The upcoming Baywatch reboot faces the challenge of reconciling its iconic red swimsuits with the franchise's history of misogyny and lack of diversity, as the original series returns 25 years after going off air.
The original Baywatch, which aired from 1989 to 1999, attracted over one billion global viewers weekly, but was widely criticised for its objectification of female cast members, particularly through slow-motion shots of women in skimpy swimwear. Pamela Anderson, who joined the show in 1992, later remarked, 'My breasts have a career. I'm just tagging along.'
Actress Erika Eleniak, who appeared from 1989 to 1992, said being labelled a 'Baywatch girl' harmed her career: 'I would go in and they would ask me my last job and I would say Baywatch, and I would be asked to leave.' Meanwhile, male star David Hasselhoff was often given more serious dramatic plotlines and allowed to wear clothes on screen.
The series also faced criticism for its lack of racial diversity and narrow body standards, with most cast members being thin and white. The 2017 film remake, starring Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron, was a commercial and critical failure, criticised for its superficial engagement with gender politics.
New showrunner Lara Olsen must now decide how to handle the show's legacy of overt misogyny and lack of representation, as the reboot's tagline promises 'a whole new generation of Baywatch lifeguards' navigating complicated personal lives.
