I remember watching all 3 pilots. Of course, I didn’t know they were pilots. I just thought they were movies of the week. They were very big back in the 70’s & 80’s. There was something about this concept on a ship that sounded intriguing. It just took 3 tries and multiple cast changes to get the right cast. They normally didn’t do that many attempts at a pilot. The only other times I can recall were for All in the Family (Mike & Gloria) and, Three’s Company (Janet & Chrissy). The final casting of Gavin MacLeod and Lauren Tewes sealed the deal and the rest was history. Good times.
The actress who plays the cruise director, Terry O’Mara reminds me of Elizabeth Montgomery from “Bewitched”. The actors who played the lounge entertainers, Kathryn Ish and Richard Stahl, were married in real-life from 1959 until Stahl’s death in 2006, Ish died a year later in 2007.
This musical theme by Charles Fox was the main title for all 3 LOVE BOAT 2 hour movies. When it went to series, lyricist Paul Williams (the reigning Oscar winning songwriter for "Evergreen" from STAR IS BORN) laid the lyric on top. When Fox offered the job to Williams he said "most probably it'll last only 6 episodes, but you never know". 278 episodes later! Fox wrote many other top theme shows of the day (Happy Days, Wonder Woman) as well as the Grammy winning hit "Killing Me Softly".
I remember on the DVD extras for Smokey and the Bandit, Paul was interviewed and commented how Jerry Reed was a song writing genius. And I remember saying out loud "Yes he was, Paul, but then again, so are you"
Composer Charles Fox scored all 3 Love Boat pilots using this very instrumental theme. When the show was picked up to series, Fox asked lyricist Paul Williams to add a lyric to the music-- despite that the show would probably only run 6 episodes. Williams had just won the Oscar for "Evergreen" from "Star Is Born". And Fox & Williams had just written 5 songs for the Robby Benson basketball movie ONE ON ONE-- which featured their hit single "My Fair Share" sung by Seals & Crofts. Love Boat ended up running 280 episodes, and often was in the top 3 rated shows on TV along with two other of Fox's themes: "Happy Days" & "Laverne & Shirley".
It appears on seveeral TV theme compilation albums ... it's just a matter of finding th right one. There is also a studio recording version available on Itunes ...
Loved this! Very obscure; never knew this existed. This must have been pre “Eight is Enough” for Dick Van Patten. Funny how some of the cast physically resembled the actors they chose for the series!
Fred Silverman finally realized after two pilots bombed - “Get me Gavin McLeod” True story. Fred just knew Of course Gav was the anchor of the whole thing.
Surprised Dick Van Patten was not cast as The Captain he seemed to be a bigger name then Ted Hamilton ..oh well ABC had another long running show lined up for Patten
I have never seen this and had no idea there was another cast. Wow they made a good call on the series. I was 3 or 4 years old then so I guess that is why I didn't see it but damn you would think all these years later this would have been on somewhere!
Am I the only one who remembers "loves theme " being used as the intro? I know I heard it, because I remember when it switched to the typical "LOVE Boat" theme song.
Like my dad always said: "They throw a colored one in there just to make it look good." In other words, so people won't say it's a racist show because there are no black people on it. LOL!!
Interestingly, most of this same guest cast, especially Don Adams, Tom Bosley, Florence Henderson, Harvey Korman, and Cloris Leachman, would continue to make multiple, repeat appearances throughout the series, each time in different roles.
He did the Eight Is Enough pilot and it went to series in early 1977. The Love Boat cast that we all know and love were assembled and they did another TV movie pilot of the week. That film was a success and the series went on the fall of 77 and ran to 1987.
The first pilot cast was the best one. The recasted crew was boring beyond tears. This pilot captures the fun essence of the 1970s, the regular tv show was boring beyond belief. Worse than Rhoda.
Thank God for last minute re-casting!!! 😁
I remember watching all 3 pilots. Of course, I didn’t know they were pilots. I just thought they were movies of the week. They were very big back in the 70’s & 80’s. There was something about this concept on a ship that sounded intriguing. It just took 3 tries and multiple cast changes to get the right cast. They normally didn’t do that many attempts at a pilot. The only other times I can recall were for All in the Family (Mike & Gloria) and, Three’s Company (Janet & Chrissy). The final casting of Gavin MacLeod and Lauren Tewes sealed the deal and the rest was history. Good times.
The actress who plays the cruise director, Terry O’Mara reminds me of Elizabeth Montgomery from “Bewitched”. The actors who played the lounge entertainers, Kathryn Ish and Richard Stahl, were married in real-life from 1959 until Stahl’s death in 2006, Ish died a year later in 2007.
