Baywatch

Baywatch

Baywatch title logo
Also known as Baywatch Hawaii (1999–2001)
Genre Action drama
Created by Michael Berk
Douglas Schwartz
Gregory J. Bonann
Starring David Hasselhoff
Parker Stevenson
Shawn Weatherly
Billy Warlock
Erika Eleniak
Brandon Call
Peter Phelps
Holly Gagnier
Monte Markham
Gregory Alan Williams
John Allen Nelson
Jeremy Jackson
Tom McTigue
Richard Jaeckel
Nicole Eggert
David Charvet
Pamela Anderson Lee
Kelly Slater
Alexandra Paul
Yasmine Bleeth
Jaason Simmons
David Chokachi
Gena Lee Nolin
Donna D'Errico
José Solano
Traci Bingham
Nancy Valen
Michael Newman
Carmen Electra
Kelly Packard
Michael Bergin
Angelica Bridges
Marliece Andrada
Mitzi Kapture
Brooke Burns
Brandy Ledford
Simmone Mackinnon
Jason Momoa
Stacy Kamano
Jason Brooks
Brande Roderick
Charlie Brumbly
Krista Allen
Country of origin United States
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 11
No. of episodes 242 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Michael Berk
Douglas Schwartz
Gregory J. Bonann
David Hasselhoff
Location(s) Santa Monica, California[1] (1989–1999)
Hawaii (1999–2001)
Running time 45–48 minutes
Production company(s) GTG Entertainment (1989–1990)
Pearson Television (1998–2001)
The Baywatch Company (1991–2001)
Tower 12 Productions (1991–2001)
Tower 18 Production Company (1996–2001)
Distributor The Fremantle Corporation (1989-1999)
LBS Communications (1991–1992)
All American Television (1992–1998)
Pearson Television (1998–2001)
FremantleMedia Enterprises
Broadcast
Original channel NBC (1989–1990)[2]
First-run syndication (1991–2001)
Picture format 4:3
Audio format Mono
Stereo
Original run NBC
September 22, 1989 – April 6, 1990
Syndication
September 23, 1991 – May 14, 2001
Chronology
Related shows Baywatch Nights
External links
Website
David Hasselhoff as the character Mitch Buchannon.
Pamela Anderson as C. J. Parker.

Baywatch is an American action drama series about the Los Angeles County Lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County, California, starring David Hasselhoff. The show was canceled after its first season on NBC, but survived and later became one of the most watched television shows in the world.[3] The show ran in its original title and format from 1989 to 1999, except for the 1990–1991 season, during which it was not in production. From 1999 to 2001, with a setting change and large cast overhaul, it was known as Baywatch Hawaii.

Baywatch premiered on NBC in 1989, but was canceled after only one season when it placed 73rd out of 103 shows in the seasonal ratings and also because the studio, GTG, went out of business.[3] Feeling the series still had potential, Hasselhoff along with creators and executive producers Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz and Greg Bonann revived it for the first-run syndication market in 1991. Hasselhoff was given the title of executive producer for his work on bringing the show back. The series was hugely successful, especially internationally.[4][5] The show led to a spin-off: Baywatch Nights, and a reunion movie, Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding.

In 1999, with production costs rising in Los Angeles, and the syndication market shrinking, the plan was to move the show to Australia and launch Baywatch Down Under. A pilot was filmed but the series was stopped when residents of Avalon put forth strong objections, including potential damage to a fragile ecosystem. Pittwater Council permanently barred all future filming.[6][7] This pilot finally aired as a two-part episode of Baywatch.

As an alternative to Australia, Hawaii offered the producers large financial incentives to move the show to the islands instead, and in Season 10, Baywatch Hawaii was launched.

Baywatch filmed for two seasons in Hawaii, from 1999 until 2001.[8] The proposal to relocate Baywatch to Hawaii rather than Australia was initiated by April Masini in a telephone call to executive producer Greg Bonann. The deal to provide the incentives necessary to secure the series was presented to Governor Ben Cayetano by Al Masini and April Masini; Tony Vericella, president of the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau; and Cayetano's executive assistant, Joe Blanco. The agreement required the production to change its name from Baywatch to Baywatch Hawaii, hire local leads, and film in the state for at least two years, guaranteeing 44 episodes, each at a cost of about $870,000, 60% of which was to be spent in Hawaii.[9]

Plot

The show starred David Hasselhoff, of Knight Rider fame, as Mitch Buchannon, who was the only mainstay on the show, besides Michael Newman, for 10 of the 11 seasons. Baywatch revolved around the work of a team of lifeguards and their interpersonal relationships, with plots usually centering on dangers related to beach and other activities pertinent to the California (later Hawaii) beach lifestyle. Everything from earthquakes and shark attacks to serial killers and even nuclear bombs served as plot conflicts on the show. Saving people from drowning tended to be one of the most typical situations used in the shows. Thus a trademark of the show was slow motion shots of the lifeguards running, most notably done by Erika Eleniak, Pamela Anderson, Yasmine Bleeth, Alexandra Paul and David Charvet, along with Hasselhoff during the height of the show. Each show would feature one or two such montages, often only superficially related to the plot.

