Baywatch OG Michael Bergin

Summary

Podcast Summary: Kat on the Loose

Episode: Baywatch OG Michael Bergin

Host: Kat Zammuto
Guests: Michael Bergin (former Baywatch star, now real estate agent), David Chokachi (Baywatch actor, frequent guest/co-host)
Date: July 1, 2026
Setting: Recorded on Zuma Beach, Malibu

---

Overview

In this energetic, candid episode, Kat sits down on Zuma Beach with Baywatch alumni Michael Bergin and David Chokachi. With warmth and humor, the trio discusses returning to Baywatch after decades, the reality of life in the spotlight, lessons in longevity and authenticity, resilience in the face of career changes, and the truth behind media portrayals. Michael opens up about his iconic modeling years, the pressures of acting, and why he steered away from Hollywood. The crew shares advice for young actors and reflects on the meaning of fame, friendship, and staying grounded amidst glitz and temptation.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Returning to Baywatch After Decades

[01:05 – 07:02]

• Michael's Return:
  • Michael recently filmed a cameo as JD Darius for the new Baywatch, while David Chokachi has been recast as a regular.
  • Michael: “To be on the beach with my shirt off… I lost about 20 pounds.” [02:21]
  • David: Remarks on Michael’s “self-deprecating comedic way” and how they ad-libbed “fat jokes” into the scene for fun.
• The Feelings:
  • Michael found it “surreal” to return after 30 years and admits acting is not like “riding a bike” for him; nerves remain.
  • Both men joke about “dad bods” and how well they’ve aged, with Kat complimenting them as examples of men “aging really well.”

2. Lessons in Authenticity and Vulnerability

[07:53 – 12:27]

• Changing Careers:
  • Michael elaborates on leaving acting: “I love working as an actor… I don’t think the industry loved me.” [07:53]
  • He reflects on his lack of confidence, troublesome auditions, and anxiety about lines, even at Baywatch’s peak.
• David’s Input:
  • David confirms Michael’s nervousness on set, recalling a memorable scene when Michael struggled with just two lines:
    • David: “He could not get it right. I was in my pants laughing.” [08:41]
  • Michael admits that fewer lines make him more anxious.

3. Model Fame & Staying Grounded

[12:27 – 16:19]

• Calvin Klein Campaign:
  • Michael replaced Mark Wahlberg as the face of Calvin Klein:
    • “Overnight, I became a supermodel.” [14:01]
  • Despite sudden stardom and attention, Michael says, “The modeling business and the acting business did not change me.”
• Staying Humble:
  • Both guests credit their New England upbringing for honesty and humility:
    • “People tell you straight to your face how they feel.” – David [15:01]

4. The Dark Side of Fame & The Importance of Focus

[16:46 – 20:23]

• Avoiding Pitfalls:
  • Michael avoided the trap of drugs and wild partying: “I’m very proud of myself for not getting sucked into that… just staying away from the drugs.” [17:50]
  • David adds, “It's a giant trap, and all of it’s an illusion… none of that stuff feeds your soul.” [16:46, 18:12]
• Advice for Young People:
  • Focus on deeper/spiritual fulfillment over superficial rewards.

5. Acting Advice: Nerves, Preparation, & Resilience

[20:47 – 29:40]

• Audition Stories:
  • Michael recounts nearly missing the Calvin Klein campaign due to his nerves and running into similar issues at acting auditions. Even after landing Baywatch, he felt out of place in audition rooms.
  • The importance of “hon[ing] your craft” is repeatedly emphasized.
    • David: “If you work on your craft and you have a coach… you’re going to be less nervous.” [26:29]
• Overcoming Nerves:
  • Advice includes breathwork (box breathing), yoga, staying prepared, and practicing with supportive co-stars.
    • “My tip is take a Xanax.” – Michael, joking [26:07]
• Support on Set:
  • David and Kelly Packard acted as informal acting coaches for Michael on Baywatch.
  • Kat notes, “The audience can’t see your nerves — you always looked incredible on camera.” [27:29]

6. The Realities of Recent TV Portrayals (Love Story & His Book)

[30:03 – 34:35]

• American Love Story:
  • Michael was portrayed in the miniseries about Carolyn Bessette and JFK Jr. but did not watch it:
    • “I heard enough about it… I stressed about it for a whole year before it actually came out.” [30:29]
    • “They never reached out, never called me.” [31:00]
  • He wrote his memoir in 2004, to “set the record straight and never talk about it again.” [32:21]
  • Michael declines to share personal memories of Carolyn Bessette but confirms the book’s authenticity.

7. Returning to Baywatch: Behind-the-Scenes & New Era

[34:42 – 37:00]

• Production Insights:
  • Filming for the new Baywatch continues, with a January premiere, including a primetime slot after a FOX NFL playoff game.
  • New technology (drones, faster frame rates) adds visual flair beyond the original’s slow-motion:
    • “McG is a visual creative genius...” – David [35:13]

8. Life Now & Staying Connected

[37:00 – Episode End]

• Personal Growth:

  • Michael is now a successful LA real estate agent leading a team of 14, with his wife, Joy, managing his social media (Instagram: @therealmichaelbergin).
  • David remains active in acting and maintains a close friendship with Michael.

• Reflections on Friendship and Self-Worth:

  • Banter about abs, mutual support, and “momentum” in life.
    • Kat, to Michael: “You did great. Were you nervous?”
    • Michael: “No, I feel very comfortable — you made me feel comfortable.” [39:44]

• Audience Engagement:

  • Kat encourages listeners to watch the video version for “eye candy” (abs!) and emphasizes that dedication to self-care and fitness pays off at any age.

• Baywatch Nostalgia:

  • Kat fondly recalls her teenage dream of meeting the cast in Malibu (“I was staring like, where are they? Where do they film?”), highlighting the show’s global influence and fantasy.

