''Pacific Blue'' is an American
crime drama series about a team of police officers with the Santa Monica Police Department who patrolled its beaches on bicycles. The show ran for five seasons on the
USA Network
USA Network (simply USA) is an American basic cable television channel owned by the NBCUniversal Television and Streaming division of Comcast's NBCUniversal through NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment. It was originally launched in 1977 as Madi ...
, from March 2, 1996, to April 9, 2000, with a total of 101 episodes. Often described as "''
Baywatch'' on bikes", the series was run in many other markets, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Ukraine, Russia, Spain, South America, Sweden, and Zimbabwe.
Cast
*
Jim Davidson as Officer/Sergeant/Lieutenant T.C. Callaway
*
Darlene Vogel
Darlene Vogel (born October 25, 1962) is an American actress and former model.
Career
Vogel's first feature film was the 1989 science fiction film, ''Back to the Future Part II'' and as the IFT intern in the pre-show segment for the 1991 film r ...
as Officer Chris Kelly (seasons 1–4; recurring season 5)
*
Paula Trickey as Officer/Sergeant Cory McNamara
*
Marcos Ferraez
Marcos Antonio Humberto Ferraez IV (born ) is an American actor best known for his work on the mid-1990s television drama, '' Pacific Blue''.
He played Ground Rush in the 2000 movie '' Cutaway''. He also appeared on the television series ''The ...
as Officer Victor Del Toro (seasons 1–3; guest season 4)
*
David Lander as Elvis Kryzcewski (season 1; guest season 2)
*
Rick Rossovich as Lieutenant Anthony Palermo (seasons 1–3)
*
Shanna Moakler as Officer Monica Harper (seasons 4–5)
*
Amy Hunter as Officer Jamie Strickland (seasons 4–5)
*
Jeff Stearns
Jeff is a masculine name, often a short form (hypocorism) of the English given name Jefferson or Jeffrey, which comes from a medieval variant of Geoffrey.
Music
* DJ Jazzy Jeff, American DJ/turntablist record producer Jeffrey Allen Townes
* ...
as Officer Russ Granger (seasons 4–5)
*
Mario Lopez as Officer Bobby Cruz (seasons 4–5)
Changes
The first cast change came at the end of the first season when David Lander, who played the Pacific Blue unit's bike repairman, was written out, though he would later return for several guest appearances in the second season. The series then underwent cast changes between the third and fourth seasons, which dramatically altered its tone. The events of the third-season finale brought the departure of actors
Marcos Ferraez
Marcos Antonio Humberto Ferraez IV (born ) is an American actor best known for his work on the mid-1990s television drama, '' Pacific Blue''.
He played Ground Rush in the 2000 movie '' Cutaway''. He also appeared on the television series ''The ...
and
Rick Rossovich, with their characters retiring from the force prior to the fourth season premiere. Ferraez would later return for a one-off guest appearance during the fourth season to wrap up his character's storyline. The fourth season premiere brought four major cast additions:
Shanna Moakler as Monica Harper,
Amy Hunter as Jamie Strickland, Jeff Stearns as Russ Granger, and
Mario Lopez as Bobby Cruz. These new recruits to the Pacific Blue unit skewed the show's cast in a younger direction.
Jim Davidson and
Paula Trickey, who had previously played the role of the show's young blood, evolved into the "old guard" as their characters took on leadership roles within the Pacific Blue unit. In addition, the characters of Jim Davidson and
Darlene Vogel
Darlene Vogel (born October 25, 1962) is an American actress and former model.
Career
Vogel's first feature film was the 1989 science fiction film, ''Back to the Future Part II'' and as the IFT intern in the pre-show segment for the 1991 film r ...
, who had become romantically linked in the third season, were married in the fourth season opener. Vogel later left the series on a regular basis at the end of the season, but returned for recurring appearances for the final season, including the series finale. Storylines for the fourth and fifth seasons emphasized undercover and vice work; while these areas would normally fall out of the purview of a police unit like Pacific Blue, the show always made an effort to explain away each incident as an exception, episode by episode. The changes can be credited with extending the life of the series for two additional seasons and made it the highest rated drama series on USA Network at the time. The series had well over 2 million regular viewers at a time when cable series were not permitted to advertise on other cable networks much less the Big Four broadcast networks.
Guest stars
The series featured numerous appearances by
professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a form of theater that revolves around staged wrestling matches. The mock combat is performed in a ring similar to the kind used in boxing, and the dramatic aspects of pro wrestling may be performed both in the ring or ...
stars playing other characters, including
Rena Mero (Sable),
Chyna
Chyna (born Joan Marie Laurer; December 27, 1969 – April 17, 2016) was an American professional wrestler, bodybuilder and television personality.
She first rose to prominence in the World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE) in 1997, where s ...
,
Triple H
Paul Michael Levesque (born July 27, 1969), better known by the ring name Triple H, is an American business executive, actor, and retired professional wrestler currently serving as the chief content officer for WWE. He is widely regarded as ...
and
Shawn Michaels
Michael Shawn Hickenbottom (born July 22, 1965), better known by his ring name Shawn Michaels, is an American retired professional wrestler. He is signed to WWE as Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative. Widely regarded as one ...
