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 and various other actors as the series progressed. The show was cancelled after its first season on NBC, but survived and later became one of the most watched television shows in the world. 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.
The series premiered on NBC in 1989, but was cancelled 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. 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. Being known for it's colourful cast, storylines and the famous slow-motion run,the series was hugely successful, especially internationally. The show led to a spin-off: Baywatch Nights, and a reunion movie, Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding.
The show's famous red swimsuits became a global pop culture icon and are recognised internationally - with similar styles of them becoming very popular across social media and beaches worldwide.
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. 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. 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.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Baywatch is the most watched TV show in the world of all time, with over 1.1 billion viewers.
In August 2018, Deadline reported that FremantleMedia International are eyeing a new reboot of the franchise.
The show then reached it's 30th anniversary since it's pilot episode first aired on April 23, 1989 and the series began full production five months later.
The main theme for Season 1 was Save Me, co-written and sung by Peter P. Cetera. Later the famous theme tune I'm Always Here was used through Seasons 2-9 and the movie Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding along with a Hawaiian remix for the first season of Baywatch Hawaii (Season 10). It was co-written and sung by rock musician and songwriter Jimi Jamison. During the final season (also the second season of Baywatch Hawaii), the main theme was Let Me Be The One, written and performed by Carlos Villalobos and Glenn Medeiros and sung by Fiji.
Main Cast[]
NOTE: Some of the cast members appeared in the season intros or were mentioned but didn't appear in the episodes themselves.
| Picture | Character | Actors/Actresses | Tenure | No of Episodes |
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(Cast Regular) Seasons 8–9 (Recurring) |
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(Cast Regular) Seasons 2 and 8 (Recurring) |
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(Season 1) Jeremy Jackson (Seasons 2–10) |
(Cast Regular) Season 10 (Guest Star) |
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(Cast Regular) Seasons 2, 4–5 (Recurring) |
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(Pilot episode) Holly Gagnier (Season 1) |
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(Cast Regular) Seasons 3–4 (Recurring) |
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(Cast Regular) Season 6 (Recurring) |
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(Cast Regular) Season 4 (Recurring) |
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(Cast Regular) Season 7 (Recurring) |
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(Guest Star) Seasons 5-7 (Cast Regular) Season 8 (Recurring) |
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(Cast Regular) Season 7 (Recurring) |
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(Season 5) Gena Lee Nolin (Seasons 6–8) Jennifer Campbell (Season 9) |
(Guest Star) Seasons 6-8 (Cast Regular) Season 9 (Recurring) |
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(Cast Regular) Season 9 (Recurring) |
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(Recurring) Seasons 7-10 (Cast Regular) |
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(Cast Regular) Season 11 (Recurring) |
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(Guest Star) Season 10 (Cast Regular) |
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(Recurring) Season 11 (Cast Regular) |
Recurring Cast[]
- Wendie Malick as Gayle Buchannon (Seasons 1-2, 4–5), 7 Episodes
- Michael McManus as Sid Wilson (Season 1), 8 Episodes
- Gregory J. Barnett as Jim Barnett (Seasons 1-10), 35 Episodes
- Pamela Bach as Kate "Kaye" Morgan (Seasons 2-3, 5–6), 13 Episodes
- Susan Anton as Jackie Quinn (Seasons 3–5), 14 Episodes
- Janette Andrade as Crush (Seasons 6-9), 18 Episodes
- Ingrid Walters as Sheryl Whalen (Seasons 8-9), 9 Episodes
- Brian Keaulana as himself (Seasons 10–11), 22 Episodes
- Alicia Rickter as Carrie Sharp (Season 11), 7 Episodes
- Scott Plank as Sam Parks (Season 11), 4 Episodes
- Pat Morita as Hideki Tanaka (Season 11), 5 Episodes
Seasons[]
(1989-1990)
(1991-1992)
(1992-1993)
(1993-1994)
(1994-1995)
(1995-1996)
(1996-1997)
(1997-1998)
(1998-1999)
(1999-2000)
(2000-2001)
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Original Series Baywatch Nights Films |