• Safety Reminder:

  • The dangers of strong surf at Zuma Beach and the need for ocean respect, especially for tourists.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Michael Bergin, on returning to Baywatch:
  “It was very surreal getting back on the beach in front of cameras and stuff like that, because I haven’t… I haven’t done it in 30 years.” [02:09]
• On fame and staying grounded:
  “The modeling business and the acting business did not change me… I’m the same person I was before I booked the Calvin Klein campaign.” – Michael [15:08]
• David Chokachi, on the illusion of Hollywood:
  “It’s a giant trap, and all of it’s an illusion… if you’re not careful, you’ll lose who you are.” [16:46, 18:12]
• Michael, on vulnerability:
  “Pretty much an open book.” [10:22]
• Michael, on nerves:
  “If you give me three pages of dialogue… I focus. When you have one line… it makes me so nervous. I couldn’t remember the line in front of… ten producers. I just shut down.” [09:10–11:12]
• Kat, highlighting honesty:
  “I think it’s so nice to just be honest about the process because we don’t see it… we think it’s so easy.” [29:00]
• Advice for aspiring actors:
  “You gotta hone your craft… it’s all about confidence.” – Michael [29:24]

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Topic | |--------|-----------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:05 | Michael’s cameo and feelings about returning to Baywatch | | 07:53 | Why Michael left acting and his struggles with confidence | | 12:42 | Replacing Marky Mark at Calvin Klein, handling sudden fame | | 16:46 | Advice: Avoiding Hollywood’s pitfalls, staying true to self | | 20:47 | Acting anxiety, overcoming nerves, advice for auditions | | 30:03 | “Love Story” portrayal & his memoir about Carolyn Bessette | | 34:42 | New Baywatch reboot: production insights and technology | | 37:00 | Current lives: real estate, support, and Baywatch nostalgia | | 39:44 | Reflections, audience Q&A, Kat’s Malibu memory |

---

Final Thoughts

This episode is a heartfelt, humorous, and unfiltered look at what it means to be thrown into fame, how easy it is to feel like an outsider, and why authenticity, humility, and real friendship matter most. Michael Bergin’s vulnerability about anxiety and career pivots, paired with David Chokachi and Kat’s supportive, lively banter, offers listeners both nostalgia and honest wisdom about the realities behind the glamour of Hollywood and the importance of staying true to yourself.

---

Watch the video episode for bonus moments and behind-the-scenes beach banter!

Transcript

[A]

Okay, so we are in gorgeous Zuma beach, although it's a little foggy right now for a really special episode. Tough day at work, and I'm so happy I get to do it. Hi, guys.

[B]

Hello.

[A]

Welcome to Cat on the Loose.

[B]

Great to be here.

[A]

Hi. Thank you, Michael. I mean, everybody knows David, the Cat on the Loose crowd because you've been on the show. Everybody loves you, and you're gonna help me co host this super special episode with Michael, right?

[C]

Yes.

[A]

So I want to pack up 10, 10 million things in about 40 minutes. Are you ready to rock and roll?

[B]

Let's go. Let's do it.

[A]

Are you ready to do it? Organic.

[B]

Organic. Okay.

[A]

First things first. Just before we started shooting, you mentioned something that I came with a Central perk sweater. And you guys are on Baywatch. Right. And I feel so bad. So hold on. Let's fix this up. Okay. I have a surprise for you.

[B]

Oh, my Lord.

[C]

Okay. All right.

[B]

Yes. Where did you get that?

[A]

Right, right.

[B]

Well, I don't even have a Baywatch bathing suit.

[A]

Don't want to hire me. But it's their loss.

[B]

They should.

[C]

They.

[B]

They be lucky to have you.

[A]

I agree.

[B]

You look beautiful.

[A]

Thank you very much. Now we're. Now we're on team. So let's start with Baywatch. Both of you guys were on Baywatch decades ago, and now you guys are reshooting Baywatch. I already asked David about his experience. So let's start with you. How does it feel to be on such an iconic show decades later? Did you think it was gonna happen? Did you expect it was gonna happen?

[B]

Well, I mean, to be honest, David's really back on the show. He got recast. They brought me back as. As a cameo. They could. They could bring me back again, but I shot with David a couple weeks ago in. In one of the episodes. So right now it's just a one off for. For me. I'm not an actor anymore. I'm doing Los Angeles real estate. So that's where my focus is.

[A]

Oh, that's okay. Of course you change careers, and I want to ask about that. But even if coming back as a cameo.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

How do you feel about that? Because it is a big deal, Right? It's a very iconic show.

[B]

It's a very good question. You know what? It was very surreal getting back on the beach in front of cameras and stuff like that, because I haven't. I haven't done it in 30 years.

[A]

You didn't do anything.

[B]

And. And to be on the beach with my shirt off. Okay. I Lost. I lost about £20. So when I was on the beach, I didn't, I didn't look great. He was telling me I wasn't looking great, but

[C]

honestly.

[B]

Yeah, you know, but I wasn't looking bad.

[C]

But I was.

[B]

But I'm a lot bigger, I'm a lot bigger than he is and, but

[A]

why, you know, you guys shouldn't compare. Like, you know, when girls compare their bodies with each other, I'm like, come on, don't buy. But I, you guys shouldn't compare. Yes, you are ripped.

[C]

But I think the thing you gotta know about Michael is he has the best self deprecating comedic way about him. So like, it's not like a typical thing where if you said that to someone, they'd be really offended.

[B]

I'll make fun of myself first before.

[A]

I mean, you guys are really good.

[C]

And we actually used it in the scene.

[A]

You did.

[C]

Oh yeah.

[B]

Cause they were like, he was adding lines, making fun of me in the scene and they were allowing it, they're allowing the ad lib. It was so. It's, it's crazy.

[A]

I cannot wait to watch it. Let's not, let's not tell the whole show. But how did it feel like when you're on camera, Is it like riding a bicycle? You never forget about it?

