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LOVE BOAT, THE: DOC'S SLUMP / WHAT A DRAG / THE CREW'S CRUISE DIRECTOR {SEASON EIGHT PREMIERE} (TV)

Summary

One in this comedy series about the lives and romances of the passengers and crew aboard a luxury cruise ship, the Pacific Princess.

The Pacific Princess prepares for a ladies-only cruise to Alaska. Captain Stubing invites the crew to his quarters, apparently for some sort of celebration. Julie is not present, and Captain Stubing announces that she has gotten married, much to everyone’s surprise. She decided to do a “spur-of-the-moment” marriage to her longtime fiancée, and left everyone handwritten notes to convey her appreciations to them. Captain Stubing introduces Gopher and Ace to the new cruise director, Bernice Bronson, who seems standoffish with them, immediately demanding that they address her with respect. Jane Fletcher, a travel agent, comes aboard and is greeted by Vicki and Captain Stubing; the ladies-only cruise was her idea. Unbeknownst to them, Harry, Jane’s husband, and his friend Ralph sneak aboard the ship disguised as women, as Harry believes that Jane is using the cruise as an elaborate deception so that she can carry out an affair. Doctor Bricker’s date, Emily, comes aboard to find him posing for a photograph with Gopher and two lady passengers, unaware that he did so with reluctance. She is upset about this, and about Doctor Bricker’s various prior relationships from other cruises. However, he seemingly convinces her to change her mind, and she goes to her room to get some sleep.

Judy McCoy, Julie’s sister, comes on board and introduces herself to Captain Stubing. Originally, Judy had come aboard to spend time with Julie, but after she ran off to get married Judy says she decided to take the cruise anyway. Emily is upset that Doctor Bricker does not seem to be committed to their relationship and decides to leave the cruise, ignoring Gopher and Ace’s attempts to stop her. The ship disembarks, and the next day Judy and Bernice run into each other; they happen to be friends, and Judy is surprised to learn that Bernice has replaced her sister. Judy also explains that she recently got a divorce; Bernice is rude to the passengers, although Judy treats them with kindness and attention. Gopher and Ace are both reluctant to tell Doctor Bricker that Emily has left, and stall to prevent the news from reaching his ears. Ralph goes on a rant about how Harry’s jealousy and paranoia about his wife has gotten out of hand and that their disguises are the latest manifestations of this irrational behavior. Harry admits that he may be to blame due to feelings of inadequacy compared to Jane. Captain Stubing shows Jane around the ship as Harry and Ralph secretly try to follow them.

Ace and Gopher finally work up the courage to tell Doctor Bricker about what happened to Emily. This news leaves Doctor Bricker feeling depressed. They try to cheer him up by inviting him to join them on a double-date later that night, hoping to fix him up with one of the lady passengers. At dinner, Jane spots Harry in his disguise and nearly recognizes him, but dismisses this. Judy joins Captain Stubing at the captain’s table and stands up for Bernice, claiming that she is quite competent and that she will warm up to her soon. Jane officiates at a pajama party-themed event and judges a contest to determine the “slinkiest” outfits on display. Art and Gopher place a call to Emily, hoping to convey Doctor Bricker’s current downtrodden state to her. He asks her to fly up to Alaska to meet the ship and surprise him, but she refuses and hangs up. Jane seemingly finally recognizes Harry through his disguise. Bonnie, one of the girls on Art and Gopher’s double-date feels sympathy for Doctor Bricker and goes on a walk with him alone. The crew expresses uniform dissatisfaction with Bernice’s behavior, particularly towards the passengers, but Judy urges them to give her another chance. Captain Stubing and Bernice come upon them and break them up; Bernice realizes they are plotting to get rid of her and sneers that they have “no chance in hell” of doing so.

Diane, the other girl Art and Gopher are interested in, feels that Gopher “sacrificed” his happiness to help Doctor Bricker and becomes romantically interested in him, annoying Ace. Jane, realizing that Harry is watching her, makes a show of asking Captain Stubing to join her for a drink that night and implying that she will be making romantic advances on him. The ship docks in Ketchikan, Alaska, and Gopher and Ace greet Emily as she boards the ship, explaining that she changed her mind yet again. However, Bonnie is with Doctor Bricker at the moment, and Ace panics when he realizes this. Jane and Captain Stubing go to Ketchikan to pick up a map, and Ralph does not wish to follow them into town dressed as women. Gopher and Ace are unable to stop Emily from going to see Doctor Bricker, but he manages to allay her suspicions and is happy to see her in spite of his surprise. Ralph swipes some crew uniforms to disguise himself and takes the opportunity to flirt with Bernice, whom he has noticed and has had an eye on. They banter and he suddenly kisses her, she leaves and simply tells him to “stay in touch.”

Bonnie returns to Doctor Bricker and starts making out with him, leaving him unable to explain that he has gotten back with Emily. Emily witnesses this and becomes furious, yelling at Doctor Bricker and shoving him into the swimming pool. Judy continues to lend assistance to various passengers, who all comment on how rude Bernice is to them. In an effort to prevent her from getting fired, Judy claims that her name is “Bernice,” so that the passengers will report to Captain Stubing that “Bernice” was the one who helped them. Harry and Ralph continue to spy on Jane and Captain Stubing as she visibly flirts with Captain Stubing, much to his embarrassment. He does not wish to make advances on her, pointing out that she is married, but Jane keeps pressing the issue. He insists on returning to the bridge, and she accompanies him. Bernice is annoyed at Judy for constantly being helpful and kind to passengers, believing that she is trying to steal her job. She goes to Captain Stubing to complain about Judy, and is surprised when he compliments her for something Judy did but gave her credit for; she accepts the credit without revealing the truth and decides not to complain after all.