Cast

Baywatch (1989–1999)

Actor Character Years
David HasselhoffMitch Buchannon1989–2000
Parker StevensonCraig Pomeroy1989–1990, recurring thereafter
Shawn WeatherlyJill Riley1989–1990
Billy WarlockEddie Kramer1989–1992
Erika EleniakShauni McClain1989–1992
Peter PhelpsTrevor Cole1989–1990
Brandon CallHobie Buchannon1989–1990
Holly GagnierGina Pomeroy1989–1990
Monte MarkhamDon Thorpe1989–1992
John Allen NelsonJohn D. Cort1989–1990, recurring thereafter
Gregory Alan WilliamsGarner Ellerbee1989–1990, 1992, 1993–1995, recurring otherwise
Michael NewmanHimself1989–1999, recurring previously
Jeremy JacksonHobie Buchannon1991–2000
Tom McTigueHarvey Miller1991–1992
Richard JaeckelBen Edwards1991–1992, recurring thereafter
Nicole EggertSummer Quinn1992–1994
David CharvetMatt Brody1992–1995
Pamela AndersonC. J. Parker1992–1997
Kelly SlaterJimmy Slade1992–1993
Alexandra PaulStephanie Holden1992–1997
Yasmine BleethCaroline Holden1994–1997, recurring thereafter
Jaason SimmonsLogan Fowler1994–1996
David ChokachiCody Madison1995–1999
Gena Lee NolinNeely Capshaw1995–1999
Donna D'ErricoDonna Marco1996–1998
José SolanoManny Gutierrez1996–1998
Traci BinghamJordan Tate1996–1998
Nancy ValenSamantha Thomas1996–1997
Carmen ElectraLani McKenzie1997–1998
Kelly PackardApril Giminski1997–1999
Michael BerginJ. D. Darius1997–1999
Angelica BridgesTaylor Walsh1997–1998
Marliece AndradaSkylar Bergman1997
Mitzi KaptureAlex Ryker1998–1999
Brooke BurnsJessie Owens1998–1999

Baywatch Hawaii (1999–2001)

Simmone Jade Mackinnon (L), Brooke Burns (C), and Stacy Kamano (R).
Actor Character Years
David HasselhoffMitch Buchannon1999–2000
Brooke BurnsJessie Owens1999–2000, recurring thereafter
Michael BerginJ. D. Darius1999–2001
Brandy LedfordDawn Masterton1999–2000
Michael NewmanMichael Newman1999–2000
Simmone MackinnonAllie Reese1999–2000
Jason MomoaJason Ioane1999–2001
Stacy KamanoKekoa Tanaka1999–2001
Jason BrooksSean Monroe1999–2001
Brande RoderickLeigh Dyer2000–2001
Charlie BrumblyZach McEwan2000–2001
Krista AllenJenna Avid2000–2001, recurring previously

Theme songs

Episodes

Film adaptation

The film adaptation is reported to be a comedy, written and directed by Jeremy Garelick. Garelick's previous successes include the rewrite of The Hangover.[10]

In September 2012, it was announced that Reno 911! co-creator and star Robert Ben Garant will direct the film version of Baywatch for Paramount Pictures.[11]

In October 2014, it was announced that Paramount is moving forward with its big-screen adaptation of Baywatch and has loosely attached Dwayne Johnson to the project. The studio also has hired Justin Malen to rewrite and has attached the comedy writing team of Sean Anders and John Morris (We're the Millers) to direct. [12][13]

DVD releases

Baywatch "Nightmare Bay"/"River of No Return" DVD
Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding, the reunion movie on DVD

First Look Studios released the first three seasons on DVD in 2006/2007. Although the box sets are labeled "Season 1", "Season 2", et cetera, the sets actually feature episodes of the following season (i.e. the "Season 1" box set contains the episodes of the literal second season (1991–1992) of the show). The second and third sets were released on October 31, 2006. Each set features a disc with Season 1 episodes on it. These releases also do not contain any of the original music as it appeared when the episodes aired. They have been removed due to copyright agreements.[16] However, these releases have been discontinued and are now out of print.

See also

References

  1. ↑ MacLeod, Tyler (August 18, 1996). "Life's a beach". Canoe. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  2. ↑ Herbert, Steven (December 25, 1990). "Baywatch: A New Wave of Popularity Overseas". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Carter, Bill (1995-07-03). "Media: TELEVISION; Stand aside, CNN. America's No. 1 TV export is – no scoffing, please – 'Baywatch.". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
  4. ↑ Gritten, David (November 20, 1996). "Baywatch Has a Cow, Man, London Style". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  5. ↑ McDougal, Dennis (November 28, 1991). "Surf's Up Again for Baywatch". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  6. ↑ Huff, Richard (March 1, 1999). "Aussie Town Boos Baywatch". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
  7. ↑ "Wave of protest over Baywatch move". BBC. February 26, 1999. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  8. ↑ "Film and television in Hawaii". Wikipedia. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  9. ↑ Ryan, Tim (March 4, 1999). "'Baywatch' May Relocate to Hawaii". Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
  10. ↑ Fleming, Michael (July 6, 2009). "Garelick adding laughs to 'Baywatch'". Variety. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
  11. ↑ Exclusive: Reno 911! Co-Creator to Direct Baywatch Movie
  12. ↑
  13. ↑
  14. ↑ http://www.screenpop.com.au/search/index/search_string/Baywatch/
  15. ↑ http://www.screenpop.com.au/dvd/baywatch-the-complete-collection/4016.html
  16. ↑ News for Baywatch
  17. ↑ Article: "Surf's Up For 'Baywatch'". KFOX-TV. 1999-11-16.

External links