Jon Hein is knowledgeable about television. He created the website with the same name in the late 1990s, which is when he first used the slogan "Jump the Shark." Since then, he has written on television in publications like TV Guide and The New York Times. He discusses what's new and noteworthy on TV as well as the series that are on his radar for the upcoming week in his Primetimer column.
Love. thrilling and novel...
The first few lyrics of this iconic opening theme will be instantly recognisable to TV viewers over a certain age. You may imagine the Pacific Princess travelling to Puerto Vallarta or other far-off places. The Love Boat was ready to set sail on ABC every Saturday night at nine o'clock.
That occurred 40 years ago.
Wednesday at 9 p.m. ET on CBS, The Real Love Boat makes its television debut. This reality dating competition is hosted by Jerry O'Connell and Rebecca Romjin and takes place on a Mediterranean cruise. The prospective couples receive advice from the captain and cruise director. I wish this were a fabrication.
He's a nice man, Jerry. I've had the pleasure of speaking with him on several occasions. I support him. Although I've never met Rebecca, his wife, she is a stunning woman with a number of excellent accomplishments. I wish them both the best, but the nicest thing about this new series is that it offers me a reason to discuss how the title was chosen.
For its time, the original Love Boat was a great television programme. A classic by Aaron Spelling. No one on a Saturday night took it seriously, even from the Jack Jones opening theme. The team is beyond tacky. The guest stars were frequently past their prime. Including or excluding a pre-fame Tom Hanks. The joke was understood by all. It was entertaining innocuously.
Captain Merrill Stubing (Gavin McLeod of Mary Tyler Moore fame), who oversaw the ship's crew, regularly invited distinguished guests to dine at his table. The doctor on your ship, "Doc" (Bernie Kopell), managed to charm all the women despite lacking charm or sexiness. Future senator Fred Grandy's alias, Pursar "Gopher," was always smiling and cracking jokes. For everyone on board, slick bartender Isaac (Ted Lange) had a snap and point. The primary cast was completed by Julie McCoy (Lauren Tewes), who played the amiable cruise director. Making the trip enjoyable for all of the passengers was their basic goal.
Don't get get me started on the ship photographer Ace (Ted McGinley) or the captain's daughter Vicki (Jill Whelan), who appeared in later seasons. Let's just say there are enough more sharks in the water to jump.
However, the travellers were nothing short of amazing. The Love Boat was home to all of your favourite where-are-they-now stories. Charo also worked as a frequent traveller. On board were former game show hosts, former teen idols, former soap opera actors, and countless others. They took pleasure in portraying made-up people who reserved a voyage on the Pacific Princess just for fun. In general, they appeared content to be there.
There was no search for "true" love. Although it was in the script, there was dating. There was no rivalry.
This 1970s classic's contrast with its contemporary, dated remake serves as an example of prime-time network television's demise. Making a reality programme isn't expensive, and if you can give it the moniker of a well-known classic, all the better. Although The Real Love Boat is promoted as a lighthearted adventure, it nevertheless tries to be taken seriously. Do you believe any of these individuals are searching for love or merely fame as reality stars? If they are seated at the captain's table, it does matter. It is obvious how desperate they are.
Due to the sincerity of the contestants' motivations, Love on the Spectrum is a dating programme worth watching. It causes heartstrings to be pulled. (Its American spin-off is also really good.) The Real Love Boat is the worst of both worlds: a pointless dating programme masquerading as a beloved TV show that offered a fun time in a fictional setting.
Most excellent television implies intelligence. The complete opposite is this. I'm not advocating that every show be as good as The Wire or Breaking Bad. Not at all. I'm all about using TV time for pointless entertainment and escape. However, we can improve upon this.
Regarding The Real Love Boat, this romance is anything from novel and exciting. I won't be boarding the ship. Don't count on me.
What's genuinely worth viewing this week is listed below.
An embattled New York journalist moves to Anchorage to start over. The story was written by Tom McCarthy, who also created the Academy Award-winning film Spotlight, and Hillary Swank plays the lead. Although the pedigree might keep this from being another Northern Exposure ripoff, the fact that it's on network television makes me doubt it.
