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A decision on whether "Baywatch Hawaii" will return for a third season is expected Monday and the show's co-executive producer says he's "very optimistic" that filming will begin Feb. 26. Awaiting word on
future of ‘Baywatch’By Tim Ryan
Star-BulletinFrank South said, "I ... firmly believe "Baywatch' will return."
The decision will be made by the show's owner, Pearson Television, based on the company's anticipated production needs and analysis of potential "Baywatch Hawaii" ratings in its 11th year.
According to South, the show last weekend received an overnight rating of 2.8 in the important New York City market, one of its highest since moving to Hawaii two years ago. The New York ratings have been "climbing steadily," he said.
"Baywatch Hawaii" has been plagued by poorer-than-hoped for ratings since it left its Los Angeles base of nine years.
Some 140 Pearson Television employees, including six "Baywatch Hawaii" actors, South and co-executive producer Howard Grigbsy attended the recent National Association of Television Program Executives meeting in Las Vegas last weekend to court foreign and domestic distributors.
Producers here are moving ahead with plans for the internationally syndicated TV show so writers can be back at work as soon as contracts are renewed, South said.
Eight scripts are already completed for season three, he said. Four more stories are outlined. The first order of business for the writers is turning the outlines into completed scripts and finishing another eight before a planned writers' strike May 1.
Under the current schedule, South said, all 22 scripts for next season would be written by May 1, with 18 filmed by July 1 when an actors' strike will begin. The remaining four scripts will be filmed prior to season four.
The show's primary actors are under contract to Pearson until May 15 or June 1.
Set building at the Hawaii Film Studio at Diamond Head may begin as early as next week, said a source who gave the show's return "a 50-50 chance."
It's no surprise that a major hurdle is expense. In its first year in Hawaii, a "Baywatch" episode reportedly cost less than $1 million. With contractual salary increases and other expenses, episodes for the third season will amount to "well above" that figure, a source said.
Changes in season three will include hiring a 20-something character as a female lifeguard trainee to be introduced in episode three and become "a soul mate" of "Baywatch" regular Krista Allen. Season three stories also will be "edgier, more fun, more good guy-bad guy stuff," South said. "Baywatch" lifeguards will spend lots of time "defending the beaches and Hawaii's way of life," he said.
South praised the newest writer of the "Baywatch" team, Star-Bulletin columnist Charlie Memminger.
"He's so funny, a good writer and has brought a lot of honesty and knowledge about Hawaii to the show," South said. "And yes, when the show comes back, Charlie will be with us."
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