The troubled reboot of 'Baywatch' has become a political flashpoint in Los Angeles' mayoral race, with candidates blaming incumbent Karen Bass for the city's declining film industry. Production on the show halted in February after just four days due to regulatory hurdles, including bans on camera drones and night shoots.
Former reality TV star Spencer Pratt, a right-wing challenger, described the situation as 'political fecklessness' and 'a perfect storm of self-inflicted wounds'. He argued that the city, once synonymous with the dream factory, now treats filmmaking as an inconvenience.
Left-wing challenger Nithya Raman highlighted a near-50% drop in shooting days since 2018, denouncing 'ridiculous conditions' that deter productions. Bass responded by working with city council and state agencies to resolve the issue, announcing in April that 'Baywatch' would stay in Venice Beach.
Bass also introduced measures to streamline permit regulations, speed up soundstage certification, and waive fees for small independent productions. FilmLA launched a pilot program covering permit costs for low-impact shoots. New data showed a 10.7% increase in shooting days in early 2026, the first significant uptick since the pandemic.
