Lifeguards turn to new channel

Huntington Beach may be next in line for a turn on the national stage, following MTV’s “Laguna Beach” and Fox drama series “The OC.”

Cable TV network A&E; Channel is planning to shoot a reality-show pilot about Huntington Beach Lifeguards, called “The Beach” and is trying to procure a film permit from the city.

“The Beach,” a reality show spinoff of “Baywatch,” will follow a group of lifeguards living, working and partying in Huntington Beach.

“It would help put us on the map, nationally and internationally,” Councilman Keith Bohr said.

But not everyone is as welcoming of the publicity it will generate for the city.

Mayor Dave Sullivan is cautious about A&E; Channel’s plans.

“It would be free advertising for the city if nicely done,” Sullivan said, but he’s not a fan of reality television in general. “The question is the exposure. It would be very helpful clearly but I want to know a little bit more about the program.”

Many Laguna Beach residents felt they were misrepresented by the MTV show as a rich, white and vacuous community.

Santa Monica production house Irwin Entertainment is negotiating a permit, on behalf of A&E; Channel, with the city to start filming as soon as possible. New York-based A&E; Network, with the tagline “The Art of Entertainment,” owns the A&E; Channel as well as the History and Biography Channels.

Lifeguards working at the beach have been interviewed for possible roles in the pilot.

“They have been talking to people, generally interviewing to see who fits into their mold,” said Kyle Lindo, Marine Safety division chief.

City officials are concerned about how the lifeguards will be portrayed and that was part of the negotiation, Lindo said.

“If I were a production or a film company and you want to show active lifeguards, Huntington Beach would be the place,” he said. “We’re a very busy beach!”

The city is keeping the contract negotiations under wraps for now.

“It’s one thing to go out and shoot a show about lifeguards, but if we are going to cooperate, we have to be able to review it,” said Laurie Payne, the city’s public information officer. “Things happen out there and they’re kids, you don’t know what they’ll say.”

City Attorney Jennifer McGrath declined to put a date on the deal and said the contract was still in a draft form.

“We may think we have done a stellar job on the contract but they [A&E; Network officials] might not think so and object to some things and so on,” she said.

Laguna Beach definitely benefited as far as tourism and financial gain are concerned, Lindo said. A popular show highlighting Huntington Beach would do the same, he said. hbi.04-pilot-CPhotoInfoU31QIG3T20060504iynvtdncMARK DUSTIN / INDEPENDENT(LA)Troy Rulmyr, Lifeguard II with the City of Huntington Beach for eight years, looks over the beach and water just south of the Huntington Beach Pier Saturday from Tower 3. A&E; is planning to film a pilot for a television show about Huntington Beach Lifeguards.