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Next stop, Baywatch remake?

Classic 1990s series is the centre of dicsussions for an all-new version.

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Baywatch could be the next classic series to be rebooted, if producers have their way.

Deadline reports Fremantle has been developing a reboot and held early talks with a number of broadcasters and streamers.

Created by Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz and Gregory J. Bonann, the original 1989 series following a group of lifeguards was cancelled after a single season, but was rescued (!) by a a syndicated version with financing from German distributor Beta Taurus.

That saw it run for 10 seasons, becoming the most-watched TV show in the world, making international stars of the likes of David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson and a move to Hawaii.

There was a Baywatch Nights spinoff, reunion movie and the Dwayne Johnson / Zac Efron-fronted 2017 movie.

The series aired in Australia on 10 and even filmed episodes at Avalon in Sydney but missed out on Baywatch: Down Under as a series.

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  4. I honestly find it hard to believe that there wasn’t a Baywatch: Down Under series. Australia has many fine beach locations that would have made the perfect backdrop for such a show. Perhaps if the proposed reboot comes to fruition and is successful, they might consider an Australian spinoff.

    1. “Australia has many fine beach locations”
      Actually, IDC9, I don’t think the main reason people tuned in to Baywatch was to see the beautiful and curvy beaches. David’s photo doesn’t exactly highlight the beach!

      1. The Germans figured that in global syndication a show featuring attractive lifeguards in swimming costumes two sizes too small would be profitable no matter how bad the writing, acting and direction were. They made a fortune.

      2. You’re correct. The beach scenery wasn’t the main reason people tuned into Baywatch. But that doesn’t mean that Australia doesn’t have good locations for such a show.

    2. I believe at the time the producers’ were considering Avalon Beach (Northern Beaches of Syd) as a location to shoot a Baywatch: Down Under series but there was fierce and loud opposition from local residents; this was one of the reasons which had an impact on the decision to choose Hawaii instead – the series on lasted one or two seasons there anyway and then cancelled. But it did launch the career of Jason Momoa.

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