"Baywatch" - TV Fun in the Sun Quiz

Answer: David Hasselhoff

Multi-talented performer David Michael Hasselhoff, born on July 17, 1952 in Baltimore, Maryland, starred as Los Angeles County lifeguard lieutenant Mitch Buchannon. Hasselhoff, a veteran of television had previously portrayed Dr. William "Snapper" Foster on the daytime soap opera "The Young and The Restless", from 1975 to 1982. Hasselhoff then starred as Michael Knight on the television series "Knight Rider" from 1982 to 1986.

As a singer, Hasselhoff became a successful recording artist, primarily in Austria, Switzerland, Germany, and the United Kingdom. In an ironic twist of fate, Hasselhoff was scheduled to perform a concert on pay-for-view from Atlantic City.

The concert was expected to reignite his singing career in the United States. On the night of the concert, former sports star and accused murderer O.J. Simpson was involved in a police chase on the California highways. Viewership of the concert was significantly lower than expected due in part to the live television coverage of the chase.

Answer: One

The series, "Baywatch", was canceled by NBC after only one season, due in part to the high cost of production and low ratings.
Seeing the potential of the series, David Hasselhoff revived the series for first-run syndication after locating financial backers and investing much of his own money into the project. Hasselhoff also served as one of executive producer for the series.

Answer: David Hasselhoff

Hasselhoff was the star of the series, and after the first season became an executive producer.
Gregory J. Bonann, who worked as a Los Angeles County lifeguard, started to shop his idea about a motion picture about lifeguards. Assisting him to promote the idea were scriptwriters Michael Berk and Douglas Schwartz. Their visions and ideas were eventually developed into the pilot movie for "Baywatch".

Answer: none

When the series ended its 11 season run in 2001, "Baywatch" held the distinction of being the longest running television series to have never won an Emmy.

Answer: third season

In the first episode of the third season, Mitch and Hobie traveled into Northern California's rugged gold country, accompanied by lifeguards Eddie Kramer (Billy Warlock) and Shauni McClain (Erika Eleniak), to investigate the death of Mitch's uncle, who had been a long time prospector in the area.

After finding an old treasure map, Mitch and his crew searched the area, enlisting the assistance of a white-water, river-rafting guide named C.J. Parker, who happened to be a former ocean lifeguard, and had previously worked with Mitch.

After solving the mystery, Mitch convinces his former associate to return to Southern California, and to rejoin the Baywatch lifeguard service.

Answer: False

In the series pilot episode, and through the first season of "Baywatch", the role of Hobie was played by young actor Brandon Call. When the series went into first-run syndication, the role was recast, with Jeremy Jackson being selected for the role of Hobie Buchannon.

Answer: True

At its peak, "Baywatch" was being syndicated in 148 countries around the world, and was seen by an estimated 1.1 billion viewers each week. "Baywatch" was being shown on every continent in the world, with the exception of Antarctica.

Answer: one

The spin-off series, "Baywatch Nights" aired for two seasons, starting in 1995.
As the plot of "Baywatch" revealed, police sergeant Garner Ellerbee (Gregory-Alan Williams), who had been a part of the series from the beginning, decided to quit his job as the resident LAPD beach police patrol officer and form a private detective agency. Mitch Buchannon joined the agency partly in support of his friend, and partly due to his own "midlife crisis". Mitch found himself working as a lifeguard by day and moonlighting as a private detective at night, thus the name of the series, "Baywatch Nights". The third detective on the team was Ryan McBride, played by Angie Harmon. "Baywatch" lifeguard Donna Marco (Donna D'Errico) was also part of the new cast, along with nightclub singer Louis Raymond, played by singer Lou Rawls.
Faced with low ratings after the first season, the producers chose to change the format of the show from a private detective series to a science fiction drama-mystery show, similar to that of the then popular series, "X-Files". For the second season, Garner Ellerbee was replaced by paranormal expert Diamond Teague, played by Dorian Gregory.
The series went into the second season with Mitch Buchannon, Ryan McBride, and Donna Marco. Other characters from "Baywatch" made guest appearances on the show, including Stephanie Holden (Alexandra Paul), Caroline Holden (Yasmine Bleeth), and Eddie Kramer (Billy Warlock).
The series was canceled at the end of the second season.
Plans for an Australian version of "Baywatch" to be called "Baywatch Down Under" were scrapped due to production cost, and objections from local residents who opposed the use of Australian beaches for filming.

Answer: protest from local residents

In 1999, an Australian version of "Baywatch" was planned, and the cast members traveled to Sydney, Australia for filming. The plan was to have the established stars appear in the pilot episode of the new series, working side by side with their Australian counterparts to launch "Baywatch Down Under".

After the pilot was filmed, production was stopped when residents of Avalon, a local village, voiced strong objections about the filming. They cited the potential danger to their fragile ecosystem. As a result, the Avalon Council permanently banned all future filming.

