What a wonderful surprise it was when my wife gifted me an autographed copy of Gavin MacLeod's autobiography. It's great just to have it in my TV collection, but of course I wanted to read the book as well as admire it.
It's a solid read that covers a lot of ground, though it is also breezy and a fast read. The conversational tone suits its subject, though. One of the charming aspects of the text is MacLeod's frequent interjections of how thrilled he was to be doing this or how honored he was to be working with whoever (Joe Flaherty's impersonation on SCTV comes to mind). It feels genuine, though, and is usually an aside after an anecdote. That is, it's not like he spends the whole book naming names and sharing "gee whiz" enthusiasm.
His enthusiasm for his life and career is palpable, though, and it makes for an engaging narrative. You may be surprised at some of the darkness in the early part of MacLeod's professional career. The most alarming story in the bio is Gavin's telling of nearly driving off Mulholland in despair, then ending up at the home of his good friend Robert Blake (!) to get advice. One of the biggest revelations for me is learning how miserable MacLeod was on McHale's Navy. He took the gig, which was a way smaller part than reflected his career status as an actor, because he wanted the security after buying a new house. With little to do on the series, though, he felt stifled, leading to depression and increased drinking.
He got out of the show, though (and out of Robert Blake's house), and has great things to say about his other high-profile gigs. He loved his time on The Mary Tyler Moore Show and was great friends with Ted Knight. As for The Love Boat, MacLeod appreciated the series, the joy it brought to people, and the opportunities it gave him, and it's nice reading him express that gratitude.
One of the amusing recurring threads in This Is Your Captain Speaking concerns his hairpiece. The story of how he got the piece he used in his early days is a good one, and before he finally discards it, it is a regular part of his career. MacLeod's self-deprecating humor about this topic is refreshing, and it's the kind of thing you don't always get in showbiz memoirs--both the honesty and the topic itself.
Later in life, after being born again, he took roles in faith-based projects, and his role in 2008's The Secret of Jonathan Sperry is one that gave him the most pride late in life. I hadn't heard of this film, but MacLeod's enthusiasm for it is appealing. Overall, his treatment of his faith is sincere and, while it does dominate much of the last third of the book, it seems like the natural progression of his life story. You don't feel like it comes at the "expense" of Love Boat stories.
MacLeod, with collaborator Mark Dagostino, tells his journey in an appealing manner. He draws you in with his casual, accessible style. He doesn't ignore the dark aspects of his life, like his drinking problem and early career stagnation, but he maintains an upbeat tone throughout the book that has you rooting for him and happy to get to the triumphs. I'm sure Love Boat fans would love even more about the show, but there are plenty of fun anecdotes about the cast, the guest stars, and the travels associated with that hit series.
