season one
(1989-1990)
 
First season regulars
 
Mitch Buchannon: David Hasselhoff
Craig Pomeroy: Parker Stevenson
Jill Riley: Shawn Weatherly
Eddie Kramer: Billy Warlock
Shauni McClain: Erika Eleniak
Trevor Cole: Peter Phelps
Hobie Buchannon: Brandon Call
Don Thorpe: Monte Markham
Gina Pomeroy: Holly Gagnier
Garner Ellerbee: GregAlan Williams
John D. Cort: John Allen Nelson
 
Episode Titles
Panic at Malibu Pier (1 & 2) Rookie School Snake Eyes
In Deep Cruise Ship Eclipse
Heat Wave Shelter Me Shark Derby
Second Wave The Reunion The Big Race
Message in a Bottle Amoured Car Old Friends
The Drowning Pool Home Cort The End?
The Sky is Falling We Need a Vacation    
The Cretin of the Shallows Muddy waters    
Panic at Malibu Pier [top]
Being a lifeguard has cost Mitch Buchannon his marriage and ex-wife Gayle wants him to limit visits with his son Hobie. Mitch arranges a fishing trip with lifeguard buddy Al in order to cheer Hobie up, but unknowingly leads them into danger. Craig Pomeroy puts his law practice on hold to concentrate on lifeguarding. However, the troubled young girl he rescues becomes obsessed with her "hero". Rookies Eddie Kramer and Shauni McClain share first-day nerves with a respected pro.

Story by: Michael Berk & Douglas Schwartz, Teleplay by: Michael Berk & Douglas Schwartz.

Guest Stars
Sid Wilson: Michael McManus; Laurie Harris: Madchen Amick; Gayle Buchannon: Wendie Malick;
Al Gibson: Richard Jaeckel.
In Deep [top]
A windsurfer dies when two of Hobie's friends are involved in a power ski hit-and-run accident. When Hobie discovers they are responsible, he has a decision to make - Will he keep quiet and leave the case unsolved, or will he risk his father's wrath by telling him (Mitch had always warned Hobie about the dangers of power skiing)?

Written by: Michael Berk & Douglas Schwartz.

Guest Stars
Sid Wilson: Michael McManus; Scott: Christopher Murphy; Ron: Lance Gilbert;
Barnett: Greg Barnett; Newman: Michael Newman; Steve Flyer: Mitch Flyer.
Heat Wave [top]
As temperatures soar, Mitch's old friend Steven (with his son Mike in tow) turn up for a surprise visit. When Mike gets trapped in a storm drain and is in danger of drowning, Steve is forced to admit the reason behind his visit - he kidnapped his son because of a custody battle with his ex-wife, and an investigator is hot on his heels. Craig has to decide between staying at his legal firm or lifeguarding until Gina suggests opening his own firm.

Written by: Ernie Wallengren.

Guest Stars
Sid Wilson: Michael McManus; Steve Humboldt: Jeffrey Byron; Patrick Murphy: Bart Braverman;
Mike Humboldt: Matt Fremster; Dreyfuss: William Ogden Joyce; Amy Blount: Lynda Beattie;
Ricky: Thomas Ian Nicholas.
Second Wave [top]
Trouble for Eddie when Jimmy, his old buddy from Philadelphia turns up and creates mayhem. When Jimmy challenges Eddie, on the way to a rescue, the rookie lifeguard beats him up with a lifeguarding can. Eddie gets suspended and Jimmy torches his lifeguard tower - with Eddie and Shauni inside - in an act of revenge! Mitch gets stressed over his upcoming lifeguard recheck which turns out to be quite different than he expected.

Written by: Jill Donner.

Guest Stars
Sid Wilson: Michael McManus; Jimmy: Daniel Quinn; Lisa Peters: Mariska Hargitay;
Peters: Gerald Gordon; Koko: Andrew Lowery; Dr. Everden: Terri Hanauer.
Message in a Bottle [top]
When Gayle's job means a transfer to Ohio, Hobie gets caught in a custody battle. Mitch is unwilling to let Hobie go with her, but both parents must put their differences aside when Hobie and his two friends get stranded on a channel island which is the hideout of modern-day pirates.

Written by: Terry Erwin.

Guest Stars
Sid Wilson: Michael McManus; Gayle Buchannon: Wendie Malick; Jenny: Jani Swanson;
Clark: Marc Dakota; Duane Nix: Zach Garrison; Rusty McNair: Curt James Stefka;
Liz: Judy Prescott; Rob: John B. Zarchen.
The Drowning Pool
When a man dies in front of Jill's tower, it's filed as drowning due to heart attack on the incident report. Suspicious of the circumstances, Jill decides to investigate to find out what really happened to the victim. When she gets involved with the deceased's son, she is shocked to discover that he may have murdered his father in order to inherit the family business.

Written by: W. A. Schwartz.

