Twenty-two years ago today, the act of running in a swimsuit was changed forever.

In 1989, NBC aired the pilot episode of 'Baywatch,' a new series chronicling the dangerous adventures of a group of hard-bodied California lifeguards. Next month marks the tenth anniversary since the end of the series, though it lives on in syndication repeats all over the world.

During the show's 12-year syndication run, 'Baywatch' perfected what will ultimately be its legacy: the number one beach-related television innovation of all time -- slow-mo running. Preferably by hot chicks, but sometimes by that prime archetype of manliness himself, David Hasselhoff.

Although 'Baywatch' had some wonderfully soapy plotlines, let's be honest -- the reason we loved the show was because of the aforementioned hot chicks and slow-mo running, not to mention Hasselhoff's chest hair. Okay, kidding on the third. (Although it was magnificent, wasn't it?)

There's a moment in one of the extras on the Witchblade DVD set where Peter Mensah, who played Hector Mobius, says that the show was ahead of its time. Now, I tend to think most people involved in a project of the size and scope of Witchblade would say something similar. In this case though, there is something to it. The landscape for cable based original series was quite different in 2001, when Witchblade debuted.

While we now take it for granted that great shows are coming from the likes of TNT, FX, AMC, and USA, it was still a relatively new thing then. The idea that the show was ahead of its time comes back upon re-watching the series. With only a couple of exceptions, the odd bit of wardrobe or a tell-tale cell phone, the show looks like it could have been made last week. The story fits that mold as well. It's still relevant, and doesn't come across as outdated.