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Baywatch

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Baywatch
File:Baywatch logo.jpg
Baywatch title logo
GenreAction drama
Created byMichael Berk
Douglas Schwartz
Gregory J. Bonann
StarringSee cast section
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons11
No. of episodes242
(list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersMichael Berk
Douglas Schwartz
Gregory J. Bonann
David Hasselhoff
Production locationsSanta Monica, California[1] (1989–2000)
Hawaii (2000–2001)
Running time45–48 minutes
Production companiesGTG Entertainment (1989–1990)
Pearson All-American Television (1997–2001)
The Baywatch Company (1991–2001)
Tower 12 Productions (1991–2001)
Tower 18 Production Company (1996–2001)
Original release
NetworkNBC (1989–1990)[2]
first-run syndication (1991–2001)
ReleaseNBC
September 22, 1989 (1989-09-22) – April 6, 1990 (1990-04-06)
Syndication
September 23, 1991 (1991-09-23) –
May 14, 2001 (2001-05-14)
Related
Baywatch Nights
David Hasselhoff as the character Mitch Buchannon.
File:Erika-eleniak-baywatch.jpg
Erika Eleniak as Shauni McClain

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.[4] The show ran in its original title and format from 1989 to 1999, sans the 1990-1991 season, of which it was not in production. From 1999–2001, with a setting change and large cast overhaul, it was known as Baywatch Hawaii. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Baywatch was the most watched TV show of all time, with over 1.1 billion viewers around the world each week.[5]

Baywatch premiered on NBC in 1989, but was canceled after only one season due to low ratings and also because the studio, GTG, went out of business.[4] 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.[6][7] 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.[8][9] 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.

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 montages, often only superficially related to the plot.

Cast

Main article: Cast of Baywatch

Baywatch (1989–1999)

Actor Character Years
David Hasselhoff Mitch Buchannon 1989–1999
Parker Stevenson Craig Pomeroy 1989–1990, recurring thereafter
Shawn Weatherly Jill Riley 1989–1990
Billy Warlock Eddie Kramer 1989–1992
Erika Eleniak Shauni McClain 1989–1992
Peter Phelps Trevor Cole 1989–1990
Brandon Call Hobie Buchannon 1989–1990
Holly Gagnier Gina Pomeroy 1989–1990
Monte Markham Don Thorpe 1989–1992
John Allen Nelson John D. Cort 1989–1990, recurring thereafter
Gregory Alan Williams Garner Ellerbee 1989–1990, 1991, 1992-1995, recurring otherwise
Jeremy Jackson Hobie Buchannon 1991–1999
Tom McTigue Harvey Miller 1991–1992
Richard Jaeckel Ben Edwards 1991–1994
Nicole Eggert Summer Quinn 1992–1994
David Charvet Matt Brody 1992–1995
Pamela Anderson C. J. Parker 1992–1997
Kelly Slater Jimmy Slade 1992–1993
Alexandra Paul Stephanie Holden 1992–1997
Yasmine Bleeth Caroline Holden 1994–1997, recurring thereafter
Jaason Simmons Logan Fowler 1994–1996
David Chokachi Cody Madison 1995–1999
Gena Lee Nolin Neely Capshaw 1995–1998
Donna D'Errico Donna Marco 1996–1998
José Solano Manny Gutierrez 1996–1998
Traci Bingham Jordan Tate 1996–1998
Nancy Valen Samantha Thomas 1996–1997
Michael Newman Michael Newman 1996–1999, recurring previously
Carmen Electra Lani McKenzie 1997–1998
Kelly Packard April Giminski 1997–1999
Michael Bergin J.D. Darius 1997–1999
Angelica Bridges Taylor Walsh 1997–1998
Marliece Andrada Skylar Bergman 1997
Mitzi Kapture Alex Ryker 1998–1999
Brooke Burns Jessie Owens 1998–1999

Baywatch Hawaii (1999–2001)

File:BaywatchHawaiicast.jpg
Simmone Jade Mackinnon (L), Brooke Burns (C), and Stacy Kamano (R).
Actor Character Years
David Hasselhoff Mitch Buchannon 1999–2000
Brooke Burns Jessie Owens 1999–2000
Michael Bergin J.D. Darius 1999–2001
Brandy Ledford Dawn Masterton 1999–2000
Michael Newman Michael Newman 1999-2000, recurring thereafter
Simmone Mackinnon Allie Reese 1999–2000
Jason Momoa Jason Ioane 1999–2001
Stacy Kamano Kekoa Tanaka 1999–2001
Jason Brooks Sean Monroe 1999–2001
Brande Roderick Leigh Dyer 2000–2001
Charlie Brumbly Zach McEwan 2000–2001
Krista Allen Jenna Avid 2000–2001

