You Won’t Believe What It Took to Get Jacyln Smith to Guest Star on ‘The Love Boat’

The CW’s TV We Love, an eight-part series examining some of the greatest TV series ever, will tackle The Love Boat in a new episode airing Monday, Oct. 27 at 8pm ET/PT. Using detailed cast and crew interviews, the show reveals behind-the-scenes stories and secrets — including how Jaclyn Smith had to be bribed with a Jaguar to appear on The Love Boat.

Why didn’t Jaclyn Smith want to appear on The Love Boat?

In 1977, the whole country was gaga over Smith, along with Farrah Fawcett and Kate Jackson, her costars on Aaron Spelling‘s other series, Charlie’s Angels (1976-1981). At the time, Smith had no interest in making a guest appearance on Spelling’s other series, The Love Boat.

“Sometimes in order to get a big star on the show, Aaron had to be very generous,” Ted Lange, who played the ship’s beloved bartender Isaac Washington, shares in the series. “Jackie Smith from Charlie’s Angels — she didn’t want to do our show. So, Aaron says ‘What’s your favorite car?’ She says ‘Jaguar. Green.’ She got a Jaguar! Green!”

Smith appeared in the second episode of Season 1 titled “A Tasteful Affair,” which aired on Oct. 1, 1977. The episode also featured Sherman Hemsley and John Ritter in separate storylines.

Who else guest-starred on The Love Boat?

The Love Boat went on to be another gigantic Spelling hit and eventually became known for its incredible list of guest stars. Most stars were thrilled at the opportunity to take part in the series as it was fun and somewhat easy, and guest stars were treated like royalty.

Executive producers Spelling and Douglas Cramer loved old movies — and old movie stars — and they really set out to honor them by bringing them back in TV screens. For some, it would be their final onscreen performance, as was the case for Broadway great Ethel Merman. Other classic stars like The Wizard of Oz‘s Ray Bolger or MGM movie legend Greer Garson were not just exciting to see again on screen — the personal stories they shared with cast and crew left lasting impressions. Producers really mastered their mixup of stars, too, ensuring that there was someone for everyone — if they had Betty White for the older audience, they would have Scott Baio for the younger.

“We were known as a company that took care of guest stars. We sent a limo to pick them up. They had a dressing room with a red carpet,” said Spelling, in an interview clip featured in the series. “They appreciated the treatment.”

Who else appears in TV We Love?

Megan Harding, one of the executive producers behind TV We Love, said that although every episode had its own challenges, The Love Boat was especially tricky.

“With so many guest stars — from Hollywood legends like Lana Turner and Vincent Price, to TV favorites like Florence Henderson and Don Adams, and even unexpected cameos from artists like Andy Warhol — there were simply too many stories to fit into a single hour!”

Contributing their fascinating memories and insights into the episode are Fred Grandy (who played Gopher), Ted Lange (who played Isaac Washington), Candy Spelling (Aaron’s wife), Kim Friedman (director of The Love Boat), William Bickley (the show’s producer and showrunner), Scott Baio (Happy Days guest star), Linda Purl (Happy Days guest star), Lynda Goodfriend (Happy Days guest star),  Jim Colucci (pop culture historian) and others.

TV We Love can be seen on the CW, on Hulu with a live-TV add-on subscription, or on the CW website.