Beauty and the Beast (1987 TV series)
Beauty and the Beast | |
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![]() Pictured: Linda Hamilton (Catherine), Ron Perlman (Vincent) | |
Created by | Ron Koslow |
Starring | Linda Hamilton Ron Perlman Roy Dotrice Jay Acovone[1] Ren Woods Jo Anderson (Season 3) Stephen McHattie (Season 3) |
Country of origin | United States |
No. of seasons | 3 |
No. of episodes | 56 |
Production | |
Running time | approx. 48 minutes (per episode) |
Production company | Republic Pictures |
Original release | |
Network | CBS[2] |
Release | September 25, 1987 August 4, 1990 | –
Release | Lee Holdridge</ref> and Don Davis |
Release | Lee Holdridge</ref> and Don Davis |
Release | Lee Holdridge</ref> and Don Davis |
Release | Lee Holdridge</ref> and Don Davis |
Release | Lee Holdridge</ref> and Don Davis |
Release | Lee Holdridge</ref> and Don Davis |
Release | Lee Holdridge</ref> and Don Davis |
Related | |
Beauty and the Beast (2012) |
Beauty and the Beast is an American drama series which first aired on CBS in 1987. Creator Ron Koslow's updated version of the fairy tale has a double focus: the relationship between Vincent (Ron Perlman), a mythic, noble man-beast, and Catherine (Linda Hamilton), a savvy Assistant District Attorney in New York; and a secret Utopian community of social outcasts living in a subterranean sanctuary. Through an empathetic bond, Vincent senses Catherine's emotions, and becomes her guardian.[3] The series follows the developing relationship between the characters and the division between New York and the hidden world beneath it. In a twist from the original tale, however, this "beast" does not transform into society's idea of beauty after gaining the love of Catherine. Rather, Vincent's inner beauty is allowed to remain the focus of who he is, and it is Catherine's life that transforms from her relationship to Vincent. Vincent's makeup was devised by veteran Hollywood makeup artist Rick Baker. George R.R. Martin, author of the book "Game of thrones" which became an HBO series, was a writer and producer on the show.
In the third season after the death of the character Catherine, Jo Anderson became the new female lead playing Diana Bennett, a criminal profiler investigating Catherine's murder.[4]
As the title indicates, the premise of the series is inspired by the fairy tale "Beauty and the Beast"; in particular, there is some connection to the Jean Cocteau French film of 1946, La Belle et la Bête.
In 2004 and 2007, Beauty and the Beast was ranked #14 and #17, respectively, on TV Guide's Top Cult Shows Ever.[5]
Series synopsis
Season 1
When Catherine Chandler (played by Linda Hamilton) is abducted, beaten, and slashed and left to die in Central Park upon being mistaken for Carol Stabler, she is rescued and cared for by Vincent (played by Ron Perlman) who has taken her to Father (played by Roy Dotrice), head of a hidden community of people dwelling in tunnels below the city of New York. Ten days later, Catherine returns to the surface with the promise of keeping Vincent's secret and the challenge to go on after her terrible attack. After completing her recovery, her life begins a serious transition: she takes self-defense lessons, leaves her comfortable job at her father's law firm and joins the Manhattan District Attorney's office as an Assistant District Attorney. Her first action involves her asking Carol Stabler about those men that attacked her, where she states that they were part of an illegal escort service run by Martin Belmont. When Catherine is attacked by Martin Belmont's men, she is saved by Vincent, who mauls the men.
During the course of the first season, the production team fashioned a blend of romance and crime drama which used both Catherine's position as an ADA and her will to help Vincent and his world to place her in moments of physical danger which would bring the idealized romantic figure of Vincent to the surface world as her guardian angel.
Season 2
During its second season, the series shifted its focus slightly to add more character development, as the central characters spent considerable time exploring their relationships with the inhabitants of the Tunnel World, where Catherine had finally been accepted as a friend and "Helper" (someone who assists the Tunnel community with what they need to survive and by keeping their secret). More people from the World Above turned up for emotional support and healing in the secure environment of the World Below.
Near the end of the season however, in an effort to boost faltering ratings, the action orientation returned as a result of the misleadings of the recurrent villain Paracelsus (played by Tony Jay). In a cliffhanger final episode, Catherine is seen walking down a tunnel into a chamber, where Vincent is suffering from a violent madness.
