TV Flash
All episodes Season 7 S07E01 1983-10-01 60 min 1970s ABC

The Love Boat

The Pledge / East Meets West / Dear Roberta / My Two Dumplings (1)

TV Flash files “The Pledge / East Meets West / Dear Roberta / My Two Dumplings (1)” as the first listed hour of season 7 — The Love Boat (1977–1986) on ABC, season 7, episode 1, aired 1983-10-01, 60 min.

From the desk

How this hour is filed

This leaf is S07E01: listed hour 167 of 245 in the The Love Boat guide, first listed hour of season 7. It aired 1983-10-01 (60 min). The listed hour before it is “Fountain of Youth / Bad Luck Cabin / Uncle Daddy” (S06E29). Next is “The Pledge / East Meets West / Dear Roberta / My Two Dumplings (2)” (S07E02).

The Love Boat — The Pledge / East Meets West / Dear Roberta / My Two Dumplings (1) (S07E01)

Catalog log

Broadcast listing — not a TV Flash recap.

The crew and passengers are embroiled in intrigue when "The Love Boat" sets sail for the ancient palaces and splendors of China in a special two-hour premiere. Romance comes to an international fugitive (John Forsythe) when he meets a beautiful woman (Ursula Andress) with a secret. The relationship is hindered when the man's pursuer (Michael Constantine) will not let him out of his sight in "The Pledge," written by Lan O'Kun. A gorgeous divorcee (Linda Evans) meets a handsome man (Lee Majors) who tries to conceal his true identity both from her and from Isaac (Ted Lange), which leads to an unusual confrontation in "Dear Roberta," written by Lawrence Levy and Robert Spears. In "East Meets West," written by Christopher Vane and Jill Baer, Doc (Bernie Kopell) falls for a lovely woman (Susan Anton) who resists his advances when she finds out about his past. A man (Lee Horsley) finds himself in a hilarious situation when both of his girlfriends (Erin Moran and Patricia Klous) vie for his affections and he decides to marry one, in "My Two Dumplings," written by Richard Albrecht and Casey Keller.

Viewer FAQ

Where does The Pledge / East Meets West / Dear Roberta / My Two Dumplings (1) sit in the The Love Boat guide?

S07E01 is listed hour 167 of 245 — first listed hour of season 7, season 7 episode 1.

When did The Love Boat S07E01 air?

The Pledge / East Meets West / Dear Roberta / My Two Dumplings (1) aired 1983-10-01 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

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 7 hub

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Also in season 7

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