. (''
WWF Raw is War'' aired on the same network) Professional Intense Cycles Downhill Racer April Lawyer performed bike stunts in a number of episodes.
trial
In law, a trial is a coming together of parties to a dispute, to present information (in the form of evidence) in a tribunal, a formal setting with the authority to adjudicate claims or disputes. One form of tribunal is a court. The tribun ...
rider
Hans Rey performed tricks in each episode.
Carmen Electra made a special guest appearance in her role from ''
Baywatch''. Other notable guest stars included
Micky Dolenz
George Michael Dolenz Jr. (born March 8, 1945) is an American actor, musician, TV producer and businessman. He is best known as the drummer and one of three primary vocalists for the pop- rock band the Monkees (1966–1970, and multiple reunion ...
,
Shannon Tweed,
Shannon Elizabeth,
Danny Bonaduce,
Adam West,
Erik Estrada,
Holly Robinson Peete
Holly Elizabeth Robinson Peete (born September 18, 1964) is an American actress and singer. She is known for her roles as Judy Hoffs on the Fox police drama ''21 Jump Street'', Vanessa Russell on the ABC sitcom '' Hangin' with Mr. Cooper'', and Dr ...
,
Kent McCord and
Stephen J. Cannell
Stephen Joseph Cannell (; February 5, 1941 – September 30, 2010) was an American television producer, writer, novelist, occasional actor, and founder of Cannell Entertainment (formerly Stephen J. Cannell Productions) and the Cannell Studios.
...
.
Production
The series was created by Bill Nuss. It was executive produced by
Gary Nardino
The original incarnation of Paramount Television was the name of the television production division of the American film studio Paramount Pictures, that was responsible for the production of Viacom television programs, until it changed its name ...
, a producer and former president of Paramount Television and Bill Nuss. Their production company, North Hall Productions, took its name from their respective alma maters –
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world.
Charte ...
and
Seton Hall University
Seton Hall University (SHU) is a private Catholic research university in South Orange, New Jersey. Founded in 1856 by then-Bishop James Roosevelt Bayley and named after his aunt, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesa ...
. Nardino died on January 31, 1998, after which Nuss became the sole, chief show runner. Nuss continued to use the North Hall Productions name after Nardino's death.
Co-executive producers included
E! Entertainment Television founders,
Alan Mruvka, Marilyn Vance, Rick Filon, Richard C. Okie and John B. Moranville.
''Pacific Blue'' was filmed in Santa Monica, Venice, Redondo Beach, Seal Beach and Huntington Beach, California, with the exception of two 1999 episodes that were filmed in Hawaii. Executive Producer Bill Nuss brought the show to Hawaii on the suggestion of
April Masini
April Masini is an American advice columnist also known for her political advocacy for the television and film industry in Hawaii.
Career
April Masini is an advice columnist and commentator who offers dating and relationship advice to people of ...
, who also helped bring ''
Baywatch'' to Hawaii in 1999. After the first 13 episodes, the series featured custom-painted state-of-the-art
Trek Y bikes, outfitted with Spinergy wheels, NiteRider lights, and Janned police bags, making each bicycle worth over $5,000. The form-fitting uniforms are often credited with influencing the way bicycle cops dressed all over the world.
Episodes
Release
Syndication
The series still runs in many countries throughout the world. The show has gained a slight uptick in recognition with the MTV reality series ''
Meet the Barkers
''Meet the Barkers'' is a reality television series which aired on MTV. The series followed the everyday life of married couple, Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler, as well as Moakler and Barker's two children, Alabama Luella Bark ...
'', which chronicles the married life of Blink 182 drummer
Travis Barker
Travis Landon Barker (born November 14, 1975) is an American musician who serves as the drummer for the rock band Blink-182. He has also performed as a frequent collaborator with hip hop artists, is a member of the rap rock group Tran ...
and his wife (and ''Pacific Blue'' vet)
Shanna Moakler. A clip of her from the series can be seen in the opening credits of ''
Meet the Barkers
''Meet the Barkers'' is a reality television series which aired on MTV. The series followed the everyday life of married couple, Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler, as well as Moakler and Barker's two children, Alabama Luella Bark ...
''.
Home media
On January 10, 2012, Mill Creek Entertainment released ''Pacific Blue: The Complete Series'' on DVD in Region 1.
The 19-disc set features all 101 episodes of the series as well as 90 minutes of bonus features, including gag reels, production techniques and interviews. On the same day, Mill Creek also released the complete first season on DVD.
The series is also available for download on iTunes and other platforms.
References
External links
Official Website (via Internet Archive)*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pacific Blue
1996 American television series debuts
2000 American television series endings
1990s American crime drama television series
2000s American crime drama television series
English-language television shows
Television shows set in Santa Monica, California
USA Network original programming
Beaches in fiction
Television shows filmed in California
Television shows filmed in Hawaii