Beach Blanket Schwingo

Surf's way up for David Hasselhoff

Each week on Baywatch, before 30 million viewers and 53 nations, David Hasselhoff, 40, defies better judgment (and sometimes, it seems, gravity), traipsing around in a bikini bathing suit. Meanwhile, his status as Middle Europe's hottest recording megastar continues unabated. GEORGE WAYNE caught up with him right after a swing through Austria.

George Wayne: You sometimes wear a bik your hit syndicated TV show Baywatch. you think you're a role model for all mic aged men who want to squeeze into a bik swimsuit? How old are you, anyway?

David Hasselhoff: Forty. I'm old. It takes a lot of work. I really don't pride myself on my physique. I've had to work out, and there are ways to shoot yourself. You don't shoot your nonflattering side—my bird legs. I shoot them in a way where they look O.K.

I hate walking around in a bathing suit. I'm very self-conscious about it.

G.W. Wouldn't it be fair to say that the basic premise for Baywatch is tits and ass, and bulging baskets?

D.H. No. I think it'd be fair to say that the basic premise centers on a group of California lifeguards. I think if the show was only about tits and ass, we wouldn't have such a broad audience.

We're the first American show to be in mainland China.

G.W. How do you explain your singing success in Europe? In Austria you're the second coming of Elvis. You've had a No. 1 hit song in Germany!

D.H. [The first song] was No. 1 for eight weeks. It was called "Looking for Freedom.'' The Berlin Wall came down at the time my record was No. 1, so it became even bigger. Then I was invited to sing on the Berlin Wall to 500,000 people on New Year's Eve. They embrace me as a big brother, a father, a friend, the perfect parent, kinda the Knight Rider, who is a nice guy, and, gosh, he's got a family too! I want to release a record now in America. I'm kinda like the family rock star. Kinda like Ricky Nelson.

G.W. Maybe you can get Celine Dion to duet with you. D.H. I'm trying to get her right now as a matter of fact! Do you know how to get ahold of her?

G.W. Not really, but she's great. What are your thoughts on Acapulco H.E.A.T., the Baywatch knockoff that wants to eviscerate your ratings?

D.H. Good luck! I wish them nothing but well. Everyone is trying to rip us off, but we're the ones who started all this. By the time they try to rip us off, we'll have five or six years in the can. Then we'll sell the show for $100 million and split it up, and move on to our next projects.

G.W. What will you do after Baywatch?

D.H. I'm trying to develop the Ricky Nelson story right now at CBS. I really want to concen; on my music. I would like to do something on Broadway.

G.W. You once posed semi-nude for Cosmopolitan. Would you do Playgir-ll

D.H. God, no! I'd never work again. G.W. You really think so?

D.H. Depending on how they shot me. Cosmopolitan was kinda tonguein-cheek. I'm trying to keep the Michael Landon syndrome alive by bringing in family-type entertainment.

G.W. What do you do off the set? D.H. I sleep with my wife, because I have no spare time. I have to make an appointment—

G.W. To have sex?

D.H. To have romance. She's been pregnant for three years, and now I finally have her back.

G.W. You did a TV movie with Joan Collins. What was that like?

D.H. When I first met her, I said, "So you have this reputation as a bitch.'' And she said, "Yes, isn't it wonderful!'' I said, "Hey! We're gonna get along great." I gave her champagne, and we became very good friends.

G.W. Did she make you wait on the set?

D.H. Yes, but every other woman does. They're a little insecure about their outfits, or the way that they look.

G.W. So what about movies?

D.H. No one's beating down my door for films. Somehow you're pretty much typecast as Mr. TV. . .I'd love to be Mr. Film, but I'm just happy to work. Besides, television reaches more people than film ever does.