The Love Boat (TV Series) The Italian Cruise: Venetian Love Song/Down for the Count/Arrividerci, Gopher/The Arrangement: Part 1 (1982) User Reviews

The most authentic thing....

[karen-a-peters · 6/10 · 15 May 2016]

The most authentic thing about this episode by far was when Ernest Borgnine was at the table at the ship's formal night (assuming so since he was in a tuxedo) complaining of heartburn from Shelley Winters' cooking. There was a glass of an effervescent drink in front of him. If you look closely you'll see the distinctive cobalt blue bottle of Brioschi on the table (and later in his hand as he leaves). This was a staple in Italian and Italian-American households for decades for heartburn, aka "agita" - my Italian grandparents ALWAYS had it in the pantry. I smiled when I saw it.

But what was the deal with Gopher's gloves? Was something really wrong with his hands? "Poison ivy" was mentioned in the first minute or two of the show and nothing after that.

Sold On Borgnine and Winters From the Poseidon Adventure

[richard.fuller1 · 1/10 · 5 April 2014]

Back when this episode aired, it was promoted on reuniting Ernest Borgnine and Shelley Winters from a decade earlier when they sailed on the Poseidon.

I finally watched the episode and was thoroughly disappointed. Where to begin? John James, David Birney, Christopher Norris and Fred Grandy in a dual role, all doing Italian accents. Big misses all the way around.

Why waste Birney as an Italian gigolo? Why have the character insist he is a count and a parttime actor, but must work as a gigolo for rich American women? Why not just say he is a football player as well? American football player of course.

Top this all off with the endless sight-seeing of Rome, with little narrations by Captain Stubing placed over the sites.

The music grew increasingly irritating in part one, not as bad in part two.

After all of this, little things like Borgnine saying to Winters when they left the old country stand out. They were supposed to be Italian immigrants. They were IN the old country.

About the only thing that stood out authentic was when Borgning gives the flowers intended for Winters to a little girl and she curtsies to him. Most natural looking Italian bit in the whole show.

Watches like an oddity.

Fondle-A Your Gondola

[WalterKafka · 5 April 2024]

'How could a gigolo fall in love? First, he must have a heart.' Season 6! It's only taken me two months to get here. Two months of pleasant cruising, I would say. Four seasons and a few additional movies remain. Gopher is hoping to take a vacation because of his poison ivy. (He's wearing white gloves.) Isaac expects a camping trip. Captain Stubing informs them that they'll be sailing around Italy on the Stella Solaris. Ernest and Shelly have two daughters, Meredith Baxter Birney and Candice Azzarra. Their granddaughter is Marie Osmond. Uh, for some reason only Ernest is doing an Italian accent. Marie is being set up for marriage by her aunt. Too bad she's got her eyes on a mystery man instead. Meredith is hoping for a love match on a blind date - maybe with real life husband David Birney. Christopher Norris is back (I always appreciate her.) She speaks Italian too! (Look at the people on the dock behind her watching the filming.) Gopher moves in for the kill. Watch out for that surly gardener, Gopher! These two-part travel episodes, replete with padding of location footage backed with swelling strings, aren't really my favorite kind of episodes. See you in part two.