Season 3
When the series returned for its abbreviated third season late in 1989, Linda Hamilton had announced her decision to leave the series as she was pregnant at the time. It was a decision that, along with the network's desire to attract more male viewers, would have serious repercussions for the show's continued survival. In the resolution to the previous season's cliffhanger, Catherine rescued Vincent from his inner demons but was kidnapped by a man named Gabriel (played by Stephen McHattie[6]), the ruthless head of a huge criminal empire she had been investigating, which was trying to corrupt the D.A.'s office. She was killed, but not before giving birth to Vincent's son, who was held hostage by the evil Gabriel. Catherine's boss and close friend Joe Maxwell (played by Jay Acovone) hired Diana Bennett (played by Jo Anderson), a criminal profiler with the police department, to track down Catherine's killer. Quite naturally, her investigation ultimately led her to the now darkly obsessed and grieving Vincent.
Although still popular with its dedicated fans, the darker, more resolutely violent aspects of the reworked concept, coupled with the fatal loss of the all-important central relationship between Catherine and Vincent, led to further declining ratings and ultimately cancellation.[7]
Characters
The "World Above"
- Catherine Chandler (played by Linda Hamilton) - A corporate attorney in her father's law firm. After she's abducted, beaten, and her face slashed upon being mistaken for Carol Stabler, Catherine was rescued and tended to by Vincent. After that experience, Catherine changes her life completely and becomes an investigator for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office. In Season Three, Catherine becomes pregnant with Vincent's child and is captured by Gabriel. She is later killed by Gabriel, who overdoses her with morphine.
- Joe Maxwell (played by Jay Acovone[8]) - A Deputy District Attorney for the Borough of Manhattan, and Catherine's immediate superior in the office. In Season Three, Joe is injured in a car explosion caused by Gabriel's crime syndicate. After the murder of Catherine, Joe hires Diana Bennett to find her killer. Joe later meets Vincent and Father when it comes to tracking down Gabriel.
- Jenny Aronson (played by Terri Hanauer[9]) - A friend of Catherine's.
- Elliot Burch (played by Edward Albert[11]) - A self-made millionaire and New York building developer who is in love with Catherine.
- Charles Chandler (played by John McMartin) - Catherine's father, who is seen in Season 1 and 2. He later dies of a stroke.
- Dr. Peter Alcroft (played by Joseph Campanella) - A "Helper" who is a fellow medical student and old friend of Jacob Wells. In "Dead of Winter," Peter is among the "Helpers" that attend Winterfest.
- Diana Bennett (played by Jo Anderson) - Diana is a criminal profiler with the "210 Division" of the New York Police Department, which investigates unusual cases beyond the scope of the normal police. She debuted in Season 3 where she was called to investigate Catherine's murder. She later becomes a friend of "The World Below" and plays a part in the final battle against Gabriel.
- Gabriel (played by Stephen McHattie) - A highly-influential crime boss and the biggest drug trafficker on the East Coast who debuted in Season 3 as a recurring antagonist. He was responsible for Catherine's death and the kidnapping of her baby. After Gabriel's men captured Diana, Vincent surrendered himself to Gabriel's men. In the final battle, Vincent's son is rescued as Vincent wounds Gabriel. After Gabriel mentions that no court would be able to convict him, Gabriel is then shot by Diana, who avenges Catherine's death using Catherine's gun.
- Jonathan Pope (played by John Lehne) - Gabriel's right-hand man, who issues out Gabriel's orders.
- Doctor (played by Kenneth Kimmins) - An unnamed doctor that works for Gabriel. He had the Doctor overdose Catherine with morphine following her giving birth to Vincent's baby. When Gabriel revealed this to Vincent at the time when he was his prisoner, he offered Vincent revenge on the Doctor even though the Doctor stated to Vincent that Gabriel made him do it. Vincent was unable to take the Doctor's life, causing Gabriel to have one of his men shoot the Doctor as Gabriel says to Vincent "I always pay my debts."
The "World Below"
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- Vincent (played by Ron Perlman) - A man of extremely large build, with the facial characteristics of a lion (fanged teeth, a flattened nose and a cleft upper lip) and fingers tipped with claw-like nails. He wears a cloak and hood to hide his appearance from strangers while walking the city streets at night. His parentage is unknown as he was found as a baby near St Vincent's Hospital and brought to Father by Paracelsus' wife Anna. Vincent has empathic abilities that let him know when Catherine is in danger. Following the death of Catherine, his baby son was captive in the clutches of Gabriel. Following the death of Gabriel, Vincent saves his son and names him after Father's real name.
- Father (played by Roy Dotrice) - A man who is loved and respected as the patriarch of the Tunnel World. Jacob Wells is a physician who left the World Above after being unjustly blacklisted, fired from his job, and having his license to practice medicine stripped from him. He found sanctuary in an early tunnel community and became its leader.