Theme songs

  • The original NBC theme was "Save Me," performed by Peter Cetera, with Bonnie Raitt on guitar and Richard Sterban, bass singer for The Oak Ridge Boys, as one of the background vocalists. The song is from Cetera's 1988 album One More Story.
  • On some DVD releases of the first series "Save Me" was replaced with "Above The Waterline" by Kim Carnes.
  • For the syndicated series, the new theme "I'm Always Here" (performed by Jimi Jamison of Survivor) replaced "Save Me". An instrumental version of "I'm Always Here" was used as the ending theme of seasons 6 to 9. A different instrumental version was used as the theme for season 10 (the first season of Baywatch Hawaii).
  • When the NBC episodes started to air five times a week with all the other syndicated episodes, the opening theme was changed to a shorter version of "I'm Always Here," with some images of the original NBC opening retained. An instrumental version of the song appears in the episode "Battles" of the UK television programme Spaced. The Swedish electronic musical group Sunblock remixed the song and released it as a single. A Soundalike version was used in an episode of Hey Arnold over the end credits.
  • David Hasselhoff sang "Current of Love" as the ending theme of Seasons 2–4. Together with Laura Branigan he sang "I Believe" as the ending theme of Season 5.
  • On the DVD edition of the first season, the original main title theme is replaced by the song "Strong Enough," performed by Evan Olson (from his album Audio).
  • The theme for season 11 (the second season of Baywatch Hawaii) was "Let Me Be The One" by Fiji and Glenn Medeiros.
  • The spin-off series, Baywatch Nights theme song was performed by saxophonist Alfonzo Blackwell. "The Nights Will Never Be The Same" (Baywatch Nights Theme) was also featured on his 1996 sophomore CD release. Alfonzo Blackwell was featured with David Hasselhoff each week at the ending credits of the TV series.

Episodes

Main article: List of Baywatch episodes

Theatrical release

In 2004, DreamWorks announced they had bought the rights to create a new theatrical Baywatch movie.[10] Jessica Simpson was rumored to be cast as C.J. Parker.[11] The movie is slated for release in 2012.[12]

The film version is reported to be a comedy, written and directed by Jeremy Garelick. Garelick's previous successes include the rewrite of The Hangover.[13]

DVD releases

Baywatch Nightmare Bay/River of No Return DVD

Australia: Seasons 1–4 have been released in collector's edition boxsets.

Finland: Seasons 1–3 have been released by Futurefilm.

Germany: Seasons 1 to 11 have been released. These releases are presented exactly as they originally aired, albeit with German language credits (These are also available in the U.K. from amazon as imports).

Italy: Seasons 1 and 2 have been released by Koch Media, season 5 and 6 have been released by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Netherlands: Seasons 3 have been released.

Sweden: Seasons 1–3 have been released.

UK: Seasons 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 have been released. Season 6 is scheduled for release on April 2, 2012.

USA: In June 1999 a single disc DVD was released featuring two 2-part episodes from the show's original run ("Nightmare Bay" part 1 and 2 from Season 2, and "River of No Return" part 1 & 2 from Season 3). These episodes are absent from the U.S. box sets of their respective seasons mentioned below.

Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding, the reunion movie on DVD

France: The reunion movie Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding was translated to French language as Alerte à Malibu: Mariage à Hawaï and have been released.

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.[14] 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. ^ Dawson, Greg (April 29, 1993). "Syndication Doesn't Improve Baywatch". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
  4. ^ a b 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.
  5. ^ "Largest Audience For A TV Series"
  6. ^ Gritten, David (November 20, 1996). "Baywatch Has a Cow, Man, London Style". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  7. ^ McDougal, Dennis (November 28, 1991). "Surf's Up Again for Baywatch". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  8. ^ Huff, Richard (March 1, 1999). "Aussie Town Boos Baywatch". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2010-10-16.
  9. ^ "Wave of protest over Baywatch move". BBC. February 26, 1999. Retrieved 2010-10-15.
  10. ^ Murray, Rebecca (November 10, 2004). ""Baywatch" Swims Into Theaters". About.com. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
  11. ^ WENN.com (April 4, 2006). "Simpson Lands Anderson 'Baywatch' Movie Role". Hollywood.com. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
  12. ^ Baywatch, the Movie at IMDB
  13. ^ Fleming, Michael (July 6, 2009). "Garelick adding laughs to 'Baywatch'". Variety. Retrieved April 22, 2011.
  14. ^ News for Baywatch
  15. ^ Article: "Surf's Up For 'Baywatch'". KFOX-TV. 1999-11-16. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
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