Baywatch premiered in 1989, but was cancelled after only one season. Feeling the series had potential, David Hasselhoff revived it for the first-run syndication market in 1991, investing his own money and additionally functioning as executive producer.
The show starred David Hasselhoff as Mitch Buchannon. Trademarks of the show include slow motion running of the attractive lifeguards, notably Pamela Anderson and Hasselhoff. Many different actors and actresses were featured on the show, most appearing for only a few seasons.
The show was hugely successful, especially internationally. The show led to two spin-offs: "Baywatch Nights" and "Baywatch Hawaii".