[B]

I mean, you know, I don't think acting is, you know, you got to hone your craft as an actor. I always, I always struggled with my lines and I, I only had two lines in this scene. But because David was adding fat jokes and stuff, I, I end up with like 10, 10 lines probably. But I, I was, I, we had to do it over and over again. And to be honest, I, I had a, I, I kept, when we went back to one, I was worried about my two lines and then 10 lines.

[A]

He put the pressure on you. He put the pressure on you. I can see that.

[B]

So it's, some of it is like riding a bike, but I think a lot of it is not. I mean, you gotta like, David's a very good actor. He, he hones his craft and he, you know, he, he, he knows his lines and doesn't even think twice about it. I get really nervous and I, it get, it gets in my head and I, I'm sure you did fantastic.

[A]

But I have to say. Okay, I'm going to interrupt you. If you guys are listening to the audio episode, do me a Favor, go to YouTube, cat on the Loose show. You can see both of them. You're both, I mean, you aged really well. Both of you aged really well.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

Like, you're not. Like, you actually said that on the episode you came to the show, Dave. They're like, it's not like I'm coming back. Like, you know, the ugly old fat dad.

[C]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

You know, you guys are still coming back. You can. You're proof that man can age really well.

[C]

He looks.

[B]

He looks better than he did 30 years ago when. 35 years ago.

[A]

You look more.

[B]

Yeah, he's got no body fat, so it's like, I don't even want to sit next to him right now.

[A]

Oh, come on.

[C]

Stop it.

[A]

Stop.

[B]

He looks. He looks great. But, you know.

[A]

But did you have fun?

[B]

I. I had a great time. Like I said, it was. It was very surreal going back on. I didn't know anyone but David Chokechi and Kelly Packard, who's on the show.

[A]

She's in fantastic.

[B]

She's in great.

[A]

Omg. When I saw her, I'm like, okay, Catherine, go. Go to the gym a few extra hours, please. I was like, wow.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

But I'm a lot bigger than the two of them. So, like, me. Me being that, like, dad bod coming back on, standing next to these guys

[A]

of wearing the Baywatch suit.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Oh, my. Say the show is going to air in January, right. And we really believe it's going to be a huge hit because you have a massive worldwide audience. We grew up watching the show. I mean, grew up. I'm a little bit younger there, guys, but I'm the same age. We love the show. You're going to have the new audience from the new people. Let's say massive hit. They say, hey, you know, we love you. Women love you. You want to come back as a series regular? Is that something you would entertain or you don't want to switch careers again?

[B]

If they asked me to come back, I would be honored. If you guys are listening, bring me back, Michael.

[C]

Bring me back.

[A]

I'm working on the app.

[B]

Let's go, let's go. Bring me back. Let's go, baby.

[A]

I love that. Yeah. So did you come back with the same character?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

That you were?

[B]

Yeah, I was JD Jack Darius on the show. They brought me back as JD Kelly Packard as well. And he's. He's. He's. He's back as Cody Madison. Yeah. Yeah, it was great. But, you know, it was just. It was great being back. It really was. And you know what? It just. It kind of gave me a little. Kind of gave me, like, a new life. Like, when they. When they called, I had a Couple of weeks to prepare and, you know, I dropped 20 pounds and I feel so much incentive.

[C]

Right.

[B]

But I feel so much better about my life because I lost a little bit of weight and I feel good.

[A]

You look, I mean, you look ripped. Thank you for showing your abs. We really appreciate it. With all the respect.

[B]

You're not going to show that part, are you?

[A]

Of course we will. That's a hard. Yes.

[C]

That's like the teaser clip, bro.

[A]

And again, if you guys are listening to the audio episode, don't miss out on the video.

[C]

Yeah, you'll miss Michael Bur's abs.

[A]

Now you have to show yours, too.

[B]

One ab.

[A]

Well, you know, it's eye candy, right? Girls deserve eye candy. With all the respect to your spouses, but, you know, our female audience thanks you. But back then, why did you decide to change careers? Like, that's it. Did you not want to act anymore? Were you burned out? Was it just life?

[B]

You know, it's a good question. I, I actually, I love working as an actor, to be honest. I don't think the industry love me, if that, if that makes any sense.

[A]

I cannot. But can you believe that, David? I don't know. I mean, you know, you have such a camera face. I mean, you're a Calvin Klein model.

[B]

I was. And I probably should have stayed there. I should have stayed there. But you know what, it's like, you'd

[C]

have a house up here.

[B]

You know what? Again, he's a very good actor. He has confidence in acting. And I, I don't, I, I, to be honest, I, I get, I get nervous. I get nervous in front of the camera. I get nervous with my lines. Like I mentioned before.

[A]

And even back then, you were like that.

[C]

Yeah, we had a totally struggle. He had to. I had an apartment with. That year you were on the show, like, so. And he's like, hey, can I crash your apartment? And in the scene he, it says on the set we're on in Culver City in, like an interior set, and he just had to come in, hit a mark and say, I think two lines. And you. He could not get it right. In my pants. Laughing.

[B]

I do. And you know, you know what that was? That was probably only the one of the few times that I did struggle. Actually, you know what it is? Seriously, if you give me, like, three pages of dialogue, something juicy and meaty that I could sink, sink my acting chops into, I'm not focusing on one line or two lines because I have three pages of dialogue. But when, when I, when you have like one line, two lines makes you even more nervous. It makes me, it makes me so nervous. And I'm like, trying to think of that one, one line. I, I, I actually had an audition in front of producers one time. There was, there was like 10 producers. I kid you not. I had one line and I couldn't, I could not remember. I couldn't remember the line in front of, in front of, Come on, all these. I could not.

[A]

But I have to say, and it's

[B]

very nice, and they made fun of me. I didn't get it. I didn't get the part, obviously, but now they, they made fun of me in the room.

[A]

Oh, David, stop.

[B]

No, I, I, but you know, Michael,

[A]

I have to say something. It's really nice of you because you're being very vulnerable because you like being very honest about it.

