LOVE BOAT Cast Back For TV Land Awards Show

On April 25, the cast of the popular LOVE BOAT sitcom will reunite for the TV LAND Awards show. The very popular hour-long sitcom ran from 1977 until 1986. That year, both low ratings, and the desire of actor Fred Grandy(Gopher) to run for congress as a Republican helped to finally end the show. Grandy was successful in his bid for congress, and served four terms.

Originally, the Aaron Spelling production was a made-for-TV movie, however a strong public reception, led to the movie soon becoming a long running popular Saturday night fixture for ABC. For many years, the sitcom was paired with FANTASY ISLAND, giving ABC a strong two-hour block of programming. Since the demise of strong programming on Saturday evenings, the night has become largely a dumping ground for canceled programs, crime shows or reruns, as the main networks largely gave up on the low rated evening. But for many years, LOVE BOAT made Saturday a viable programming night for ABC.

The ship's captain in the show, played by actor Gavin MacLeod, later went on host a religious program with his wife on the Trinity Broadcast Network. And most of the other cast members went on to live mainstream lives. However, the seemingly sweet and nice cruise director character, played by actress Lauren Tewes, ended up leaving the show in 1984 after some serious problems with cocaine abuse became public and ended up in the tabloids. But Tewes, life got on track and she still does some smaller stage acting and voice-over work in advertising. She now lives in Seattle.

LOVE BOAT might have been lightweight TV programming, and held to low critical acclaim, but it was always an audience favorite. Even in reruns, the show had plenty of life left. No doubt, many folks will be more than glad to see this cast make a return for one night.