Saturday 9: The Love Boat

Sam’s Saturday 9: The Love Boat (1977)

On Saturdays I take a break from the heavy stuff and have some fun…

I am at a family graduation party and will not be able to reply until later this evening.

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) The Love Boat ran from 1977 to 1987. It was in the Top 10 for seven of those 10 seasons. Are you familiar with the show? Were you a fan?

I watched it but I wasn’t a fan.

2) Every week, viewers followed The Pacific Princess as she set sail to a glamorous destination. Have you ever taken a cruise? If so, where did you go?

Well it all depends upon what you mean by a cruise.

I have been on ferry boats and a mail boat. The mail boat goes to the many island in Casco Bay in Maine and it takes about six hours to make its deliveries on the islands.

Photo taken from the Casco Bay mail boat as we passed sailboat popping out from behind one of the islands

3) Gavin MacLeod played Captain Steubing. Born Allan See, he came up with the stage name by combining the first name of a fictional character he admired, and the last name of a teacher who influenced him. Using his formula, give yourself a stage name. For example, Sam would be Hermione Hart (Hermione from Harry Potter; Hart for her Kindergarten teacher).

Kylara (From Vatta's War which is a science fiction series by American writer Elizabeth Moon) Bates (my high school  English teacher if I remember correctly)

4) After the series ended, Fred Grandy (aka "Gopher") went on to become a Congressman from Iowa and then CEO of Goodwill Industries. If you had a bag of gently-used items to donate, where would you take them?

I don’t know, but it would definitely not be the Salvation Army

Probably to Journey Home in Hartford, they run homeless shelters there. 

5) Ted Lange is best known for his role as the ship's bartender, Isaac. But he began his career performing the classics, and appeared at Colorado Shakespearean Festival and London's Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Let's class up this joint. Give us a little Shakespeare.

To be, or not to be: that is the question’

‘A man can die but once.’

6) Bernie Kopell played the ship's doctor, Adam Bricker. Kopell first appeared on TV in 1961 and was a regular on Get Smart and That Girl, and he's still acting today. But Love Boat was, by far, his favorite role. Working on the show was "absolute heaven" because he was paid to travel the world and meet his acting idols, like Oscar winners Greer Garson, Joan Fontaine and Eva Marie Saint, who appeared on the show. When you think of the best job you have ever had, what made it so good: the pay, the location, the people you met, or the work itself?

Well for 28 years I worked for one company under five owners, I stayed because I liked what I was doing. But then under the sixth owner they shut us down and I went back to school and got my master’s, that was the best thing that happened to me.

I like what I am doing now. Training (except the plague stopped that for now) and helping pass legislation that makes a difference for so many lives.

7) Lauren Tewes played Cruise Director Julie McCoy. Today she lives in Seattle, appearing in local theater and -- between acting assignments -- working as a chef for a catering service. Have you hosted dinner for more than 8 people? If yes, do you remember what you served?

It probably was a cookout and I served burgers and dogs.

8) For the first nine seasons, the theme was sung by Jack Jones. The Grammy-winning singer says one of his career highlights playing Sky Masterson onstage in Guys and Dolls. In his late 50s at the time, had had to go outside his comfort zone, dancing and acting as well as singing before a live audience. Tell us about something new you tried recently.

Well I just got a new photograph program and I am learning to us it.

9) Random question  -- Which would you rather receive as a gift: one $500 wristwatch, or five $100 wristwatches?

Hmm… it is probably easier to pawn off one watch than five but I might get a better price on the five watches. After all what could I do with a $500 watch, I would be afraid to wear it or with five watches?  My $20 Timex still keeps a ticking after 20 years.

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend.