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Baywatch
 

Baywatch was a popular American television show 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, 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 a group of lifeguards and how they patrol the beach that they work on and the relationships they had together. Usually they would save someone from danger or they would help someone in need during a typical show. Everything from earthquakes to shark attacks were showcased on the show.

Saving people from drowning tended to be one of the most typical situations used in the shows prompting the lifeguards to run to the ocean and save the person. Thus a trademark of the show included slow motion running of the attractive lifeguards, usually in a crisis situation, 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 * And the name was "I'm Always Here"

As of Summer 2006, reruns no longer air on Spike TV.

Also, in late-Summer 2006, a best-of DVD set with episodes chosen by Pamela Anderson will be released. Soon after complete season sets will be made available.

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. Mitch was also married to fellow lifeguard Stephanie in the series, who was a Lt. under him, they divorced later in the series. He was promoted to Lt 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. He joined in 1989, Newman with his friend and fellow lifeguard, Greg Bonann, as a technical consultant on Baywatch. He is a qualified LA. county lifeguard and fireman, the only real lifeguard featured on Baywatch. He remained on the show through its entire run, becoming a regular cast member in the opening credits in 1996.

Season 1

Craig Pomeroy
Craig Pomeroy was played by Parker Stevenson in season one from 1989 until 1990. Craig returned in season eight from 1997 until 1999. He is one of the original Baywatch cast members and the only cast member to return to the series.

Jill Riley
Jill Riley was played by Shawn Weatherly from 1989 to 1990. . She is best known for work on the popular television show Baywatch.

Eddie Kramer
Eddie Kramer, played by Billy Warlock from 1989 until 1992

Shauni McClain
Shauni McClain, played by Erika Eleniak from 1989 until 1992

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

John D. Court
John D. Court, played by John Allen Nelson (season 1 only; recurring seasons 2-7)

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

Sgt. Garner Ellerbee
played by Gregory Alan-Williams (1989-1995)

Gina Pomeroy
Gina Pomeroy played by Holly Gagnier (1989-1990)

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

International

The show airs in several countries besides the United States, where it airs on SpikeTV.

See also

External links

1980s TV shows in the United States | 1990s TV shows in the United States | 2000s TV shows in the United States | Drama television series | NBC network shows | Soap operas | Syndicated television series | FremantleMedia TV shows

Baywatch (serija) | Baywatch | Alerte à Malibu | Baywatch | Baywatch | Baywatch | Słoneczny patrol | Baywatch | Baywatch | Baywatch

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Baywatch".

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