Carmen Electra made huge splash on ‘Baywatch’ team

Carmen Electra had done very little acting before being cast as dancer-turned-lifeguard Lani McKenzie on “Baywatch.” No one was more shocked to find that out than David Chokachi who played her love interest.

“I was so green because I was coming from MTV and performing with Prince. MTV was loud and rowdy. I was going from high energy to ‘Baywatch.’ Then all of a sudden, it’s, you’re kind of toned down or whatever,” Electra says. “I remember we had a make-out scene, and I didn’t realize, like, you don’t have to kiss, and I went in. I just tongued him down.

“Now I know if it’s appropriate for that script, then of course. That’s the kind of movie or television show you’re going to do. But back then I was, we got a kissing scene, I’m getting down. I’m going full-out.”

That kind of behind-the-lips detail is what to expect from the ABC News Studio production “After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun.” The new docuseries looks at the cultural phenomenon that defined an era through a look at the stars who brought the world’s most famous lifeguards to life.

Through dozens of new cast interviews and never-before-seen footage, this docuseries unpacks how the show captured the mythology of California’s beach culture, set physical beauty standards for an entire generation, and capitalized on the adage “sex sells.” “After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun” can be seen starting Aug. 28 on the streaming service Hulu.

The four-part series features interviews with over 35 cast members and the show’s creators, including Nicole Eggert, Billy Warlock, Alexandra Paul, Gregory Alan Williams, David Chokachi, Jeremy Jackson, Traci Bingham, Erika Eleniak, Michael Newman, Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz and Electra.

The series also unveils a never-aired interview with Pamela Anderson and over a decade’s worth of never-before-seen home videos shot by the cast themselves. These clips offer viewers a glimpse into the real dynamics, struggles, friendships and moments that happened off-camera.

Electra’s aggressive nature in that early love scene helped solidify Chokachi as an acting mentor for Electra. Because they were portraying a couple, they had a lot of scenes together. Chokachi helped Electra with the dialogue and dealing with the stunt work required of the cast.

Improving her acting skills was only part of the pressure on Electra when she joined the show. At the time she was added to the cast, there was a growing criticism by viewers of the syndicated series that surrounded the notion the actors were not doing their own stunts.

Electra stresses the cast members did all the physical work demanded of them.

“I remember that pressure. I remember the moment we tandem surfed. To me, that was just mind-blowing because I never thought I could do that. And to this day, it’s still one of my favorite moments that we had,” Electra says. “There were a lot of people in the cast who were lifeguards.

“David would walk me through everything. We had this crazy water scene and I told him I was so scared but I was going to do it. He would say ‘Come on, you got this.’”

The attention turned on Electra and the rest of the cast came from the popularity of the series. At its peak, “Baywatch” was one of the most-watched television shows in the world with a weekly viewership of more than one billion. It aired in more than 200 different countries and was translated into 48 languages.

Electra would go on to make more than 100 TV and film appearances and perform with the Pussycat Dolls. Her acting credits include “Cheaper by the Dozen,” “Disaster Movie,” “House” and “Meet the Spartans.”

Despite all her other work, Electra continues to be closely connected to “Baywatch.” Reflecting on her part of the series for the ABC news documentary was easy because every interview she has done in the last quarter century has brought up her work on the show.

Reminiscing is fine by her because her days on “Baywatch” were very positive. And there was never a time when she felt stuck and that is the same feeling she has had with each project since her days as a lifeguard.

She’s happy that a lot of footage that the public never got to see will be included in the documentary series. She stresses it should be viewed in connection with the time period.

“Baywatch” existed in a different time when having actors run in slow-motion was a norm. That was then but Electra is not certain she would be part of the show if the sand-and-surf series was being produced today instead of through the 90s because a current version of “Baywatch” would have to feature a far more diverse cast.

“I think in those times, they were gradually thinking about that. Times have changed,” Electra says. “I think that is a very good thing.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.