Airing in syndication from 1989-2001, Baywatch followed a group of very attractive (and bouncy) lifeguards who patrolled a beach filled with very attractive (and bouncy) people. It was melodramatic and borderline absurd but at one point in the 90’s it was considered to be the most popular show in the entire world, obviously because of its intricate plot and complex characters and not because it had Pamela Anderson and Yasmine Bleeth in bathing suits running in slow-motion.
Because of the show’s immense popularity and legacy, the idea/threat of a Baywatch movie has been in the pipeline for years but outside of Robert Ben Garant taking over the directorial reigns back in September there has been very little news on the project. Until now. The Wrap reports that Garant has found its lead in the form of criminally-underused SNL cast member Bill Hader. Hader is inheriting the role of Mitch Buchannon, the head lifeguard and coolest guy in the room at all times. The role of Buchannon was originated by David Hasselhoff who played the character for the entire run of the series (as well as a short-lived spinoff known as Baywatch Nights where Buchannon spent his off-hours acting as a private detective and no I’m not kidding).
The big-screen adaptation of Baywatch will center around the lifeguards finding out that an off-shore oiling rig is really a meth lab and taking action as a result. But for those of you worried that it’ll try to take its source material too seriously, Garant and company are going “full-parody” with it, satirizing the goofier elements of the show in the same way he helped satirize cop shows in the long-running Comedy Central show Reno 911! Hasselhoff will have a cameo in the movie version as will Anderson, but don’t be surprised if others from the show end up making an appearance. Garant plans to begin the shoot in April and according to The Wrap there is already a trailer despite there being no movie. Right on.
Growing up in the 90’s I had my run-ins with Baywatch but mostly when it crossed over with pro wrestling (WCW and the show partnered up in 1995, with the show building an episode around one of WCW’s pay per view events) but I respect its cheesy legacy to a degree. Garant’s “self-aware” approach has potential but part of the fun of Baywatch was how ridiculous it was and how straight-laced they played it so having everyone in on the joke could spell disaster if not done right. But as a Reno 911! and Bill Hader fan I want to hold out hope that this ends up being awesome. Fingers crossed they keep the “running in slow-motion” jokes to a minimum though; that’s already been beaten to death.
So Baywatch is going to be a movie. Thoughts?