- Mary (played by Ellen Geer) - The Tunnel Community's midwife. Befitting her position, she is very motherly and generous, always seeking to give back to the "Helpers."
- Mouse (played by David Greenlee) - A young and possibly autistic tunnel dweller, who originally hid from the community, until Vincent caught him stealing some food and invited him into their family. He is infamous for stealing from the World Above. Mouse loves tinkering with machinery and has invented several "gadgets" to help his fellow tunnel dwellers. He is the owner of a raccoon named Arthur.
- Pascal (played by Armin Shimerman) - The shy and gentle "pipe master" who is the supervisor of the tunnels' communication system. He was trained into understanding morse code by his father.
- Winslow (played by James Avery) - A very influential member of the underground community and a member of Father's council. Winslow is a blacksmith by trade. When on a rescue mission with Vincent to save Catherine from Paracelsus, Winslow is killed by Paracelsus' minion Erlik.
- Narcissa (played by Beah Richards) - A blind, elderly inhabitant of "The World Below" who lives far from the other inhabitants. She pretends to be nothing more than a senile old woman, but she is actually a skilled magician and fortune-teller.
- Rebecca (played by Kathryn Spitz) - A female inhabitant of "The World Below" and an expert candlestick maker.
- William (played by Ritch Brinkley) -
- Jamie (played by Irina Irvine) - A young girl who lives in "The World Below." In "To Reign in Hell," Jamie is shown to be skillful with a crossbow when she uses it in a fight with Paracelsus' minion Erlik.
- Geoffrey (played by Phillip Waller) - A young boy who lives in "The World Below."
- Paracelsus (played Tony Jay) - An inhabitant of "The World Below" who was featured in Season 1 and 2 as a recurring antagonist. John Pater was a scientist and former friend of Father's who helped organize the Tunnel World. But when he eventually desired power for himself, the community was forced to exile him. Father describes him as a "philosopher, scientist, magician" like the real Paracelsus, the name John Pater eventually takes for himself. When Father tries to reason with Paracelsus by calling him by his real name, he commented "John is dead." Paracelsus' late wife Anna was the one who discovered the infant Vincent near St Vincent's hospital and brought him to Father. Paracelsus tried to lead Vincent to siding with him while disguised as Father, but was ultimately killed by Vincent during a fit of rage. In his dying breath, Paracelsus quotes "At last, you are my son."
List of episodes
- Nº = Overall episode number
- Ep = Episode number by season
Season 1: 1987–88
Nº | Ep | Title | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "Once Upon a Time in the City of New York" | September 25, 1987 | |
When Catherine Chandler is abducted, beaten, and slashed by some men who mistook her for Carol Stabler, she is saved by Vincent who takes her to "The World Below" to recuperate. After recuperating and becoming an investigator for Manhattan's District Attorney office when investigating an illegal escort service, her life ends up in danger until Vincent comes to her rescue. | ||||
2 | 2 | "Terrible Savior" | October 2, 1987 | |
Witness descriptions lead Catherine to believe that Vincent is the described vigilante that has been killing people. | ||||
3 | 3 | "Siege" | October 9, 1987 | |
Vincent helps the residents of an apartment building defend themselves from thugs that want chase them ous so that the apartment building can be torn down. Meanwhile, a rich, attractive real-estate developer courts Catherine. | ||||
4 | 4 | "No Way Down" | October 16, 1987 | |
Upon being injured in an explosion, Vincent is captured by a vicious street gang. The gang includes a beautiful, glamorous, leather-clad young woman. | ||||
5 | 5 | "Masques" | October 30, 1987 | |
While blending in on Halloween night, Vincent becomes the guardian of an Irish peace activist who is targeted for assassination. | ||||
6 | 6 | "The Beast Within" | November 6, 1987 | |
When a childhood friend becomes an enforcer for the mob, Vincent must choose his loyalty. | ||||
7 | 7 | "Nor Iron Bars a Cage" | November 13, 1987 | |
When Vincent is accidentally caught on film, he becomes the target of a scientist who is desperate to learn the truth about him. | ||||
8 | 8 | "Song of Orpheus" | November 20, 1987 | |
When Father ventures to "The World Above" for the first time in decades, he is arrested for murder. Catherine and Vincent must dive into Father's past in order to clear his name. | ||||
9 | 9 | "Dark Spirit" | November 27, 1987 | |
While investigating a mysterious death, Catherine becomes a target for a mysterious voodoo cult. | ||||
10 | 10 | "A Children's Story" | December 4, 1987 | |
