I remember it for personal reasons as well as for pop cultural ones. ABC's Saturday night hit was most popular while I was in elementary school and early middle and I associate it with a very pleasant time before things got a bit rough. My parents did things socially and were much happier then and my sister and I got along and shared a kooky love for this over-the-top show.
Just a few hours ago, while I ate my lunch, I watched an episode I DVR-ed yesterday. Joan Rivers, of all people, guest starred as a breast cancer survivor who had recently undergone a mastectomy and a divorce at the same time.
Despite how odd a vehicle for such a serious topic (and despite the craziness of the other storylines within), this particular Love Boat treated its subject with genuine thoughtfulness and reality. And Joan Rivers (while not necessarily delivering an Emmy-worthy performance) also startled me a bit, playing a likable, even kind character.
I've only ever seen her mean side, the part of her that seems to thrive on picking apart other people, using them over and over again as comedic fodder. (She said some particularly cruel things right after Karen Carpenter passed away, which went way beyond thoughtless.)
Now, that she is in the hospital and in such serious condition, I find myself feeling sorry for her, though I still wonder how she could spend so much of her career being nasty to others.
The woman I saw in the Love Boat rerun seemed a different lady, entirely. I honestly believe there is good in pretty much everyone and I'd like to believe there's good in her too. I hope for her family's sake and hers she is able to wake up from her coma and completely recover.
Just in case you've ever wanted to know who guest starred on The Love Boat over the years here's a list:
http://www.imdb.com/list/ls003505129/
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