Baywatch (1989-2001) pilot aired on NBC on April 23, 1989 and its first season debuted on September 22, 1989 and ended on April 6, 1990 (21 episodes) when it was cancelled. Eventually, the show debuted on syndication on October 5, 1991 where it remained for 10 seasons, and during this time it became the most watched show on the planet (about 1.1 billion viewers, according to Wikipedia).
The show featured many beautiful people; well-tanned, along with fabulous big hair styles, chiseled chests and sculpted abdominal muscles, and lots of women with augmented chests and other features. All wearing bikinis, swimsuits, speedos, and other skimpy clothing. All running around, or laying on the sand, or simply just there conveniently in the path of the camera. It was a plastic surgery buffet and promotion.
Honestly, this is another show that will be in the pyres of media hell for its “insensible”, “sexist”, “manly”, “paternalistic” and for people who admit openly to ever watching it (still today many people deny ever watching it) was one of those “guilty pleasures”.
At the time of this show, I used to tell people that it would be great to live near Baywatch since there was no ugly people. This caused some awkward stares, followed by the generic and empty responses like “looks are not important” (one of my favorites) “it is what’s inside you that matters”, and the usual feminist-wanna-be-supporter about the show being a blatant sexualization of women on TV. Yes, I knew it was a TV show, but my comment (about living near Baywatch) was meant as an ironic musing (my inner child was developing still) since people watched this show and enjoyed the eye candy (hence the high ratings) only to bash the show while among other people only to present themselves as refined, cultured, and smart (kind of like today). These people are still out there, and they are one of the many reasons I embraced my social awkwardness, and do not socially mingle anymore. They are the same pompous wannabes that talk about film to feel superior because they had seen a foreign movie (usually for some college elective) by some obscure director and now rave about it like they are some sort of film connoisseur.
On the other hand, my significant other and new partner in crime, liked the show for the family and morale stories, aside from the eye candy, Ok, she enjoyed the father and son relationship and of course, her comments about Mitch (Hasselhoff), or Cort (John Allen Nelson) , for being well “old horn-dogs” and always in trouble for some women or “damsel in distress”.
As the show’s audience grew, the cast evolved more into eye candy than acting as more Playboy models became part of the cast. The show also began to hint about issues like the environment and social justice, for some episodes were written to showcase a particular issue important to a cast member like Pamela Anderson’s (or Lee, or back to Anderson) obsessions with animals.
This was the 90’s so of course just like in the 80’s, and 70’s, and 60’; sexual harassment, racism, drugs, gangs, education, the environment, and other social issues of today (in shock!) were featured is several episodes.
Towards the later seasons of the show’s stories, the name “Baywatch” became a name of the lifeguard service that was marketed and promoted in other places like Hawaii were the last season of the show took place.
I guess, towards the end of the show David Hasselhoff was getting a bit old to be running on the beach bare-chested wearing his iconic red trucks, and the character’s midlife crisis that led “Mitch” to moonlight as a private eye along with the worst cop on any show that I remember “Garner” (Gregory Alan Williams) in a spinoff called “Baywatch Nights” (1995-1997) did not got much interest among viewers who wanted to see the eye candy (more and more of it) flaunting their assets on the beach.
Over the years many guest stars appeared in the show like a young Mila Kunis (Family Guy, 1999 to present; The Book of Eli, 2010; Max Payne, 2008; The ‘70s Show, 1998-2006), Jason Momoa (Game of Thrones, 2011-2019; Stargate: Atlantis, 2004-2009) who appeared in 44 episodes as “Jason Ioane”, and Sofia Vergara (Modern Family, 2009-2020; Family Guy, 1999 to present). Just to mention a few on the long-list of people who appeared in the show.
The show made for some laughs and memories during the week and served as a break while unpacking boxes, deciding what to keep, and what to get rid of.
Next: Silk Stalkings (1991-1999)