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Baywatch owns the distinctive of being the most highly viewed television series in the history of the medium, according to Wikipedia. Its initial network run on NBC generated mixed reviews and even less impressive Nielsen ratings; it was 73rd out of 103 shows, and was cancelled after 21 episodes in 1990.
After overseas markets were apparently eager to cash-in on the David Hasselhoff craze, producers sold the series into syndication, where it lasted until 2001, producing another 221 episodes. The series brought in record-breaking ratings for an off-network episodic television show, and made household names out of many of its cast members, such as Pamela Anderson and Carmen Electra, among a host of others.
Despite its public popularity, however, critics were never kind to Baywatch, especially after it started airing in syndication. Critics, TV historians, commercial writers, etc. critiqued the show's strong emphasis on skin over plot, and complained that the actors chosen were picked more for their picturesque physical attributes than their dramatic capabilities. (In fact, many of the cast members were cast without having any prior professional acting experience.) There were also considerable complaints to the content of the show itself; there were concerns over the actors projecting an archetypal body type that was unrealistic when compared to everyday American teens, the show's largest audience demographic.
The syndication market became increasingly crowded, and because of escalating budgets, Baywatch drew to a close in 2001.
What's your thoughts on the show?
After overseas markets were apparently eager to cash-in on the David Hasselhoff craze, producers sold the series into syndication, where it lasted until 2001, producing another 221 episodes. The series brought in record-breaking ratings for an off-network episodic television show, and made household names out of many of its cast members, such as Pamela Anderson and Carmen Electra, among a host of others.
Despite its public popularity, however, critics were never kind to Baywatch, especially after it started airing in syndication. Critics, TV historians, commercial writers, etc. critiqued the show's strong emphasis on skin over plot, and complained that the actors chosen were picked more for their picturesque physical attributes than their dramatic capabilities. (In fact, many of the cast members were cast without having any prior professional acting experience.) There were also considerable complaints to the content of the show itself; there were concerns over the actors projecting an archetypal body type that was unrealistic when compared to everyday American teens, the show's largest audience demographic.
The syndication market became increasingly crowded, and because of escalating budgets, Baywatch drew to a close in 2001.
What's your thoughts on the show?
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