Doctor Bricker attempts to make amends with Emily, who is still concerned that he is not as dedicated to their relationship as she is. They go back to his cabin together to discuss the matter, but Bonnie is waiting for him in the cabin, further infuriating Emily and causing her to storm out. Bonnie becomes mad that she is embroiled in this scenario and also storms out. Captain Stubing speaks to Judy, telling her that he has figured out her deception, leaving her somewhat embarrassed. Jane apologizes to Captain Stubing for her behavior the previous night, and Harry, still in disguise, tries to warn Jane off of pursuing him. However, she ignores his warnings and expresses glee that she left her “dumb husband” behind. She also implies that she and Captain Stubing had a sexual encounter the previous night, but does not give any details. Doctor Bricker, Gopher, and Ace disguise themselves in bath towels in order to enter the ladies’ steam room in an attempt to confront Bonnie and Emily simultaneously, and so Ace can speak to Diane. Harry enters the steam room as well in order to speak to Jane, who concocts lurid details of her supposed romantic encounter with Captain Stubing. This enrages Harry enough for him to drop his disguise, and Jane feigns surprise. She gets the women in the steam room to throw out all of the men except Ralph, who is kept behind by Bernice.

Doctor Bricker offers his heartfelt apologies to Emily, saying that although he “fall[s] in love too easily” he genuinely cares about her and her feelings. Harry admits to Jane that he feels he is not good enough for her, but she insists that he is everything she wants in a man, both physically and in his personality. Bernice thanks Judy for trying to improve her image to the captain and crew. Emily joins Doctor Bricker over dinner and they decide that their lifestyles are incompatible with each other, although they are still clearly romantically attracted to each other. Ace and Gopher make up with their respective girlfriends. Englebert Humperdinck makes an appearance as part of the cruise package, being the subject of a letter-writing contest among the passengers to win a date with him. Bernice’s letter is chosen, making her the contest winner, much to everyone’s surprise. However, Captain Stubing disqualifies her, as employees are not permitted to enter the contest. In response, she quits to allow her the chance to go out with Englebert. He performs “The Other Woman, the Other Man” for the passengers. Later, Ralph proposes to Bernice, and she accepts. Captain Stubing announces Bernice’s departure and marriage, and he asks Judy to recommend a new cruise director due to her prior experience in the field. However the rest of the crew urges her to take the position herself, believing that she would be perfect. Judy decides to accept, much to everyone’s excitement. Doctor Bricker, Gopher, Ace, Emily, Diane, and Bonnie all make arrangements to go on a “triple-date” with each other. Commercials deleted.

Details

  • NETWORK: ABC
  • DATE: November 30, 1999 8:00 PM
  • RUNNING TIME: 1:12:45
  • COLOR/B&W: Color
  • CATALOG ID: 122039
  • GENRE: Comedy
  • SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Comedy; TV - Comedy
  • SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1977-1987
  • COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

  • Aaron Spelling … Executive Producer
  • Douglas S. Cramer … Executive Producer
  • Ben Joelson … Producer
  • Art Baer … Producer
  • Dennis Hammer … Producer
  • Stephen K. Rose … Associate Producer
  • Roger Duchovny … Director
  • W.L. Baumes … Developed by
  • Richard Albrecht … Writer ("Doc's Slump")
  • Casey Keller … Writer ("Doc's Slump")
  • Mike Marmer … Writer ("What a Drag")
  • Tony Webster … Writer ("The Crew's Cruise Director")
  • Jeraldine Saunders … Based on "The Love Boats" by
  • Ben Lanzarone … Music by
  • Charles Fox … Theme Music by
  • Paul Williams … Theme Music by
  • Jack Jones … Theme Music by
  • Gavin MacLeod … Cast, Captain Merrill Stubing
  • Bernie Kopell … Cast, Doctor Adam Bricker
  • Fred Grandy … Cast, Yeoman Purser Burl "Gopher" Smith
  • Ted Lange … Cast, Isaac Washington
  • Jill Whelan … Cast, Vicki Stubing
  • Ted McGinley … Cast, Ashley "Ace" Covington Stevens
  • Patty Duke Astin (See also: Patty Duke) … Cast, Jane Fletcher
  • Bert Convy … Cast, Harry Fletcher
  • Lydia Cornell … Cast, Bonnie
  • Rebecca Holden … Cast, Diane
  • Englebert Humperdinck … Cast, Himself
  • Arte Johnson … Cast, Ralph
  • Patricia Klous … Cast, Judy McCoy
  • Diane Ladd … Cast, Bernice Bronson
  • Michelle Phillips … Cast, Emily
  • Selma Archerd … Cast, Mrs. Carter
  • Anulka Dziubinska … Cast, Ginger
  • Remy O'Neill … Cast, Lady #3
  • Sharon Hughes … Cast, Lady #4
  • Linda Stayer … Cast, Angie