Beach Break: Kamenetz 'Hits' the Water but He's no Hasselhoff

Producers of a future revival of Baywatch aren't likely to call on County Executive Kevin Kamenetz or his aide, Greg Flynn.

Not after their most recent video appearance.

Kamenetz and Flynn, a speech writer for the executive, are the stars of a 30 second video meant to encourage county residents to take a break and head to one of five beaches around the county.

While the promotion is called "Beach Break," Mohler cautions that the idea isn't to compete with Ocean City. (How could we compete? After all, none of our beaches feature "Boardwalk Elvis")

Instead, the idea is to and give area families a way to enjoy the summer without sitting in traffic burning up nearly $4 per gallon gas — a break from the beach, if you will.

The video shows a slightly different side of Kamenetz, who is known more for his quick, dry wit than his slapstick comedy prowess.

Don Mohler, Kamenetz's spokesman and chief of staff, said the county executive agreed to participate in the video "because he really loves Baltimore County."

Mohler said the video is a tip of the hat to the style of the late William Donald Schaefer, for whom Kamenetz once worked as a campaign driver.

The video was shot in one take at the Old Courthouse in Towson and at Miami Beach on May 20 — in between a number of storms that were hitting the area at the time.

And that brings us back to our protagonists hitting the road and the water — literally hitting the water.

Flynn is seen frantically trying to keep up with his boss' tight schedule and other demands when he finally says he needs a break — a "Beach Break" Kamenetz responds.

The pair are then seen making a beeline for the water at Miami Beach. I'd call it running but, well, Flynn's form leaves something to be desired and that's coming from one who is, shall we say, the opposite of athletically gifted.

"(Flynn) was told to act manic," Mohler said with a chuckle.

So there's Flynn, arms flailing, sprinting next to his suit-clad boss.

Mohler joked that Flynn is hoping for a part in the next Coen Brothers film. Based on his running, he might want to consider some extra work in AMC's The Walking Dead.

Kamenetz's suit, which belonged to an unnamed staffer and was about to be donated, was pure, vintage 1970s.

"Kamenetz was dripping wet when he came out and you know, when that suit dried out, you could have worn it right of the rack without even ironing it," Mohler said. "That's what happens when you don't have one ounce of natural fiber in the suit."

How did the suit get that wet you ask?

One word: faceplant.

Kamenetz runs into the water, getting in about up to his shins. Then, he hits a hole loses his balance and goes down. You can catch most of this in the last seconds of the video.

"William Donald Schaefer would have been proud," Mohler said, referring to Schaefer's swim in the seal pool at the National Aquarium.

Kamenetz may not be David Hasselhoff but "The Hoff" probably can't run a county either.

The good news is that neither the executive nor the suit were harmed in the making of the video.

And both Flynn and Kamenetz still have their day jobs — probably a good thing since Hollywood isn't likely to call any time soon.