This musical theme by Charles Fox was the main title for all 3 LOVE BOAT 2 hour movies. When it went to series, lyricist Paul Williams (the reigning Oscar winning songwriter for "Evergreen" from STAR IS BORN) laid the lyric on top. When Fox offered the job to Williams he said "most probably it'll last only 6 episodes, but you never know". 278 episodes later! Fox wrote many other top theme shows of the day (Happy Days, Wonder Woman) as well as the Grammy winning hit "Killing Me Softly".
I remember on the DVD extras for Smokey and the Bandit, Paul was interviewed and commented how Jerry Reed was a song writing genius. And I remember saying out loud "Yes he was, Paul, but then again, so are you"
Usually some cast is replaced when a pilot goes to series. This is the first time I ever saw EVERYONE go.
Hard to think of a better example of the importance of getting the casting right to make a show successful - the original series' cast was perfect.
Composer Charles Fox scored all 3 Love Boat pilots using this very instrumental theme. When the show was picked up to series, Fox asked lyricist Paul Williams to add a lyric to the music-- despite that the show would probably only run 6 episodes. Williams had just won the Oscar for "Evergreen" from "Star Is Born". And Fox & Williams had just written 5 songs for the Robby Benson basketball movie ONE ON ONE-- which featured their hit single "My Fair Share" sung by Seals & Crofts. Love Boat ended up running 280 episodes, and often was in the top 3 rated shows on TV along with two other of Fox's themes: "Happy Days" & "Laverne & Shirley".
Beautiful instrumental. I wish they would release this on a Love Boat TV CD soundtrack
It appears on seveeral TV theme compilation albums ... it's just a matter of finding th right one. There is also a studio recording version available on Itunes ...
Agreed!!
Impressive no one from the pilot trailer stayed in the definitive show!!!
Loved this! Very obscure; never knew this existed. This must have been pre “Eight is Enough” for Dick Van Patten. Funny how some of the cast physically resembled the actors they chose for the series!
Fred Silverman finally realized after two pilots bombed - “Get me Gavin McLeod” True story. Fred just knew Of course Gav was the anchor of the whole thing.
Surprised Dick Van Patten was not cast as The Captain he seemed to be a bigger name then Ted Hamilton ..oh well ABC had another long running show lined up for Patten
The crew was completely different!
I never saw this one when I did it was a complete new cast
This was first movie they did of what will be the series.
I have never seen this and had no idea there was another cast. Wow they made a good call on the series. I was 3 or 4 years old then so I guess that is why I didn't see it but damn you would think all these years later this would have been on somewhere!
I forgot about the Pilot intro wow
Nobody could play Isaac like Ted Lange!
Am I the only one who remembers "loves theme " being used as the intro? I know I heard it, because I remember when it switched to the typical "LOVE Boat" theme song.
Some parts of this version of the Love Boat them remind me of the Charlie's Angels theme
Even in the pilot, the best a brutha can do is bartend.
Facts
At least he wasn't a janitor!
Like my dad always said: "They throw a colored one in there just to make it look good." In other words, so people won't say it's a racist show because there are no black people on it. LOL!!
Sandy Helberg is the father of Simon Helberg aka "Howard Wolowitz" of the Big Bang Theory.
Not ever seen this one
It's the best one.like everything else they dont show the best bits
THE CAPSIZING OF THE OCEAN DREAM!!!! (ex. STARSHIP MAJESTIC,SUN PRINCESS,SPIRIT OF LONDON) (1972-2016) 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Interestingly, most of this same guest cast, especially Don Adams, Tom Bosley, Florence Henderson, Harvey Korman, and Cloris Leachman, would continue to make multiple, repeat appearances throughout the series, each time in different roles.
And Dick Van Patten and Robert Reed
I’ve read they did three pilots for the love boat
That first "Gopher" looked HORRIBLE in a really bad in mid 70's bad kind of way lol
and *NONE* of them made it to the series
I love the show because of Jack Webb
Sweet Daddy as the bartender??? 😃
I loved Dick Van Patten I wonder why they didn´t keep him
He did the Eight Is Enough pilot and it went to series in early 1977. The Love Boat cast that we all know and love were assembled and they did another TV movie pilot of the week. That film was a success and the series went on the fall of 77 and ran to 1987.
0:23 Real Horn Of The MS New Flamenco???
They should have kept this cast the other one was kind of boring
Agree!!
The first pilot cast was the best one. The recasted crew was boring beyond tears. This pilot captures the fun essence of the 1970s, the regular tv show was boring beyond belief. Worse than Rhoda.
yeah whatever