STAR-BULLETIN / 1999 The fact that "Baywatch" filming has been delayed is coincidental, and not tied in with David Hasselhoff's recent publicized trouble with achohol.

‘Baywatch’ film set
for September shoot

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By Tim Ryan
tryan@starbulletin.com

The "Baywatch" reunion film production already delayed three times in less than a year is scheduled to shoot on Oahu from Sept. 9 to 27.

The $5 million, two-hour movie of the week had been tentatively titled "Baywatch Obsession," but no longer. No title has been given, but it will contain "Hawaii."

The movie will be released during the February 2003 ratings sweeps.

The earlier delays have not been because of David Hasselhoff's publicized trouble with alcohol abuse, Pamela Anderson's hepatitis C condition or Yasmine Bleeth's drug conviction in Michigan earlier this year, sources emphasized. The hoped-for July or August filming was called off because there were no available rooms on Oahu for cast and mainland crew due to the crush of summer visitors.

The show is being written for Fox Television by Michael Berk, a "Baywatch" creator, along with Doug Schwartz and his wife, Deborah Schwartz, a supervising producer on that show.

The storyline is described as "Baywatch" meets "Temptation Island" and "Survivor."

Producers have signed six of the primary cast and remain in negotiations with 12 others, sources said. Filming was to begin here last fall, then was bumped to this summer to ensure completion in time for November sweeps.

The entire film will be shot on Oahu. At least one scene here will double for California.

Executive producer Doug Schwartz and other "Baywatch" executives will scout Oahu locations next week and finalize a deal with the Hilton Hawaiian Village for accommodations. The resort also was the hotel of choice of the "Baywatch Hawaii" production.

Producers will also visit the Hawaii Film Studio, with plans to use the mill for constructing sets, and the swim tank, which has been unused since "Baywatch Hawaii" departed two years ago.

Schwartz and company were not part of the "Baywatch Hawaii" production and its executive producer, Greg Bonann, is not part of this show.

Also committed to the project are Carmen Electra and Kelly Packard.

Hasselhoff, 50, made news last month by checking himself into The Betty Ford Center for treatment of alcoholism. Hasselhoff will be finished with rehab by Aug. 1, "well in advance of the filming," a production source said.

After shooting to fame opposite a talking Trans Am in "Knight Rider," Hasselhoff became a worldwide sensation as "Baywatch's" head lifeguard, Mitch Buchanan.

He left "Baywatch" at the end of the 1999-2000 season to launch a new syndicated series, "Double Cross." But just months after Hasselhoff was blown to bits on his "Baywatch" finale, the financing fell through on "Double Cross" and that show was scrapped.

The actor will be an executive producer with Revolution Studios on a film adaptation of "Knight Rider" with the series' creator Glen Larson, who is writing the script.

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