Baywatch: Panic at Malibu Pier

The feature length pilot episode of Baywatch. Which I never watched back in the day but have now gotten into.

As a pilot episode, this is pretty solid stuff. It has a good budget as the show was with a network then. It has nice scenery and pretty good music. And it sets up all it needs to.

David Hasselhoff does seem a little awkward when trying to do domestic stuff for Mitch here. He gets into it as the show goes on.

We meet rookies Eddie and Shauni. This doesn't try to push them together from the off, but they are both equally whiny so not the most appealing.

It mostly centres on a lifeguard who might be past his prime. Whose name you will have forgotten by the end. But this storyline does end with a decent set piece.

Main one is lawyer/lifeguard Craig picking up a stalker. This is solid drama and does get a bit dark. Though could do with more resolution.

Then there's Jill and Trevor Cole. Who she can't stand from the off. It must be love. That seems to be the plan. Jill Mitch and Craig have a good dymanic as colleagues and that really works.

It's nice to watch tv that is self contained and done in one storyline wise in these days when the world has moved on from it. This is slight but good escapism, so if you want that it's a fun time.

I love early baywatch so much!!!! Mostly just this movie and season 1. The characters were so good and it's hadnt become supper cheesy yet(it is kinda but just the right amount) I liked Pam Anderson as much as the next guy but I think the show began to suck when she joined!!! Anyways as soon as the dog days of summer hit,I like to throw on some Early baywatch and enjoy!

The same story that Sam Elliott went through in the movie Lifeguard, also about an aged lifeguard too old for the job but who cannot stop wanting to be one, that fits David Hasselhoff not Parker Stevenson, the latter a part-time lawyer and Mitch's co-star only for the first season on NBC; but Stevenson was to Elliott in that 1970's movie what the young lifeguards are to Mitch, and, this isn't so bad, really, a beginning of a different show altogether, however, than the Babewatch that became famous in syndication.

It's still interesting to witness the early days of an old popular series. That suffered from said popularity over the years. From the looks of this pilot episode, Baywatch was set out to be a different kind of soap opera, with workplace drama, compelling storylines and reasonably good acting. Then it was turned into an outdated cheese fest with people running in slow motion. Panic at Malibu Pear, had everything. And was for everyone. Kids identified with the heroes. Teenagers, the music and the beach setting. And adults, the intrigues. The cast was filled with popular TV actors of that time, all generations more or less knew or grew up with. And it was the perfect prime time program, with its TV movie runtime. So it was a recipe for success, back when viewers weren't as demanding and experts in everything. As one from the 21st century, I thought it was enjoyable. True it is old, but it's not without its charm and could be entertaining when needed to. I'm still not a fan of what it became afterwards, but this pilot episode showed real promise.

If you like Baywatch, then you'll like this. As it is the first ever episode, it at least has some more plot development than the later episodes which were all about just showing off beach flesh. Madchen Amick made her screen debut in this (just after a small role in Star Trek TNG) and she looks just as stunning as she does in 'Twin Peaks.' She has a beauty in this that takes it to another level beyond the typical blond beach chick. She also adds a darker edge to the film as a disturbed girl who falls for one of the lifeguards. Strangely, this movie version does involve some topless shots of a woman being photographed (and also another saucy scene in a beach tent)which I cannot imagine the network could show at a prime time hour. Maybe these scenes were added for the video release.