Beauty and the Beast (1987 TV series)

Beauty and the Beast (1987 TV series)
CBS · Public domain · source
Show name	Beauty and the Beast
Genre	Romantic drama, Fantasy, Crime
Creator	Ron Koslow
Starring	Linda Hamilton, Ron Perlman
Theme music composer	Lee Holdridge
Country	United States
Language	English
Num episodes	56
Executive producer	Ron Koslow, Robert Calhoun
Location	New York City
Runtime	60 minutes
Company	Spelling Television, New World Television
Network	CBS
First aired	September 25, 1987
Last aired	August 4, 1990

Beauty and the Beast (1987 TV series)

Beauty and the Beast is an American romantic fantasy-drama television series created by Ron Koslow that aired on CBS from 1987 to 1990. Set in contemporary New York City, the series blends elements of romance, crime drama, and speculative fiction around a clandestine subterranean community. The show starred Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman and developed a cult following, influencing later television productions and adaptations.

Premise

The series follows Dr. Catherine "Catherine" Chandler, a former assistant district attorney who survives a violent attack and is rescued by a mysterious, leonine man known as Vincent. Catherine returns to a life entangled with the world above and the secretive population beneath New York City, where Vincent serves as protector and leader. The narrative intertwines Catherine's work with law figures like the New York County District Attorney and crime investigations tied to street-level figures in Manhattan, while exploring social structures within the subterranean society that draws on mythic and literary traditions such as Beauty and the Beast (fairy tale) and Greek mythology.

Cast and characters

The principal cast featured Linda Hamilton as Dr. Catherine Chandler and Ron Perlman as Vincent, supported by recurring performers from theater and television. Guest stars and recurring actors included performers associated with Broadway, Off-Broadway, and film, who brought connections to institutions like the Actors Studio and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The ensemble connected to television veterans who had worked on series produced by Aaron Spelling and Steven Bochco, and to film professionals linked to Cannes Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival alumni. Several cast members later appeared in productions related to HBO, NBC, and Fox Broadcasting Company series, building careers that intersected with awards such as the Emmy Award and the Golden Globe Award.

Production

Created by Ron Koslow and produced by Spelling Television in association with New World Television, the series was developed for CBS with music by Lee Holdridge and cinematography evoking New York City nocturnes. Filming combined on-location shoots in Manhattan neighborhoods and soundstage work referencing subterranean sets influenced by productions like The Matrix (later) and stage design traditions from Broadway musicals. Executive producers included Robert Calhoun and creative personnel who previously collaborated with companies such as Warner Bros. Television and Paramount Television. The production navigated network standards of the late 1980s, intersecting with scheduling considerations around Primetime Emmy Awards seasons and competing series on NBC and ABC.

Episodes

The series ran three seasons totaling 56 episodes, airing original episodes on CBS primetime and occasionally preempted for events like NFL on CBS broadcasts and national specials tied to the Emmys or presidential addresses. Episodes combined serialized character arcs with standalone mysteries involving entities from both the surface world—such as cases involving members of the New York City Police Department—and the subterranean society, invoking motifs from works like Frankenstein and The Phantom of the Opera. Notable episodes featured guest appearances by actors connected to Law & Order and Hill Street Blues alumni, and directors who had worked with HBO and Showtime on cable dramas.

Reception and legacy

Upon debut the series attracted attention from critics at outlets associated with cultural coverage of The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and trade publications such as Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. It developed a dedicated fanbase and has been cited in discussions of 1980s television fantasies alongside series like Twin Peaks and Quantum Leap. The show aided the careers of Linda Hamilton and Ron Perlman; Hamilton later starred in films and series connected to James Cameron and franchises including Terminator, while Perlman became known for collaborations with directors linked to Guillermo del Toro and series on FX. Academic and fan literature situates the series within studies of television romance, urban fantastic narratives, and cult fandom documented at institutions like the Paley Center for Media.

Home media and syndication

After its original run on CBS, the series entered syndication on local stations and cable networks that acquired libraries from companies such as Spelling Television and New World Communications, later absorbed into corporate entities like News Corporation and 20th Century Fox Television. Home media releases have been issued on DVD by distributors tied to specialty imprints and catalog labels that trade in television archives, and episodes have circulated through digital platforms connected to Amazon Video and boutique streaming services. The series continues to appear in retrospective programming blocks on networks and at fan conventions associated with Comic-Con International and nostalgia festivals.

Category:1980s American television series Category:1990s American television series Category:American fantasy drama television series