6.5/10386 votes#1 - Panic at Malibu Pier
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 4/23/1989
Mitch Buchannon has just been promoted to lieutenant. Mitch and his ex-wife Gayle have an argument about what's best for their son Hobie. Eddie Kramer is the top rookie in the rookie class of '89, and Shauni McClain is one of the last ones to qualify. Shauni starts off as a terrible lifeguard, but the experienced Jill Riley teaches her how to become a good lifeguard.
Director: Richard Compton
Writer: Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz
6.3/10308 votes#2 - In Deep
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/22/1989
Instead of attending summer school, Hobie decides to go power skiing with two friends, whose recklessness leads to a tragic accident. Eddie's lack of financial resources is revealed when Craig finds him sleeping in one of the lifeguard towers.
Director: Peter H. Hunt
Writer: Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz
6.4/10311 votes#3 - Heat Wave
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 9/29/1989
Los Angeles is having a heat wave and it's going to be a busy day for the lifeguards.
Director: Gus Trikonis
Writer: Ernie Wallengren
6.1/10286 votes#4 - Second Wave
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/13/1989
An old acquaintance of Eddie's comes to L.A. but it quickly becomes apparent that Eddie does not welcome this visit. Trevor dates a rich woman that is a handful for him to deal with and Mitch worries about upcoming mandatory tests that all lieutenants, including him, must take.
Director: Scott Brazil
Writer: Jill Donner
6.3/10278 votes#5 - Message in a Bottle
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/20/1989
Mitch's former wife is planning to move to Ohio and wants to take Hobie with her. Upset over the squabbling that ensues, Hobie takes off with a friend and runs into pirates on a nearby island. Eddie and Shauni squabble after Shauni accidentally hurts Eddie.
Director: Kim Manners
Writer: Terry Erwin
6.5/10283 votes#6 - The Sky is Falling
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/27/1989
Gayle and Mitch continue to fight over Gayle's plan to take Hobie with her. She ultimately changes her mind after Hobie risks his life to save a drowning young girl. A plane crashes into the water near the beach with the occupants, after they are rescued, looking to recover a suitcase of stolen money that they had with them. Captain Thorpe decides to join Eddie and Shauni on their tower in order to teach them.
Director: Kim Manners
Writer: William Rabkin, Lee Goldberg
6.3/10274 votes#7 - The Drowning Pool
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/3/1989
A man is found drowned off the beach and Jill suspects foul play is the reason. She begins seeing the son of the victim and during the investigation discovers the man's cousin was responsible for his father's death. A man who helped Jill bring the victim ashore decides he wants to be a lifeguard as well even though he is not qualified.
Director: Mario DiLeo
Writer: William A. Schwartz
6.3/10270 votes#8 - Rookie School
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/10/1989
A woman steals a book from a powerful man and hides out from him with the help of Eddie. Craig and Gina contemplate having children when they are married but have second thoughts after meeting a couple while on a romantic weekend. Trevor discovers that his hardest competitor among the rookies is doped.
Director: Bruce Seth Green
Writer: William Rabkin, Lee Goldberg
6.1/10272 votes#9 - Cruise Ship
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/24/1989
Eddie does not like Shauni's new boyfriend or the way he treats her when things do not go the way he wants. Also Hobie gets in trouble with a girl who likes him.
Director: Tommy Lee Wallace
Writer: Jill Donner, William A. Schwartz
6.5/10271 votes#10 - The Cretin of the Shallows
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/1/1989
A new hotel opens near the beach and a string of murders occur around the same time which convinces Craig the two may be connected.
Director: Vern Gillum
Writer: Ernie Wallengren, William A. Schwartz
5.9/10259 votes#11 - Shelter Me
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/8/1989
An approaching tropical storm has the Baywatch lifeguards preparing for its effects but the presence of two wanted criminals cause unforeseen events. Eddie and Shauni rest. Hobie and a girl have storm parties.
