Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 29, 1995 TAG: 9511300010
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Then she posed nude for ``Playboy.''
Now she's written an episode of ``Baywatch.'' Three episodes, actually.
Imagine. Tai Collins and a television show known for featuring young women running around in swimsuits. It's a match made in heaven.
And it's easy to laugh. In Virginia, it's practically a conditioned response, given the Roanoke native's notorious exploits. But don't be surprised if it's Collins who gets the last laugh.
``Baywatch'' could be just the beginning for the former beauty queen-turned model-turned gubernatorial massage therapist-turned centerfold-turned screenwriter. The money isn't so bad either.
Collins is the woman who claimed she had an affair with Chuck Robb during his tenure as Virginia's governor. The married Robb denied the tryst, saying they only shared a bottle of wine and a naked massage once in a New York hotel room.
Robb, of course, went on to the U.S. Senate.
Collins, meanwhile, posed for ``Playboy'' and moved to California to pursue an acting career. She also enrolled in the writing program at UCLA. In a telephone interview last week from her Malibu home, she talked about how her career developed from there.
During summer break in 1992, she earned a part as a ``recurring lifeguard'' on ``Baywatch,'' which is a syndicated television show that's internationally popular. Her job was to wear a swimsuit and deliver the occasional line, such as ``Clear the beach!''
Back at school the following semester, she wrote a sample script for the show as a project for her writing class. Collins said she picked ``Baywatch'' because she was familiar with the show's format and its characters from working on the set. ``I don't watch it,'' she confessed with some hesitation.
But her professor, who had written for ``Baywatch'' himself, was impressed enough to suggest that she submit the script to the show's producers. Initially, they rejected it. But she kept at it, submitting six different scripts before one was accepted.
That episode, titled ``Father's Day,'' ran last season. The story revolved around one of the show's lifeguards, Logan, who was tormented by repressed memories of his father's death. A secondary plot involved the show's star, David Hasselfoff, and his character's relationship with his father.
``Father's Day'' turned out to be one of last season's more popular ``Baywatch'' episodes, and was rerun three times after its initial broadcast. Normally, each ``Baywatch'' episode is repeated only twice.
That success led Collins to pen another script, titled ``Sweet Dreams,'' that will air in Roanoke on Sunday at 9 a.m. on WSLS-Channel 10. The plot again focuses on Logan, whose life is complicated when he finds what he believes to be his illegitimate son abandoned at his lifeguard tower. He doesn't want the baby at first, but grows to love him and then has to face giving him up.
``I won't tell the ending,'' Collins said.
A third show she wrote, titled ``The Last Wave,'' also is to be broadcast. Plus, she is set to guest star in an episode, where she will have more than a walk-on part. She said she gets to help on the night rescue of a capsized boat full of drunken college kids.
Acting, however, doesn't much appeal to Collins anymore.
``Who wants to act when you can make good money writing,'' she asked. Besides, she prefers her privacy to the baggage that comes with being a celebrity.
``I had my dose of that,'' she said. ``No thanks.''
The money can indeed be good. Collins can earn as much as $60,000 for one episode of ``Baywatch'' including reruns and syndication overseas. And who knows? Maybe she can make the transition to prime time. Maybe even to the movies.
She's pitching a script to one of the top dramas on network television, which she said has shown an interest. She also has written a movie script, titled ``No Glory,'' based on a true story about the two-man rowing team that won a gold medal in the 1984 Olympics. Collins said the script is making the rounds in Hollywood.
In addition, she said she is negotiating with HBO Sports about doing a show on women's sports, has written a series of children's books she wants to publish, and is working on a book to educate women about men's sports.
This literary turn might seem surprising from Collins, who first made a name for herself as Miss Virginia-U.S.A., but she said writing is something she has always done. She said it comes naturally.
``I always have more ideas than I can get to.''
Her day typically begins at 5 a.m. with breakfast and the newspaper. After breakfast, she works out at a gym and then writes from about 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. She writes mostly at her home overlooking the beach.
For inspiration, she has posted on her computer a passage from an article about George Washington Goethals, who directed the building of the Panama Canal. The quote reads:
``Many back home predicted he would not complete the impossible task.
``Aren't you going to answer your critics [he was asked]?''
```In time,' Goethals replied. `With the canal!'''
Collins objected to the idea that writing for ``Baywatch'' might reinforce a public image of her as a bimbo. Only the media has portrayed her negatively, she said. The public has been generally supportive, even through the Robb scandal.
Although Collins laughed when asked how long it takes her to write an episode of ``Baywatch,'' she scoffed at the notion that the show deserves the ridicule it sometimes gets. There are those who say the show's main purpose is to parade its cast of big-chested men and women in scanty swimwear.
On the contrary, Collins said, she is proud to be associated with a show about saving lives instead of the murder and mayhem on so many other television programs.
Plus, she can testify to what David Hasselhoff is really like.
``He's a sweeheart,'' she said. ``He's a great guy. He's the type of guy who will bring his little girls down during breaks in shooting to play in the sand.''
And what about Pamela Anderson?
``Oh, don't ask me that.''
And Chuck Robb? Does Collins think he is a ``Baywatch'' fan?
``Well, he does like to party at the beach.''
From the script ...
Here is an excerpt from the ``Sweet Dreams'' episode of ``Baywatch,'' written by Tai Collins. In this scene, Logan arrives at his friend Mitch's place to pick up the baby that has been abandoned at Logan's lifeguard tower.
Logan believes the baby is his illegitimate son, left to him by a former lover. Mitch has been babysitting while Logan goes to tell his current girlfriend about the baby and the women in his past.
The room is dark except for light flickering off the television screen. Pan to reveal Mitch and the baby asleep on the sofa. There's a soft knock at the door. Mitch opens his eyes.
FEMALE REPORTER (off-screen)
And on the local front, Santa Monica Hospital is still the site of intense police activity that began this morning when . . .
Mitch turns the TV off with the remote, checks the baby and goes to open the door. Logan comes inside.
MITCH (groggy)
So, how did it go with Caroline?
LOGAN
I . . . I couldn't tell her.
MITCH
Logan . . .
LOGAN
I tried, the words just wouldn't come out.
MITCH
So what now? What are you going to do with the baby?
Logan goes to the sleeping infant and gets close. He gazes at him, then looks over at Mitch.
LOGAN
I'll do what's right. Whatever that is, I'll . . . I'll just try and do it.
by CNB