Any Fans Of The TV Series "Beauty and the Beast"?

[JamesG]

I just ordered the first season DVD of this show.

It stars Linda Hamilton (Terminator 2) and Ron Pearlman as Vincent the Beast (of recent Hellboy fame).

It basically is about a NYC D.A. who is saved by a beast looking man living among a secret world of people in tunnels under NYC.

Do you like this one?

[tv star collector]

Yes! It was a favorite of mine the first two seasons. After Linda Hamilton
left the show, to spend more time with her baby, it went downhill fast. I
won't spoil it for you by telling you how her character was written off. But
the show was never the same after that; the bond they shared was very,
very special and unique. A great cult favorite and one of the most underrated
dramas in recent years.

[JamesG]

Originally Posted by tv star collector

Yes! It was a favorite of mine the first two seasons. After Linda Hamilton
left the show, to spend more time with her baby, it went downhill fast. I
won't spoil it for you by telling you how her character was written off. But
the show was never the same after that; the bond they shared was very,
very special and unique. A great cult favorite and one of the most underrated
dramas in recent years.

I read up on the show so I know how her character was written off and that they got a new female lead.

Did the show have an official end?

[tv star collector]

Originally Posted by JamesG

I read up on the show so I know how her character was written off and that they got a new female lead.

Did the show have an official end?

Yes. In the third (and final) season, Catherine was kidnapped by a man
named Gabriel (Stephen McHattie), the head of a vast criminal empire she
had been investigating, which was trying to corrupt the D.A.'s office itself.
She was killed, but not before giving birth to Vincent's son, who was held
hostage by the evil Gabriel. Catherine's boss hired Diana Bennett (Jo Anderson), a top investigator, to find her killer. Diana's investigation led to
the shadowy Vincent. She became his new ally and protector. With the help
of Elliott Burch (Edward Albert), a businessman who was being ruined by
Gabriel, they eventually tracked down the ruthless Gabriel in his secret
headquarters. In the final episode, Vincent, who had been captured by
Gabriel, broke free and rescued his son. A force organized by Diana, Joe
Maxwell (Jay Acavone), and Father/Jacob Wells (Roy Dotrice) cornered
Gabriel, who was shot by Diana with Catherine's gun (fittingly); and Vincent
returned with his son to the peace and tranquility of the Tunnel World,
beneath bustling New York City. [Adapted from the synopsis provided in
the book The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV
Shows]

The reason that Vincent was a man-beast, with the facial features of a
lion, was never fully explained. We only know that he was born that way
(one episode featured a flashback, with Vincent as a young boy). Jacob
Wells (who was called "Father" not only by Vincent, but by all the Tunnel
dwellers) found him and raised him as his son. Although powerful, he also
possessed a sensitive soul and was very fond of poetry and classical
music. As you know, he nursed Catherine back to health, following a
criminal attack. Despite his appearance, the pair fell in love and
developed a strong psychic bond. We can only speculate on what might
have happened, had the series continued (it ended on Aug. 4, 1990). But,
personally, I don't think he would ever have had the same kind of romantic
relationship with Diana. They were just friends, and I think that is as it
should be. He had only one true "soul mate"; that was Catherine. (By the
way, if memory serves me correctly, he named his son "Jacob.")

[JamesG]

Thanks for your reply.

I also think that Linda Hamilton is sort of responsible for "Beauty and the Beast" 's demise.

I know that she wanted to go for a feature movie career and being a television actress wasn't what she wanted. She also had no idea that "Beauty and the Beast" would get as popular as it did when it got picked up. She also wanted to get pregnant.

After Season 2 ended when she started negotiating with CBS, they allowed her to leave provided she stay for 10 episodes to write her out. When she did that's when the new female lead came on.

So with Catherine leaving the show and the mostly women fanbase upset with the more darker and violent direction the show was heading in, "Beauty and the Beast" 's cancellation was inevitable.

[catlover79]

I remember watching it when it first aired years ago (I was still in elementary school!). I should watch the DVDs to see what I think about it now.

[JamesG]

Roy Dotrice who played "Father" in Beauty and the Beast had a small appearance in Hellboy II: The Golden Army as King Barlor.

It sucks that he and Ron Pearlman had no screen-time together however but great to see this little connection here.

[catlover79]

Here are some great pics I found:

[cajunhillbilly]

This was one of my favorite shows of the 80s. Have all 3 seasons on dvd.

[TMC]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...east-tv-985531

“The writing staff included ‘Game of Thrones’ author George R.R.
Martin and ‘Homeland’ creators Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa: “The
George R.R. Martin scripts were like John Coltrane on acid — primal,
but with incredible elegance…”

[ponytail]

I loved watching this show. It was different than any other show on TV. It had good stories and I absolutely loved Vincent. Ron Perlman played him excellent.