Director: Scott Brazil
Writer: Terry Erwin
6.3/10264 votes#12 - The Reunion
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/15/1989
Mitch attends his high school reunion and meets a classmate that stirs up old feelings. Eddie, frustrated at having no car, buys one at an extremely low price from a buddy but quickly discovers the reason why the cost was so low.
Director: Rob Bowman
Writer: W. Reed Moran
6.1/10254 votes#13 - Armored Car
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/5/1990
A pro-am beach volleyball tournament is being held and Trevor tries to convince Jill to be his partner for the competition. Their main rival in the competition is Jill's ex-partner which cements Jill's resolve to compete.
Director: Michael Ray Rhodes
Writer: William Rabkin, Lee Goldberg
6.1/10260 votes#14 - Home Cort
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1/12/1990
A new lifeguard arrives at Baywatch and stirs up different emotions for the current staff. Jill and Shauni go into business selling sandwiches but find competition to be stiffer than expected.
Director: Paul Schneider
Writer: Terry Erwin, William A. Schwartz
6.6/10261 votes#15 - We Need a Vacation
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/26/1990
Craig joins Cort and Eddie on a trip to Mexico for a long overdue vacation but things turn out very differently from their expectations.
Director: Gus Trikonis
Writer: William Rabkin, Lee Goldberg
6.2/10241 votes#16 - Muddy Waters
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 2/2/1990
Cort and Eddie go to a local water theme park to teach teenagers about lifeguard duties but one of them quickly resents Eddie's presence. At Baywatch, Hobie finds out that parents of his fellow students at school have a dim view of the occupation of lifeguarding and Shauni gets into trouble over her pinup magazine pictures.
Director: Paul Schneider
Writer: Terry Erwin, William A. Schwartz
6.4/10248 votes#17 - Snake Eyes
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/9/1990
An illegal offshore casino causes problems for Cort and some of his fellow lifeguards. Hobie thinks his English class is going to be a breeze when Mitch starts dating his teacher but soon learns otherwise.
Director: Gus Trikonis
Writer: Kate Boutilier
7.2/10301 votes#18 - Eclipse
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 2/23/1990
Eddie believes he sees a ghost by the water and the others believe that he is losing his mind. Hobie learns that a friend's pet is going to be euthanized for an alleged attack and resolves to help both of them.
Director: Paul Schneider
Writer: Claire Whitaker
6.3/10228 votes#19 - Shark Derby
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 3/2/1990
A local business owner organizes a shark derby but the event quickly spirals out of control and leads Jill to run into the water to save a little boy but then is attacked by the shark. She is saved by Mitch but later dies from a blood embolism.
Director: Gregory J. Bonann
Writer: Terry Erwin, Kate Boutilier
6.3/10230 votes#20 - The Big Race
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 3/16/1990
Cort enters a race to win the prize money and fulfil a pledge he makes on a yearly basis.
Director: Kevin Inch
Writer: Rolf Wallengren
6.6/10241 votes#21 - Old Friends
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 3/30/1990
Mitch, Craig and Garner go on a hang gliding trip that results in a series of accidents for all three.
Director: Douglas Schwartz
Writer: William A. Schwartz
7.5/103 votes#22 - The End?
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 4/6/1990
An earthquake shakes Baywatch headquarters and causes many problems for the lifeguards and for one, a life altering decision is made.
Director: Reza Badiyi
Writer: William Rabkin, Lee Goldberg
The Best Episodes of Baywatch Season 1
Every episode of Baywatch Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Baywatch Season 1!
Join the Baywatch lifeguards on their thrilling adventures filled with beautiful beaches and those iconic red swimsuits.
Genres:Action & AdventureDramaCrime
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Panic at Malibu Pier" is the best rated episode of "Baywatch" season 1. It scored 6.5/10 based on 386 votes. Directed by Richard Compton and written by Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz, it aired on 4/23/1989. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "In Deep".