The series premiered on American television 35 years ago, with Pamela Anderson starring in one of the main roles. The now-legendary red swimsuit was filled out by her 90E figure, which was one of the reasons she got cast. Another key factor was Hugh Hefner, the Playboy founder, who strongly recommended her to his friend and ‘Baywatch’ co-producer Michael Berk. Berk didn’t need much convincing to see that she was the right choice.
It must be said that Pamela fit the image of the quintessential busty California blonde perfectly — though she was originally a brunette from Canada. The problem, however, was that another co-producer of the show was firmly against hiring her.
David Hasselhoff, who co-owned the rights to the series, had bought them from NBC for $10 after the network canceled the show a year into its run. Before Baywatch became the world’s most-watched TV series in 1996, with a record 1.1 billion viewers, it was actually a flop. And that’s why Hasselhoff didn’t want Pamela on board.
His official argument was that a Playboy model didn’t belong in a family-friendly show. But later he admitted the real reason: he was terrified she would steal all the attention. Her figure, especially her breasts, drew everyone’s eyes — and in scenes they shared, he felt the audience was watching Pamela, not him.
Hasselhoff quickly realized, however, that Pamela was his golden goose. Initially listed fourth in the opening credits, she rapidly moved up to second billing. And the “devilish” side of Pamela Anderson that Hasselhoff had feared actually made him a fortune, thanks to the infamous sex tape featuring Pamela and her then-boyfriend, Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee.
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When the sex tape became public, Baywatch distributors demanded that Pamela’s scenes be removed from already-filmed episodes. Under intense pressure, the producers considered doing so. But the first episode to air after the tape’s release became a massive hit, with ratings twice as high as usual. That success cemented her place on the show.
Incidentally, two future stars didn’t make it onto Baywatch: Sandra Bullock was rejected for being “too flat,” and Leonardo DiCaprio was turned down for the role of Hasselhoff’s son. He was 15 at the time, and the producers decided he looked too old for the part.
