'Baywatch' renewal decision expected today from London

The decision on the future of "Baywatch Hawai‘i" was expected to be announced today by the show’s owner, London-based Pearson Television.

Reached by phone on Friday at "Baywatch’s" local production offices, co-executive producer Howard Grigsby said he was anxiously awaiting word from executives at Pearson regarding the fate of the program’s third Hawai‘i season.

"Nobody knows," said Grigsby, speaking for himself and co-executive producer Frank South, who was out of the office. "Negotiations are going on in London right now. I really don’t expect to know the answer today since the day is over in London."

Grigsby refused to speculate on "Baywatch Hawai‘i’s" chances for renewal. The show has garnered decent, though far from stellar, ratings in its first two seasons of Hawai‘i filming.

"We’ve been waiting hourly for an answer today," said Grigsby. "We just don’t know. . . . (South) would tell you the same thing."

Executives at Pearson Television’s West Coast production offices were unavailable for comment on Friday.

"Baywatch" has been filmed exclusively in Hawai‘i since its 1999-2000 season. Prior to the move, the production had been based in Los Angeles for nine years.

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