Baywatch Guys - Baywatch Girls - Baywatch Nights
It's one of the best known shows in the world, reaching almost every country with a television, and it's responsible for really launching the careers of some of the most attractive people on TV today. While it is fair to say that the show was never known for it's 'acting' talent, it was something just about every teenage/early twenties guy tuned into.
Created by 'Knightrider' star David Hasselhoff, the series manages to span ELEVEN seasons (the last 2 known as Baywatch Hawaii), and a spin off series called Baywatch Nights.
Set in California, the series charted the careers and love lives of it's lifeguards.
Mitch Buchannon
(David Hasselhoff)
The lead character for just about all the years, Mitch was the head
lifeguard in the show, as well as being single father to his son Hobie. He
did get married again, to Neely Capshaw. Next to Knightrider, this is
Hasselhoff's most famous show. Hasselhoff has also had many *hit* singles as a
singer.
Matthew "Matt" Brodie
(David Charvet)
Matt was a big roller skater (cue many slow motion shots of him doing that)
and a keen biker (yup, more slow motion) and was another one of the first male
lifeguards. He was lucky enough to share a romantic relationship with
CJ. Aside from Baywatch, Charvet has appear in quite a few US shows, as
well as in a few music videos. [Seasons 3 - 6]
Cody Madison
(David Chokachi)
An excellent swimmer, turned lifeguard, his dreams of becoming an Olympic
winner were dashed when he had an accident. Chokachi took time out from
filming when he went up against Superman star Dean Cain in a Celebrity American
Gladiators. [Seasons 6 - 9]
Hobie Buchannon
(Jeremy Jackson)
Mitch's son, who pretty much grew up on the show. Although I don't think he
was ever a lifeguard (I could be wrong) he might as well have been. He
must have been then most used 'non-lifeguard' character. Jackson tried to
follow in Hasselhoff's footsteps launching a singing career. However,
Jackson allegedly fell foul of a celebrity lifestyle and got mixed up in dodgy
deelings.[Seasons 2 - 9]
Michael "
Newmie" Newman
(Michael Newman)
He was on the show pretty much from the beginning as an extra. He was
then given speaking lines before finally being made a regular character.
What's special about Newman, and separates himself from the others is that he
was the only regular to actually be a lifeguard - which is why he was in the
show in the first place.
Logan Fowler
(Jaason Simmons)
The Australian lifeguard to joined the crew. He was known for being reckless
and taking risks, often getting himself in trouble with his superiors. He
had romantic liaisons with several of the female lifeguards... but his main love
was Caroline Holden. He quit life guarding but briefly returned to the
show as a director... surprisingly, a reckless one. [Seasons 5 - 7]
Eddie Kramer
(Billy Warlock)
Eddie was one of the first male lifeguards (other than Mitch) in the show,
and became romantically involved with Shauni. Warlock went on to appear in
many other US Television shows, including a guest stint in Diagnosis Murder. [Seasons
1 -3]
Sergeant
Garner Ellerbee
(Gregory Allan Williams)
Not a lifeguard at all but a policeman/detective who seemed to spend most of
his time on beach patrol. Williams, as Ellerbee, was also a regular on the
spin-off show, Baywatch Nights. [Seasons 1 -5]
Casey Jean "
CJ" Parker
(Pamela Anderson Lee)
The most famous of the Baywatch lifeguards, CJ was also one of the longest
running female characters, having romantic liaisons with just about any and
every male character on the show. Anderson has continued her fame one way
or another. While she is foremost know for her breasts, she is also known
for her rocky real life relationships, including singer Tommy Lee. She now
has her own show V.I.P. [Seasons 3 - 7]
Jordan Tate
(Traci Bingham)
Jordan joined the cast later in the series, and took a while to make her
mark. Bingham became the first coloured lifeguards on the show. [Seasons
7-8]
Caroline Holden
(Yasmine Bleeth)
Caroline, sister to Stephanie, became a popular member of the life guarding
crew. Bleeth has becoming possible the next best known female star of the
show, next to Anderson. She set herself apart from the others, by leaving
the show and taking on roles that proved that she could actually act. She
has however, fallen foul of the laws concerning drugs. [Seasons 4-8]
Roberta "
Summer" Quinn
(Nicole Eggert)
A popular, if short lived character, Summer came about during Baywatch's
"Golden Era", and despite only appearing in two seasons, she is one of
the best remember characters. Eggert has appearing in many series,
including a few sci-fi adventures. [Seasons 3-4]
Leilani "Lani" McKensie
(Carmen Electra)
Lani didn't appear until much later in the series (after UK television had
axed the show) but quickly made her name in the 'Baywatch family' and only
appear for the one season. After leaving the show, Electra has appeared in
such movies as 'Scary Movie'. [ Season 8]
Shauni McClain
(Erika Eleniak)
Shauni was one of the first female lifeguards on the show, and as such is
another well known face. Her character made up the first Baywatch 'couple'
with Eddie. Eleniak left the show for a movie career - and succeed,
appearing in such films as the Steven Seagal thriller 'Under Seige'. [Seasons
1 -3]
Neely Capshaw
(Geena Lee Nolin)
Neely was a bit of a nasty character in Baywatch, often cheating with the
other female lifeguards' lovers, and generally causing tension. Because of
this, it was a surprise when she married Mitch (although a different actor
played her then). Nolin has gone on to play the title role in the
Xena-esque show 'Sheena'. [Seasons 6 - 8]
Lt. Stephanie Holden
(Alexandra Paul)
Lt.Stephanie Holden was one of the senior lifeguards, and basically gave the
show some much needed 'drama', as she was one of the few characters to have
really serious issues, when she developed skin cancer. Paul made her name
in the show, and commanded quite a bit of respect, for refusing to have her
breasts enlarged, to fit in with the 'look' of the show. [Seasons 3 -7]
Baywatch lifeguard, Mitch Buchannon, decided to set up a PI firm with friend Garner and new acquaintance Ryan. the series was actually noticeably darker in tone to it's beach based parent, but didn't quite have the pull. To boost the ratings, Hasselhoff decided to alter the format for the second season, jumping onto The X Files' bandwagon, and have the cast investigating the paranormal. Instead of an improvement in ratings the series was axed.
Some Of The Characters:
Mitch Buchannon
(David Hasselhoff)
Mitch, not content with being a senior lifeguard by day, decides to set up a
PI firm by night. Hasselhoff's spin-off idea had quite a bit of potential,
until he changed the format... and then it got axed.
Donna Marco
(Donna D'Errico)
The character of Donna started off in Baywatch Nights, a regular in the
second season, but then transferred over to Baywatch, as a life guard, when the
series ended.
Ryan McBride
(Angie Harmon)
McBride was Hasselhoff's partner in the PI firm. Apparently Harmon was
noticed by Hasselhoff on a plane flight, and was offered the role of Ryan.
She stayed for both seasons.
Garner Ellerbee
(Gregory Alan Williams)
The policeman on Baywatch made a natural partner for Mitch and Ryan when
they set up their PI firm. He only hung around for the first season.