[B]

Pretty much an open book.

[A]

Yeah, I love that. Because it's hard to admit because I know for actors sometimes, you know, you nailed that, right? You're like, you know, I did so good. And sometimes you want something so bad and you get so nervous, you're like, oh, my God, I fuck. And it's one of the worst feelings in the world, right?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And it's even harder to admit it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So I think it's really nice of you that you're being, like, very real

[B]

about it, you know, I mean, there's only one, there's only one way to resort.

[C]

How did they make funny. I got to see here at the end of this, they like. So they're reading the scene in your line.

[B]

I forgot what he said. He, he took my headshot and he looked at the back of my resume and I don't know, he, he made some joke to make everyone laugh.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[C]

So is, you're, you're out there and, like, it's your turn to say the line and what are you doing?

[B]

Like, you, you're like, line, line, please.

[C]

Was that what you do it?

[B]

No, I, I, I, I just shut down. I got nervous. It shut down, couldn't remember the line. You know, again, there's, there's no, there's no juice to it. There's no, there's nothing to sink my, my teeth into it. And, and now it's a callback. So I, I, I had a first call, and then I'm, I got a call back. So obviously it's a small little nothing part, but it's something. But, yeah, I got nervous.

[C]

I couldn't remember the line.

[A]

Oh, you poor thing.

[B]

It is what it is.

[A]

So these Experiences made you decide, like, you know what? Maybe I'm gonna go and do real estate.

[B]

Well, it wasn't. It wasn't just that. It was just, you know what? I was after Baywatch. I did four years of Baywatch. I did two years with David and the LA show, and then I did the only two years, Baywatch, Hawaii, where Jason Momoa was part of the cast. I loved it. I was having a good time. I was becoming a better actor. I was upset when the show ended. A lot of the other cast members, they were happy it was ending because they wanted to move on to bigger and better things. I was. I was happy where I was.

[A]

It was nice and stable. Right.

[B]

But when the show ended, I went back in the audition room, which I wasn't strong with. And, you know, I was booking. I was booking things, but the money was so small and I had a second kid on the way. I had. I had to pick a different career.

[A]

Yeah, well, okay. Hopefully you're going to be back now before Baywatch. Like we were saying, you're a Calvin Klein model, right? I was at the time. That was a. I mean, even nowadays. But at the time, it was a huge deal. You came right after Mark Wahlberg, didn't you?

[B]

I did. I. I replaced Marky Mark.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

How can you tell us your experience? How was that, like, all the attention? Because that was massive, right?

[B]

It was. It was. It was massive. It was. Again, it was. It was surreal. It was. It was. It was unbelievable. It's the most prestigious campaign you can do.

[A]

You are on those huge billboards wearing your underwear.

[B]

I was, you know what? I was a nobody model.

[C]

And.

[B]

And over. And I had hardly any pictures in my portfolio. And then overnight I. I booked this campaign. And now.

[C]

But, like, what was the casting like? Like, how did you get old?

[A]

Are you.

[B]

Yeah, it's my portfolio. My portfolio is just. There's stacks and stacks of portfolio. So. So the thing was, replacing Marky Mark, Marky Mark got into some. Had some bad publicity and they had to get rid of them. They had to replace them. So they were looking at Brad Pitt, Woody Harrelson, guy from Red Hot Chili Peppers, and then they were looking at models. So I don't think they wanted to bring back a known model or a known celebrity because they wanted the bad press of Marky Mark to go away. So they brought in a nobody.

[A]

But. And that picture on the map.

[B]

Yeah. Overnight, I became a supermodel. Now I'm getting direct bookings all over the world. I'm flying into all different countries. And there's Calvin Klein billboards of me, images I've never seen before, like, going to and from the airport. It was. It's pretty cool. And in New York City.

[A]

How old were you?

[B]

I was. See, I just. I just graduated college. I moved out, and then a year and a half later, so I was probably about 24 years old.

[A]

Wow, that's so. I know I asked David that question. I don't know if you remember. You can answer, too. So you become one of the most famous faces in the world, one of the most famous models. Did you let that. How did that mess with your head? Like, did you let that go up to your head? Because obviously the attention and you were not married at the time. The female attention and the money and everything, how did you deal with that?

[B]

You know what? The modeling business and the acting business did not change me. Like one else. I'm sitting here.

[C]

East coast blood.

[B]

That's why I'm sitting here on this rock. And I'm the same person I was before I booked the Calvin Klein campaign.

[A]

Oh, wow.

[B]

I just never.

[A]

Amazing.

[B]

Never changed. There's no reason to change.

[A]

Okay, so a lot of younger people out there listening. How do you guys manage? Because you're both fantastic role models for that. You've been in this industry on and on, but you've been in this industry for decades, and you remain the same people. You got married, you had kids, you got married, you had a kid. You're in great shape. I don't care what you say. You're in great shape. What do you say to somebody? Because a lot of. A lot of people get lost, right? The parties, the drugs, the alcohol, which is really sad. What will you guys say about that?

[C]

Well, it's a giant trap, and all of it's an illusion. So it's like if you. You, you. I saw it happening. People buying cars like homes.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Deciding to leave the show early because they thought they were gonna have movie careers. Fail, fail, fail. I. And I think also I grew up in New England. He grew up in Connecticut. East. You know, if you're growing up in a New England kind of environment, it's different people.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[C]

People tell you straight to your face how they feel like good or bad. They'll be like, cat, that's a really bad outfit on you. Like, that's what they'll say. They're not gonna like sugar, but it's

[B]

a great outfit on you.

[C]

You look.

[B]

You look beautiful.

[C]

But here, they'll tell. They'll tell you that here in la, they'll be like, oh, you look so beautiful. What a cool outfit.

[A]

And they'll turn around and be like that either. I'm very. Like, I say everything. I have zero future. And I just say. Because I think it makes life easier. Right. If you're just really honest about things, even if you're a friend, like you mentioned to him, like, hey, let's work out more. I think you're being a real friend because you want the best for him, right?