Catherine learns that a city's model foster home holds a dark secret. | ||||
11 | 11 | "An Impossible Silence" | December 18, 1987 | |
Upon witnessing a shooting, a deaf girl must decide if she should leave the sanctuary of "The World Below" to free an innocent man. | ||||
12 | 12 | "Shades of Gray" | January 8, 1988 | |
In the wake of Mouse's latest breaking of their rules, the inhabitants of "The World Below" decide to shun him for his acts of thievery, while in "The World Above," Catherine has to deal with Elliot Burch when he worms his way back into Catherine's life. When Father and Vincent are trapped in a cave-in, Catherine convinces the other inhabitants to let Mouse help them. | ||||
13 | 13 | "China Moon" | January 15, 1988 | |
Chinatown is the setting of a "Romeo and Juliet"-like story of a woman who is friends with Vincent and who has fallen in love with one man but through an arranged marriage has become engaged to the son of a Triad leader. | ||||
14 | 14 | "The Alchemist" | January 22, 1988 | |
Catherine believes that a new hallucinatory drug on the street is being supplied by someone from "The World Below." It is soon revealed to Catherine, Vincent, and Father that a former exiled friend of Father's named Paracelsus is behind this. | ||||
15 | 15 | "Temptation" | February 5, 1988 | |
Joe is spearheading the investigation of a major firm, so the firm's attorney begins using dirty tactics to derail Joe, and Catherine discovers that Joe's new girlfriend is a vital part of the conspiracy. | ||||
16 | 16 | "Promises of Someday" | February 12, 1988 | |
Catherine is disturbed when she believes that the new Assistant District Attorney is a fraud and is more disturbed when she finds him looking for the entrance to "The World Below." | ||||
17 | 17 | "Down to a Sunless Sea" | February 19, 1988 | |
Catherine's ex-fiance Steven comes back into her life, but he may have ulterior motives, and as she allows him back into her life despite their rocky past, Vincent begins having dreams of disaster connected to Catherine and her rekindled relationship. | ||||
18 | 18 | "Fever" | February 26, 1988 | |
Mouse and two other Tunnel Dwellers discover a buried ship, and the treasure in it might prove the destruction of the World Below. | ||||
19 | 19 | "Everything Is Everything" | March 4, 1988 | |
Vincent and Catherine become involved with a Gypsy boy who's been banished from his tribe because of a crime his father was supposed to have committed and who claims that his father was actually innocent. | ||||
20 | 20 | "To Reign in Hell" | March 18, 1988 | |
Catherine receives an unexpected visitor on her balcony. The visitor is Paracelsus' minion Erlik who captures Catherine in Paracelsus' plot to lure Vincent to the lower parts of "The World Below" and kill him so that Paracelsus can overthrow Father and take over "The World Below." Despite knowing what Paracelsus would do, Vincent goes to rescue her with the help of Pascal, Winslow, and Jamie. | ||||
21 | 21 | "Ozymandias" | April 1, 1988 | |
Elliot Burch's great construction project "Burch Tower" threatens the existence of "The World Below" and Catherine agrees to marry him if he will halt construction. | ||||
22 | 22 | "A Happy Life" | April 8, 1988 | |
The anniversary of her mother's death triggers a depression for Catherine who struggles to balance her life in the "The World Above" with her relationship with Vincent and "The World Below." Vincent feels her pain and attempts to end their relationship. Catherine retreats to a friend's out of town home to sort things out for herself and comes to terms with the fact that what she and Vincent share is rare and true and worth everything. She returns to New York and runs into Vincent's arms. |
Season 2: 1988–89
Nº | Ep | Title | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
23 | 1 | "Chamber Music" | November 18, 1988 | |
In this homage to classical music, Vincent stumbles across a former resident of "The World Below", once a gifted pianist, but now a drug addict struggling to survive in the city. Through a series of flashbacks it is revealed that the young man feels responsible for the death of one of the helpers, his piano teacher. In the end, he refuses to accept the love and forgiveness waiting Below, though Vincent assures him no one blames him for her death. | ||||
24 | 2 | "Remember Love" | November 25, 1988 | |
Catherine longs for Vincent to escort her to a secret hidden place that she had as a child in Connecticut. Yet Vincent realizes that there is too much danger if he were to venture above. Vincent then begins having visions of an angel who takes him on a journey of what life would have been like if he had never existed with one of them having involved Paracelsus successfully taking over "The World Below." | ||||
25 | 3 | "Ashes, Ashes" | December 2, 1988 | |
