Season Overview:
Season 6 of Baywatch aired from September 25, 1995, to May 13, 1996, consisting of 22 episodes. This season brought significant changes and new storylines to the popular lifeguard drama.
David Charvet left the show after Season Five and Baywatch enlisted two new Season Six cast members. David Chokachi as the clean-cut all-American Cody Madison and, at the other end of the spectrum, Gena Lee Nolin as the cold and calculating hot blonde Neely Capshaw, who jumped into her work – lying, cheating stealing, and using her body to gain the upper hand in story lines. The lifeguard from Hell? Neely’s the one! For Berk, who instituted an all-encompassing Baywatch bible for writers, the Season Six high points were Stephanie’s marriage to the doctor who was treating her for skin cancer and the oil platform underwater rescue.
In the UK, sponsorship for Baywatch was offered to interested companies. Various skincare and beachwear companies put forth their bids, but in the end, a hair-care product “Shockwaves” won. A number of wraparound sequences featuring healthy, young people with impeccable hair were shown before, after and during the show.
1995 also saw the inception of a new spin off show – “Baywatch Nights”. The premise revolved around Mitch and Garner’s detective agency and had a different atmosphere than it’s daytime counterpart. The tone was darker and geared towards a late-night older audience.
Main Cast:
| Episode Number | Episode | Synopsis | |
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S06E01 | TRAPPED BENEATH THE SEAS PART 1 |
Neely Capshaw – who falsely accused Matt Brody of sexual harrassment – returns to Baywatch, causing turmoil with CJ and the Baywatch lifeguards, while Stephanie recruits Olympic swimming hopeful Cody Madison as a lifeguard. Later, when an errant mine collides with an offshore oil rig, it collapses and sinks, trapping Cody, Neely, and four others in a watery tomb. Written by: Michael Berk Montgages: |
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S06E02 | TRAPPED BENEATH THE SEA PT 2 |
New Baywatch lifeguards Cody Madison and Neely Capshaw face the biggest challenge of their lives when they are trapped underwater with four others inside an offshore oil platform that has collapsed. Now, they must use their wits and training to keep everyone alive while Mitch, Stephanie, Caroline, Logan and the rest of the Baywatch team attempts to rescue them. Written by: Michael Berk Montgages: |
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S06E03 | HOT STUFF |
Kaye Morgan recruits Hobie to volunteer at a school for the blind, but disaster strikes when a huge brushfire roars through Topanga Canyon, trapping Hobie and the kids between walls of flame and toxic smoke. Written by: David Braff Montages: |
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S06E04 | SURF’S UP |
In order to raise money to divert a storm drain that is polluting a popular surfing hot spot, Mitch must convince the Beach Boys to do a benefit concert. Meanwhile, Stephanie has her hands full when her ex-husband drops back into her life. Written By: David Braff Montgages: |
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S06E05 | TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON |
The lives of Mitch and the Baywatch lifeguards are thrown into turmoil when Mitch discovers that his mother is suffering form the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease… and she turns up missing. Written by: Deborah Schwartz Montages: |
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S06E06 | LEAP OF FAITH |
Stephanie, Caroline and CJ take a group of junior lifeguard girls to Carolina Island in order to teach the concept of teamwork, but their own commitment is tested when Neely shows up. Meanwhile, Mitch faces the challenge of suddenly becoming an adoptive father. Written By: Deborah Schwartz Montgages: |
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S06E07 | FACE OF FEAR |
Hobie befriends a boy who so wants his father’s attention that he’ll risk his life bodysurfing a dangerous rock formation known as “The Shredder.” Meanwhile, Caroline encourages an injured jockey to race once more. Written by: Deborah Schwartz Montgages: |
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S06E08 | HIT AND RUN |
Logan borrows Cody’s car without permission, and when Logan is involved in a hit-and-run accident, Cody is fingered as the main suspect. Stephanie and Mitch decide to settle some grudges by having a paintball war on the beach, and CJ befriends a lost sea lion. Written by: Grant Rosenberg Montgages: |
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S06E09 | HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS |
Matt Brody returns to Baywatch, and is forced to deal with Neely, who wrongfully accused him of sexual harrassment, when they are both abducted by kidnappers seeking millions in ransom from a corporate executive and his wife. Meanwhile, Joey Jennings has to confront her past, which may threaten Mitch’s intended adoption of her. Written by: Michael Berk Montgages: |
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S06E10 | SWEET DREAMS |
Logan finds an abandoned baby in his tower and discovers the joy of fatherhood, much to everyone’s surprise at Baywatch. Meanwhile, Cody faces the biggest challenge of his life when he participates in the Olympic swimming trials. Written by: Tai Collins Montgages: |
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S06E11 | THE INCIDENT |
When Caroline responds to a nighttime boating accident, she thinks she has rescued all of the passengers. Later, when it turns out that one of them was accidentally left behind to drown, Caroline blames herself. Written by: Kimber Ringwald Montgages: |
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S06E12 | BEAUTY AND THE BEAST |
The competition between CJ, Caroline and Neely heats up when Inside Sports magazine comes to Baywatch to find the perfect lifeguard model for their swimsuit issue. Meanwhile, swimmers are being attacked by an alligator that is inhabiting the storm drains, and Mitch, Logan and Cody must find a way to capture it before someone gets killed. Written by: David Braff Montgages: |
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S06E13 | DESPERATE ENCOUNTER |
Country singer Jesse Lee Harris returns to help Logan and the Baywatch lifeguards raise money to save a ranch dedicated to protecting horses from being sold to slaughter. Meanwhile, Mitch’s vacation in Baja with his new girlfriend turns deadly when Mitch witnesses an attempted murder. Written by: Deborah Schwartz Montgages: |
