Following the success of The Blues Brothers, Cab Calloway is growing interest on the part of producers. Television in particular is interested. Cab has made a few appearances in the series (Madigan, and other particular which we'll write a future series of notes) but it is in LOVE BOAT that Cab will have a major musical role. He's surrounded by Ann Miller, Carol Channing, Ethel Merman and many old fashioned stars. Kind of tacky. Yet, it allow us to watch Cab play comedy and contributes to musical numbers with the one and only crew from The Love Boat!
LOVE BOAT (La Croisière s'amuse in french, 1977-1986) was created by producer Aaron Spelling (Starsky and Hutch, Charlie's Angels, etc.). This series of 246 episodes with romantic and comic tales of the passengers and crew of the cruise ship, Pacific Princess. Each episode has guest stars. Captain Merrill Stubing (Gavin McLeod), the crew director Julie McCoy (Lauren Tewes), while the crew wroks hard to make life aboard an unforgettable experience (unlike some downright unbearable episodes!). Relying on romantic intrigues, this soap opera enjoyed two very special episodes in 1982 titled "The Love Boat Follies" (episodes 21 and 22, season 5) .
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If ever you insist, here's the amused review from the New York Times.