April 1999 – Variety
HONOLULU — “Baywatch” will change names and locations for the next season — its 10th — beginning with its 200th episode, tentatively titled “Aloha Baywatch.”
Announcement that the hourlong syndicated lifeguard drama will relocate to Hawaii came Friday at a news conference — appropriately held on Waikiki Beach — given by “Baywatch” exec producer Greg Bonann, Gov. Ben Cayetano, other government officials and union heads.
“Baywatch Hawaii” — the show’s new name is part of a deal with the state — will film on Oahu in late June through early December, Bonann said.
“I cannot think of a better place for ‘Baywatch’ to be,” the producer said. “Now we have to live up to the efforts and sacrifices everyone has made to get us to the Aloha State.”
Final approval came last Thursday minutes before a deadline imposed by Pearson Television, owners of “Baywatch,” who agreed to increase the show’s Hawaii budget from the originally proposed $835,000 per episode to $870,000 ($19 million for the 22-seg season). When the show appeared destined for Australia, that budget was $16.2 million.
Dawn of new age
“Today begins a new era in Hawaii television history,” Cayetano said, “just as ‘Hawaii Five-0’ and ‘Magnum P.I.’ did.”
The agreement followed weeks of often contentious negotiations, posturing by union and television execs, name-calling, threats to take the show to Australia and, finally, a plea by Cayetano to the unions for waivers or wage concessions.
In the Hawaii agreement, producers got a one-year guarantee from the unions for a lower wage and benefit package, as well a $2.7 million financial incentive from the state.
A commitment for subsequent seasons will come if the production meets certain performance conditions based on ratings, distribution and costs.
Major ad value
State officials said for Hawaii, the advertising value of U.S. exposure alone is worth $29 million.
As for “Baywatch Hawaii,” the show will continue to star David Hasselhoff but will have some new cast members, including two Hawaii actors in recurring roles, Bonann said.
Financial incentives offered by the state will pay mostly for capital improvements, including the refurbishment of the old “Hawaii Five-0” soundstage, offices and bungalows at the Hawaii Film Studio at Diamond Head. The state will retain ownership of all the capital improvements.
The biggest obstacle was Teamsters Local 399 (Hollywood), which had refused any concessions up to the last minute. Then, after several telephone discussions with Cayetano, Local 399 topper Leo Reed agreed to a few “good faith” compromises amounting to 7.7%, all in holiday and vacation pay areas, while the number of drivers used on the show may be less than originally planned.
Teamster agreement was crucial since the other three unions — Intl. Assn. of Theater Stage Employees, the Directors Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild — had agreed in principal to cuts but only if the Teamsters went along. In the end, IATSE agreed to wage cuts of 12%-15%.
“Baywatch” is relocating from Los Angeles so that the show may be re-energized, be produced less expensively and see higher ratings.
