Late August is the perfect time for throwaway programming. And a documentary produced by the ABC News division titled “After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun” is as disposable as it gets. At the same time, this four-part Hulu docuseries glances back at a moment in television broadcast history, one never to be repeated.
For the uninitiated, “Baywatch” followed the adventures of a group of California lifeguards as they saved lives and cavorted about in red bathing suits.
“Moment in the Sun” recalls the series and its characters and presents interviews with more than 35 members of its cast, crew and creators, including Nicole Eggert, Carmen Electra, Billy Warlock, Alexandra Paul, Gregory Alan Williams, David Chokachi, Jeremy Jackson, Traci Bingham, Erika Eleniak, Michael Newman, Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz and others, who share insights into the show’s stories and discuss off-camera shenanigans.
Series star David Hasselhoff is conspicuously absent.
While “Baywatch” was rather famous for showing off perfect beach bodies, hair and dental work, it was chaste enough to enjoy international appeal. Over the course of its 11-season run from 1989 to 2003, “Baywatch” was broadcast in some 200 countries, making it the most-watched television show in history. Its simple — some might say innocuous — stories about pretty people saving lives and returning grateful rescues to the sun and sand, made it perfect for export.
“Baywatch” is also interesting for the fact that for most of its run, it was a syndicated series without a network home. NBC canceled it after the first season in 1989. It’s just one of many series that jettisoned by NBC only to go on to better things. NBC canceled “JAG” after one season in 1995, and it would go on to run for nine seasons on CBS and then inspire the “NCIS” franchise that airs to this day. In 1999 NBC canceled “Freaks & Geeks” early in its first season. It not only became one of the most beloved teen series of all time, but would launch the careers of seminal directors and producers Judd Apatow and Paul Feig and an impressive generation of actors including James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Busy Philipps, John Francis Daley, Martin Starr, Samm Levine and Linda Cardellini.
But I digress.
“Moment in the Sun” promises a never-before-seen interview with “Baywatch” star Pamela Anderson. Her post-“Baywatch” career remains the most surprising. Long typecast as a blond bombshell and exploited in a much-discussed sex tape, she has emerged as an activist, championing such causes as animal rights, anti-pornography and the plight of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
We also hear from Yasmine Bleeth, who assures us that her wild behavior and troubled days are behind her.
One of the cultural residues of the “Baywatch” phenomenon was the Howard Stern-produced parody series “Son of the Beach,” which ran on FX from 2000-2002. The series’ dialogue and character names were shot through with puns and dirty double entendres that played with the sexuality just below the surface of “Baywatch,” but that the original kept in check in order to be safe enough to appeal to a global audience as the sunny incarnation of the American Dream and California fantasy.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— The quarterfinals continue on “America’s Got Talent” (8 p.m., NBC, TV-PG).
— A late singer remembered on “Toby Keith: American Icon” (9 p.m., NBC, TV-14).
— A mother reports the disappearance of her daughter on “The Real CSI: Miami (10 p.m., CBS, TV-14).
CULT CHOICE
Sailors battle aliens in the 2012 adventure “Battleship” (7 p.m., Syfy, TV-14), directed by Peter Berg. One of the few films based on a popular board game. While the 1985 adaptation of “Clue” seemed like a natural development, I was always struck by the fact that “Monopoly” had never been tapped for its dramatic (or comedic) potential. According to always-reliable internet scuttlebutt, a project attached to “Barbie” star Margot Robbie is said to be in the works. Given the color palette of “Barbie,” I think Robbie might seem more (un)natural in the Game of Life, or perhaps “Candyland” or “Chutes and Ladders.” The latter (so to speak) was developed into a 12-minute comedy short in 2012.
SERIES NOTES
“Big Brother” (8 p.m., CBS, TV-PG) … “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) … “MasterChef” (8 p.m., Fox, TV-14) … “Claim to Fame” (9 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
LATE NIGHT
Jimmy Fallon welcomes Hugh Jackman, Ralph Macchio, John Owen Lowe and Ayra Starr on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC, r) … Casey Affleck and Meredith Hagner visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC, r) … Taylor Tomlinson hosts Baron Vaughn, Rhys Darby and Rory Scovel on “After Midnight” (12:35 a.m., CBS, r).