Vincent rescues a man named Dimitri from drowning and brings him to "The World Below" to recuperate. Little does anyone know, Dimitri is carrying the pneumonic plague which soon becomes an epidemic amongst the residents of the tunnels and begins taking lives. Meanwhile, Catherine discovers that Dr. Peter Alcroft is an old friend of Father when it comes to helping the infected. | ||||
26 | 4 | "Dead of Winter" | December 9, 1988 | |
When "The World Below" is planning an annual winter event called Winterfest with Catherine and the other "Helpers," Paracelsus plans to crash the party. Catherine and Vincent suspect that someone at the party is actually Paracelsus in disguise and must find out who it is. | ||||
27 | 5 | "God Bless the Child" | December 16, 1988 | |
After meeting with a pregnant former prostitute named Lena who called a help line, Catherine convinces Vincent and Father to welcome her to the "World Below" where she can have her baby and be part of the community. Before actually meeting Vincent, Lena hears stories about him and once she encounters him in person, a crush develops into something more for her. After the baby is born, she offers her love to Vincent, who rejects her advances gently but firmly. She runs away, leaving her child behind. Catherine tracks her down and convinces her to return to her new home, where in a naming ceremony Lena calls the baby girl after Catherine. | ||||
28 | 6 | "Sticks and Stones" | January 6, 1989 | |
Catherine learns that the deaf girl Laura, a former resident of "The World Below," has fallen in with a gang of angry young deaf people. The leader of the gang "Lincoln" is being investigated for his involvement in the murder of a security guard. Laura's boyfriend Jerry is actually an undercover police officer who has infiltrated the gang. He reveals to Laura that he is a cop and not really deaf but that he wants to be with her. She runs off and when she returns, she discovers the gang has found out who Jerry is and they have sentenced him to the punishment of "sticks and stones." He is rescued by Catherine and the police who are searching for him, as well as Vincent who is summoned by one of the helpers. | ||||
29 | 7 | "A Fair and Perfect Knight" | January 13, 1989 | |
Michael, a young man who has lived in "The World Below" since he was a child, is accepted to college in New York. Catherine invites him to stay with her but the relationship becomes complicated when he falls in love with her and reveals the truth about his parentage. | ||||
30 | 8 | "Labyrinths" | January 20, 1989 | |
A young man gets lost in the tunnels and is found by the inhabitants of "The World Below." They are unsure if they should let the boy go in the event that he doesn't keep their existence a secret. | ||||
31 | 9 | "Brothers" | February 3, 1989 | |
Vincent's "brother" Devin Wells returns with Charles, a deformed man with Proteus syndrome (Elephant Man disease) who seeks sanctuary. He was abused by his brother Eddie and Devin tells Catherine that Charles was once imprisoned in the circus under the billing of the "Dragon Man." Charles is unpredictable and inadvertently injures several people before Devin decides to take him back above and look after him himself upon looking for someplace where nobody can find Charles. | ||||
32 | 10 | "A Gentle Rain" | 17 February 1989 | |
A resident of "The World Below" named Kanin heads to a store in "The World Above" and is recognized by a woman as the man who killed her son years ago. Although Catherine doesn't want to force Kanin leave his family, Vincent thinks he should take responsibility for his crimes and give closure to the woman who lost her son. | ||||
33 | 11 | "The Outsiders" | February 24, 1989 | |
When a group of homeless people find their way into "The World Below," Father decides to welcome them. Vincent is wary about this as it seems that the homeless people are violent and disturbed. | ||||
34 | 12 | "Orphans" | March 6, 1989 | |
When Catherine's father dies of a stroke, she retreats to "The World Below" to grieve. She asks Vincent to let her stay with him and not return to "The World Above" and though he agrees, he knows that eventually she will need to go back. One night she is visited by her father's spirit in a dream and she comes to terms with losing him, which gives her the strength to return to her world. | ||||
35 | 13 | "Arabesque" | March 13, 1989 | |
A former resident of "The World Below" named Lisa, now a world-famous ballerina seeks refuge in the tunnels to avoid testifying against her boyfriend. The situation is complicated by memories from when she and Vincent were teenagers. She would dance for Vincent and he fell in love with Lisa but one night while she danced, Vincent hurt her when they embraced and he wouldn't let go. This memory is for Vincent a chief reason why he fears a physical relationship with Catherine. Catherine is able to console him and to convince Lisa to go back above to face the authorities and do what she can to help put away the man she's involved with for his crimes. | ||||
