Baywatch Nights
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| Baywatch Nights | |
|---|---|
| File:BaywatchNightsLogo.jpg Title card | |
| Genre | Drama Science fiction |
| Created by | Michael Berk Gregory J. Bonann David Hasselhoff Douglas Schwartz |
| Starring | David Hasselhoff Gregory Alan Williams Angie Harmon Lisa Stahl Lou Rawls Eddie Cibrian Donna D'Errico Dorian Gregory |
| Opening theme | "After the Sun Goes Down" performed by Lou Rawls |
| Composers | John D'Andrea Tom Harriman Mark Holden Cory Lerios Matthias Weber |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 2 |
| No. of episodes | 44 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers | Michael Berk Gregory J. Bonann David Hasselhoff Maurice Hurley Douglas Schwartz |
| Producers | John F. Burnett Francis Conway James Pergola Bruce A. Pobjoy |
| Running time | 45–48 minutes |
| Production companies | The Baywatch Company Tower 12 Productions Tower 18 Productions Company (1996–1997) |
| Original release | |
| Network | Syndicated |
| Release | September 30, 1995 – May 16, 1997 |
| Related | |
| Baywatch | |
Baywatch Nights was an American police and science fiction drama series spinoff from Baywatch" that aired in syndication from 1995 to 1997. When David Hasselhoff's contract for "Baywatch" was about to expire, Hasselhoff and his manager negotiated a spinoff series deal for Hasselhoff with production company All American. Hasselhoff demanded creative control (which he did not have on "Baywatch") on the new series, and was granted it. Hasselhoff wanted to play a sophisticated James Bond like character who drove a Ferrari and wasn't burdened by his son Hobie, as on Baywatch. He also didn't want a lot of sexy women with big boobs attracting attention from him, and to prove that he was responsible for Baywatch's success, not Pam Anderson's tits. But since Baywatch lifeguard Mitch Buchanon could not play a different character in the new series, creators {[Michael Berk]}, Douglas Schwartz, David Hasselhoff, and Gregory J. Bonann, decided that Mitch should moonlight as a private detective at night. Hobie could stay with his mom, and a rich client could pay him with a Ferrari.
Synopsis
The original premise of "Baywatch Nights" was that, during a midlife crisis, Sgt. Garner Ellerbee (Gregory Alan Williams), who was the resident police officer of Baywatch since the beginning of the series, decides to quit his job as a police officer and form a detective agency. Mitch Buchannon (David Hasselhoff), his friend from Baywatch, joins to support him and they are, in turn, joined by a detective named Ryan McBride (Angie Harmon) in her first acting role. Singer Lou Rawls, who starred in the first season, performed the series theme song, "After the Sun Goes Down". Mid-way into the first season, the show added two new cast members (Eddie Cibrian and Donna D'Errico). They opened an office on the second floor of a building in Malibu above a Jazz club where Lou Rawls performed (and where Hasselhoff could also sing from time to time). To get "Baywatch Nights" on the air in syndication, All American cannibalized "Baywatch's" second airing. With creative control, Hasselhoff dictated the development of "Baywatch Nights" episodes and kept it separate from "Baywatch", making sure the two series did not integrate.
During the second season, facing creative criticism and slipping ratings which were never as good as the original series, Hasselhoff decided to switch the series premise to a science fiction format (inspired by the success of The X-Files) where the detectives would investigate paranormal activities. Gregory Alan Williams chose to leave the series and was replaced by Dorian Gregory as Diamont Teague, a paranormal expert. The new format did not help the series and it was canceled after the second season. The character Donna Marco was later carried over to the original Baywatch series. After "Baywatch Nights" was cancelled, "Baywatch" never got that second run back, which ultimately hurt "Baywatch's" and contributed to its demise.
Cast
- David Hasselhoff as Mitch Buchannon
- Gregory Alan Williams as Garner Ellerbee (Season 1)
- Angie Harmon as Ryan McBride
- Lisa Stahl as Destiny Desimone (Episodes 1-10)
- Lou Rawls as Lou Raymond (Season 1)
- Eddie Cibrian as Griff Walker (Episodes 11-44)
- Donna D'Errico as Donna Marco (Episodes 11-44)
- Dorian Gregory as Diamont Teague (Season 2)
Guests from Baywatch
- Billy Warlock as Eddie Kramer (guest-starring in episode 14)
- Yasmine Bleeth as Caroline Holden (guest-starring in episode 16)
- Alexandra Paul as Stephanie Holden (guest-starring in episode 41)
- Michael Newman as Mike "Newmie" Newman (guest-starring in episodes 14, 16 and 30)