Captain Merrill Stubing
Captain Merrill Stubing (Gavin MacLeod) black formal cruise ship uniform from The Love Boat acquired from Gavin MacLeod.
CURATOR’S NOTE: “I was luckily enough to interview TV stars on red carpets. For big news outlets, reporters oGen feel it’s below them to chat with an actor who was on some show before they were born, and I’ve watched in horror as an entertainment anchor abruptly ended an interview, pushing an older actor out of the way when a current, younger actor came into view. But for me, interacKng with all actors was magical: from sharing with Mannix star Mike Connors that I always worried during fight scene he would rip one of his beauKful blazers (to which he responded: “so was I”); coaxing Simon Cowell from American idol into telling me his favorite childhood breakfast cereal (Cocoa Puffs); or asking The Sopranos star Michael Imperioli what he would do if he could spend a day hanging out with a classic TV star (ride in a train dining car throwing back scotches with Jackie Gleason). And from what I could tell, they appreciated being asked something new by someone who was genuinely interested in their response. Once I was on the red carpet for a TV Land awards show, and while interviewing Shirley Jones, her comedian husband put his finger in my ear, then Mary Tyler Moore remembered me from a previous goofy interview and gave me a kiss. I was sure this shoot couldn’t go any beYer. Then walks up Gavin MacLeod, who co-starred with Mary on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, then embodied the lovable captain on The Love Boat . I was excited and nervous. Gavin was very warm, a great story teller, and when I asked if he saved anything from his shows, he said he had a box somewhere that bounced with him from coast to coast, containing costumes from both shows. Jokingly, for camera, he invited me to stop by his home and he’d give them to me. It was a fun piece, and I was grateful he was willing to be playful. However, aGer the interview ended, Gavin wrote down his phone number and said: “I meant what I said, give me a call.” It probably wasn’t great for me to call a celebrity that I met on the job, but I really, truly needed to see if anyone could be that genuine. So, I called, and Gavin said: ‘I was hoping you would call. Let’s find that box together.’ At the Kme, I had a TV show in development, and I suggested: “Gavin, as long as we’re going in search of TV history, would you mind if I brought a camera crew?” Less than a week later, I was knocking on his front door with a field crew in tow. He brought in a lovely lunch, and Gavin and I developed a friendship. He and his wife Pa_ aYended my wedding, and he got up and sang The Love Boat theme to an audience who savored every note, for which I am sKll grateful. Gav’s black formal captain uniform (middle right) and the Mary, Phyllis & Rhoda costumes from Mary Tyler Moore (on previous pages) each came from him. They are special to millions of fans, but perhaps no more than to this one.” - James Comisar
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