36 | 14 | "When the Bluebird Sings" | March 31, 1989 | |
While in a bookstore Catherine encounters an eccentric young artist named Christopher who she later finds out is "dead." He keeps popping up in her life, even once at the tunnel in Central Park, where he sees Vincent. Though he seems harmless, Catherine is convinced he has faked his own death to reap the benefits of being a "dead artist." His friend, the bookshop owner, swears he is dead, having identified the body himself and claiming she's not the first to have seen his ghost. She tracks down Christopher's paintings to a warehouse where Vincent joins her and Christopher seems to appear out of thin air just long enough to show them where to find his work and then mysteriously disappears. Catherine arranges a show at a gallery, which is a great success. The gallery owner presents her with a wrapped painting that has her name on it. It turns out to be an oil painting Christopher did of her and Vincent. Vincent comments that the paint is completely dry, something that can take years for oil paints, adding to the air of mystery. | ||||
37 | 15 | "The Watcher" | April 7, 1989 | |
Catherine is pursued by a stalker who can see her apartment through a telescope. On the night of their second anniversary, Catherine and Vincent are on the balcony when she receives a phone call from her friend warning her she is in danger. A moment later, the stalker calls, claiming he can see Vincent. Catherine tries to find out who he is and though she reveals to Joe that someone is watching her, she refuses to involve the police, in order to protect Vincent. The stalker eventually grabs Catherine, despite her, Joe and Vincent's efforts to keep her safe and leaves her unconscious body in the trunk of his car in a lake. Catherine is at the edge of death when Vincent arrives, dispatches the stalker and rescues Catherine from her watery grave. | ||||
38 | 16 | "A Distant Shore" | April 14, 1989 | |
Catherine must travel to California as part of an investigation for the DA's office in New York. She and Vincent discover just how strong their bond is when Vincent is able to warn her telepathically of an impending attack while she is trying to bring a witness back to New York with her. | ||||
39 | 17 | "Trial" | April 21, 1989 | |
Catherine and Joe have been working on a case involving a high power Wall Street celebrity whose child abuse turned deadly which resulted in the death of his son. Catherine is named the prosecutor in the case and she soon must deal with the challenge of trying to get the child's mother to testify against her husband | ||||
40 | 18 | "A Kingdom by the Sea" | April 28, 1989 | |
Elliot Burch has returned to New York and finds that his life his in danger. It seems a death squad has followed him to New York due to dirty dealings that he was involved in Central America. He soon gets Catherine involved who puts her own life on the line to help him. | ||||
41 | 19 | "The Hollow Men" | May 5, 1989 | |
Two rich kids have been targeting and murdering prostitutes for fun. Late one night, Vincent witnesses their latest murder and is unable to stop them. Catherine soon puts together a case against them but has a hard time putting them away. Meanwhile, Vincent has set on his own to put an end to their madness....more+ | ||||
42 | 20 | "What Rough Beast" | May 12, 1989 | |
Catherine is attacked by two men in the park who are disguised as police officers. Vincent comes to her rescue only for it to be a set-up caused by a shadowy figure who has hired an investigative reporter named Bernie Spirko to uncover the existence of Vincent. | ||||
43 | 21 | "Ceremony of Innocence" | May 19, 1989 | |
Following the death of Bernie Spirko in the last episode, Elliot Burch and Catherine set out to find the man who hired and killed Spirko. Little do either of them know that the man they are seeking is Paracelsus and he has set into motion the next stage of his diabolical plan. He lies to Vincent about his birth which brings Vincent to the verge of madness in the final confrontation with Paracelsus. | ||||
44 | 22 | "The Rest Is Silence" | May 26, 1989 | |
Following the death of Paracelsus, Vincent comes to terms that the beast within him is causing him to lose control. |
Season 3: 1989–90
Nº | Ep | Title | Original air date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
45 | 1 | "Though Lovers Be Lost, Part 1" | December 12, 1989 | |
After recovering from his violent madness, Vincent finds himself unable to sense when Catherine is in danger. When an explosion lands Joe in the hospital, Catherine learns that she is pregnant and ends up captured by a crime syndicate led by a shadowy figure during her investigation. | ||||
