A great "Love Boat" episode, because the show was still in its first-season, experimental "anything goes" period, and not so formulaic. Michelle Lee and Fernando Lamas are celebrities who board with an exquisitely large diamond. Enter the bumbling crime gang of Harold Gould (the boss), Karen Valentine (the dame), Larry Storch (the hot head) and John Schuck (the dim-witted muscle). They're out to switch the real diamond with a fake made of cut glass. Hi-jinx ensue as our gang tries and fails ... several times ... to swipe the diamond.
Later, the gang witnesses Michelle Lee throwing the diamond overboard in a grand gesture to Fernando Lamas to show him that he means more to her than "a mere object." The frustrated crime gang is foiled, much to their chagrin.
In a twist to the end of the story, as the celebrity couple disembarks at the end of the cruise, Lamas says to Lee something to the effect of, "I can't believe you really threw the diamond overboard." Lee replies something to the effect of, "The real diamond is at home in the safe. I threw the fake overboard!"
As with other first season episodes, this episode features shipboard sequences filmed on the Pacific Princess, which add to the feeling that the episode is more of an "event" with guest stars walking onto what is obviously an actual cruise ship, and not just a studio recreation on a sound stage.
Later, the gang witnesses Michelle Lee throwing the diamond overboard in a grand gesture to Fernando Lamas to show him that he means more to her than "a mere object." The frustrated crime gang is foiled, much to their chagrin.
In a twist to the end of the story, as the celebrity couple disembarks at the end of the cruise, Lamas says to Lee something to the effect of, "I can't believe you really threw the diamond overboard." Lee replies something to the effect of, "The real diamond is at home in the safe. I threw the fake overboard!"
As with other first season episodes, this episode features shipboard sequences filmed on the Pacific Princess, which add to the feeling that the episode is more of an "event" with guest stars walking onto what is obviously an actual cruise ship, and not just a studio recreation on a sound stage.