Can you name the biggest star in TV history? It’s not Jerry Seinfeld or Bill Cosby or even Lucille Ball. Here’s a hint: this star was on a long-running primetime show from 1977 until 1986, and unlike most slim Hollywood actresses who carefully watch their weight, this one weighed more than 20,000 tons!
That’s because the biggest TV star in history isn't a person, it’s the Pacific Princess from the hit romantic sitcom <em>The Love Boat</em>.
Back in 1977, when the <em>The Love Boat</em> first hit the airwaves, Princess Cruises agreed to have their cruise ships featured on the show. The ship that starred in almost every episode was the Pacific Princess (sometimes it was replaced with sister ship Island Princess, but that was only when the Pacific Princess was in the shop, or as we probably should call it, “Celebrity Boat Rehab”).
By 1981, <em>The Love Boat</em> was a massive TV sensation, reaching #5 in the ratings. To capitalize on the attention, Princess Cruises dubbed the Pacific Princess “The Love Boat” and began featuring the ship in the company’s advertising. This worked big time. In the United States, the popularity of <a href="http://www.howlifeworks.com/Article.aspx?Cat_URL=travel&AG_URL=VTG_joy_of_cruising&ag_id=166&wid=060AE026-F252-490D-AEF1-9E3B0290C0FB&did=&pubs_source=&pubs_campaign=&si_id=433" target="_blank">cruise travel</a> soared to its highest levels in years.
<em>The Love Boat</em> left the airwaves in 1986 and so did the Pacific Princess. In 1998, a new version of the show, <em>Love Boat: The Next Wave</em>, ran for two seasons, but it featured the Sun Princess, another Princess ship. That’s life in the cruise ship acting business—here today, out to sea the next. Luckily, the Pacific Princess kept its day job, sailing until 2002. Today, the ship is sitting idly in a port in Italy where it’s up for sale, so if you’ve got 2.5 million euros lying around and want to own a piece of TV history, go for it!
Ever since this sailing show with all its big stars (John Ritter! Joan Rivers!), and not-so-big stars (Horshack from <em>Welcome Back Kotter</em>! The guy from <em>CHIPS</em>!), ended, the cruise industry has had many ups and downs. Right now is a down time, so luxury cruise lines are eagerly working with <a href="http://www.howlifeworks.com/Article.aspx?Cat_URL=travel&AG_URL=VTG_joy_of_cruising&ag_id=166&wid=060AE026-F252-490D-AEF1-9E3B0290C0FB&did=&pubs_source=&pubs_campaign=&si_id=433" target="_blank">travel websites</a> to sell off their extra rooms at unbelievably low prices. People are getting A-list actor treatment without even having to pay for it!
There are a couple reputable sites out there, but the most popular is <a href="http://www.howlifeworks.com/Article.aspx?Cat_URL=travel&AG_URL=VTG_joy_of_cruising&ag_id=166&wid=060AE026-F252-490D-AEF1-9E3B0290C0FB&did=&pubs_source=&pubs_campaign=&si_id=433" target="_blank">Vacations to Go</a> because they have a 90-day ticket that lets you know about every last-minute cruise deal out there. You can find great fares on family cruises, weekend cruises, and – the modern day <em>Love Boat</em> excursion – the singles cruise. The prices are so low, they’re basically begging you to come take a cruise.
<a href="http://www.howlifeworks.com/Article.aspx?Cat_URL=travel&AG_URL=VTG_joy_of_cruising&ag_id=166&wid=060AE026-F252-490D-AEF1-9E3B0290C0FB&did=&pubs_source=&pubs_campaign=&si_id=433" target="_blank">Check them out</a>. <em>They’re expecting yoooooou!</em>
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Oprah!!!!!
Love Boat and Fantasy Island were two of the worst shows in television history. And they went back to back on Saturday night. Absolute garbage.
To be fair, non-losers are usually busy on Saturday nights, so television executives tend not to waste the good stuff on Saturday nights– especially before the VCR became widespread.
JOE BLOW…your opinion.
I actually thought that the Love Boat and Fantasy Island were pretty good shows. Many stupid plots plots presented in each but they both were a good watch. I wonder why so many others felt the shows were good enough to give them such high ratings?
They should refurbish it, and relocate the United Nations onto it. That way it could sail to a new country every few years, so the freeloaders, I mean guests, can abuse the hospitality of other country’s for a while !
The Love Boat was a great series to watch. The kids these days seem to watch The Suite Life – Zack and Cody – it has a similar formula to the Love Boat albeit aimed at youngsters who watch the Disney channel.
It is amazing.