The Love Boat
The Christmas Presence
TV Flash files “The Christmas Presence” as hour 150 of 245 in the TV Flash guide — The Love Boat (1977–1986) on ABC, season 6, episode 13, aired 1982-12-18, 60 min.
From the desk
How this hour is filed
This leaf is S06E13: listed hour 150 of 245 in the The Love Boat guide, hour 13 of 29 in season 6. It aired 1982-12-18 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “My Friend, The Executrix / Programmed For Love / Baby Talk” (S06E12). Next is “First Impressions / Love Finds Florence Nightingale / Paroled to Love” (S06E14).
Catalog log
Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.
An angel visits the ship to bring a troubled Mexican orphan to his new parents. Mickey Rooney plays a mystical Christmas presence among a motley group of passengers that includes two nuns (played by Teresa Wright and Mickey's wife Jan) and a passel of orphans; two con artists (Keenan Wynn, Henry Gibson) with an illicit horde of gold; a couple (Donny Osmond, Maureen McCormick) whose marriage is jeopardized by her career; and a critically ill boy (Alejandro Garay) who needs emergency surgery by Doc (Bernie Kopell).
Viewer FAQ
Where does The Christmas Presence sit in the The Love Boat guide?
S06E13 is listed hour 150 of 245 — hour 13 of 29 in season 6, season 6 episode 13.
When did The Love Boat S06E13 air?
The Christmas Presence aired 1982-12-18 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
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 6
- S06E01 Venetian Love Song / The Arrangement / Arrividerci, Gopher / Down for the Count (1)
- S06E02 Venetian Love Song / The Arrangement / Arrividerci, Gopher / Down for the Count (2)
- S06E03 The Anniversary Gift / Honey Bee Mine / Bewigged, Bothered, and Bewildered
- S06E04 The Same Wavelength / Winning Isn't Everything / A Honeymoon for Horace
- S06E05 Command Performance / Hyde and Seek / Sketchy Love
- S06E06 The Audition / The Groupies / Doc's Nephew