[B]

Yeah, not really. Not really. But I want to answer that question too. About, you know, David just answered it. But, you know, your question, it brings, it brings me back to my modeling days. And, you know, I was in the fashion show circuit, so we would, we would travel to Milan and try to book the shows there, and then off to Paris and shows there and then back, back to New York. So, you know, when you, when you book these shows, you're. A lot of times you're doing. There's like 25 guys in the, in the men's shows. And I saw a lot of those and some of them were friends, but. And I was not into drugs or alcohol. I actually, I take that back or whatever, you know, a little bit of alcohol when the time was right, but never, never, never any, Never any drugs. And I saw all, all these beautiful men, these talented, you know, models that were working and they were just partying all the time and doing drugs and,

[A]

you know, and, you know, they're destroying.

[B]

Yeah. And they, they destroyed, they destroyed their career. So I'm very proud of myself for not getting sucked into that and just staying focused and just staying away from the drugs.

[A]

But so you guys, if somebody's listening, but they're like, oh, so much money, you know, and the women and the parties and everything. How do you stay focused?

[C]

Well, you know, I think that's. It sounds great. And I think in reality, that stuff doesn't feed your soul.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

So maybe when you, you know, you're younger, it looks cool, but it's, it's. You got to think of it on a more. On a deeper, more spiritual level.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

You know, the parties and all that stuff, it's, it's, it's fun for a minute, but it's, it's really, it's. It's taking away from who you are as a human being. And, like, you're a bright shining light. You're going through all this other stuff. It's like you're, you're dimming your light. You don't want to do that. Like, you just want to be, you know, you don't want to be going down that road. And it's, there's so many people just like, it's just super talented and gone.

[A]

It's so sad.

[B]

You know, I could almost, and I'm thinking about this for the first time in my life, I'm actually thinking that my nervousness almost even saved me because one, I almost didn't book the Calvin Klein. They chose me. But then they, they, they thought about it because of my nervousness. So, so they, I had, I had to go to everyone knows who Herbert,

[A]

one of the top photographers ever in the world.

[B]

So he was going to shoot the campaign with me and Kate Moss. So I had to go to the studio where he was shooting Christy Turlington, I remember, and I had to go meet him and him take a couple pictures of me because of my nervousness. Now how, how do you fucking think I feel now? Like, I was like so freaking nervous going to see him. I was like, I just sucked it up.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

I, I took a couple deep breaths, I went into the room, got in front of the thing, took a couple pictures. He goes, you're, you're good. And then I just exhaled when I left the room.

[A]

If you hear that from some, from like such a, one of the biggest, most important photos in the world, that should help, right?

[B]

Yeah, so, but, but my, my point is, I was so nervous about even being in front of the camera as, as a model, and I was always worried about what I look like. I didn't, I looked in the mirror, I didn't think I was good.

[A]

You have body dysmorphia.

[B]

No, I, I, I, I, I didn't think I was good looking. And if I did, if I did drugs and alcohol before, oh yeah, I'm gonna look, I'm gonna look even worse. So that, that, that's a true thing. So for those reasons, a lot of times I didn't partake in anything just, just because I didn't want to look worse the next day in front of a camera.

[A]

So the Calvin Klein led you to Baywatch? Or did they invite you like back then? Or did you say, you know what, I'm gonna try TV and I'm gonna go on audition?

[B]

Yeah. I started to get into acting when I was modeling in New York. I had a manager, I had a theatrical agent. My, my manager did a good job by sending, I had a Michael Bergen poster. It wasn't a Calvin Klein poster, but it looked like Jean's shirt off. So she sent the Poster to Susie and Fern.

[C]

Yeah. Yeah.

[B]

In casting in la. So that got me in the door for an audition, but they, it was. It was kind of a big joke. So when I showed up in la, they. They had my poster taped to their casting door. Oh, they did? Yeah. So I went in there. It was just a small page and a half and it felt good. The scene felt good to me and I was confident and I nailed it. And they went. They went ballistic. And they're like. And I don't know, it was meant to be, right?

[A]

Like, David, they were looking.

[B]

I had. I had. Again. Here it is again. So I had a second audition in front of a room full of producers and I freaking shit the bed again. They're like, it was the same scene.

[C]

Was Maslov in there?

[B]

No, he was not in there. But he was he nice. He was nice.

[C]

Oh, my. In my audition, he was. He was brutal. Brutal and like, my. There was like, the test, like a screen test. Like, he. He was like. I mean, he was just messing with me.

[A]

Really, like in a fun way. But was he mean to you or was he.

[C]

No, he's just messing with my name. He's like, Chokechee. What? Like, I swear he's just trying to derail me. See how I do. Meanwhile, it's a. It's a giant room, horseshoe, like, all tables of people in suits.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And they're just staring at you. Like, I'm like, dude, I'm trying to do this scene and I have to go again and again, like, keep doing it.

[A]

And he's just like, if for you guys, like, I can't imagine the pressure. Can you imagine for a woman? Because a woman, like, the body is scrutinized so much more. Right. They look at you like, every little piece that you have. Cellulite, the size of your boobs, your waist. Like, can you imagine what the girls must go to? Because you guys are being very honest about your side. I cannot imagine, like, having to audition for baby.

[C]

Hair flip.

[B]

I think even with the women.

[C]

All, all.

[B]

Everyone's. Everyone's different. There's women that own their body and body parts and they're confident going in. Other ones could feel a little, you know.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

But when you guys started filming, was Hesselhoff nice to you guys?

[C]

Yeah, we became like, best friends. He was. He was just being himself. I mean, you show up like it's 6:30 in the morning. You're going up to like, Will Rogers. You hear like opera singing. Yeah. And it's Hasselhoff just like, starting, like, we haven't even. Everybody's just, like, getting up there to rehearse, and he's just already in his mode. Really? Yeah.

