TV Flash
All episodes Season 1 S01E21 1978-02-18 60 min 1970s ABC

The Love Boat

Taking Sides / Going By the Book / A Friendly Little Game

TV Flash files “Taking Sides / Going By the Book / A Friendly Little Game” as hour 21 of 245 in the TV Flash guide — The Love Boat (1977–1986) on ABC, season 1, episode 21, aired 1978-02-18, 60 min.

From the desk

How this hour is filed

This leaf is S01E21: listed hour 21 of 245 in the The Love Boat guide, hour 21 of 25 in season 1. It aired 1978-02-18 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “Computerman / Memories of You / Parlez Vous?” (S01E20). Next is “Parents Know Best / A Selfless Love / The Nubile Nurse” (S01E22).

The Love Boat — Taking Sides / Going By the Book / A Friendly Little Game (S01E21)

Catalog log

Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.

In "Taking Sides,"scripted by Hugh Wedlock, Jr., Ellen and Scott Desmond (Diana Canova and Bob Urich), and Gladys and Max Watkins (Audrey Meadows and Robert Mandan) play couples who seemingly have one thing in common: their "testy" marriages. Wendel and Ida Snead (Harry Morgan and Priscilla Morrill) are a pleasant older couple en route to Mexico for a visit with their grandchildren. Unbeknown to Ida, Wendel is paying for the expensive trip by cheating at cards in "A Friendly Little Game," written by Ray Brenner. Sheila Lawrence (Georgia Engel) has been sent to sea by her protective papa (Herb Voland), who has asked Doc Bricker to guard the young woman's virtue. But soon after the ship leaves the shore, Sheila is off and running into the arms of Howard Wilson (Harvey Jason), who is unable to operate without a lover's manual in "Going by the Book," written by Jerry Winnick.

Viewer FAQ

Where does Taking Sides / Going By the Book / A Friendly Little Game sit in the The Love Boat guide?

S01E21 is listed hour 21 of 245 — hour 21 of 25 in season 1, season 1 episode 21.

When did The Love Boat S01E21 air?

Taking Sides / Going By the Book / A Friendly Little Game aired 1978-02-18 and is listed at 60 minutes.

Do I watch in order?

No. It is a multi-story guest-star anthology with a regular crew. Sample any cruise; Stubing's ship is the constant.

In the series

Why this series still plays

Filed by Lana Reyes · Red Carpet Reality · Show package

Gavin MacLeod's Captain Stubing hosts three guest-star storylines a week while Julie, Doc, Gopher, and Isaac keep the Pacific Princess meddling. Aaron Spelling cruise-ship anthology as comfort franchise: formula as feature, theme as furniture. Bon voyage, subtlety — the cameo sport still photographs.

The first image is white: uniforms, rails, Pacific soft-focus, and Gavin MacLeod's Captain Merrill Stubing hosting three guest-star storylines before the dessert cart. ABC's The Love Boat (1977–1986) turned cruise vacation into Aaron Spelling's floating hit factory — nine seasons, 245 episodes, formula as feature. Lauren Tewes's Julie McCoy, Ted Lange's Isaac, Bernie Kopell's Doc, and Fred Grandy's Gopher never age out of meddling. Jeraldine Saunders' nonfiction about cruise life inspired the premise; Wilford…

Open the The Love Boat package · Season 1 hub

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Also in season 1

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