46 | 2 | "Though Lovers Be Lost, Part 2" | December 12, 1989 | |
Vincent, Joe, and Elliot each continue to search for Catherine after she was kidnapped. As Catherine's pregnancy begins its final phase, Vincent detects his child's presence which leads him to a skyscraper where the crime syndicate's leader Gabriel has plans for Vincent's newborn child. | ||||
47 | 3 | "Walk Slowly" | December 13, 1989 | |
Following Catherine's murder at the hands of Gabriel, Vincent takes Catherine's body back to her apartment and leaves her body on her bed. Joe begins an investigation into finding Catherine's murderer and hires Diana Bennett to help him. Diana encounters Elliot Burch and members of "The World Below" at Catherine's funeral. | ||||
48 | 4 | "Nevermore" | December 20, 1989 | |
Vincent begins his quest to find his captive son and makes his first move by revealing himself to Elliot. Meanwhile, Diana has become immersed into Catherine's life and soon discovers the entrance into the Tunnel World in the basement of Catherine's apartment building. Elliot soon discovers District Attorney John Moreno's role in the death of Catherine. | ||||
49 | 5 | "Snow" | December 27, 1989 | |
Gabriel sends an assassin named Snow to eliminate Vincent. When Snow finds the entrance to "The World Below," Vincent must lead Snow away from its inhabitants. | ||||
50 | 6 | "Beggar's Comet" | January 3, 1990 | |
Vincent plans to leave "The World Below" to keep its inhabitants from being targeted by Gabriel's men. Following the death of Snow, Gabriel plans to have Vincent killed and approaches Elliot with an offer to betray Vincent. | ||||
51 | 7 | "A Time to Heal" | January 10, 1990 | |
Following the boat explosion, Diana finds a wounded Vincent at Catherine's grave and takes him back to her apartment to heal. Father comes to the surface and visits Joe to know if Vincent had perished in the boat explosion. | ||||
52 | 8 | "Chimes at Midnight" | January 17, 1990 | |
When Vincent entrusts Snow's ring to Diana, she becomes a target for Gabriel's men and ends up captured. Vincent surrenders himself to Gabriel when he hears that his son is terminally ill. | ||||
53 | 9 | "Invictus" | January 24, 1990 | |
With Vincent a prisoner of Gabriel, he witnesses his son making a miraculous recovery. Diana can't return to her apartment as it's under surveillance by Gabriel's men. Upon learning of Vincent's capture, Father and the other inhabitants of "The World Below" bring Diana to "The World Below" where she gives them the description of the floor tile in Gabriel's house. | ||||
54 | 10 | "In the Forests of the Night" | July 21, 1990 | |
Rolley is shot while trying to rob a liquor store and takes refuge in the tunnels. This brings his heroin addiction to the forefront and Vincent vows to do his best to help Rolley which leads to a fiery encounter at a drug house that unknown to Vincent is run by Gabriel. NOTE: The events of this episode actually take place before the events seen in "Chimes at Midnight." | ||||
55 | 11 | "The Reckoning" | July 28, 1990 | |
In the aftermath of Gabriel's death, Vincent introduces Diana to the inhabitants of "The World Below" and attends the baby-naming ceremony of Vincent's son who names him Jacob after Father. When Father receives a visit from his old flame Jessica, Diana investigates the strange murders of ex-inhabitants of "The World Below." | ||||
56 | 12 | "Legacies" | August 4, 1990 | |
Upon returning to "The World Below" upon the knowledge of some of ex-tunnel inhabitants being murdered, Father encounters Gregory Coyle who seeks revenge for the death of his father by cave-in 20 years ago. Diana makes it her mission to catch Gregory before he can kill another ex-inhabitant of "The World Below." |
Nielsen Ratings
- 1987-88: #49 (13.31 rating)
- 1988-89: #65 (10.38 rating)
- 1989-90: #93 (8.82 rating)
Note: Ratings data from TVTango.com
Novelizations
Avon Books published three books novelizing various episodes from the series.
- Beauty and the Beast by Barbara Hambly - October 1989 ISBN 0-380-75795-8, a novelization and expanding of the pilot episode
- Masques by Ru Emerson - September 1990 ISBN 0-380-76194-7, a novelization of the episodes "Arabesque", "Masques" and "The Watcher"
- Song of Orpheus by Barbara Hambly - November 1990 ISBN 0-380-75798-2, a novelization of the episodes Fever, Song of Orpheus and Shades of Grey
- WaRP Graphics also published two graphic novels based on the series.
DVD releases
CBS DVD (distributed by Paramount) has released all three seasons of Beauty and the Beast on DVD in Region 1. They also released Beauty and the Beast: The Complete Series, a 16-disc boxset featuring all 56 episodes of the series.
Shock Entertainment has released the entire series on DVD in Region 4.