[B]

In my experience with him, he was great to work with. And back to the audition room. He was there downstairs where the. On the way to the tank. But he was not in the audition room. And I. You know what? I bet you they purposely did not have him in there because he would have ate me apart.

[C]

Oh, he would have shoot you a bro. He would have crashed.

[B]

But I. So I did my scene. I shit. I. The bed with my scene. They're like, you know what? You know the scene too well. You've had it for days.

[C]

Were you nervous?

[B]

Yeah, I was nervous.

[C]

But so what. What happens when you're nervous?

[B]

The more people in the room, the more nervous I. I am.

[A]

So can you. Do you have any tips for the nervous?

[B]

No, but what they. What happened. What happened is they're like, you know what? They gave me a different scene. They go. Go in the other room for 10 minutes, look this over. I came back in and Because I didn't know the scene that well. Yeah, I focused, whatever. And it was. It was so much better. Anyway, I got the part. I went downstairs to meet David Hasselhoff, and he was very like, you know. You know, you're going to be. You better be a nice guy. And on this show, we're all, like, tight and, you know, nice people and. Well, okay, right. And then. And then they actually threw me in the tank. They put a Baywatch bathing suit on me.

[A]

Are you guys wearing ours underneath?

[C]

No, I wish.

[B]

He's commando.

[A]

Where are the Speedos?

[B]

Speedos don't fit me anymore. I told you, I'm gonna bring back the Speedo.

[A]

Hey, Calvin Klein people. You should hire both. I mean, you guys should definitely be on a Calvin Klein poster again. I'm telling you, they would sell a lot of you guys.

[B]

Plug it, Kelvin.

[A]

Or any other hot underwear brand for that matter.

[B]

We'll put you. We'll put you in the middle.

[A]

I'm not ready for that yet. Yeah, if everything else fails, then. Then, yeah, they'll go for it. But you guys look incredible. But answer the question. If maybe there's an aspiring actor, somebody younger out there listening. They're like, oh, my God, I'm gonna freak out if I'm like, in front of a massive audition. Do you have any tips to calm down? Doesn't sound like you do. Yeah.

[C]

Oh, there's tons of them.

[B]

But my tip is to take his Xanax.

[C]

Yeah, I For this, like, there's great breath work techniques that, like, all over their social media that are really good for like Navy seals used before, like the, like a, like, box breathing. You've done that like four in, hold four out.

[A]

I saw that maybe sometimes you do yoga before you go on set, right?

[C]

Yeah, before every. Almost every take, I'm doing yoga push ups, right? Yeah. Flood your brain with like, so you're energized, but you're also. You get a little bit of like, that edge out of you so you feel like, relaxed. So I'm. Every time it's cut, I'm like banging out push ups, doing yoga. It's good technique. And then you gotta study. It's not like if you don't know what you're doing, you're gonna be nervous. But if you work on your craft and you have a coach and a private coach who's really helping you home.

[A]

Do you guys have coaches now?

[B]

I was afraid to even go to acting class. I was so nervous. I'm not joking. And. And Damian hit the nail on the head. It's like, you gotta. You gotta hone your craft. I was too nervous to even hone my craft. Like, I. I kid you not. I had so many. I had so many different acting classes, and I would barely go to any of them. I was nervous to get on stage or for the acting coach to pick me to go on stage.

[A]

Well, you know what I'm gonna be? I'm the audience, right? I was watching the show my whole life, and of course, I thought you guys were like the last Coca Cola zero of the desert with ice under an umbrella. And I thought, obviously the audience cannot notice that you were nervous that you. We don't know any of that because you look incredible on camera. So I hope that helps since I. I hope they invite you back so we can see more of you. I. You know, the audience loved you. Both of you, of course, on the show.

[B]

Yeah, you know what? I had. I had a good time. And I actually, I felt good. I felt confident. I was nervous about my lines only. But that was the only part of it.

[C]

This would be Michael before. I remember so clear as day, as if it was yesterday. We were shooting like on the deck of Will Rogers and cameras were set up and it's like, I don't know, two shot. A two shot Bergen, like there. It's like three minutes before they call. Action. Kept running off. He's like, chookish. I don't know how to say this.

[B]

I don't know how to say this?

[C]

I'm like, dude, how would you say it to me right now if there's no people around?

[A]

So he was your acting coach?

[B]

They were all my acting coaches. Yeah. Kelly Packer was saying the same thing a couple weeks ago when we shot.

[C]

I love how honest you are about to see. This is what I mean about his.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

Most people would deny this.

[A]

You know, I found out I already knew I liked it before I met. Because he also Pisces. Our birthdays are close to each other.

[B]

Nice.

[A]

I'm six and you're 18.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

See, I did my homework. You're a Capricorn. You're January. I know. I'm telling you, I do my homework before I see you guys. But I agree. I think it's so nice to just be honest about the process because we don't see it when somebody watches the show. We don't know any of that. I think, oh, it's so breezy and it's so beautiful and so easy. Like you mentioned before, it's a lot of prep, a lot of work. The more you know. Right. The more you know about your craft, the better.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

You know, that's where the more confident you're going to be. It's. It's all about confidence. It's like, I. I didn't hone my craft. I didn't work on my confidence. And so I, I was. I was putting myself in situations where I. I was. I was a dead duck.

[A]

But now the universe is giving you another opportunity, and you said, let's rock and roll.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

You know what? I'm.

[C]

I'm.

[B]

I'm doing real estate now, and I would like.

[A]

Well, you can do both.

[B]

I. I can. I can do. But I have a team of 14 agents, so things are going well. I would love to be back on the show with this. This guy. I can make both occupations work.

[A]

We want you there. That's for sure. Now, before we run out of time, I want to ask you, and if you don't, I think you're good talking about it, but I have to ask. Did you watch Love Story?

[B]

I did not watch Love Story.

[C]

You don't want to watch one of the better shows.

[B]

Did you watch it?

