- Title: UNITED KINGDOM: STARS FROM 'BAYWATCH' PROMOTE A NEW SERIES
- Date: 14th April 1997
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (APRIL 14, 1997) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) BAYWATCH STARS DONNA D'ERRICO AND TRACI BINGHAM POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS PHOTOGRAPHERS GIRLS POSING WITH DAVID HASSELHOFF AND DAVID CHOKACHI VARIOUS OF PHOTO SHOOT NEWS CONFERENCE DAVID HASSELHOFF (SOUNDBITE ENGLISH) SAYING I THINK THIS SEASON WE KIND OF WENT OVERBOARD ON THE BABES. I TRIED TO GET MORE FAMILY STORIES, MOSTLY ACTION. MY BIG THING IS ACTION (ENGLISH)
- Embargoed: 29th April 1997 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA6M5BBCD3LK7NWTJDR5T20JJM5
- Story Text: The stars of Baywatch -- the world's most successful television series -- were in London this week promoting the show's seventh season in Britain.
Along with David Hasselhoff, the show's main star and its executive director, the British press had a chance to meet some new faces.
Donna D'Errico, who plays Donna and Traci Bingham (Jordan) posed for photographers in the trademark red swimming costume that's seen by millions of television viewers throughout the world.
David Chokachi, who plays Cody, joined his female colleagues for Monday's (April 14) photo shoot.
Baywatch revolves around the happenings at the headquarters of the LA County Lifeguards.
This season's story lines promise more action, drama and romance. As well, there'll be rescues that end in tragedy, terrorists threatening to poison the bay and love blossoming for two of the main characters.
And there'll also be more of the famous female bodies like Pamela Anderson Lee, who shot to worldwide fame after starring in the show.
At a news conference after the photo shoot, Hasselhoff admitted he was forced to give in to pressure from advertising agencies to include even more girls in the latest series after ratings for the hit TV show dropped.
"We have gone overboard on the babes this season, but we will still have family stories and plenty of action," he said.
"You are not going to be seeing more gratuitous shots of women, you will just see more women. The requests came from the advertising agencies. I don't think it hurts the show." But Hasselhoff said he would rather do stories with a moral side to them and promises they will also feature in the next series.
The decision to include more "beach-babes" was taken after viewing figures in Britain fell by 4 million for the early Saturday evening show, from 10 million down to six million.
Hasselhoff, 44, from Los Angeles, freely admits the show is not taken seriously by millions of people.
"It is like Tommy with Lassie. Was he ever taken seriously? But the programme is still on," he said.
Baywatch attracts nearly one billion viewers worldwide in more than 110 countries.
Along with the new characters, this season will also feature Pamela Lee Anderson as CJ Parker, Gena Lee Nolin as Neely and Yasmine Bleeth as Caroline. Anderson leaves the show after this season.
Baywatch's seventh series will be back on ITV on Saturday (April 19). - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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