Show cover for The Love Boat

The Best Episodes of The Love Boat Season 1

Every episode of The Love Boat Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Love Boat Season 1!

Passengers who search for romantic nights aboard a beautiful ship travelling to tropical or mysterious countries, decide to pass their vacation aboard the "Love Boat", where Gopher, Dr. Bricker, Isaac, Julie, and Captain Stubing try their best to please them, and sometimes help them fall in love. Things are not always so easy, but in the end, love wins.

Genres:DramaComedy
Network:ABC

Season 1 Ratings Summary

The best episode of "The Love Boat" season 1 is "The Captain and the Lady/One if by Land/Centerfold", rated 6.7/10 from 280 user votes. It was directed by Alan Rafkin, Richard Kinon and written by Michael Norell, Jay Grossman, Judy Skelton, Paula A. Roth. "The Captain and the Lady/One if by Land/Centerfold" aired on 9/24/1977 and is rated 0.7 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Oh, Dale!/The Main Event/A Tasteful Affair".

  • The Captain and the Lady/One if by Land/Centerfold
    6.7/10 280 votes

    #1 - The Captain and the Lady/One if by Land/Centerfold

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/24/1977

    Captain Stubbing and his Ex Wife have to face the realities of a bad resolved separation when they find themselves trapped on the same cruise. The future wife of a powerful political congressman worries that the photo she took for an erotic magazine some years back will jeopardize his husband's political career, so she tries to cover this fact from him, by hiding all the copies of the magazine that are available in the ship, until she finds the courage to confess her past to her husband. Ginny O'Brien is followed by his future, but hard to commit boyfriend through all the ports where the cruise passes. however she's not going to accept a relationship without a proposal of marriage

    Director: Alan Rafkin, Richard Kinon

    Writer: Michael Norell, Jay Grossman, Judy Skelton, Paula A. Roth

  • Oh, Dale!/The Main Event/A Tasteful Affair
    7.4/10 255 votes

    #2 - Oh, Dale!/The Main Event/A Tasteful Affair

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/1/1977

    A man must pose as a woman to gain passage on the ship so that he can pursue an ex-girlfriend. A bickering married couple gets trapped in the elevator. A detective falls for a married woman whose husband has hired him to trail her.

    Director: Alan Rafkin, Stuart Margolin, Richard Kinon

    Writer: Carl Kleinschmitt, Art Baer, Ben Joelson, Rick Callahan

  • Ex Plus Y/Graham and Kelly/Goldenagers
    6.7/10 232 votes

    #3 - Ex Plus Y/Graham and Kelly/Goldenagers

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/8/1977

    A divorced couple takes the cruise with new mates, and can't seem to avoid one another or stop arguing. Two adolescents develop an awkward flirtation. A senior group inadvertently interferes with its director's fledgling romance with Julie.

    Director: Stuart Margolin, Alan Rafkin

    Writer: Ed Jurist, Ann Gibbs, Joel Kimmel, Michael Norell

  • Message for Maureen/The Acapulco Connection/Gotcha
    6.6/10 200 votes

    #4 - Message for Maureen/The Acapulco Connection/Gotcha

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/15/1977

    A tennis star, temporarily confined to a wheelchair due to a back injury, rekindles an old romance with a sportswriter who had been critical of her recent performances. A woman with singing aspirations stows away on the ship in the hopes of making it to America and providing for her large family. A man annoys his wife and other passengers by constantly playing practical jokes.

    Director: Stuart Margolin, Peter Baldwin, Richard Kinon

    Writer: David Garber, Kevin Hartigan, Casey Keller, Neil Rosen, George Tricker, Richard Albrecht

  • Help, Murder/Isaac the Groupie/Mr. Popularity
    7.0/10 195 votes

    #5 - Help, Murder/Isaac the Groupie/Mr. Popularity

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/22/1977

    A woman gets the wrong idea from her husband's secretive behavior and fears that he is plotting to murder her. Isaac begins a whirlwind romance with an internationally known singer. A couple suspects that a painfully boring passenger is actually a wanted jewel thief.

