Charo’s 5 memorable ‘Love Boat’ appearances
Charo had a recurring role as April Lopez on "The Love Boat," seen here with Gavin MacLeod, left. Credit: Charo had a recurring role as April Lopez on “The Love Boat,” seen here with Gavin MacLeod, left.
Charo will be among the celebrities appearing on this season’s edition of “Dancing With the Stars” (premiering March 20 at 8 p.m. on ABC/7). This will cap a long TV career for the Flamenco guitarist, singer and camp icon, who’s reportedly 66 and seemed to be ubiquitous on the tube during the late ’70s and early ’80s. She cuchi-cuchied her way through numerous specials and variety shows (from “Bob Hope’s Salute to the 75th Anniversary of the World Series” to “The Brady Bunch Variety Hour”) as well as a recurring role on “The Love Boat.”
Here are five memorable episodes from that series:
ACAPULCO CONNECTION (Oct. 15, 1977) We’re introduced to Charo as April Lopez, a Mexican woman who stows away in a laundry hamper.
APRIL’S RETURN (May 5, 1979) The former stowaway returns as a lounge singer.
APRIL’S LOVE (Jan. 12, 1980) April comes back, this time with her manager and fiance (Forrest Tucker of “F Troop”), who’s twice her age.
APRIL THE NINNY (Jan. 17, 1981) April becomes a nanny to the kids of TV sportscaster Ty Younger (Larry Linville of “M*A*S*H”).
AEROBIC APRIL (Nov. 3, 1984) April gets the crew in shape with her aerobics class.
Andy Edelstein, Newsday's entertainment editor, supervises coverage of TV, celebrities, movies and pop music. He has written three books on popular culture, including "The Brady Bunch Book."