October 1995 – Variety
Plot has never been one of the great attributes of “Baywatch”– the light-hearted romps in the surf have always held onto a life preserver of good and evil characters, babes and hunks and well-shot SoCal locales. The humorless premiere episode of “Baywatch Nights” supplies none of the above and does it with such an ancient plot device that you wonder if producers know why the original is a success at all.
Plot has never been one of the great attributes of “Baywatch”– the light-hearted romps in the surf have always held onto a life preserver of good and evil characters, babes and hunks and well-shot SoCal locales. The humorless premiere episode of “Baywatch Nights” supplies none of the above and does it with such an ancient plot device that you wonder if producers know why the original is a success at all.
Story doesn’t jibe with Buchannon, and he’s off on his own investigation of Cassidy and all the pieces fit together cleanly.
Hasselhoff never gives any sense why he wants in on the P.I. biz to start. McBride, as the tough, beautiful and competent member of the force, is only marginally developed but she plays her role with a sustained level of believability. Williams fixes the phone as the third partner.
Alt has the one character who could’ve been fleshed out, but her evil intentions wind up being bewildering rather than anticipated. Lou Rawls, as the owner of the Nights blues club, isn’t seen in premiere, but the watering hole appears to be regular destination for epilogue segs. Blues-rock by Tab Benoit sets a cool mood for episode, but a montage of the guitarist and a photo shoot were too heavy-handed. Daytime Venice Beach scenes work well, but isn’t this supposed to be about “night”?
Baywatch Nights
(Friday (29), 8-9 p.m., KCOP)
- Production: Filmed in Southern California by All American Television Prods. Executive producers, Gregory J. Bonann, Douglas Schwartz, Michael Berk and David Hasselhoff; producer, James Pergola; director, Gus Trikonis; writer, Kimmer Ringwald.
- Crew: Camera, Pergola; editor, David Latham; production designer, Robert Henderson; music, Cory Lerios and John D’Andrea.
- Cast: Cast: David Hasselhoff, GregAlan Williams, Angie Harmon, Lisa Stahl, Lou Rawls, Carol Alt, Tab Benoit.
