Mrs. Sabo and I cut the cord last week. When I programmed the channels from the HDTV antenna, I noticed a handful of channels that consistently aired old shows like the original Star Trek, the Twilight Zone, the Munsters and the Andy Griffith Show. I'm sure one of these channels will get around to airing My Three Sons, too.
While eating dinner last night, we flipped through the channels and came across one of the elite shows of the old show pantheon ... The Love Boat! Unfortunately we only caught the last 15 minutes of the episode, so we weren't able to get much of the plot (as if that matters). But what was striking were the guest stars we were able to identify.
Bill Daily! Best known for his role as Major Healey in I Dream of Jeannie, he also was in the Bob Newhart Show. And most surprisingly, he's still alive, according to Wikipedia.
John Hillerman! You might not remember his real name, but you certainly remember Higgins from Magnum P.I. and Howard Johnson from Blazing Saddles, right?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsHuNFEa8H4
Larry Linville! I always find it weird to see Larry Linville in any role other than Major Frank Burns from M*A*S*H. He portrayed the ugly American so well on M*A*S*H. In the Love Boat episode, he portrayed some rich dude who gave $500,000 to an orphanage in Mexico. For some reason, a Catholic priest and a bunch if orphans were on the cruise (I mean, why wouldn't orphans be on a luxury cruise ship?), and he felt guilty about his extravagant lifestyle and gave the money to orphans. That's so unlike Major Burns.
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.! I honestly can't tell you anything about this guy other than he's the son of Douglas Fairbanks. He had a pencil-thin mustache while on the Love Boat, which automatically makes him creepy.
Ginger Rogers! Mrs. Sabo popped huge for seeing Ginger because she likes to watch old Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movies. I didn't know who she was at all. She didn't dance while on the Love Boat, but she sang a song that I recognized but can't remember the title. It was something from the 60s. In this episode, she played a stage actress, and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. was a harsh theater critic and aspiring playwright. He wrote a play that she read and said was utter trash. Eventually they talked it out and she said she only said it was trash so he could understand what it's like to be severely criticized. And this being the Love Boat, they fell in love and Captain Stubing was asked to be the best man at the wedding. Seriously, who writes this shit?
Natalie Schafer! You don't know her name, but you certainly know Mrs. Lovey Howell, right? RIGHT?!?!?!?!?!?!?
The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders! I have no idea why they were on the show, but does it matter?