Baywatch

As ocean spray kicked up against his boat's windshield, the man they call Captain Ken smoothed his full white beard against his tan face and considered the question: Why, despite the hefty price of equipment and the always terrifying thought of sharks, were young people embracing scuba diving in record numbers? Was it the siren cry of the oceans, perhaps? That ancient, mystical call of the deep blue sea? "I'd have to say the Discovery Channel.

In a coastal dreamland of sunny skies and clear-blue water, bathing-suit clad beauties--male and female--cavort on the sand and save victims from the nasty surf. But even in this paradise of beautiful people, a lot of eyes alight on "Baywatch's" blond Canadian, Pamela Anderson. "She is, of course, this big gorgeous attraction," acknowledges co-producer Craig Kwasizur. "She's the girl next door, with beauty and innocence. Really, the Beach Boys' song ('California Girls') says it all about Pamela."

The Los Angeles County Lifeguards boast some speedy swimmers, but none as quick as a Kawasaki Jet Ski at full throttle. That much was clear off Santa Monica this week as 16 lifeguards experimented with four of the "personal watercraft," sizing them up as possible rescue tools. No one expects the Jet Skis to replace the old fashioned crawl as the preferred method of reaching swimmers in distress.

CLUTCHING A RED FLOTATION CAN AND rescue line, I stagger into the surf off Zuma Beach and flop through the breakers. An instructor is posing as a scuba diver in distress, and it is my job as a lifeguard trainee to save him. I churn toward the flailing victim, but somehow the rescue line gets wrapped around my neck and tightens with each crashing wave. Two fellow cadets sprint toward the water.

The Scene: Tuesday night's premiere of "Jeffrey" at the Westwood Playhouse. The comedy about love in the age of AIDS was a big hit off Broadway last year and has arrived in Los Angeles for an eight-week run. After the performance, guests moved to an outdoor courtyard for dessert and a chance to rehash the show, which received good word-of-mouth from all quarters.

"Next, I'd like to play someone who is evil and sexual, someone really strong," offers sweet-faced Alexandra Paul, who plays beach boss Lt. Stephanie Holden on "Baywatch." Paul, 29, was a New York model whose first television role was the wholesome model--opposite Daryl Hannah--in the 1982 "Paper Dolls," which led to roles in "Getting Physical" and the features "American Flyers," "Christine" and "Dragnet."

"Less is more," said David Hasselhoff, mouthing one of the cost-cutting slogans uttered often around "Baywatch" headquarters. He is not talking about bikinis or speedos. The fact is that hands wring and heads roll in television circles these days as network audiences shrink, prime-time ad revenue drops and pressure increases to reduce production budgets. But TV always seems to find a way, even in a recession. Behold, the "Baywatch" solution. "When you pout, you're out," said Hasselhoff.

Regarding "County Charging for Beach Costs" (Times, Nov. 15), Los Angeles County officials have begun relieving their budget woes by demanding bigger contributions from coastal cities for lifeguard service. If the county is that short of money, why do the county lifeguard Baywatch boats tow for free? If you break down or run out of gas on the freeway, the county will not tow you for free to the nearest service station. Run out of gas or break down on your boat, and Baywatch will tow you for free to the gas dock even though you are safely at anchor and in no immediate danger and there is a commercial tow boat available within a reasonable time that can deliver fuel or provide a tow. Baywatch is supposed to charge for this service, but they rarely do. They use taxpayer's money to compete with commercial operators who pay license fees and taxes just like the rest of us. Baywatch also does salvage work, something the U.S. Coast Guard will not touch for liability reasons.

"Baywatch" has become the latest television series to rise from the ashes of cancellation. The drama about Los Angeles County lifeguards, starring David Hasselhoff, will resume production next year with new episodes scheduled to begin airing in October. "Baywatch" was canceled last spring by NBC after ending its first season ranked 74th among the 111 series to have aired on the three major networks, averaging a 10.5 rating, or about 9.6 million households, per episode.

When Dave Sheehan decided to join the ranks of the flag-flying Baywatchers, he figured he should do it in a big way. After all, their 27-foot boat, the "Lil' Sucker," is a common sight on San Diego Bay, where he and his wife, Sam, run an oil-changing and recycling business (what Dave calls "a Jiffy Lube for boats"). Dave figured that, in a potentially messy business like theirs, it was important to make it clear where he stood.