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TORONTO, June 25, 2001 -- The last time most audiences saw David Chokachi on the small screen, he was running in slow motion on the California beaches in Baywatch. Today, he's still got that Malibu Ken look, but he's playing police officer Jake McCartey on TNT's Witchblade (Tuesdays, 9 p.m. ET). The new summer series is about a mysterious weapon wielded by star Yancy Butler, who sets out to battle evil using the ancient device.

Chokachi recently took some time from his busy shooting schedule on the Toronto set of Witchblade to speak about the new show, his costar Butler, his old Baywatch days and what he once did to Yasmine Bleeth's bathing suit.

Filming in Toronto--big change from the beaches of California.

David Chokachi: Yeah, absolutely. Right now it's not so bad. Sunny, pretty warm. But shooting began here back in February, so it was pretty rough then.

Well, being a Massachusetts native, you're probably weathering it better than most.

Chokachi: That's right. And I went to college way up in Maine for a few years.

That's something most people don't associate with you. The California surfer image is too ingrained in people's minds.

Chokachi: [Laughs] Yeah, I know.

Actually, it's an odd coincidence that you went from Baywatch, playing the California surfer dude, to Witchblade, playing a cop who had been a California surfer dude. Was that facet of your character already preconceived before you were attached to the project, or did producers write that in once you signed on?

Chokachi: No, believe it or not, that was his background from the beginning. I know it's really weird. That sh*t just worked out that way.

Are you in danger of being typecast, David?

Chokachi: [Laughs] Whoa, I sure hope not!

Well, the show is receiving a great deal of publicity--in part due to the fact it debuted around the same time Tomb Raider hit theaters. Many reviewers are comparing Witchblade to Tomb Raider. Do you see the similarities?

Chokachi: Well, not really. I mean, they've both got women kicking some ass, but Tomb Raider is more Raiders of the Lost Ark than Witchblade. Witchblade is more realistic--a detective drama.

But Yancy could kick Angelina's ass, right?

Chokachi: Man, I don't know. All I know is I'd love to watch. [Laughs]

Is that steel claw that Yancy wears cumbersome?

Chokachi: Well, nobody on the set other than her is allowed to try it on. It's like in the show--if the wrong person wears it, they get horribly burned and dismembered, so....

Nice. Speaking of the set, have you noticed a change in the degree of professionalism on this show compared to that of Baywatch?

Chokachi: Not necessarily. It's just different. In terms of the show, though, the writing on this show is better. A better quality, which is a great thing. I mean, I don't want to trash Baywatch, but that happens to be the case. Personally, the biggest change is that I now have to act with my shirt on.

Did your role as Jake--an extremely resourceful cop--require any sort of special training or preparation?

Chokachi: Yeah, I worked with a former L.A.P.D. cop and trained with him on how to act during certain situations. Like, how to enter and clear a room correctly. If I casually entered a tense situation [on the show] with my gun waving around carelessly, every cop in the country would say, "What is this sh*t?" So I got the procedures down.

And have you gotten any feedback from the L.A.P.D. cop on how you're doing so far?

Chokachi: No, I asked him and he just said, "Damn, that's a kick-ass show!"

In previous interviews you've eluded to the possibility of a romance with Yancy's character. Is that still an option?

Chokachi: Oh, definitely. It'll be an ongoing thing. Jake is still growing on her. But soon they become more of a team. I'd say it'll have a Moonlighting-kind of chemistry. Love-hate. But before then, we've got some other storylines coming up. Like, she gets a boyfriend and I get jealous--then I go off looking for other chicks. That sorta thing.

This summer, Witchblade goes up against reruns of Frasier, Dharma & Greg and Dark Angel. How do you see your show faring against them?

Chokachi: Should do well. People have already seen all of those shows. Our ratings are already up greatly--I don't see that stopping. And Dark Angel...I don't know about that show. I saw it once and didn't think it was all that. Ours is much darker. Dark Angel is just too....

Pop culture?

Chokachi: Exactly.

Last year, TNT's big new show was Bull--and they soon yanked it. Do you think Witchblade will meet a better fate?

Chokachi: I'm keeping my fingers crossed. They're really behind us, both TNT and Warner. I think they want a show that's going to run for a bit. We're a good match with TNT.

Any surprises on the show coming down the road?

Chokachi: All I can say is, don't judge a book by its cover. My character turns out to be someone different than you think. What you think I am now is not who I am at all. It will be fun.

But you're still one of the good guys, right, David?

Chokachi: [Laughs] We'll have to wait and see.

Very good. Do you still keep in touch with your Baywatch pals?

Chokachi: Oh yeah. I still talk with David Hasselhoff, Alexandra Paul, Mike Newman. Sometimes I see Yasmine [Bleeth]. Sometimes I'll see Pam [Anderson] cruising out on the town. We like to get together and grab some beers and get crazy.

Speaking of which, are you still the crazy prankster you were on Baywatch? I seem to remember you running around with Gena Lee Nolin's underwear on your head…

Chokachi: And there was the time I stuffed the dead rat down Yasmine's swimming suit. Sure, I'm still that way--there's stuff that goes on here on this set. But I'd say it's not as rowdy, you know?

Well, keep it up.

Chokachi: [Laughs] Absolutely, will do.