So, they just whisked away the research team and brought in Search and Rescue?
Not that Mike, Keith, and Pam were the most perfect characters, but it was Mike that developed the relationship with Flipper in the first place, and Keith being "Bud" just clinched the tie-in with the original series. Search and Rescue just reminds me of Baywatch or something.
And the story of White Lightning? That is a total rip-off of a real "famous" dolphin named Pelorous Jack, but he was a Risso's dolphin in Australia. But the story is exactly the same as Maya told it. He used to guide ships through this dangerous part of the reef, and when one guy shot at him, Jack never guided that ship again, and it eventually sank in the reef. That's the story, at least. Sound familiar?
What network played this horrific show, anyway?