The Love Boat (TV Series) April's Return/Super Mom/I'll See You Again (1979) User Reviews

Happy 5 de mayo

[zafrom · 8/10 · 24 November 2017]

One of the sweeter cruises of the Pacific Princess, featuring 4 long-married passengers -- Cyd Charisse was in the 31st year of her 60 year marriage to Tony Martin, Craig Stevens was in the 35th year of his 48 year marriage to Alexis Smith, and Stiller and Meara were in the 24th year of their 60 year marriage. It was also refreshing that no one was in a heart-rending crisis from any absurd misunderstanding, though there had been deviltry in the past for one of the cruisers.

Charo, the odd one out, did give a superb impression of being 38 instead of 28. (Unlike the previous week, Julie didn't accurately mention that she is only 25. And looks it.) Charo's brain-dead manglings of common (and outdated) English expressions get tiresome really quickly. For whatever reason, though, she did sing "The Love Boat" theme without any discernible error. What happened to the producers' sense of humor? And why didn't she also sing any of her recent disco hits?

Charo's best scene could be when she takes over from Julie for calling bingo numbers. She finishes her stint with, "Julie, would you believe? The man who won, he come from Mexico too!" No, I don't believe, with Charo's Spanish accent, that she "also" comes from Mexico -- including the way that she pronounces "N 50". Even though this originally aired on May 5, there is no 5 de mayo celebration? Perhaps because that holiday didn't become really popular until the 1980's?

I enjoyed the clever payoff to a delayed romance at the end. And if you like Charo, IMDb lists 8 more cruises with her. I'm still in season 2, but I'd watch an episode if she and Isaac in their prime (whatever that may be) could have a wild fling.

Imagine, if you will...

[rerunwatcher · 7/10 · 4 February 2024]

Ladies and Gentlemen, let us do a mental exercise here. Imagine, if you will that you are the head of a television show. You are the boss and can make all decisions. Now, on your show you will have two actresses. One actress is one of the most graceful and beautiful dancers in history of show business. Not, the most graceful of just the 20th Century mind you, but any century. Other dancers could rehearse and practice 18 hours a day for years on end and never come close to this lady. Then you have a second actress. This actress is a loud and brash floozy and her idea of dancing is to shake her rear end at the camera. Which person would you chose to do a dance number? Sadly, the second actress was selected for this. The superb dancer only dances for about 10 seconds (or less) and merely just holds onto her escort and never shows what she can do. Does this make sense on any level? However, I will say I liked the Stiller and Meara storyline. I have always like them. I am going to say "no spoilers" here because I did not reveal any of the actual plots. Thanks for you time, the mental exercise is concluded.

Blah

[aramis-112-804880 · 27 March 2023]

Craig Stevens ("Peter Gunn") plays a World War II vet (wounded) who fans an old flame (Cyd Charisse, who must have a painting of herself aging in her attic).

The 1970s were full of entertainers who were also patented personalities. In this episode the names of both Bob Hope and Dean Martin are mentioned and when it aired everyone in earshot would have made the same mental connections. You might or might not like this or that multi-faceted enertainer/personality who appeared in movies, on TV and in records, but you knew who they were. I'll confess I never got the entertainer/personality Charo. Well, Charo is back as "April," having difficulty coping with her newfound show biz career as a cruise line singer, as she never considered a job might have an ugly side. And show biz, where both men and women can be greedy, jealous, self-serving, salacious and downright pernicious, has an uglier side than most professions.

Comedic double act Stiller and Meara are a married couple vacationing with a handful of kids. When Meara sees Stiller merely talking to Charo she jumps to the usual conclusion females do jump to with or without evidence, or without considering Charo (April) can do better.

Nothing very much interesting here, except to look at Charisse and wonder, "after 40 years how come I can't look that good?"

Charo: Part 2

[WalterKafka · 21 February 2024]

This aired on May 5th 1979, so I guess they were hoping for a Cinco De Mayo special. Your favorite Spanish-speaking entertainer, Charo, is back as April. Once again, if you need Charo explained, kids, ask your grandparents. She comes on board in a tube top. Well, that explains some of the appeal. 'I love the new fashions,' Gopher says. She's here to sing for the cruisegoers. In fact, she sings 'The Love Boat' theme. It turns out that April isn't happy in the entertainment business. Julie agrees to train April in the Cruise Director business. Ben Stiller's parents are here. I always enjoyed Anne and Jerry on Tattletales. Their kids are hard to handle! One of their kids is a baby Corey Feldman, years away from fighting Jason. In this universe, Ben and Corey are brothers. Anne tries to get Corey to eat. 'There are millions of wookies starving in space!' Later he interrupts some love time with his Darth Vader mask. The sight of Baby Corey in a giant sombrero is adorable! Jerry has to fend off Charo too! One of Captin Stubing's navy buddies has come on board too. Cyd Charisse plays an old USO singer, who the men immediately recognize. Cyd is smitten with the Captain's buddy. What's going on between them? Cyd still looks good, and she sings a song. Charo is really the main appeal here. On Kafka's Love Boat scale, this episode gets 3 * out of a possible 4 *.