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S06E14 | BAYWATCH ANGELS |
When a brilliant master of disguises escapes from a mental hospital to seek revenge on Stephanie and Logan, the Baywatch lifeguards find themselves powerless to stop him, until help arrives in the form of angels… Charlie’s Angels. Written by: Michele Berk & Susan Hamilton Brin Montages: |
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S06E15 | BASH AT THE BEACH |
Hulk Hogan and the Baywatch lifeguards team up to battle Ric Flair and his gang in order to save a youth center from being closed and turned into beachfront condos. Meanwhile, Stephanie is devastated when she learns she has melanoma. Written by: Deborah Schwartz Montages: |
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S06E16 | FREEFALL |
Mitch decides to go sky-surfing with Matt, but when Mitch’s parachute doesn’t open, he finds himself plummeting to his death, his life flashing before his eyes. Written by: Michael Berk Montages: |
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S06E17 | SAIL AWAY |
The pressure on the Baywatch sailing team to win the annual lifeguard regatta becomes more intense when Neely reveals her personal stake in the outcome. Meanwhile, Mitch’s adoption of Joey is threatened when she discovers she has maternal grandparents… who now want to take custody of her. Written by: David Braff Montages: |
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S06E18 | LOST AND FOUND |
When a Vietnamese refugee in search of her American GI father falls off the Malibu pier and suffers temporary amnesia, Mitch and Caroline attempt to find her father and reunite them. Meanwhile, CJ and Cody help a wheelchair-bound comedian achieve his dream of swimming in the ocean. Written by: Evan Somers Montages: |
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S06E19 | FORBIDDEN PARADISE PT 1 |
The Baywatch lifeguards travel to Hawaii to sharpen their lifeguard skills, and find themselves in a Paradise filled with romance, danger, and personal challenge. Written by: Deborah Schwartz Montages: |
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S06E20 | FORBIDDEN PARADISE PT 2 |
In Hawaii, where the Baywatch team is sharpening their lifeguard skills, things turn dangerous for Mitch and Matt when they are forced to run for their lives through dangerous jungle. Meanwhile, Stephanie solves Carlton’s bad luck mystery, and Logan proposes to Caroline. Written by: Deborah Schwartz Montages: |
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S06E21 | LAST WAVE |
When Kaye Morgan’s old flame, champion surfer Wes Masters, shows up unexpectedly for a local surfing tournament, sparks fly once again between them. Meanwhile, Stephanie undergoes surgery for her melanomma, and Caroline catches Logan and Neely in a passionate embrace. Written by: David Braff & Tai Collins Montages: |
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S06E22 | GO FOR GOLD |
Stephanie and Cody tangle with drug runners, and when one of them is trapped underwater, Cody free dives to rescue her. His heroism results in a deadly case of the “bends,” Cody’s life and his Olympic dreams hanging in the balance. Meanwhile, when personal items turn up missing at headquarters, it becomes Newman’s mission in life to capture the rodent responsible. Written by: David Braff |
Main Cast
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- David Hasselhoff as Mitch Buchannon
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- Pamela Anderson as C.J. Parker
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- Alexandra Paul as Stephanie Holden
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- Yasmine Bleeth as Caroline Holden
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- David Chokachi as Cody Madison
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- Jeremy Jackson as Hobie Buchannon
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- Gena Lee Nolin as Neely Capshaw
Key Storylines and Themes
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- New Characters: The season introduced Neely Capshaw as a series regular with Gena Lee Nolin taking the role following the characters introduction as a guest in Season 5. Cody Madison was brought in as a replacement for Matt Brody who departed Baywatch in Season 5.
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- Career Developments: Mitch explored opportunities outside lifeguarding, considering work as a private investigator.
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- Personal Challenges: Characters faced various personal and professional challenges, including Stephanie’s battle with skin cancer.
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- Romantic Entanglements: The season continued to explore romantic relationships among the lifeguards, with new pairings and complications.
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- Action and Adventure: High-stakes rescues and dangerous situations remained a core part of the show, including encounters with modern-day pirates.
Notable Episodes
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- “Forbidden Paradise” (Parts 1 & 2): A special two-part episode set in Hawaii, featuring dramatic rescues and personal conflict.
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- “Homecoming”: Matt Brody returns to Baywatch, leading to dramatic events involving hostage situation.
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- “Freefall”: A pivotal episode where Mitch’s life flashes before his eyes during a skydiving accident.
Themes and Development
Season 6 maintained the show’s signature blend of beach rescues, personal drama, and social issues while introducing new elements:
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- Environmental conservation
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- Career transitions and personal growth
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- Health issues (e.g., Stephanie’s skin cancer)
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- Exploring the challenges of balancing personal life with a demanding career
The season also saw an increase in action-oriented plots and more elaborate rescue scenarios, keeping the show fresh for its audience.
Production Notes
The production values continued to improve, with more ambitious location shoots, including the special episodes set in Hawaii. The show’s popularity remained high during this period, solidifying its status as a global television phenomenon.Season 6 of Baywatch successfully built upon the foundation of previous seasons while introducing new elements and characters, ensuring its continued success and cultural impact.
