Carmen Electra Voices Support for Brooks Nader in Baywatch Reboot
Former Baywatch star Carmen Electra has publicly endorsed the casting of reality television personality Brooks Nader in Fox's highly anticipated 12-episode reboot of the iconic series, scheduled for the 2026-27 season. Electra, who will celebrate her 54th birthday next month, expressed her confidence in Nader's fit for the show during an interview with People magazine last Wednesday.
Electra's Baywatch Legacy and Potential Return
Electra, originally named Tara Leigh Patrick, first appeared on Baywatch Nights in a 1996 guest role as Candy before joining the main cast for season eight in 1997-1998. She portrayed Lani McKenzie, a Hawaiian lifeguard with aspirations of becoming a dancer. As recently as September, Electra revealed to TMZ that she has been in discussions with the production team about possibly reprising her role in the new series.
"I don't know if I'd want to be in the water necessarily, but I could do the slow-motion run — I can definitely do that," Electra remarked. "I still look really good in that suit, so that is not a problem." Her most recent professional engagement involved a cameo appearance in The Kid Laroi's 2025 music video for She Don't Need to Know.
Brooks Nader's Exciting New Role
Meanwhile, Brooks Nader is eagerly preparing to commence filming for her role as Selene, a sharp-tongued Zuma Beach lifeguard captain. Production is set to begin on Monday in Venice Beach. Nader, who boasts an impressive 2.1 million followers across social media platforms, shared her enthusiasm last Tuesday.
"I believed in this long before it made sense," the producer and star of Love Thy Nader exclaimed. "Never give up, chase your dreams no matter how wild they are! @baywatchtv @foxtv Let's go! Massive shout out to my unmatched team for pushing me everyday and believing so hard in me!"
Nader posted photographs of herself holding the script on the Fox Studio Lot in Los Angeles, showcasing her physique in a white cropped tank top. She is no stranger to the spotlight, having famously graced the cover of Sports Illustrated's Swimsuit issue in 2023 wearing a red one-piece, following appearances in the 2020, 2021, and 2022 editions.
On-Set Dynamics and Production Details
Nader's character Selene is expected to clash with rival lifeguard Hobie Buchannon, played by Stephen Amell, due to their contrasting approaches to lifesaving. Amell recently shared a snapshot of the cast and crew on set at Baywatch headquarters, captioning it: "Every big story starts with the people you don't see on screen. Proud to be in the trenches with this crew. Tomas and the whole team are the real deal."
Director McG is helming the first episode of the adrenaline-fueled seaside reboot alongside showrunner Matt Nix. The series will also feature returning cast members such as David Chokachi reprising his role as Cody Madison from the original show, alongside new additions Hassie Harrison, Jessica Belkin, and Thaddeus LaGrone.
Background and Broader Context
The original Baywatch series, starring David Hasselhoff and Pamela Anderson, was initially canceled by NBC after just one season in 1990. However, it found new life through syndication, ultimately running for 11 seasons and becoming the most-watched television series globally, despite receiving largely negative reviews from critics.
In other news, Nader's reality show Love Thy Nader, produced by Jimmy Kimmel, was renewed for a second season by Hulu and Freeform last November, with the premiere scheduled for later this year. Additionally, Nader maintains a successful career as an influencer, collaborating with prominent brands including Samsung Mobile, John Frieda, DoorDash, and Anastasia Beverly Hills.