    Director: Stuart Margolin, James Sheldon, Peter Baldwin

    Writer: Art Baer, Ben Joelson, Tony Webster, Michael Norell

  • The Joker is Mild/First Time Out/Take My Granddaughter, Please
    6.4/10 198 votes

    #6 - The Joker is Mild/First Time Out/Take My Granddaughter, Please

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/29/1977

    An old friend of Julie's father turns to her for help reviving his sputtering stand-up comedy career. A meddling woman tries to interfere in her granddaughter's love life; she pushes her to date Doc, but her granddaughter wants to pursue romance with an old friend. A young man's fraternity brothers pressure him to lose his virginity during the cruise.

    Director: Alan Rafkin, Richard Kinon

    Writer: David Ketchum, Mark Evanier, Tony DiMarco, Barry Blitzer, Dennis Palumbo

  • Identical Problem/Julie's Old Flame/The Jinx
    6.6/10 180 votes

    #7 - Identical Problem/Julie's Old Flame/The Jinx

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/5/1977

    Identical twins pretend to be one person in order to take the cruise on one fare. They leave Doc completely bewildered. Julie gets re-acquainted with an ex-lover, who claims to have broken things off with his wife. After suffering a series of accidents, the crew comes to believe that an elderly couple--which survived the Titanic--is cursed.

    Director: Don Weis

    Writer: David Ketchum, Howard Albrecht, Sol Weinstein, Michael Norell, Tony DiMarco

  • Lost and Found/The Understudy/Married Singles
    7.0/10 183 votes

    #8 - Lost and Found/The Understudy/Married Singles

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/19/1977

    A boy befriends a couple that recently lost its young son. A trainee schemes to steal Julie's job. A bickering married couple takes the cruise and stays in separate cabins...next door to each other.

    Director: Stuart Margolin

    Writer: Bruce Shelly, Art Baer, Ben Joelson, Ray Jessel

  • The Captain's Captain/Hounded/Romance Roulette
    6.8/10 181 votes

    #9 - The Captain's Captain/Hounded/Romance Roulette

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/26/1977

    The presence of the captain's demanding father leaves the entire crew on edge. A dog traps a passenger in his cabin. Three friends reunite on board the ship and try to meet men through an unusual game.

    Director: Jack Arnold

    Writer: David Ketchum, Howard Albrecht, Sol Weinstein, Ann Gibbs, Joel Kimmel, Tony DiMarco

  • Dear Beverly/The Strike/Special Delivery
    6.9/10 183 votes

    #10 - Dear Beverly/The Strike/Special Delivery

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/3/1977

    An advice columnist neglects her husband to devote all her time to her fans, prompting him to seek affection elsewhere. A man with a negative history with Capt. Stubing fills in for the ailing chef. A frequent passenger, who is depressed about his impending divorce, winds up on the same cruise as his pregnant wife (who has failed to tell him about the baby). They somehow keep narrowly missing each other.

    Director: Allen Baron

    Writer: Mark Fink, Art Baer, Ben Joelson, Marion C. Freeman

  • Lonely at the Top/Divorce Me, Please/Silent Night
    6.7/10 179 votes

    #11 - Lonely at the Top/Divorce Me, Please/Silent Night

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/10/1977

    In a Christmas-themed cruise, the captain worries about how to effectively lead his ship but be a friend to his crew as well. A married couple who outwardly appear happy and in love are both desperate for the other person to give them a divorce - and they go to extreme measures to get it. An embittered ex-con boards the ship for a holiday with his wife but also with revenge on his mind for the person who framed him for the crime. A priest brings a group of orphans aboard for the cruise.

    Director: Allen Baron

    Writer: Art Baer, Ben Joelson, Gordon Farr, Bruce Howard, Lynne Farr

  • The Old Man and the Runaway/A Fine Romance/The Painters
    7.0/10 179 votes

    #12 - The Old Man and the Runaway/A Fine Romance/The Painters

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/24/1977

    A crotchety old man and a teenage runaway form an unlikely friendship. Julie grows frustrated when an old friend of her brother's repeatedly rejects her advances without explanation. A pair of incompetent painters continually screws up the re-painting of Capt. Stubing's cabin.