Guest Stars
Sid Wilson: Michael McManus; Derrick: Christopher Rich; Fred: Jeff Altman; Alex: Richard Roat; Henry: Kaye. Kuter; Ellie: Beatrice Colen; Lloyd: Claude Earl Jones.
The Sky is Falling [top]
When Gayle's job transfers her to Ohio earlier than expected, she again plans to take Hobie with her. A hostile Mitch still protests, but a romantic flame is rekindled between the two when they look through a box of old photos. Elsewhere a plane crashes and a pair of thieves try to recover a suitcase full of cash which is left floating in the water. Thorpe assigns himself to Eddie and Shauni's tower.

Written by: William Rabkin & Lee Goldberg.

Guest Stars
Sid Wilson: Michael McManus; Gayle Buchannon: Wendie Malick; Harv: James Sloyan; Sylvia: Carol Siskind; Santini: John T. DiSanti.
The Cretin of the Shallows [top]
A rash of murders by a freakish looking brute coincides with the opening of a new beachfront hotel. Craig does some investigating and discovers that the senator who will speak at the opening cermony knew all the victims. Gina looks after Eddie after he gets his impacted wisdom teeth removed and he dreams about having an affair with her.

Written by: W.A. Schwartz & E.F. Wallengren.

Guest Stars
Senator Hastings: Wayne Tippit; Victor Poison: Christopher Carroll; Garth: Robert Alan Trebor;
Arnold Anderson: John Mahon; Candace: Betsy Randele; Mary Porter: Janice Lynde;
Newman: Michael Newman.
Rookie School [top]
Eddie gets involved with a girl who is fleeing from her murderous ex-boyfriend. Craig and Gina take a romantic weekend trip in order to "become parents". Trevor attends rookie school so he can become a county-certified lifeguard.

Written by: Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin.

Guest Stars
Jeff Dalander: Todd Bryant; Coach Coglin: Cliff Potts; Amy Laederach: Christine Elise;
Howard Ganza: William Fichtner; Vincent: Peter Kent; Lou: Ken Thorley; Phylis: Judy Nazemetz.
Cruise Ship [top]
Eddie is suspicious of Shauni's new boyfriend, Andrew, but Shauni pays no heed until Andrew becomes demanding and physically violent. Meanwhile, a chartered boat carrying drunken revellers looks like trouble to Craig. He's right, and forced to make a daring rescue with Mitch when the boat gets out of control and heads straight for the Santa Monica pier.

Written by: Jill Donner & W. A. Schwartz.

Guest Stars
Andrew Garrison: Steve Eckholdt; Tom Logan: Bryan Cranston; Jenny: Jandi Swanson;
Tod: Gabriel Damon; Huey: David Edward Brooks.
Shelter Me [top]
As the Baywatch crew ready themselves for an on-coming tropical storm, a pair of escaped convicts shoot Garner under the pier, and take cover at headquarters. The stormy weather throws up some passion between Eddie and Shauni, while Thorpe auditions for a radio job as a surf reporter.

Written by: Terry Erwin.

Guest Stars
Sid Wilson: Michael McManus; Frank Sant: Neil Gray Giuntoli; Dick Sant: Sherman Howard;
Alex: Jenny Lewis; Randy: Dominic Nardini; Mr. Dietz: Ray Giradin; Henry: Kay E. Porter.
The Reunion [top]
At a reunion of old friends, Mitch rekindles a romance with a former love, which leads to rivalry with Craig, who dated her years ago too. After much frustration, Eddie purchases the car of his dreams for only a couple of thousand dollars - a bargain until he finds out that it's stolen.

Written by: W. Reed Moran.

Guest Stars
Corey Darrow: Tony Higgins; Tony: Michael Horton; Paul: Alex Hyde-White; Marv: Lenny Citrano.
Armoured Car [top]
When Jill's ex-boyfriend and volleyball partner turns up to compete in the Seal Beach Pro-Am Volleyball Tournament, she plots to get back at him for dumping her by teaming up with Trevor to face him in a mixed-doubles competition. Meanwhile Eddie and Shauni spend a romantic day together but get trapped inside an amored truck after making a rescue. Teetering precariously over the edge of an old pier, the truck plunges into the sea. Are they on a one-way trip to Davey Jones locker?

Story by: Michael Berk & Douglas Schwartz, Teleplay by: Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin.

Guest Stars
Chris Barron: John Lindstrom; George Petroni: Clarence Felder; Glen Biddle: Thomas Wagner.
Home Cort [top]
John Cort, a charming rogue and an old friend of Mitch's, returns to Baywatch and recruits a buddy from his days as a Navy SEAL to help him carry out a shady deal. Jill and Shauni decide to go into business together selling sandwiches on the beach, but the competition proves to be more serious than they thought.

Written by: Terry Erwin & W. A. Schwartz.

