| Advertisement |
SANTA CLARITA , Calif., Oct. 16 (UPI) -- Reality TV personality Tori Spelling is to serve as host of a Love Boat reunion next month in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Princess Cruises announced Thursday. Spelling, whose late father Aaron produced the classic cruise-ship comedy series, will serve as emcee of the Regal Princess naming ceremony Nov. 5.
Advertisement
"We're incredibly excited to host what will be one of the largest Love Boat reunions ever aboard our newest ship Regal Princess," Jan Swartz, president of Princess Cruises, said in a statement. "What better way to kick off our 50th anniversary celebration than reuniting the show's cast with some of the wonderful guests from its 10-year run."
Original co-stars Gavin MacLeod, Fred Grandy, Ted Lange, Bernie Kopell, Lauren Tewes and Jill Whelan are to serve as the new ship's godparents. Also expected to attend the event are dozens of celebrities who made guest appearances on the show, including Loni Anderson, Joyce DeWitt, Jamie Farr, Pam Grier, Florence Henderson, Jack Jones, Christopher Knight, Diane Ladd, Lorenzo Lamas, Carol Lawrence, Rich Little, Kristy McNichol, Lee Meriwether, Don Most, Tracy Nelson, Mackenzie Phillips, Doris Roberts, Marion Ross, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Charlene Tilton, Joan Van Ark, Dick Van Patten and Adrian Zmed. Frequent Love Boat "passenger" Charo will also give a classical guitar performance that evening.
"The Love Boat is one of my favorite shows," said Spelling. "And the fact that I get the chance to be part of the cast and guest-star reunion is thrilling."
Based on the non-fiction book The Love Boats by real-life Princess cruise director Jeraldine Saunders, the TV show premiered Sept. 24, 1977 and ran for 10 seasons.
