CBS Greenlights ‘The Real Love Boat’ Dating Competition Series

Hop aboard…”The Love Boat” is back, this time in a dating competition format. CBS has ordered “The Real Love Boat” a reality series where a group of singles look for love while aboard a Princess Cruises ship. The logline: “Destination dates, challenges and surprise singles will test the couples’ compatibility and chemistry. Like the beloved original scripted series, the indispensable crew members including ‘captain’ and ‘cruise director’ will play pivotal roles in the matchmaking and navigation of the romantic (and sometimes turbulent) waters ahead. After almost a month at sea, only one winning couple will make it to the final port and take home a cash prize.”

“Audiences really connected with the fun and escapism of The Love Boat,” said Mitch Graham, senior vp alternative programming at CBS. “The iconic series embodied the many possibilities of people making new, meaningful connections. Reimagining it as a dating show with competition, adventure and romance makes The Real Love Boat an ideal fit for our schedule and viewers.”

The original scripted “The Love Boat”, a combination of romantically-themed comedy and drama, launched on ABC in 1977 and was executive produced by Aaron Spelling. It ran for nine seasons (through 1986) and was rebooted as “Love Boat: The Next Wave” on UPN for two seasons beginning in 1998.

CBS is partnering with Australian broadcaster Network 10 on “The Real Love Boat”, with production beginning on consecutively shot U.S. and Aussie versions this summer. They are both expected to air later this year.