Guest Stars
Melinda: Colleen Coffey; Red: Mickey Jones; Wanda: Lycia Naff; Buddy Semple: Grant Heslov;
Grant: S.A. Griffen.
We Need a Vacation [top]
Craig, Cort and Eddie take a road trip to Mexico, but their holiday turns sour when they tangle with an ugly American. Meanwhile Hobie gets a crush on Shauni and Mitch has an unexpected house guest in the guise of Thorpe when his wife leaves him.

Written by: William Rabkin & Lee Goldberg.

Guest Stars
Tod: Aaron Lohr; Kyle Rigler: John Quade; Ines: Roxanne Biggs; Juan: Jorge Cervera, Jr.;
Miguel: Tony Genaro.
Muddy Waters [top]
Cort and Eddie train lifeguards at a water-slide park, but someone off the deep end vandalises the slide's pumps. Thorpe wants Shauni fired after he sees pictures of her in a pin-up calendar. Shauni claims she was tricked and posed unknowingly for the shots. Hobie gets into a fight at school after his class field trip to Baywatch is abruptly cancelled.

Written by: William A. Schwartz & Terry Erwin.

Guest Stars
Mrs. Robinson: Martina Finch; Tad: Paull Goldin; Joe Madden: Edward J. Moore;
Amanda Keller: Sherilyn Wolter; Mr. Hollis: Kenneth Tigar; Sarah: Terri Ivans;
Brad: Rodney Eastman.
Snake Eyes [top]
Eddie is bitten by the gambling bug after Cort takes him to an illegal off-shore casino, and finds himself in debt after a few days bad luck. When Cort discovers that the establishment uses marked cards and loaded dice, the pair (aided by Craig) conspire to beat them at their own game. Hobie thinks he can slack off his schoolwork when his English teacher starts dating Mitch, but soon finds out otherwise.

Written by: Kate Boutilier.

Guest Stars
Amanda Keller: Sherilyn Wolter; Laurence Danvier: Harris Laskaway; Jeremy: R.J. Williams;
Steve: A.J. Stephens; Danny: Brian Haley; Ruby: Tilghmann Branner.
Eclipse [top]
When a rookie lifeguard claims that he saw an apparition of a young girl in a night-gown running through the surf, no one believes him. When he is discovered drowned, Eddie is haunted by the same apparition and it revives painful memories of the drowning of his sister. Meanwhile Hobie attempts to babysit a friend's dog at home without Mitch noticing.

Written by: Claire Whitaker.

Guest Stars
Herbie Frye: Lance Wilson-White; Katie: Hayley Carr; Escudero: East Carlos.
Shark Derby [top]
Sharks become a cause of terror in the bay and an unscrupulous restaurateur feeds on the trouble with a sleazy promotion - a "Shark Derby" with $25,000 for the person who kills the largest shark. However, even more dangerous shark activity is stirred up with all the entrants travelling back and forth on the water. When Jill attempts to rescue some drowning children, she is attacked by a great white and her death sends shockwaves through headquarters.

Written by: Kate Boutilier & Terry Erwin.

Guest Stars
Amanda Keller: Sherilyn Wolter; Bucky Allen: Peter Brown; Roy: Michael Edward Stoyanov;
Matt: Reed Rudy; Dr. Catherine Potter: Jeanine Jackson; Captain: Edmund Penney.
The Big Race [top]
Cort promises to come up with a load of money for a nursing home, but he needs Mitch and Craig's help to compete in a water-skiing race with a big cash prize. Meanwhile, Shauni is afraid to go into the water in the wake of Jill's death.

Written by: Rolf Wallengren.

Guest Stars
Gwen Pierce: Hanna Cox; Jeff Stoker: Micah Grant; Newman: Michael Newman;
Dr. Olsen: Beau Bilings; Child: Jillian Marisa Longnecker.
Old Friends [top]
Craig, Mitch and Garner take a weekend hang-gliding trip, but Mitch has an accident and ends up caught in a tree. When his friends attempt to release him, Mitch falls to the ground and is knocked unconscious. They have to wait for a rescue helicopter to reach them, but it gets delayed endangering Mitch's life as more time passes. Back at Baywatch, Cort reacquaints himself with a woman whose husband supposedly drowned the previous year, but actually faked his death to collect the insurance money. Cort must decide whether or not to turn them in, effectively destroying their future plans together.

Written by: Terry Erwin & W. A. Schwartz.

Guest Stars
Amanda Keller: Sherilyn Wolter; Kate Jarvis: Susan Diol; Lance: Jeff Lester;
Newman: Michael Newman.
The End? [top]
A massive earthquake shakes up the Southland and Gina's life hangs in the balance, while Cort and Craig are trapped in the ocean. Eddie nearly passes out when he discovers that he is the only one who can help a pregnant woman going into labour, and Garner (who hates the surf and sand) is forced to play lifeguard.

Written by: Lee Goldberg & William Rabkin.

Guest Stars
Valerie: Tracey Shaffer; Mel: Michael Masters.