Welcome to ‘Retro Rewind’, the TGJ original feature carved out to take our faithful readers on a journey to TV and Film’s glorious past.

Today, we make our way to 1997 to celebrate the arrival of the short-lived soap opera ‘Sunset Beach.’

Following his success with the hit TV shows ‘Charlie’s Angels’, ‘Dynasty’ and ‘Beverly Hills 90210‘, the television producer Aaron Spelling set out to restore interest in NBC‘s daytime programming and draw younger audiences towards it.

The result? ‘Sunset Beach‘, a soap opera following the dramatic lives of people living on the coast of California.

Armed with characters whose back stories weaved in and out of each other’s decades before the show’s premiere on January 6th 1997, the series enthralled viewers with  its compelling (and often unrealistic) tales of betrayal (see Olivia, Caitlin & Cole), class and crime (Virginia‘s desperation to protect her son from the dangers of South Central LA) and the supernatural (Annie‘s frequent trips to Hell.)

Oh…and pregnancies by way of turkey basters.

The plug was pulled on the series in 1999 but not before it would turn make household names out of Eddy Cibrian, Sarah Buxton and its African-American cast Sherri Saum, Jason Winston George and Dominique Jennings.

Ready to take that journey?

High drama at ‘Sunset’ below…

Your thoughts?