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I clearly remember back in the '70s and '80s, when I would eagerly anticipate the TV show, The Love Boat, every Saturday night at 9 PM.

It was a pre-party night ritual for me. I would watch the show right before going out with my friends to the disco clubs in Fort Lauderdale; where we would dance our feet off to songs like, Alicia Bridges singing, I Love The Nightlife, until 2 AM. Afterwards, we would go to Denny’s and have breakfast with all the other intoxicated polyester-clothed disco club crowd.

Oh, those were the days!

And even though the show was corny as all hell, I adored The Love Boat.
At one point I thought it would be cool as shit to be a sea captain like, Gavin MacLeod as Captain Stubing, but then changed my mind.

Shhhh…don’t tell anyone this, but I held a secret fantasy that I would one day become a cruise director like, Lauren Tewes as Julie McCoy, because it looked like such a fun job. But back then, I wasn't sure if they even had male cruise directors.
Now mind you, I’ve never been on a cruise in my life because I get motion sickness. In fact, I get seasick just seeing too many waves in someone’s hair.

Yet, that job seemed so GLAMOROUS to me. Back when I was in my mid-20’s, I used to idealize a lot about different careers; not realizing that ANY job meant that you actually had to WORK. And it wasn’t all fun and games, like on TV or in the movies.

One of the neatest things about The Love Boat was that each week they would have various celebrities on the show, who boarded the ship as passengers. Some portrayed themselves, while others portrayed fictional characters.

One reoccurring celebrity on the show was, Charo.  Do any of you remember her?

Now the irony of this was that I actually met Charo while I was performing in a musical review in one of the casinos in Lake Tahoe, back in the late '70s. And the first thing I said to her when I was introduced in her dressing room after one of her shows, was not, “Hello, so nice to meet you. I enjoyed your show this evening.”

No. What came out of my ignorant and tacky mouth was, “OH MY GOD...I'VE SEEN YOU ON THE LOVE BOAT...I LOVE THAT TV SHOW!!!!”

And she was so graciously sweet, she just laughed.

*note: for all her provocative outfits and flamboyant persona, Charo is actually a very intelligent and unpretentious lady. She is also an amazing flamenco guitarist.

Anyway, while Googling stuff for this post, I came across an item that made me HOWL.

Look here…


The Love Boat action figures! Who knew?

If they had had these when I was watching the show, I would have probably bought and played with them!

And what I find hilarious is that if you look real close at both the female action figures, they look like men in DRAG.

Um…so I guess I could have been a cruise director after all!

I leave you with the opening theme song of The Love Boat…


Wishing you a smooth sailing weekend everyone!
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