After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun

Authenticity isn't something I expect from anything with "Baywatch" in the title, but I found this doc to be surprisingly compelling and heartwarming. It took a long time to make and it shows, not only in the changing looks of the actors participating, but in the beautiful filmmaking. This is not a cut n' paste of old Baywatch footage and 'where are they now?' clips, there is such a personal quality to the interviews and behind-the-scenes footage. Most of the participants were so honest and vulnerable, even relatable. I had no idea what kind of abuse they suffered at the hands of show creators, definitely not the type you'd expect.

After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun was both nostalgic and revealing; like a trip down memory lane, but you get to see inside all the houses.

Was not a hit piece. Was honest, objective and really a complex project with over 30 cast members participating. It didn't overly focus on the usual suspects whose stories are played out . (Pam and David) the hero's of this series were the forgotten ones and the underdogs. I loved every min of it. It was shot beautifully and the editing was next level. It's a story driven piece with universal themes that apply to everyone. Not just people who liked baywatch. The actors were all very open and provided incredible home videos. Everything I've seen on Baywatch is always about boobs and who's sleeping with who. This series was a class act.

After Baywatch actually has some really interesting material on the creation of the 1990s TV staple and the experiences the creators & actors had with it. Sadly, the Hulu doc is rendered nearly un-viable by a bloated 4-episode, 3-hour runtime.

Anyone who lived through the 90s will recall Baywatch for one reason or another--it was truly a cultural phenomenon (even if objectively "not good") in a way that the fractured media landscape of today likely could not duplicate. As such, it is interesting to hear from the likes of David Hasselhoff, Nicole Eggert, Pamela Anderson, Alexandra Paul, and Carmen Electra (amongst many others). Most of them have at least one really interesting story or experience to share. This would have all fit perfectly into about a 90 or 100-minute standalone doc.

Bafflingly, though, it is instead 3 hours over four episodes. What this leads to is a lot of filler, pointless modern-day recreations, and re-used material. I am usually laser-focused when it comes to watching content like this, but even I felt the pull of the smartphone or my attention simply wandering as this series unspooled. This glacial pace does After Baywatch no favors and actually renders the good stuff less enjoyable because so much time-wasting fills in the crevices around it.

Thus, I can only go as high as 4/10 stars for After Baywatch--disappointing considering my love of everything 90s and how much I was primed to like this doc.

They barely touched on Baywatch Hawaii but I loved how they really talked in-depth with the stars they did feature. Pam, Nicole, Erika, Gregory Alan-Williams, Jeremy, and Carmen got a lot of deserved time. I know some stats have avoided the spotlight after they left the show...Yasmine, for example but a lot of my favorites got little to no mention and that's a shame. Baywatch was a long running show with more than a handful of stars that made it what it was. For me, I had a favorite or two each season and the Baywatch Hawaii seasons had some amazing characters that deserved to get their moments in this documentary as well.

This was incredibly well done and can tell that it wasn't just a 3 day shoot of interviews. The ability to tell a heartfelt story out of this from actors who necessarily aren't ready to tell the bad with the good was seen and heard. Baywatch was such a huge pop cultural phenomenon we all know/knew that but what people forget is that if you are a part of that there is a price to pay and yes it comes with perks but the downside can be humbling. This series showcases all that and more. A hit of 90's nostalgia to the veins and the story behind the story. Give it a watch by the time you hit that final episode you will feel it.