The BEST episodes of The Love Boat season 9
Every episode of The Love Boat season 9, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Love Boat season 9!
Passengers find romance aboard a cruise ship.
#1 - German Cruise: The Villa/The Racer's Edge/Love or Money/The Accident (1)
Season 9 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/2/1985
Doc is the target for a swindle by a lovely tourist guide and her deceitful brother, while the wife of a retired champion cyclist gives her husband an ultimatum if he returns for one more race. Plus, a financially strapped woman reunites with a former flame, and Ace is caught in the middle of two women who both hope to snag a rich husband.
#2 - A Day in Port
Season 9 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/28/1985
A group of eight new dancers, called The Mermaids, join the cruise and Isaac falls for their choreographer (Phylicia Rashad), who also happens to be his ex-fiancé. Meanwhile, Gopher helps solve a dispute among the ship's laundry workers, and Judy falls for a rich man with shady connections.
#3 - Happily Ever After/Have I Got a Job for You/Mr Smith Goes to Minikulu
Season 9 - Episode 25 - Aired 5/24/1986
Captain Stubbing prepares for his shipboard wedding and then gets married (this episode continues the storyline initiated in "My Stepmother, Myself"); as Gopher vacillates about his plans to leave, Ace is continually nominated and unnominated for Gopher's job; Gopher's bids farwell to his job and Loveboat friends when he accepts a job managing a South Pacific resort, Minikulu.
#4 - My Stepmother, Myself/ Almost Roommates/ Cornerback Sneak
Season 9 - Episode 24 - Aired 5/17/1986
Vicki becomes jealous of Captain Stubbing's bride-to-be (the sequel to this episode is "Happily Ever After..."); the new Assistant Cruise Director-Entertainer finds out that he has to share his cabin with a gruff cook instead of with the girlfriend that he brought along; a pro football has-been tries to romance the team's new owner, a woman, with a mind to get her to keep him on the next season's roster.
#5 - Spain Cruise: The Matadors/Mrs. Jameson Comes Out/Love's Labors Found/Marry Me, Marry Me (2)
Season 9 - Episode 23 - Aired 5/3/1986
In this episode set aboard the Vista Fjord, a woman reporter who thinks bullfighting is immoral falls in love with a young man destined to be a matador because of his obligation to the family patriarch, Portugal's greatest matador; Isaac meets and falls in love with a wacky woman who is conning everyone, including him, but her real problem is that she has run away from her boyfriend and is pregnant; a young womanizer cleverly pursues both Vicki and Judy and, as it turns out, many other women on the ship; an older woman, just out of prison for murdering her husband, reunites with her daughter, incognito at first.
#6 - Spain Cruise: The Matadors/Mrs. Jameson Comes Out/Love's Labors Found/Marry Me, Marry Me (1)
Season 9 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/3/1986
In this episode set aboard the Vista Fjord, a woman reporter who thinks bullfighting is immoral falls in love with a young man destined to be a matador because of his obligation to the family patriarch, Portugal's greatest matador; Isaac meets and falls in love with a wacky woman who is conning everyone, including him, but her real problem is that she has run away from her boyfriend and is pregnant; a young womanizer cleverly pursues both Vicki and Judy and, as it turns out, many other women on the ship; an older woman, just out of prison for murdering her husband, reunites with her daughter, incognito at first.
#7 - The Will/Deja Vu/The Prediction
Season 9 - Episode 21 - Aired 3/22/1986
The crew frantically take care of last minute business when a famous newspaper psychic arrives and predicts that the world will end during the cruise; while on his way to wed in Mexico, a young tycoon with amnesia who disappeared a few years earlier falls in love with his wife from his previous life; a woman whose husband is deceased is courted by a former boyfriend, only to find out that her husband's will called for the liason.
#8 - Gothic Romance/Whatever Happened to Crazy Joe Flash?
Season 9 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/15/1986
A rockstar goes incognito while on vacation aboard the cruise, but falls for a woman who fantasizes about being romantically involved with his alter ego. Then, Ace is at the center of a romance novelist's fantasies, while a couple celebrates their 10th anniversary... just not with either of their spouses.
#9 - Second Banana/The Prodigy/What Goes Around
Season 9 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/8/1986
A passenger gives one last show with his performing orangutan before the ape retires, while Capt. Stubing helps a passenger overcome a gambling addiction. Then, Doc works with a radio talk-show psychologist to help her overcome her own personal problems.
#10 - The Art Lover/ Couples/ Made for Each Other
Season 9 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/1/1986
Gopher accidentally breaks a passenger's ancient statue, while Judy helps a newlywed couple acknowledge their marital problems. Then, Ace takes a picture of two lovebirds that tells a different story about who is attracted to who.
#11 - The Second Time Around/ Hello, Spencer/ Runaway, Go Home
Season 9 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/22/1986
Captain Stubing welcomes back Emily Haywood (Marion Ross) and, this time, he might be more receptive to romance. Meanwhile, The Gatlin Brothers play themselves as they hide a 16-year-old runaway. Plus, a comedian is crushed to find he hasn't actually been booked to perform on the ship.
#12 - Hello Emily/ The Tour Guide/ The Winning Number
Season 9 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/15/1986
A widow named Emily Haywood (Marion Ross) grows fond of Captain Stubing but doesn't handle rejection well. Meanwhile, a tour guide gets so distracted, she loses her tour group in Acapulco. Finally, a recent lottery winner lets newfound wealth go to his head.
