There's a certain timeless appeal to sexy lifeguards running on the beach in slow motion. Whether it's the hunky chest hair of David Hasselhoff or the shapely gams of Yasmine Bleeth or Pamela Anderson (or any number of gorgeous guys and gals over the show's 11 seasons, or 13 if you include the ill-advised spin-off, Baywatch Nights), audiences couldn't get enough of Baywatch's lighthearted "fun in the sun" beach adventures.
Following the end of the series in 2001 (and the 2003 reunion finale movie, "Hawaiian Wedding"), the series basically died out. The critical and commercial underperformance of the 2017 reboot movie starring Zac Efron, Rock "The Dwayne" Johnson, and Alexandra Daddario did nothing to revive the series.
However, it looks like Baywatch's time is coming again, thanks to creator Matt Nix and the FOX network. In fact, FOX has so much faith in the brand, they've made a 12-episode direct-to-series order for the show, which, according to Deadline, is expected to debut sometime during the 2026-2027 television season.
While casting is underway and story details are being kept tightly under wraps, I'm already excited at the prospect of a new Matt Nix series. His biggest hit was Burn Notice on the USA network, which established a jovial tone that didn't undercut moments of palpable drama and tension. It's a tone that's perfectly suited for something like Baywatch. Nix's other shows include The Gifted, True Lies, and the criminally underrated Turner & Hooch on Disney+.
For my money, I'll always go to bat for Nix due to his work on one of my all-time favorite shows, The Good Guys. While it only ran for a single season on FOX, it pushed the "mismatched buddy cop" genre to its limits, pairing a perfectly cast Bradley Whitford with an equally perfect Colin Hanks for a delightful mix of comedy, action, and cozy jolly vibes. Never underestimate the value of cozy jolly vibes.