
Lt. Mitch Buchannon is the dedicated leader of a group of lifeguards at Malibu Beach in Los Angeles. Although this prime-time soap opera features a lot of sand, sun and bikinis, it also tackles many serious themes and features multifaceted characters. "Baywatch" is known for using slow motion when the lifeguards are running.

Romance prevails when Jackie tries to intensify her relationship with Mitch, Matt and Summer deal with their feelings for each other and Hobie falls in love.

After rekindling her relationship with a former love (John Allen Nelson), C.J. (Pamela Denise Anderson) discovers that he has a serious disease.

C.J. is pursued by a persistent executive who tries to impress her with his hot-air ballooning skills; Slade returns unexpectedly.

Mitch is kidnapped by a woman who takes him to a fishing boat to treat her wounded husband, an escaped convict.