Baywatch Reboot Is Way Larger Than Anyone Expected
Get your tight, high-cut, red one-piece bathing suits ready and start practicing your slo-mo beach run because the Baywatch reboot is coming your way and it’s larger than first thought … larger in terms of dollars. According to Deadline, Fox has closed the deal on a significant script plus a penalty commitment, and if you’re not familiar with that industry term, it means that even if the pilot for the show doesn’t get produced and aired on TV, the network must pay a huge fee to the producer/writer.
It’s said Fox has been interested in the Baywatch reboot, potentially as a summer series, which makes sense.
The Return Of Baywatch
The Baywatch reboot promises to be “action-packed” and is written by Lara Olsen, who will also serve as showrunner. Olsen, the executive producer, produced the 90210 reboot, which was a success, airing for six seasons. Her credits also include Private Practice and Reba, and for the Baywatch reboot, Olsen will work with Baywatch creators Michael Berk, Greg Bonann and Doug Schwartz.
More Rescues More Red Bathing Suits
Ocean rescues, and the iconic red bathing suits will return in the new version. A whole new generation of Baywatch lifeguards will navigate their dramatic personal lives. The new iteration is a co-production with Fremantle and Fox Entertainment.
Pamela Anderson
The big question is—will any of the show’s original stars be appearing in the Baywatch reboot? Well, sorry, Pamela Anderson fans, but TMZ is reporting that even if producers approached her, she’s inclined to turn them down. There’s no bad blood there; it’s just part of her past.
Anderson played the role of “C.J.” Parker on the 90s show. Meanwhile, former Baywatch stars Nicole Eggert (“Summer Quinn”) and Brande Roderick (“Leigh Dyer”) tell TMZ producers have not contacted them, but they’re both interested in potential roles.
David Hasselhoff
The original series made its leads into international stars, not just Pamela Anderson but also David Hasselhoff. Fun fact: it was initially produced for NBC by Gannett, but when the show premiered in the Fall of 1989, the network canceled it after only one season. However, the Baywatch producers bought back the rights and produced a syndicated version with the help of financing from a German distributor.
Baywatch Nights Will Remain Forgotten
What resulted was a smash hit. Baywatch ran for 10 more seasons, including a move to Hawaii for later seasons, becoming one of the most-watched shows in the world. And then there was the spinoff Baywatch Nights and Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding, a two-hour reunion movie.
The First Reboot
We can’t talk about the Baywatch reboot without mentioning the 2017 big-screen version starring Zac Efron and Dwyane “The Rock” Johnson. It was a commercial success, making $177.9 million worldwide on a $65-69 million budget. However, it did get negative reviews from critics. It has an extremely low 17 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Enduring Appeal Of Baywatch
As for the original show, it too had negative critical reviews but has still earned a reputation as a pop cultural phenomenon. For instance, in 2006’s Borat, Sacha Baron Cohen’s character is obsessed with both Baywatch and Pam Anderson and spends the entire film chasing after her.
