Sunset Beach (1997–1999)

Having discovered her fiancé Tim Truman kissing another woman, Meg Cummings leaves her home in Kansas on their wedding day to start a new life in Sunset Beach, California. Her goal is to ... See full summary »

Creators:

Josh Griffith, Robert Guza Jr., Charles Pratt Jr.

Stars:

Susan Ward, Clive Robertson, Sam Behrens

3 wins & 34 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Susan Ward	...	Meg Cummings (440 episodes, 1997-1999)
Clive Robertson	...	Ben Evans (424 episodes, 1997-1999)
Sarah Buxton	...	Annie Douglas (401 episodes, 1997-1999)
Sam Behrens	...	Gregory Richards (398 episodes, 1997-1999)
Eddie Cibrian	...	Cole Deschanel (377 episodes, 1997-1999)
Lesley-Anne Down	...	Olivia Richards (370 episodes, 1997-1999)
Hank Cheyne	...	Ricardo Torres (338 episodes, 1997-1999)
Timothy Adams	...	Casey Mitchum (310 episodes, 1997-1999)
Priscilla Garita	...	Gabi Martinez (304 episodes, 1997-1999)
Jason George	...	Michael Bourne (287 episodes, 1997-1999)
Sherri Saum	...	Vanessa Hart (281 episodes, 1997-1999)
Vanessa Dorman	...	Caitlin Richards (280 episodes, 1997-1998)
Randy Spelling	...	Sean Richards (279 episodes, 1997-1999)
Kathleen Noone	...	Bette Katzenkazrahi (260 episodes, 1997-1999)
Dax Griffin	...	Tim Truman (247 episodes, 1997-1999)
Dominique Jennings	...	Virginia Harrison (210 episodes, 1997-1999)

Storyline

Having discovered her fiancé Tim Truman kissing another woman, Meg Cummings leaves her home in Kansas on their wedding day to start a new life in Sunset Beach, California. Her goal is to find a computer pen pal, SB. Soon after she sets foot on Sunset Beach, Meg's life is turned upside-down, as she becomes involved in the dynamic lives of the Beach's residents.

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Plot Keywords:

beach | love potion | manipulation | earthquake | sex | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

TV-14

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

6 January 1997 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

National Broadcasting Company (NBC), Spelling Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min (755 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

'Kristin Davis' was originally offered the role of Meg Cummings, but she turned it down.

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Quotes

Annie Douglas: The old Maria, she understood the crazy things I did and she loved me in spite of them!
Maria Torres-Evans: The old Maria doesn't sound very smart.

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Connections

Edited into Sunset Beach: Shockwave (1998)

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Soundtracks

"I Will Not Lie"
Performed by Kati Mac

User Reviews

A most enjoyable escapism

Upon viewing Sunset Beach for the first time, I like most others viewing this show will be instantly thrown by the garish, bright colours allowed by the particular camera lens used.

Add to this the masses of fantastically healthy-appearing, bronzed characters with their all too perfectly sculpted facial and bodily features and I would defy anyone not to be hypnotized by this show.

Having seen "The Bold and the Beautiful", "The Young and the Restless", and "Melrose Place", after initially having been hypnotized for a brief 5 minutes or so I began to see this programme with my active-mind. Rational thought took over and the bad memories of the aforementioned soaps began to taint Sunset Beach. However, upon viewing only one episode, it was clearly apparent to me that this was special.

For me what makes this such effective, enjoyable escapism is the acting performances from most of the cast. Sure, the acting can be "Over The Top" (meaning unnecessary) at times most of the cast are actually very good. One of the most impressive of the cast in my own opinion is Peter Barton as the bad Police officer Eddie Connors. Barton's manipulative, devious yet likable delivery gives this role fantastic credence. Barton is followed closely by fellow Police officer (actually detective, hem hem) Hank Cheyne as Ricardo Torres. Ricardo is the heroic sort who you find it difficult to dislike. Cheyne symbolises truth and honesty, however there is a great deal of emotion beneath this.

Most impressive of all however - and directly opposed to the Torres character in the sense that there is almost no emotion shown - is Sam Behrens portrayal of successful business man, meddling father and often sinister Gregory Richards. Behrens's delivery of the debonair, amazingly practical, driven and successful Richards is almost always utterly captivating. In fact the entire Richards family have the bulk of the best story lines in the first year of Sunset Beach, each one is fantastically delivered by Behrens.

If ever there is a moment coming where you feel that Richards will have to show some emotion, chances are he will not. When a rare moment of emotion, other than the slightly frequent anger/impatience/intolerance is displayed by Behrens it is quite something to behold.

Therefore, as the characters are so well represented, the story lines deserve a lot of credit.

In my opinion the first 10 months of Sunset Beach was most enjoyable. However that fantastic scenery of the beautiful beach and its surrounding domestic habitat's, coupled with the bold story lines and mainly great characters elevates Sunset Beach above any other daytime soap EVER.