Baywatch

Baywatch was a popular American television series about the Los Angeles County Lifeguards who patrol the crowded beaches of Los Angeles County, California. The show ran from 1989 to 2001.

Baywatch premiered on NBC in 1989, but was cancelled after only one season because of the high cost of producing it and low ratings. Feeling the series still had potential, David Hasselhoff revived it for the first-run syndication market in 1991, investing his own money and additionally functioning as executive producer. The show was hugely successful, especially internationally. The show led to a spin-off: Baywatch Nights and a reunion movie, Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding.

In season 10, the location of the show was changed to Hawaii and the show's name was changed to Baywatch Hawaii.

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 was centered around the work of a group 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 to shark attacks to serial killers 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 attractive lifeguards running, most notably done by Pamela Anderson, Yasmine Bleeth, Alexandra Paul, and David Charvet along with Hasselhoff during the height of the show.

Many different actors and actresses were featured on the show over its long run with most appearing for only a few seasons. Some of the other stars who became famous were Carmen Electra, Traci Bingham, Donna D'Errico, Nicole Eggert, David Chokachi, Gena Lee Nolin, Jaason Simmons, and Kelly Slater, a pro surfer, among many others.

The show became known for showcasing women with big breasts and was one of the first network TV shows that featured frequent close-up shots of the large breasts.

In 2004, DreamWorks announced they had bought the rights to create a new theatrical Baywatch movie. It is predicted that David Hasselhoff will reprise his role of Mitch Buchannon. Jessica Simpson has been officially cast as C.J. Parker. The movie was slated for release in 2006. A 1999 episode of Futurama predicted that the Baywatch movie (shot entirely in slow-motion) would win Pamela Anderson an Oscar.

In 2006 remixes of the official Baywatch theme ,"I'll Be Ready," were released as singles by Naughty Boy and Sunblock. The Naughy Boy version "Phat Beach (I'll Be Ready)" reached #36 on the UK Charts, while Sunblock's version "I'll Be Ready" entered the UK charts at number 4 a week later. The original NBC Baywatch theme was "Save Me", performed by Peter Cetera.

Note: The original Theme song for the syndicated version was sung by Jimi Jamison [1] And the name was "I'm Always Here"

Baywatch was most notable - some might also say 'notorious' - for most of its female cast members dropping their lifeguard swimsuits for Playboy. Most of the female stars appeared in Playboy at the height of their fame on Baywatch, while Pamela Anderson and Carmen Electra had already appeared before joining the show. Yasmine Bleeth, who played lifeguard Caroline Holden, was at least one Baywatch actress who was offered $750,000.00 in 1998 to pose nude, but refused, vowing that she never would.

Cast

Recurring Cast

Mitch Buchannon|Lt./Capt. Mitch Buchannon

Mitch Buchannon, played by David Hasselhoff (1989-2000) was the longest serving cast member during the syndication of Baywatch, played into each season of Baywatch and Baywatch Hawaii. Mitch played head lifeguard on the Baywatch set and had a son, Hobie Buchannon, who starred in the series and was played by Jeremy Jackson. He was promoted to Captain in the series in season eight. Mitch also starred in a series of Baywatch run-offs including Baywatch Summerfest Special, ''Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding, Baywatch: White Thunder at Glacier Bay, Baywatch Nights, Baywatch: Panic at Malibu Pier, Baywatch: Forbidden Paradise and Baywatch: River of No Return.

Michael "Newmie" Newman

Michael "Newmie" Newman, played by Michael Newman (1989-2000) is the second longest serving cast member of the series Baywatch, appearing on both Baywatch and Baywatch Hawaii. Michael Newman joined the Baywatch production for the shooting of the pilot episode back in 1989. He is a qualified Los Angeles County lifeguard and fireman, the only real lifeguard featured on Baywatch. He was hired by his friend, Gregory J. Bonann to be the technical consultant of the show. He first appeared in small roles but finally in 1996 before the start of the seventh season, Michael Newman became a regular cast member.

Season 1

Craig Pomeroy

Craig Pomeroy was played by Parker Stevenson in season one from 1989 until 1990. Craig returned to guest star in 6 episodes between 1997-1999. It was also revealed that he had divorced Gina who had been his wife during season 1.

Jill Riley

Jill Riley was played by Shawn Weatherly from 1989 to 1990. Jill is one of two regular cast members to be killed off (Stephanie being the other in the 7th season episode "Chance of a Lifetime". Jill is tragically killed by a shark in the 19th episode "Shark Derby". Shawn Weatherly wanted to leave the show because she felt the writers did not develop her character. As the season went on, Jill got less and less to do.