DVD Name | Ep # | Region 1 | Region 4 | Region 2 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Beauty and the Beast: The Complete First Season | 22 | February 13, 2007 | April 20, 2009 | May 30, 2011 |
Beauty and the Beast: The Complete Second Season | 22 | July 10, 2007 | September 10, 2009 | June 27, 2011 |
Beauty and the Beast: The Complete Third Season | 12 | February 5, 2008 | February 10, 2010 | July 25, 2011 |
Beauty and the Beast: The Complete Series | 56 | September 30, 2008 | April 14, 2010 | July 25, 2011 |
A Blu-ray release in Region B was announced for March 2011, but was canceled.[12]
Fandom
An active fan community (self-titled "Helpers" or "the tunnel community") arose during the show's run, helping organize a petition drive to assure that there would be a third season.[13] They have published the usual fanzines, fan fiction and collections of filk music[14] inspired by the show, and hold various fan conventions around the world. Beauty And The Beast TV show is very much kept alive, since it`s airing in 1987, with yearly conventions, - 2013, Sydney, Australia - 2013, Cleveland, OH, USA - 2014, Somewhere, USA - 2015, Somewhere, North America - 2017, Somewhere, USA (30th anniversary!) www.batbland.com , www.classicalliance.net
Yahoo groups for chats about the show, http://www.classicalliance.net/, and various Facebook pages dedicated to the cast members, https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Caves-and-Candles-Community-Page/170406759694592, dedicated to all aspects of the show and seasons, featuring cast updates, convention news, photo scans, chats with other fans. https://www.facebook.com/linda.hamilton.info?ref=ts&fref=ts A page dedicated to all things Linda Hamilton. The fan base is growing all the time, with new fans discovering the 1987 show that `their parents used to watch when they were younger` or they have rediscovered once more with internet searches and recommendations of pages to look at online. Linda Hamilton is appearing at http://calgaryexpo.com/media-guests/ April 26th-28th 2013 and then she will be appearing at http://www.londonfilmandcomiccon.com/ July 5-7th 2013.
Reboot
CBS Television Studios, which owns the rights to the series, is developing a new version. Ron Koslow, the creator of the original, will executive produce the series, along with the earlier show's producers, Paul Junger Witt and Tony Thomas. The reboot has been described as a "modern day romantic love story with a procedural twist." In the United States, it will air on The CW.[15]
The television series will star New Zealand actor Jay Ryan as Vincent (the "beast") and Canadian actress Kristin Kreuk as Catherine (the "beauty").[16] The pilot was filmed in Toronto, Ontario, Canada in March 2012.
Popular culture
- In the Muppet Babies episode "Beauty and The Schnoz", clips of Catherine and a boy meeting Vincent are used in the song "Look A Little Bit Deeper".
- The show is parodied in Gravedale High episode "Cleo's New Pen Pal". The show is referred to as "Trudy and The Beast", with Trudy a married woman cheating with the Beast with the character played by monster actor Billy Headstone.
- In "No Way Down", when Vincent escapes the gang's hideout, a poster of Bruce Springsteen's The River album cover can be seen on the wall near the exit.
- In "Masques", the guests at Brigit O'Donnel's Halloween party wear commedia dell'arte masks similar to those at King Jareth's ball in the 1986 film Labyrinth, and Catherine Chandler's ballgown is similar to Sarah Williams' from that scene.
- Vincent appears as one of the irate residents of New York City's sewers in the Mad Magazine parody of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, "Teen-Rage Moolah Nitwit Turtles" in the October 1990 issue.
References
- ^ Jay Acovone at IMDb
- ^ Gerard, Jeremy (November 24, 1988). "The Success of 'Beauty and the Beast'". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
- ^ O'Connor, John J. (September 25, 1987). "TV Weekend; 'Beauty and the Beast,' on CBS". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
- ^ O'Connor, John J. (December 20, 1989). "Television; Beast Tries to Survive Loss Of the Other Half of the Title". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
- ^ TV Guide Names the Top Cult Shows Ever - Today's News: Our Take TV Guide: June 29, 2007
- ^ Stephen McHattie at IMDb
- ^ Gerard, Jeremy (June 1, 1989). "Fans of 'Beauty'". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-08-11.
- ^ Jay Acovone at IMDb
- ^ Terri Hanauer at IMDb
- ^ Ren Woods at IMDb
- ^ "Beauty and the Beast - The Third Season". DVD Talk. Retrieved 2011-12-18.
- ^ http://www.play.com/DVD/Blu-ray/4-/18402106/Beauty-And-The-Beast-Season-1/Product.html[dead link]
- ^ Carlson, Timothy. "Beauty and the Beast, the Show That Wouldn't Die... And the Fans Who Wouldn't Let It." TV Guide January 13, 1990, pp. 2-6
- ^ Gonna Howl Tonight #6 ToC
- ^ Deadline.com
- ^ "PILOT SEASON 2012 - American Actors Not Fairest Of Them All In Pilot Lead Castings". Deadline.com. Retrieved 2012-03-11.
External links
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- 1987 American television series debuts
- 1990 American television series endings
- 1980s American television series
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- CBS network shows
- English-language television series
- Fantasy television series
- Fictional subterranea
- Television series by CBS Paramount Television
- Television shows set in New York City
- Works based on Beauty and the Beast