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How Gilligan's creator saved Baywatch
"Uncle Sherwood" had advice when Baywatch was canceled.
"Some people stand in the darkness
Afraid to step into the light
Some people need to help somebody
When the edge of surrender's in sight"
If you were a fan of all the beachbound action and drama that swimwear could barely cover in the 90s, you have Gilligan and the Skipper to thank. Or maybe just nepotism.
Baywatch was an absolute television juggernaut, regularly viewed by over 1 billion fans all over the globe. It was the biggest show on TV and has since become a pop culture landmark. But, the show wasn't always a sensation. After a rocky start, its creators turned to family for support. Luckily for them, show biz runs in their genes.
Created in 1989 by Douglas Schwartz and Michael Berk, Baywatch depicted a group of lifeguards on duty at Los Angeles County beaches. Schwartz and Berk were proud to have their big break in TV, as NBC readied their new show for a fall premiere. However, things didn't go as they'd hoped, and NBC dumped the show after just one season. Frustrated with how close they'd come to success, the pair turned to a trusted voice of experience for some critical career advice.
It just so happens that screenwriter and producer Sherwood Schwartz, who created such shows as Gilligan's Island and The Brady Bunch, shared more than just an occupation with Douglas Schwartz. The two were family. Sherwood Schwartz is the uncle of Douglas Schwartz and was also a huge fan of Baywatch. He was upset, not just as an uncle, but as a viewer, when Baywatch was canceled.
So, when the Baywatch duo turned to him for sage advice, Sherwood Schwartz told them to trust their creation.
"Uncle Sherwood said 'This is your Gilligan's Island! Don't blow it! Go and buy back your rights,'" the younger Schwartz recalled in a 2017 interview with the Austin American-Statesman.
That's exactly what Douglas Schwartz and Michael Berk did, returning to NBC to purchase back the rights to Baywatch. They were prepared to risk their reputation, and their financial well-being, by taking a gamble on the show. They were approached by actor David Hasselhoff, another fan of the first season, who was interested in becoming a part of the program. With Hasselhoff's help as a producer, Schwartz and Berk were able to produce a decade's worth of Baywatch to air in syndication. The rest is suntanned history.
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40 Comments
But I love summer. We get way too little of it in Wisconsin.
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A nice Gazpacho, ( cold soup) makes a nice accompaniment to a grilled cheese in the summer months.
Douglas Schwartz and Michael Berk had to pay NBC to purchase back the rights to Baywatch?