The pilot episode remained unaired for over a year. The pilot was eventually aired as a two part episode during season 10.

Answer: Casey Jean

While seldom used during the course of the series, when the character was first introduced at the beginning of the third season, she was introduced as Casey Jean Parker by Mitch Buchannon, to his travel companions.

In the season 7 episode entitled, "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner", C.J. is visited by her slightly kooky mother (Connie Steven), who is a bookkeeper for a Las Vegas businessman/gangster, Tony Blanton (David Groh). Throughout that episode, mom often referred to her daughter by her given name, Casey Jean.

Answer: Erin Gray

Erin Gray appeared in 5 episodes of the series in 1997 and 1998, as lifeguard service Chief Monica Johnson.
Monte Markham, an original cast member, appeared in 44 episodes from 1989-1992, as Captain Don Thorpe. Another original cast member, Richard Jaeckel, appeared in 68 episodes from 1989-1994 as Lieutenant Ben Edwards.
Alexandra Paul appeared in 66 episodes from 1992-1997 as Mitch's work peer, Lieutenant Stephanie Holden.

Answer: they were actual lifeguards

Both men were originally hired by the production staff at the beginning of the series as technical advisers for the series.
By the second season, both men had been elevated to recurring character on the series as lifeguards.
Michael Newman appeared in 108 episodes from 1989-2001. Newman's image appeared in the opening montage of "Baywatch". During the later seasons, his name and action pictures were part of the shows opening credits.
Gregory J. Barnett appeared in 47 episodes of the series from 1989-1999.

Answer: Neely Capshaw

In the 8th season episode, "White Thunder at Glacier Bay, Part 2" Mitch and Neely Capshaw realize that they were in love with each other while on an Alaskan cruise. They wed at the end of the episode. Neely Capshaw was played originally by Gena Lee Nolan.
Nolan, while a resident of Las Vegas, Nevada, won the title of "Miss Las Vegas". Shortly thereafter, she read in a local newspaper that the long running daytime game show, "The Price is Right" was looking for models. Nolan beat out over 1,200 other women to become one of the "Bob Barker Beauties".
Following her stint on "Baywatch", Nolan starred in her own television series from 2000 until 2002, in the title role of "Sheena".

Answer: Lt. Stephanie Holden

In the 7th season, newly married Stephanie Holden was killed in a boating accident.
In the episode "Chance of a Lifetime", Stephanie and her new husband, Dr. Tom Morelia (Vincent Van Patten) chose to spend their honeymoon aboard a sailing ship along with Mitch and a group of slightly delinquent teenagers. The cruise was designed to teach the youngsters about the importance of teamwork as part of the lifeguard service. During a fight between two of the kids, the only radio aboard the ship was accidentally broken. Without the radio, the group was unaware that they were heading into a storm. Their vessel was severely damaged in the storm, and the crew was forced to "abandon ship". While swimming to the lifeboat, Stephanie realized that one of the teenagers was missing. Stephanie immediately returned to the ship, followed by Mitch and Tom. Stephanie discovered the missing teenage girl on the floor in the ship's cabin. As the trio rushed to the rescue of the fallen girl, a bolt of lightning struck the mast of the ship, causing it to fall. The mast fell onto Stephanie, and crushed her. Mitch and Tom rushed to her, but her injuries were too severe, and she died in their arms. It fell upon Mitch the task of informing Stephanie's sister, Caroline, about the fatal accident. At her funeral on the following day, Mitch delivered a very emotional eulogy about his best friend, and former romantic interest.
Chance of a Lifetime was the name of the ship.
Stephanie Holden was played throughout the series by Alexandra Paul.

Answer: Jimi Jamison

The original NBC theme song, "Save Me", was performed by Peter Certera, with Bonnie Raiff on guitar, and Richard Sterben, bass singer for "The Oak Ridge Boys", as one of the background vocalist.
For the syndicated series, "I'm Always Here" with Jimi Jamison singing vocal was used. When the NBC episodes started to air five times a week along with syndicated episodes, the opening theme was changed to a shorter version of "I'm Always Here", with some of the images in the original NBC opening montage retained.

"I'm Always Here" as performed by Jimi Jamison (long version)

"Some people stand in the darkness,
Afraid to step into the light,
Some people need to help somebody,
When the edge of surrenders in sight".

"Don't you worry!
It's gonna be alright,
Because I'm always ready,
I won't let you out of my sight".

"I'll be ready, (I'll be ready),
Never you fear, (no don't you fear),
I'll be ready,
Forever and always,
I'm always there".

"In us we all have the power,
But sometimes it's so hard to see,
And instinct is stronger than reason,
It's just human nature to me".

"Don't you worry!
It's gonna be alright,
Because I'm always ready,
I won't let you out of my sight".

"I'll be ready, (I'll be ready),
Never you fear, (no don't you fear),
I'll be ready,
Forever and always,
I'm always here".

"Forever and always,
I'm always here".