The Love Boat
The Stimulation of Stephanie / The Next Step / Life Begins at 40
TV Flash files “The Stimulation of Stephanie / The Next Step / Life Begins at 40” as hour 66 of 245 in the TV Flash guide — The Love Boat (1977–1986) on ABC, season 3, episode 14, aired 1979-12-01, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S03E14: listed hour 66 of 245 in the The Love Boat guide, hour 14 of 28 in season 3. It aired 1979-12-01 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “Not Now, I'm Dying / Eleanor's Return / Too Young to Love” (S03E13). Next is “The Spider Serenade / Next Door Wife / The Harder They Fall” (S03E15).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
A scientist researches romantic reactions; an out-of-work football player finds a new career; a woman nearing 40 hunts for a husband.
Viewer FAQ
Where does The Stimulation of Stephanie / The Next Step / Life Begins at 40 sit in the The Love Boat guide?
S03E14 is listed hour 66 of 245 — hour 14 of 28 in season 3, season 3 episode 14.
When did The Love Boat S03E14 air?
The Stimulation of Stephanie / The Next Step / Life Begins at 40 aired 1979-12-01 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
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…
Filed against
- Gavin MacLeod as Capt. Merrill Stubing
Gavin MacLeod's Capt. Merrill Stubing hosted three guest-star storylines a week on The Love Boat while Julie, Doc, Gopher, and Isaac kept the Pacific Princess meddling. Aaron Spelling cruise-ship anthology as comfort franchise: formula as…
- Bernie Kopell as Dr. Adam Bricker
Bernie Kopell’s Dr. Adam Bricker kept The Love Boat meddling — Gavin MacLeod’s Captain Stubing, three guest-star storylines a week, Julie, Gopher, Isaac, Aaron Spelling cruise-ship anthology as comfort franchise. Formula as feature, theme…
- Fred Grandy as Burl 'Gopher' Smith
Fred Grandy kept the Pacific Princess meddling as Burl 'Gopher' Smith on The Love Boat — three guest-star storylines a week, Aaron Spelling cruise-ship anthology as comfort franchise, formula as feature. Bon voyage, subtlety. TV Flash…
- Ted Lange as Isaac Washington
Ted Lange poured The Love Boat as Isaac Washington — bartender as Greek chorus, three guest-star storylines a week, Aaron Spelling cruise-ship anthology as comfort franchise. Formula as feature, theme as furniture. TV Flash files him as…
- Lauren Tewes as Julie McCoy
Lauren Tewes's Julie McCoy kept The Love Boat meddling on schedule — Gavin MacLeod's Captain Stubing, three guest-star storylines a week, Aaron Spelling cruise-ship anthology as comfort franchise. Formula as feature, theme as furniture.…
Also in season 3
- S03E01 Alaska Wedding Cruise: Carol & Doug / Peter & Alicia / Julie / Buddy & Portia (1)
- S03E02 Alaska Wedding Cruise: Carol & Doug / Peter & Alicia / Julie / Buddy & Portia (2)
- S03E03 Oldies but Goodies / The Grass Is Always Greener / Three Stages of Love
- S03E04 Doc, Be Patient / Dance With Me / Going My Way
- S03E05 The Audit Couple / The Scoop / My Boyfriend's Back
- S03E06 Gopher's Greatest Hits / The Vacation / One Rose a Day