Baywatch: The Almost Cancellation Following Season 1
Among those shows you most likely know even if you have never personally watched them is Baywatch. You know, the one with the super hot lifeguards sprinting in slow motion, saving people from the ocean, and sometimes getting involved in some rather dramatic events. But did you know Baywatch nearly never made it past its inaugural run?
Nbc ran the first Baywatch season in 1989, but viewers simply weren't connecting to the show. The ratings were rather poor and critics found little appeal. Not exactly happy with the program, Nbc decided to cut off production. For Baywatch, then, it seemed as though the road was about to end.
Why did NBC axe Baywatch?
Nbc chose to drop Baywatch following its first season for a few different reasons. The ratings simply lacked presence first. The network wasn't earning money since people weren't tuning in. Like a "chicken and egg" scenario, right? You need viewers to fund a decent show as well as to acquire funding! Besides, NBC was undergoing significant transformation at the time. They were testing several new shows and lost their rights to Major League Baseball. Ultimately, Baywatch simply wasn't a network top priority.
David Hasselhoff Saving the Day
Still, the narrative doesn't stop there. Show star David Hasselhoff refused to let Baywatch fail without a fight. He thought the show had promise and believed in it. He thus did something rather audacious: he bought the rights to Baywatch from NBC using his own funds and then syndicated it. In essence, he decided to gamble and try to make Baywatch successful on his own.
Pamela Anderson Enlists in the Cast
Though it took time, Hasselhoff's gamble paid off. The show's ratings rose, but they weren't nearly igniting the planet. Then Pamela Anderson joined the cast in the third season, something that fundamentally altered everything. Everyone was suddenly discussing Baywatch. The program went global and kept being a big hit for several seasons.
Baywatch Spreads Over the World
By 1996 Baywatch was a worldwide sensation. Over 1.1 billion people in 144 nations watched it! Consider that for a moment: Baywatch attracted more viewers than the moon landing. It was quite successful and evidence of the value of Hasselhoff's risk. Baywatch would have vanished if he hadn't intervened to save the programme. Most likely, we wouldn't be discussing it now either.
More Than a Beach Show:
Baywatch had its fair share of detractors even if its emphasis on drama and romance and its gorgeous lifeguards are well-known. The show lacked much depth and some people felt this. Actually, Baywatch was more than just a beach entertainment program. It examined the life of its characters in a way many people could relate to and addressed some major concerns including environmentalism and drug addiction.
Baywatch's legacy
Reruns and the 2017 film adaptation have helped Baywatch stay a hit show today. Many other shows and films have been inspired by this iconic cultural artifact. Though it's not exactly high art, Baywatch reminds us that, given the right elements, even the most improbable events can prove successful.
