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The off-screen melodrama surrounding the TV show "Baywatch Hawaii" is getting cheesier than anything the lame lifeguard series offers on screen. Don’t throw
life line to ‘Baywatch’Last year, we were treated to weeks of Hollywood hyperbole as "Baywatch" producer Greg Bonann shamelessly played off Hawaii against Australia and exchanged sophomoric insults with Teamsters boss Leo Reed as he tried to get deeper into our pockets to bring "Baywatch" here.
Finally state officials, desperate for anything resembling economic development, landed the show by squeezing labor concessions out of Reed and offering up some $3 million to Bonann in cash incentives and capital improvements. In exchange, Bonann promised to film "Baywatch Hawaii" for two years -- 44 episodes.
Now, after one year, Bonann is demanding another $2.5 million from the state to continue filming because he says ratings are lower than expected. If he doesn't get it, he says, he'll shut down the show.
Bonann went before the Legislature this week to support a bill to create a state television production committee with a $7 million annual budget to attract shows like "Baywatch Hawaii." The fund was proposed by -- and would be partly controlled by -- promoters Al and April Masini, who brokered the original "Baywatch" deal. If the bill passes, Bonann would presumably get his $2.5 million from that fund. (Note: Late yesterday the show's owners, Pearson Entertainment, said the show will return whether it gets financial aid or not.)
The TV/film industry is a natural for Hawaii and we should compete aggressively to bring worthwhile productions here. But we must do it in a tough, businesslike manner that holds producers to their commitments. Otherwise, every promoter who smells an easy buck will tag us as suckers.
The Masini bill now before the Legislature may well be a good idea for Hawaii. But it shouldn't be rushed to passage in the phony crisis atmosphere created by the ultimatum of "Baywatch" producers. "Baywatch" should be made to live up to commitments already made for benefits already received before getting another penny of taxpayer money.
If they can't or won't do so, Bonann and his troupe of well-sculpted bimbos and himbos should be bid aloha and put on a boat back to L.A.
As Gov. Ben Cayetano put it, "There comes a time where there's a point of diminishing returns. We have already done a great deal. This can't be going on every year."
Or as letter-writer Patrick DeBusca of Waipahu put it even better, "Three words for 'Baywatch Hawaii:' Zippy's chili tickets."
The Masinis and Bonann put on a Hollywood pageant at the legislative hearing this week, trotting out University of Hawaii coaches Riley Wallace and June Jones to testify that "Baywatch" is vital to their efforts to recruit quality basketball and football players to Hawaii. If that is to be believed, the show must be doing more for the athletes than providing videotapes of recent episodes.
Bonann whined that "Baywatch" is more deserving of state support than the NFL's Pro Bowl -- to a statewide cry of, "Give us a break."
In addition to its promotional TV value, the Pro Bowl brings thousands of people to Hawaii every year for the game and related events and gives local fans a chance to see the best football players on the planet perform in person. The NFL has made a long-term commitment to Hawaii and has lived up to its promises.
The Pro Bowl is a quality event that we can be proud to be associated with. It has class. Has that word ever been used in the same sentence as "Baywatch?"
David Shapiro is managing editor of the Star-Bulletin.
He can be reached by e-mail at editor@starbulletin.com.
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