    Director: Stuart Margolin, James Sheldon

    Writer: Jack Hanrahan, Howard Albrecht, Sol Weinstein, Ray Jessel, Don Sherman

  • Family Reunion/Too Hot to Handle/Cinderella Story
    6.9/10 188 votes

    #13 - Family Reunion/Too Hot to Handle/Cinderella Story

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/7/1978

    A woman who believes her departed dad was a noble sea captain forms an attachment for a devilish old purser; a newlywed couple are prevented by dislocated backs, sunburn and even poison ivy from enjoying their honeymoon; the crew upgrades a couple with modest means to a luxurious suite without consulting Capt. Stubing, forcing the couple to pose as wealthy socialites.

    Director: James Sheldon, Richard Kinon

    Writer: Bruce Shelly, Art Baer, Ben Joelson

  • Isaac's Double Standard/One More Time/Chimpanzeeshines
    6.7/10 161 votes

    #14 - Isaac's Double Standard/One More Time/Chimpanzeeshines

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1/14/1978

    Isaac's possessive mother becomes jealous of her son's lady friend, while he objects to his mom sharing a cabin with her latest boyfriend; a divorced comedy team is too busy making jokes to admit they miss each other; Gopher's budding romance is nearly foiled by a jewel-stealing monkey.

    Director: James Sheldon, Richard Kinon

    Writer: Ann Gibbs, Joel Kimmel, Sue Masters, John Walsh, Bernie Kahn

  • Hollywood Royalty/The Caper/The Eyes of Love/Masquerade (1)
    7.0/10 192 votes

    #15 - Hollywood Royalty/The Caper/The Eyes of Love/Masquerade (1)

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/21/1978

    (Part 1) The Love Boat sets sail with two famous Hollywood stars, married couple Roz Rogers and Bill Klieg who need to find a balance between their professional and personal lives. An inept team of thieves board the ship and try numerous tactics to steal the Star of Kashmir, an expensive jewel brought aboard the ship by Ms. Rogers. Two childhood friends from a school for the blind meet up on the ship - only one of them isn't blind anymore. But that's not the only secret he is keeping from his friend. A philandering husband looks like he will be found out when he boards the ship with both his wife and his mistress.

    Director: Allen Baron

    Writer: Art Baer, Marciia Muldoon, Ben Joelson, Gordon Farr, Lynne Farr, Ray Jessel, Tony Webster, Louis Pelletier

  • Hollywood Royalty/The Caper/The Eyes of Love/Masquerade (2)
    7.2/10 148 votes

    #16 - Hollywood Royalty/The Caper/The Eyes of Love/Masquerade (2)

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1/21/1978

    (Part 2) The Love Boat sets sail with two famous Hollywood stars, married couple Roz Rogers and Bill Klieg who need to find a balance between their professional and personal lives. An inept team of thieves board the ship and try numerous tactics to steal the Star of Kashmir, an expensive jewel brought aboard the ship by Ms. Rogers. Two childhood friends from a school for the blind meet up on the ship - only one of them isn't blind anymore. But that's not the only secret he is keeping from his friend. A philandering husband looks like he will be found out when he boards the ship with both his wife and his mistress.

    Director: Allen Baron

    Writer: Art Baer, Marciia Muldoon, Ben Joelson, Gordon Farr, Lynne Farr, Ray Jessel, Tony Webster, Louis Pelletier

  • The Congressman Was Indiscreet/Isaac's History Lesson/Winner Take Love
    6.8/10 169 votes

    #17 - The Congressman Was Indiscreet/Isaac's History Lesson/Winner Take Love

    Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 1/28/1978

    A congressman unjustly accused of being involved in a scandal seeks refuge aboard the Pacific Princess; Isaac and a lovely intellectual snob clash over a colorful old passenger; a beauty pageant contestant's whose chances of winning are jeopardized by her possessive boyfriend.

    Director: Jack Arnold

    Writer: David Garber, Fred Grandy, Kevin Hartigan, Jack Matcha, Bernie Kopell

  • The Last of the Stubings/The Million Dollar Man/The Sisters
    6.1/10 155 votes

    #18 - The Last of the Stubings/The Million Dollar Man/The Sisters

    Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 2/4/1978

    Stubing's nephew comes on board to train to be a seaman but doesn't do a good job at anything he does. A man who just stole a million dollars meets a woman who upon learning of what he has done reveals herself to be a cop who plans to turn him in. Two sisters compete for the affections of the same man.