[A]

Yeah, but no, I don't watch because you're. You're portrayed.

[B]

I didn't. I did not watch it because I was portrayed in it.

[A]

You're not kidd.

[C]

You.

[A]

You. Why? You don't want to see it? Why?

[B]

I'm not curious. You know, I heard enough about it. It's Funny. A year before, and I think it was. I think it was like, on my birthday, March 18th, this guy called me up and said, dude, they're casting you for. For this. It was called American Love Story, and then it changed to Love Story. And then I heard it from other people and I. I stressed about it for a whole year before. Before it actually came out.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

This past Valentine's Day.

[A]

Did they tell you. Did they reach out and say.

[B]

Never reached out, never called me.

[A]

Do you think they read your book? Because, by the way, for the audience that is listening and doesn't know you wrote a book about it, about your story. Right. Your personal story, your relationship with Carolyn Bessette, you wrote a book like, what, two decades ago? 2004, correct?

[B]

2004, I think. Yeah.

[A]

So I would have thought. Because you have the book out there, do you think they would. You felt better if they reached out? Yeah.

[B]

You know, it would have been nice to get a phone call and.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

I didn't know. I didn't know how they were going to portray me. I had no idea. And was it.

[C]

Was the book. Was it like, obviously another, like, writer? Like, how was it? Did you really like Harry? I.

[B]

Well, I really don't want to talk about the book because I. I wrote the book in 2004. Yeah, I'll. I'll say a little bit there. You know, a lot of things that are in the book. Stuff started to come out in the tabloids five years after her, after their. Their plane crashed. And

[C]

I

[B]

decided to set the record straight and never talk about it again. And that was.

[A]

So if somebody.

[B]

That was 21 years ago.

[A]

Well, the book is there.

[B]

So that's why I wrote the book, set the record straight, never talk about it again. I never talked about it again. Love Story comes out and bringing it all back up. But I know what was in Love Story. And they portrayed me as her ex. Boyfriend.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Which is.

[B]

Which is great.

[A]

Well, you know, they portray you, but, yeah, you're there back and forth, back and forth, back and forth with her. Like on the show, on the Love Star. And it's kind of like he was in real life, correct?

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

I'm sorry, my audience is going to kill me if I don't ask you, but okay. Yeah. She's been gone a long time, but now she's been in the news again because of the Love Story. Can you tell us one, something like your best memory of her or something that maybe people don't know about her because TV is sensationalism. Yeah. Love Stories. A lot of.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Based on a true story.

[C]

Right.

[A]

We don't know if it's true or not.

[B]

Yeah. But thank you for asking. But that, That's, That's. That's the question.

[C]

I'm.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I'm gonna pass. I'll let David answer it.

[C]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

Okay. No, I appreciate you don't want to. Don't. Not wanting to talk about that, but your book is out there if somebody wants to know more about it, right?

[B]

I guess so. Yeah.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

So that's passed for you.

[C]

Well, what happens a lot of times? Like, do you feel like your voice is, Is that. Is that your, Your. Your truth in that book, or is that they morphed a bit, like, by the time it was done? You know what I mean? Like, did they take it and kind of like, can we stretch this? Can we change? Like, did that happen at all or.

[B]

No, no, no, Absolutely not. I mean, my, My book is. Is. Is a book I wrote. It's just. It's. It's all. It's all. It's all true.

[C]

100.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

Oh, yeah, there's.

[C]

Well, sometimes they take them in, like, because there's a phase where they were asking actors, like, can we get. You know, they come to me and say, can you tell us all the behind the scenes? Publish a book about Baywatch and, like, kind of rat everybody out. I was like, not a million years, like, get lost. But yeah, and they try and, you know, manipulate you. So, like, I didn't know if there was someone pushing and.

[B]

No, it's. It's not a fiction. It's. It's.

[C]

No, I know, but it's real.

[B]

All real, real, real events. But let's go back to Baywatch.

[A]

Okay, Great.

[C]

Great transition. Great segue.

[A]

So are you guys done filming Baywatch?

[C]

Not. August 5th is the last.

[A]

Are you done, Michael?

[B]

Yes, I'm done.

[A]

When you were there, did he give you. You're done for now.

[B]

I'm. I'm done for now.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

But you have the tiny acting bug inside.

[B]

Yeah. Oh, yeah. No, I, I, Yeah.

[A]

I mean, you're still filming.

[C]

Yes. Yep. Yeah.

[A]

And the show is going to be out in January.

[C]

Out of January. It's going to premiere right after one of the big FOX NFL playoff games. Oh, wow. Last Sunday night.

[A]

Oh, really?

[C]

Then the SEC. That's episode 101, the one McG directed, which is awesome. That guy is unbelievable.

[B]

What time slot?

[C]

So that. It just depends when that game is. I think it's going to be. It's Monday night, prime time, so Probably

[A]

Monday night, probably 8pm Right.

[C]

And then. So episode 102 will come out on Monday. And then. And then. And then it's going to flip over to Hulu and live on Hulu.

[A]

Oh, wow, that's really cool.

[C]

But the cool thing about the show is, and I saw some of this, what we were stuck with is the only thing they could ever do is go to slow motion. And with. With Mick G on his. Like, he's a visual creative genius with, like, frame rate.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

And I saw he had Shane Mitchell just jumping off a tower, like the Kelly Farragut thing. And it looks like she was a superhero. Like, he accelerates it, slows it. And then when she hits the ground, it's almost, you know what Superman hits.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

It's like ba boom. And then she's kind of awful.

[A]

Oh, my God.

[C]

So it's gonna look cool because they're gonna. They're gonna interject that into rescues. Yeah, they have. They have the ability to kind of do more. The cameras are more mobile. We have drones. So usually it's gonna be a lot more.

[A]

I am so excited to watch it. Guys. I congratulate. Congratulations for coming back.

[B]

Yeah, thank you.

