{"id":2411581,"date":"2026-05-11T14:19:28","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T14:19:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2411581"},"modified":"2026-05-11T14:19:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T14:19:28","slug":"fox-president-on-holding-baywatch-until-january-rescue-hi-surf-comparisons-it-is-a-much-soapier-juicier-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/fox-president-on-holding-baywatch-until-january-rescue-hi-surf-comparisons-it-is-a-much-soapier-juicier-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Fox President On Holding \u2018Baywatch\u2019 Until January &#038; \u2018Rescue: HI-Surf\u2019 Comparisons: \u201cIt Is A Much Soapier, Juicier Show\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Fox\u2019s <em>Baywatch<\/em> has been in production in Los Angeles for two months now, so it will be ready for fall. But the high-profile reboot will not premiere then. Instead, the network <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/deadline.com\/2026\/05\/fox-fall-2026-schedule-animal-control-baywatch-bobs-burgers-1236889202\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:is planning a January launch;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;is planning a January launch&quot;}\" class=\"link \">is planning a January launch<\/a>. Why?<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWe have a rich history of launching series midseason, we just did it most recently with <em>Best Medicine <\/em>and<em> Memory of a Killer<\/em> and <em>Doc <\/em>before that; it goes all the way back to <em>Empire<\/em> and the<em> 9-1-1<\/em>s and <em>The Resident,<\/em>\u201d Fox Television Network President Michael Thorn said during a press call on Sunday, ahead of Fox\u2019s Monday upfront presentation. \u201cObviously,<em> Baywatch<\/em> is a huge, huge priority for us, and we think we have a great opportunity to set the show up for success there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>More from Deadline<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Fox executives wouldn\u2019t say whether the show will debut behind a big NFL game, which appears likely, as they are waiting for the NFL schedule to come out later this week before finalizing their launch plans.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Thorn gave a subtle update about how the network feels about what they have seen so far.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cWe\u2019re feeling great about where we are, but also feeling the pressure of already heightened fan expectations,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s only one <em>Baywatch<\/em>. It\u2019s one of the most iconic, popular television franchises in TV history.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-0 size-full\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-3 right-3 rounded-full bg-primary p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-primary\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewbox=\"0 0 24 24\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\" class=\"flex-none size-4 -scale-x-100 text-primary lg:size-6 [&amp;_path]:fill-current\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M3.1 3.1V11h1.8V6.314l5.392 5.393 1.415-1.414L6.313 4.9H11V3.1zm17.8 17.8V13h-1.8v4.686l-5.393-5.393-1.415 1.414 5.393 5.393H13v1.8z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed bottom-0 left-0 right-0 top-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-primary hidden\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"relative text-sm mt-1 pr-2.5\">\n<p>&#8216;Rescue HI-Surf&#8217; canceled<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Baywatch <\/em>had been in the works at Fox for several years and at one point was being developed alongside another lifeguard drama series<em>, Rescue: HI-Surf, <\/em>from producer John Wells and Warner Bros. TV, which got off to a solid start behind an NFL double header in September 2024 but only lasted a season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Two years ago, Fox brass also had high expectations about<em> Rescue: HI: Surf. <\/em>Thorn was asked what they have learned from that show and what is different about<em> Baywatch <\/em>that will help it succeed when its predecessor didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cNetworks, including us, throughout throughout TV history, order multiple cop shows, multiple medical shows, multiple legal shows that hopefully have different points of view that allow similar franchises to exist on a schedule at the same time,\u201d he said. \u201cWe don\u2019t see lifeguards as any different. We love John Wells, and we took a shot with<em> HI-Surf<\/em>. It didn\u2019t quite catch on. <em>Baywatch<\/em> is a much soapier, juicier show than <em>HI-Surf,<\/em> and we hope it resonates as much as the original does, that\u2019s our goal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">One thing Fox has done differently is its approach to casting. <em>Rescue: HI-Surf <\/em>didn\u2019t have big stars, with most of its actors relatively unknown. That made marketing challenging, something that has been pointed to as a possible reason for the show\u2019s demise.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">With <em>Baywatch<\/em>, produced by Fremantle, Fox went all in on big names.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Deadline in March <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.yahoo.com\/entertainment\/tv\/articles\/livvy-dunne-joins-fox-baywatch-221522834.html\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:called the reboot;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;called the reboot&quot;}\" class=\"link  yahoo-link\">called the reboot<\/a><em> Baywatch 2.0: The Influencers Edition <\/em>because its cast features a mix of actors with large social media footprint as well as popular online personalities, including series regulars Noah Beck (41M social media followers), Shay Mitchell (35M), Stephen Amell (6.4M) and Brooks Nader (1.8M) and recurring guest star Livvy Dunne (13 million).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Fox is leaning into that. Thorn called the series \u201cpure escapism with a cast that blends top television talent with major social influencers.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><strong>Best of Deadline<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Sign up for <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/cloud.email.deadline.com\/signup\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Deadline's Newsletter;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Deadline's Newsletter&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Deadline&#8217;s Newsletter<\/a>. For the latest news, follow us on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/31XsHSx\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Facebook;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Facebook&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Facebook<\/a>, <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2TkcoeG\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Twitter;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Twitter&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Twitter<\/a>, and <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/2TntOHq\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"elm:link;elmt:article_link;slk:Instagram;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-yga=\"{&quot;yLinkElement&quot;:&quot;context_link&quot;,&quot;yModuleName&quot;:&quot;content-canvas&quot;,&quot;yLinkText&quot;:&quot;Instagram&quot;}\" class=\"link \">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fox\u2019s Baywatch has been in production in Los Angeles for two months now, so it will be ready for fall. But the high-profile reboot will not premiere then. Instead, the network is planning a January launch. Why? \u201cWe have a rich history of launching series midseason, we just did it most recently with Best Medicine [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2411582,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[358835,22074,471743,471744,362252],"class_list":["post-2411581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-baywatch","tag-fox","tag-fox-executives","tag-hi-surf","tag-michael-thorn"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Fox-President-On-Holding-\u2018Baywatch-Until-January-\u2018Rescue-HI-Surf.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2411581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2411581"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2411581\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2411583,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2411581\/revisions\/2411583"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2411582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2411581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2411581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2411581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}