Baywatch Bites the Dust

February 8 -- Aloha, Baywatch Hawaii, and we mean that in the "goodbye," not the "hello," sense.

Two years after moving to the island paradise, the syndicated TV series about impossibly buff lifeguards is leaving the airwaves for good.

The babes-on-the-beach series began more than a decade ago on NBC before moving over to syndication. From being one of the most watched shows in the world — it aired in more than 100 countries — it found itself struggling for viewers.

Originally set on Southern California's sunny beaches, Baywatch helped launch (or relaunch) the careers — to varying degrees of success — of Pamela Anderson, Carmen Electra, Yasmine Bleeth, Erika Eleniak, Gena Lee Nolan, and of course, the former Knight Rider himself, chief lifeguard David Hasselhoff.

Moving the series, now sans big-name stars, to Hawaii may have helped pump millions into that state's economy and boosted tourism, but it didn't help the show's ratings much.

Brian Harris, president and CEO of Pearson Television North America, the show's producer, tells Variety, "The economics associated with bringing the program back could not be justified.

"It has been an amazing success story, but over the last couple of years, one wouldn't have been surprised with this announcement. This is a logical and natural end to the show."

Show publicist Kristin McEntee said the last episode will air the week of May 21.