysees, and fancy pursuits like polo, wow, he’s really sounding like a Winthrop. Unfortunately, Hank is also falling in love with Diane. But, Diane was really more concerned about her job than Hank. When Hank hears this he leaves. Looks like Diane will lose her Eliza Dolittle and her job…
We Are Family…Doc meets an older couple who share his hometown (Baltimore, Maryland or an area near there, I think). Their names are George and Gloria (John McIntire and Jeanette Nolan). It comes out in conversation that Doc’s parents have passed away. When George and Gloria hear this, they include Doc in their morning exercise routines, invite him to dinner, and ask him to join them in Puerto Vallarta. Doc is absolutely charmed by their stories of extensive travel and their kindness.
George and Gloria even give Doc a ring from their port stop shopping that has the emblem of Caduceus on it, that snake and pole thing.
George and Gloria’s care really affects Adam, so much so that Doc has no problem when Amber (Cisse Cameron), the young lady he met at the beginning of the cruise, leaves with Gopher.
Was it Something I Ate? By the second night of shared dinner seating, Danny and Ann have warmed to each other. I don’t want to credit the as yet unidentified pre-dinner buffet that holds grapes on a pedestal and a variety of stainless steel covered dishes and pots, but it couldn’t hurt!
Was it when they played backgammon earlier on the Lido Deck?
I’m not sure what to credit, but now they’re making jokes together!
Meet Me in the Moonlight… Gopher and Amber enjoy the Lido Deck and moonlight by the railing, without Doc!
What Do You Do with a Drunken Sailor? Doc is in the Coral Dining Room singing sea shanties with George and Gloria. Their only audience are the waiters who are like, “ok, let’s wrap this up,” looking on from their stations nearby.
Doc and Gopher both found love, one familial, the other romantic.
I Wasn’t Expecting That…Hank shows up as Winthrop, despite Diane’s rejection. He gives Captain Stubing the cup, but Hank is exposed as a fraud when the Love Boat receives a call from the real Winthrop. Though Diane’s job is safe, Hank is fired by Captain Stubing. Bummer.
This is Serious! Gloria falls while she and George are walking in the moonlight. She is seriously hurt and Doc prepares for surgery. Doc promises George that Gloria will be ok. Julie isn’t so sure Doc can keep his promise. Doc’s response, “They’re like my family, Julie. My family.” Doc is as serious as I have seen him.
Get Me a Ship to Shore Connection! Doc asks Gopher to supervise a ship to shore radio call with a surgeon so that he can save Gloria’s life.
Ahh, the tension! I’m going to need a nurse to wipe my brow from how much this situation is making me perspire!
Waxing Eloquent…The more time Danny and Ann spend together they learn two things. 1. Danny hasn’t given up on marriage. 2. Because of Ann’s profession, she has. Danny shares his thoughts on marriage and compares it to work you love. His thoughts involve the word “love,” a lot, “married people in love, children learning about love, going into the world spreading that love…” He ends by telling Ann she’s a hell of a woman, even if she is a cynic about marriage. They part. How nice, maybe they’ll find love with each other?
Uh Oh! That’s great and all, but what’s happening with Doc and Gloria? Unfortunately there are communication interruptions-including a possible solar flare-that complicate Adam’s ability to hear him.
Meanwhile in Our Other Storylines…Meanwhile, Diane decides to quit her job. Hank is worried for her. Diane tells him she can find another job, but she can’t find another Hank. Awwww, now how’s Gloria?
Ann comes to Danny’s cabin to tell him there are two sides to every story. Maybe Ann will give up being a cynic about marriage? Danny tells Ann she’s the one he’s been waiting for. Ok, great! What’s going on with Gloria?
Communication Breakdown…Gopher says they’ve lost the connection with the hospital to help Doc. Doc says it won’t be needed. Tense pause. Doc completed the surgery!
Gloria will be just fine! Whew. And now Doc has George sign the consent form for the surgery. Tears and chuckles all around! Doc, we’re all proud of you!🎉
La Fin Captain Stubing is in the front of the ship guiding us into port in Los Angeles.
That’s Not Quite All, Folks! A lot of the storylines continue through to the point of debarking. We see Gloria leaving via gurney with Doc, George, and Isaac holding her IV bag aloft.
Danny and Ann have a cute exchange. They’re getting married. Danny insists that if he and Ann get a divorce, she’ll have to represent him, as she is the best attorney!
Diane and Hank say goodbye to the Captain and Julie. The Captain offers Hank his job back, as he now knows the whole story. Hank is grateful, but turns his old job down saying, “The Sea is no place for a married man!” Much happiness to both Diane and Hank on their new adventure together.
Fashion Highs: Gloria’s plaid suit coat at boarding. Doc’s red Nikes. Ann’s purple floral jumpsuit and gold clutch, Amber’s crochet bodice white dress, Diane’s silver two-piece jacket/skirt combo.
iHasta Luego! We actually see a lot of souvenirs in the middle of the episode returning from Puerto Vallarta. Lots of sombreros, and George and Gloria are sharing their finds with Doc that include jumping beans! Which made me realize there may be jumping beans leaving as we’ve previously said good-bye but they’d be packed away in something. Like a straw purse. As the cruise ends, someone is leaving with a small red chair. And a paper flower.
Rating: Large Cruise Ship. This episode didn’t stop. There was plenty of love, but we had some drama as well with Doc’s storyline.
The Captain’s Cup: Both Florence Henderson and Pat Harrington did a great job in their individual roles. I really liked Hank way more than I thought I would. And his Winthrop impression convinced me! Three out of three anchors. For the Captain’s Cup!
The Folks from Home: This storyline was brought to you by Gopher and Doc as writers. George and Gloria are the kind of people you would like to be stuck at a table with if you were on a cruise. At least one night. This showed us another side of Doc, one that was great and made his character more interesting and likable. Not sold completely on all the advice he gives yet, though. Three out of three anchors. And, his red Nikes!
Legal Eagle: Was this storyline believable? I think so. I can see why Danny would be upset about the divorce but still come to a place where he wasn’t through with marriage. I can also understand Ann having a cynical take on marriage being a divorce attorney. I’m going to use “plucky” to describe Ann. She really was, and she had a lot of good lines. These two played off each other well. Three out of three anchors. It’s up against a couple of fantastic storylines but still manages to hold its own pretty well.