[A]

Hopefully you're gonna be a series regular. I know, right? You're in great shape. You're in fantastic shape.

[B]

Is that how you get my.

[A]

Both of you?

[C]

I don't remember.

[B]

It's been 30 years.

[C]

By the way.

[A]

We are in Zuma beach filming, and the tide is so strong, a lot of people are getting in trouble.

[B]

Go save someone jokes.

[A]

I know.

[C]

David, my daughter's down there. Junior lifeguards right now.

[A]

She is?

[C]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

Oh, my God. Can she rescue someone? Oh, my God.

[B]

This could you.

[A]

Are you a good swimmer? We are Pisces. We're good swimmers. I'm a great swimmer, but I would not be inside this water.

[C]

This is like a really Zuma. Like, if you go up on the top of this mountain on a clear day and you look down, when this giant surf.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

You could see the rips from up there. And it's. It's the craziest thing because they're these giant horseshoes of turbulence. Oh, my God.

[A]

You guys, you know, have to have respect for the ocean, right? Oh, you have major respect if you're a tourist. You guys come visit Malibu. Don't go jumping in the water. And if you're going to jump in the water, do it in front of a lifeguard.

[C]

No, what happens if this happens in Hawaii a lot is people think just walking in your ankle deep Water and they're not. I'm always looking at the ocean. Like, I just always. I went surfing last night and my buddy's coming out of the water and. Yeah.

[A]

Oh my God. No sharks around here.

[C]

No, I mean, we went out at 7pm it's still daylight. But my buddy's getting out of the water and his like back is to the ocean and I'm like, dude, behind you. It's like a four foot wave about to slam him. Oh my God. You always gotta be watched until you're off out of the water and on the beach. Like as soon as you hit sand, you're turning around and looking and backpedaling out because a wave like that.

[A]

Yeah, it's really bad. It looks looking like Australia here today.

[C]

That's what happened like to those people. And it happens in Hawaii all the time.

[A]

You know, guys, before I let you go, it's really funny, but I, you know, I was watching Baywatch and I was a little bit younger than you, so my, before my twin. Right. Maybe I was 18, 19. And I remember thinking that I was gonna come to Malibu and I was going to see you guys on the

[B]

beach because that's where we live.

[A]

That's where you live. So I never forgot my dad driving me down to Malibu one day finally. And I'm like, I was staring like, where are they? Where do they film? I want to see them.

[C]

Do you remember when that was?

[A]

And like that, when that was like, what, what year? Like 9 89. Like I was really on 89 was the first year.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

When the show was like.

[B]

You weren't on it then.

[A]

No, I was like so disappointed that I didn't see any of the bear.

[C]

It's so funny. Like, and before, like, you know, the Internet and everything, you would go on these press tours. Yeah. A lot of countries, they think all of the United States is. It looks like Baywatch.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

Like, they're like, yeah, this isn't bad, but definitely Malibu.

[A]

We thought you guys filmed like that every time you go to country. And a lot of girls say the same experience as me. They're like, yes, I thought the same thing, that they were gonna be all over the beach. Not true. Well, guys, thank you for being here. Thank you for being such a good sport.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

And winging it. You did great. Were you nervous?

[B]

No, no, I. I feel very comfortable. You made me feel comfortable. Thank you.

[A]

Now, you know you're not NER podcasts.

[B]

Yeah. If you give me an acting scene, I'll be nervous. But talking to you Now I'm gonna

[A]

invite him back and he's gonna be like, no, thank you. Yeah, yeah, come back when the show, when the show comes out.

[B]

I would love to come back anytime you want.

[A]

And congratulations on your really successful real estate career by the way you mention it to me.

[C]

He's my realtor, by the way.

[A]

Yeah, I'm selling his house before you arrived. Almost late.

[C]

Yeah, well, I'm timing you with burger because I live.

[B]

Where's Chokechee?

[C]

I'm one minute away.

[A]

I'm like he was telling me about everything that he's doing. So is there any place people can you. You're not really hot on. So do you do social media, do you?

[B]

My, my wife works with me, her name's Joy, she handles all the social media.

[A]

Oh, that's awesome.

[C]

Real estate.

[B]

Yeah, you know the real Michael Bergen?

[A]

The real Michael Bur.

[B]

Instagram.

[A]

I'm gonna put the link here on this episode for you guys in la. He's fabulous.

[B]

He's good actor, good agent.

[A]

Good actor, good agent.

[C]

Yeah, good deal. Don't leave me hanging. Don't leave me hanging.

[A]

Cool that you guys are friends in

[B]

2. 2 abs. 8 abs.

[A]

Both of you guys are going.

[C]

You're trend. See you're. You're going in the right direction now. You have momentum, dude. That's all you need.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, I got, I'm feeling good. I got a little ways to go.

[A]

No, you're doing amazing, David. Thank you for hooking me up. Wow.

[B]

Wow.

[A]

They have muscles. They're showing up.

[C]

Oh, thank you for having me. I love doing this. It's so fun.

[A]

Anytime, like you became, you became an official. You part of our team. I love having you. Our audience loves having. Thank you for hooking me up. It's such an honor meeting you, Michael. It was amazing. Guys, be safe out there. Go to the gym so you can age like this insanely good looking man. And I cannot believe I had the balls to wear my Baywatch bathing suit in front of them.

[B]

You look amazing.

[A]

My girlfriends are gonna be like, Catherine, are you out of your mind? Crazy. So let's go to the gym. Bye guys. See you soon. Congratulations guys, you're the best.

[C]

That's just, you know, to honor the phenom, the iconic show. I love it.

[A]

When you're a maintenance engineer in a beverage manufacturing plant, you keep production lines moving and quality on track because there is no room for slowdowns. With Grainger's vast selection of high quality motors, sensors, belts and hard to find parts, you can get what you need. Fast and all in one place, so nothing gets in the way of getting the job done. Call 1-800-GRAINGER clickranger.com or just stop by Granger for the ones who get it done.