#13 - Egyptian Cruise (2)
Season 9 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/8/1986
In "Egypt," written by Duane Poole and Tom Swale, the captain (Gavin MacLeod) has a bittersweet reunion with the widow (Jean Stapleton) of one of his dearest friends. She is trying to get over her spouse's demise, and Stubing and another man (Campanella) make life more meaningful for her. When Doc (Bernie Kopell) purchases an Egyptian souvenir, it turns out to be of extreme value. Soon, Doc, Gopher (Fred Grandy) and Isaac (Ted Lange) are caught in a web of mystery and mummies when they meet a beautiful woman (Ms. Oxenberg) and a mysterious man (Putch), both claiming to be representatives of the Egyptian government. When a teacher (Ms. Harper) meets a handsome younger man (Show), she and her cold, inattentive husband (Sloyan) learn more about their unhappy marriage of many years. While on location for a movie, a beautiful but jaded actress (Ms. Adair) meets her match in a reporter (Everett) who has been hired by the film's producer (Astin) to write a behind-the-scenes story.
#14 - Egyptian Cruise (1)
Season 9 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/8/1986
The captain reminisces with a dear friend's widow, while Doc gets an Egyptian souvenir that may turn out to be extremely valuable. Then, a woman leans on a former student when she loses patience for her inattentive husband, and an actress matches wits with a reporter.
#15 - Dare Devil/ Picture Me as a Spy/ Sleeper
Season 9 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/18/1986
When Ace meets a Russian girl who's traveling with her father, he's not sure whether to trust them or suspect them of spying. Also, an international daredevil (Peter Scolari) learns that his love interest (Courtney Cox) isn't impressed by his hijinks, and Doc discovers a senator's wife is a sleepwalker.
#16 - Father of the Bride/The Best Man/Members of the Wedding
Season 9 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/11/1986
A private wedding cruise takes over the ship and the bride-to-be has a history with Ace. At the same time, the bride's father faces bankruptcy, the best man falls for the bride's sister, and a wedding crasher is on the lookout for potential conquests.
#17 - Roommates/Heartbreaker/Out of the Blue
Season 9 - Episode 9 - Aired 12/7/1985
While Vicki and Judy's friendship is put to the test when they become roommates, a professional golfer (Jeff Conaway) discovers a disheartening truth about the woman he loves. Meanwhile, a multimillionaire traveling aboard the Pacific Princess promises to make everyone's dreams come true.
#18 - Good Time Girls/The Iron Man/Soap Star
Season 9 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/23/1985
Three college girls try to put the moves on Ace, while Doc reveals a surprising diagnosis for a professional athlete in training. Then, Judy's soap-opera star aunt, Sylvia (Carol Channing), finds out her best friend (Betty White) is trying to go behind her back to get on the same daytime show.
#19 - Forties Fantasy
Season 9 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/16/1985
Gopher dreams that he's living in the 1940s, the cruise ship is a World War II troop carrier en route to France, and he has to outwit plotting Nazis.
#20 - German Cruise: The Villa/The Racer's Edge/Love or Money/The Accident (2)
Season 9 - Episode 5 - Aired 11/2/1985
In "The Racer's Edge," written by Christopher Vane and Jill Baer, a championship racer (Coleman) on his honeymoon with his wife (Ms. Whelchel) goes against her wishes to help his former coach (Morgan) by competing in a bicycle race. Unfortunately, this decision could mean the end of the couple's short marriage. Romance abounds as a woman (Ms. Smith) beset by sudden financial difficulty meets a former flame (Ferrer), a gambler who once left her. However, an adversary (Stevens) may come between the reunited lovers, in "The Villa," written by Michael Grace. Handsome ship's photographer Ace (McGinley) has an interesting time with two American women (Audrey Landers and Judy Landers) who are out to snag wealthy husbands, creating some confusion in "All For One," written by Mike Marmer.
#21 - Hidden Treasure/Picture from the Past/Ace's Salary
Season 9 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/12/1985
A passenger does all she can to stop Andy Warhol (guest starring as himself) from telling her husband she was in one of his films. Meanwhile, a married couple (Cloris Leachman and Andy Griffith) scour the boat in search of a rare stamp, and Ace leads the charge on pay raises for the crew.
#22 - Your Money or Your Wife/Joint Custody/The Temptations
Season 9 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/5/1985
Vicki is thrilled when The Temptations board the ship and tries to convince their manager to let them perform for the passengers. Also, a custody battle on board becomes a matter of kidnapping, and a loan shark tells an overdue customer he'll forgive the debt in exchange for a date with the man's wife.
#23 - Trouble in Paradise/No More Mister Nice Guy/The Mermaid and the Cop
Season 9 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/30/1985
Former cruise director Julie returns when her marriage is in trouble. Meanwhile, a Mermaid dancer (Teri Hatcher) worries that a cop on board may recognize her from a past crime. Plus, Ace has to prove he's ready for more responsibility by firing two employees.
#24 - Miss Mom/ Who's the Champ/ Gopher's Delusion
Season 9 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/1/1986
As Hulk Hogan guest stars, two pro wrestlers vie for a spot in the ring, but things get out of hand when one of them romances the other's sister. Meanwhile, Gopher has been hypnotized to believe he's the captain. Finally, a woman has to decide whether she should tell the man she's dating that she recently become pregnant via artificial insemination.
#25 - Hippies and Yuppies/ Frat Wars/ Return of the Lambdas
Season 9 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/25/1986
Two rival college fraternities wage war during a reunion held on the ship. At the same time, two old college buddies reunite and discover one of them hasn't moved beyond their hippie days.