    Director: Jack Arnold

    Writer: Ray Jessel, Michael Norell, Steven Pritzker

  • The Inspector/A Very Special Girl/Until the Last Goodbye
    6.6/10 173 votes

    #19 - The Inspector/A Very Special Girl/Until the Last Goodbye

    Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 2/11/1978

    The crew after being informed that an inspector from the line will coming on board to do a report on them, but not knowing who he is, they try to be extra nice to anyone whom they is the inspector but always come up wrong. Two girls, one a stunner, the other, a plain girl. Now when two guys compete for the hot girl and when one of them gets her, the other has to take care of her companion.

    Director: Roger Duchowny

    Writer: Art Baer, Ben Joelson, Bruce Howard, Jerry Winnick

  • Computerman/Parlez-Vous/Memories of You
    6.8/10 179 votes

    #20 - Computerman/Parlez-Vous/Memories of You

    Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 2/13/1978

    A slick computer matchmaker proceeds to pair up cruise guests while setting himself up with Julie; two American gold-diggers pretend to be French; a New York advertising executive meets up with a long-lost love.

    Director: Richard Kinon

    Writer: Mark Fink, Carmen Finestra, David Assael

  • Taking Sides/A Friendly Little Game/Going by the Book
    6.7/10 157 votes

    #21 - Taking Sides/A Friendly Little Game/Going by the Book

    Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 2/18/1978

    An older couple's problems affect the marriage of newlyweds. An elderly man who is riddled with debts, but is desperate to take his wife on a cruise to meet their grandchildren, decides to pay for the trip with a dodgy deck of cards and aims to take the crew for all the money they have. A young man who is very inexperienced with women relies on a self-help book on how to win them over. However, he and Doc Bricker butt heads by going after the same girl.

    Director: Richard Kinon

    Writer: Jerry Winnick, Hugh Wedlock Jr., Ray Brenner

  • Parents Know Best/A Selfless Love/The Nubile Nurse
    6.6/10 161 votes

    #22 - Parents Know Best/A Selfless Love/The Nubile Nurse

    Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 2/25/1978

    A couple takes their son on a cruise in an attempt to end his relationship with an unsuitable girl; a May-December couple rethink their romance; an ex-showgirl's glamorous past jeopardizes her new career as a registered nurse.

    Director: Roger Duchowny

    Writer: Seaman Jacobs, Barry Blitzer, Fred S. Fox, Marion Zola, Phil Foster

  • Musical Cabins
    6.7/10 164 votes

    #23 - Musical Cabins

    Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 5/5/1978

    A young bachelor must marry within the week in order to claim a $3 million inheritance; a drab widow poses as a glamorous adventuress and captures the heart of the Captain; a confirmed male chauvinist angers his fiancee, who finds comfort in sick bay with Doc; a scandal sheet reporter sets out to compile material for a sins-at-sea story.

    Director: Allen Baron

    Writer: Michael Norell

  • This Business of Love/Crash Diet Crush/I'll Never Fall in Love Again
    6.6/10 159 votes

    #24 - This Business of Love/Crash Diet Crush/I'll Never Fall in Love Again

    Season 1 Episode 24 - Aired 5/13/1978

    A reformed prostitute causes trouble between a one-time "John" and his wife; Captain Stubing re-encounters an old flame; a fun-loving older couple help bring two lovers back together

    Director: Roger Duchowny

    Writer: Howard Albrecht, Sol Weinstein, Ray Jessel, Ann Gibbs, Joel Kimmel

  • Gopher the Rebel/Cabin Fever/Pacific Princess Overture
    6.5/10 149 votes

    #25 - Gopher the Rebel/Cabin Fever/Pacific Princess Overture

    Season 1 Episode 25 - Aired 5/20/1978

    A young female passenger encourages Gopher to be his own person and stand up for himself to Captain Stubing. However, neither were expecting the consequences of their actions. A cheating husband is caught when his neighbors from home also board the cruise. However, being holed up in a cabin with his mistress isn't all that he hoped it would be. A businessman uses all his wiles to convince a grieving widow to sell her husband's business to a Japanese conglomerate. But he soon comes to realize that this may not be the best idea.

    Director: Allen Baron

    Writer: Ray Jessel, Ann Gibbs, Joel Kimmel, Dawn Aldredge, Martin Cohan