The Love Boat - Season 1, Volume 1 was officially
announced yesterday by CBS/Paramount for release on
March 4th, but at the time that was the only information available. Since then we've worked with our friends in the industry to be the first to bring you additional details about this release. Here's the scoop:
First of all, it looks like the three pre-series telefilms will NOT be included on this release. Sept. 1976 saw the original telefilm
The Love Boat with a completely different cast, then Jan. 1977 saw
The Love Boat II with Bernie Kopell, Ted Lange and Fred Grandy on board. In May 1977 ABC aired
The New Love Boat telefilm, with Gavin MacLeod and Lauren Tewes joining the other three familiar faces. Then, in Sept. 1977 the regular weekly series launched with the first of 25 episodes from the first season. There would eventually be nine regular seasons, followed by a few specials later that final year (1986) and a reunion "
Valentine Voyage" in 1990. Of course, 1998 saw the much-maligned Robert Urich-starring remake,
Love Boat: The Next Wave, on UPN (some original cast members showed up in one episode).
The upcoming DVD set will contain 3 discs selling for $42.98 SRP. It will have the first 12 episodes from the first season, meaning that you'll see guest stars like Meredith Baxter-Birney, Bonnie Franklin, Suzanne Somers, Jimmie Walker, John Ritter, Jaclyn Smith, Scott Baio, Florence Halop, Kristy McNichol, Richard Mulligan, Robert Reed, Loretta Swit, Milton Berle, Charo, Bill Bixby, Audra Lindley, Diahann Carroll, Jim Nabors, Patty Duke, Ruth Gordon, Tab Hunter, Maureen McCormick, Ray Bolger, Alana Stewart, Steve Allen, Polly Bergen, Sandy Duncan, J. Jay Saunders, Loni Anderson, Gary Burghoff, Jane Curtin, Joanna Kerns, Phil Silvers, Eva Gabor, Al Molinaro, Leslie Nielsen, Florence Henderson, Dick Sargent, Shecky Greene, Donna Mills, Tom Poston, Anson Williams, Pat Morita, Arte Johnson...and Robert Urich! Wow, deja vu.
Our retail friends have sent us over the first look at the cover art for
The Love Boat - Season 1, Volume 1. Of course it may not be final, and is subject to change. But the comment our friends made was that they were expecting something very bad-looking, and that this looks quite good. We agree!