Eddie Kramer

Eddie Kramer was played by Billy Warlock from 1989 until 1992. During his time on the show, he dated Shauni Erika Eleniak, and they got married in the third season opener "River of No Return". He appeared on one episode of Baywatch Nights and was in the reunion Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding movie.

Shauni McClain

Shauni McClain, played by Erika Eleniak from 1989 until 1992

Hobie Buchannon

Hobie Buchannon, played by Brandon Call (1989-1990)

John D. Cort

John D. Cort, played by John Allen Nelson (season 1 only; recurring seasons 2-7 and the Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding reunion)

Trevor Cole

Trevor Cole, played by Peter Phelps (1989-1990)

Sgt. Garner Ellerbee

played by Gregory Alan-Williams (1989-1995)

Capt./Chief Don Thorpe

Capt./Chief Don Thorpe, played by Monte Markham (through season 2)

Gina Pomeroy

Gina Pomeroy played by Holly Gagnier (1989-1990)

Season 2

**Hobie Buchanon, played by Jeremy Jackson (1991-1999)
**Harvey Miller, played by Tom McTigue
**Lt./Capt. Ben Edwards, played by Richard Jaeckel (also recurring seasons 3 & 4)

Seasons 3-4

**Summer Quinn, played by Nicole Eggert (1992-1994)
**Matt Brody, played by David Charvet (1992-1995)
**C.J. Parker, played by Pamela Anderson (1992-1997)
**Jimmy Slade, played by Kelly Slater (season 3 only)
**Lt. Stephanie Holden, played by Alexandra Paul (1992-1997)

Season 5

**Caroline Holden, played by Yasmine Bleeth (1994-1997)
**Logan Fowler, played by Jaason Simmons (1994-1995)

Season 6

**Cody Madison, played by David Chokachi (1995-1999)
**Neely Capshaw, played by Gena Lee Nolin (1995-1998)

Season 7

**Donna Marko, played by Donna D'Errico (1996-1998)
**Jordan Tate, played by Traci Bingham (1996-1998)
**Manny Gutierrez, played by José Solano (1996-1998)
**J.D. Darius, played by Michael Bergin (1996-2001)
**Capt. Samantha Thomas, played by Nancy Valen

Season 8

**Lani McKenzie, played by Carmen Electra (1997-1998)
**April Giminski, played by Kelly Packard (1997-1999)
**Lt. Taylor Walsh, played by Angelica Bridges
**Skylar Bergman, played by Marliece Andrada

Season 9

**Jessie Owens, played by Brooke Burns (1998-2000)
**Alex Ryker, played by Mitzi Kapture
**Ariana, played by Linda Brava

Season 10 (Baywatch Hawaii)

**Sean Monroe, played by Jason Brooks (through season 11)
**Dawn Masterson, played by Brandy Ledford
**Allie Reese, played by Simmone Jade Mackinnon
**Jason Ioane, played by Jason Momoa (through season 11)
**Kekoa Tanaka, played by Stacy Kamano (through season 11)

Season 11 (Baywatch Hawaii)

**Jenna Avid, played by Krista Allen
**Zach McEwan, played by Charlie Brumbly
**Leigh Dyer, played by Brande Roderick

DVD Releases

USA- Seasons 2 & 3 are to be released on the 31st of October 2006. Each set will feature a Disc with Season 1 episodes on it. Fans will need to purchase Seasons 2-7 to complete Season 1, then they will be able to send away to First Look for a box to hold the 6 discs.

Germany- Seasons 1 & 2 were released on the 23rd of June 2006. Season 3 is scheduled to be released on the 25th of August 2006 and Season 4 on the 6th of October 2006.

International

Baywatch was very popular in foreign markets and still airs in many today.
*Australia - Airs on FOX Classics.
*Bulgaria - Previously aired on Channel 1, currently on Diema Family
*Czech Republic - aired on TV Nova.
*Canada - Airs on Drive-In Classics.
*Estonia - Airs on TV3.
*France - Airs on TF1.
*Germany - Airs on Premiere.
*Italy - Airs on Italia 1.
*Latin America - Airs on FX.
*Poland - Airs on Polsat.
*Slovakia - Aired on the public network Slovak Television in the early 1990s, then aired on TV Markiza.
*UK - Airs on UKTV Gold (Season 5 currently) and UKTV G2 (Season 4 currently).
*USA Previously shown on Spike TV, not currently airing.

See also

*Son of the Beach : parody.

External links

*Baywatch.com
*david-hasselhoff.com - Bilingual website for David Hasselhoff fans
* agodamongmen.com - A God Among Men - David Hasselhoff Shrine

*Baywatch at Wikia
*Baywatch: First Look schedules 2 seasons for October