After the release of the forgettable Baywatch movie that hit theatres in 2017, more attention than ever has been thrust on the once-popular action drama TV series about L.A County lifeguards. The original show, which ran throughout the ’90s, starring David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson, is famed for slow-motion running in red-swimsuits, dramatic interpersonal relationships, and extreme threats that included shark attacks, earthquakes, and even serial killers. Cheesy, entertaining and iconic, Baywatch might be one of the most legendary TV shows of all-time.
Here are 10 lesser-known facts about the original show. Enjoy!
10. The Iconic Slow Motion Shots Were Inspired By The Olympics
Baywatch is particularly famous for the slow-motion shots of the attractive cast members running on beaches in their iconic red swimsuits, coming to save the day. This became a trademark visual throughout the course of the show, but the idea to use these shots first came from a producing partner of creator Michael Berk, who had been filming the 1988 Olympics using slower frame rates to capture the runners. As we have all seen with sprinters and in other sports, this often results in tremendous imagery, which translated perfectly well to Baywatch, with all the cast members in terrific shape. As Chandler Bing (a huge fan of Baywatch) once stated on Friends, “Well that’s the brilliance of it. The pretty people, and the running”. There was another, even sneakier reason for the shots, though, as David Hasselhoff has also stated that often they were used to pad out episodes that were running short.
Source: Screenshot via NBC