It's a shame this excellent show never got the viewers or number of episodes that it deserved. Amid the many lawyer, cop, and medical dramas this show, about a news station that reported stories and angles that other stations wouldn't report, was a refreshing change. The title, "The Beast", refers to the news station where the show is set. The station reports on news stories different from those the established stations run, and when the news gets slows they live broadcast from the cameras set up throughout the station. While the series was only allowed to run six episodes (the second which was not shown on TV), it quickly established interesting and compelling characters and plot lines. Perhaps part of the reason the show didn't get the numbers it needed to stay on the air was due to it's serial nature, where if you missed an episode or two it made difficult to follow some of continuing story lines. "The Beast" is an interesting and engaging show that I highly recommend.
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amberleigh3258 January 2003
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dolphini15426 April 2020I had a reoccurring role on the Beast. A perfect role of the character Actor I am. A master of disguise, a technology. I was to appear as different undercover personalities. Frank Langella, my old friend passed associate, made the Director cast me. I loved working with this highly trained crew and cast.
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mcgarry26 September 2001The plot was an independently owned news network that practiced "gonzo" journalism. Cameras were always on and showed everything going on in the newsrooms, as was the webcast. The plots were interesting, as were the characters, and the film had great texture. I didn't want to like it, from the trailers, but from the first show, was immersed completely. Also featured Peter Regert ... one of our favorites!
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kassies5 March 2005Aw man, I'm so sad it was canceled - I remember it being well done and challenging and just plain entertaining. It WOULD be so wonderful if it were on DVD...I miss it, and that's several years later. Frank Langella and Naveen Andrews made this show more weighty and exotic and, yes, sexy! And Peter Reigert...just a fabulous talent I've loved since Local Hero. Darnit, the stupid fate of so many really worthy shows...it happens far too often, doesn't it? Truly, I have no idea what the heck a decent show's gotta do to get a chance these days!
By far, I most remember the last two episodes, a two-part "series" set in a fictional pseudo-Middle Eastern country, I believe. -
misstrace323 June 2002I thought "The Beast" was a wonderful show and I was sad to see it go. I thought the concept was innovative, the writing marvelous, and the acting superb!! I am an admirer of the actress Elizabeth Mitchell's work. Her performance stands out in everything she appears in. All of the actors in "The Beast" stood out in their performances. I had hoped the show would return, but, alas, I guess all people out in TV land want to see is trash television. Good, quality shows like "The Beast" get canned, but Jerry Springer stays on the air. How...is...that??
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Marilou16 August 2001I think I saw every show of this short lived series and I thought it was great--and had absolutely NO chance on network TV which is being devoured by reality and game shows. It had a great cast with good depth of characters and had it been given half a chance (or had been on non network TV) I think it would have found it's audience. There is little to no chance for a drama series on the networks these days...ER would have been cancelled in three airings in todays television climate. This show was DUMPED into mid summer Wednesday nights where building a new audience is difficult at best...and it was the kind of show you had to keep up with. I really liked Frank Langella's character facing his mortality, Elizabeth Mitchell and Naveen Andrews were both outstanding. There was some developement of each character==but it also seemed like they were showing episodes out of order, or skipping some, another bad plan by desperate TV executives that are under orders to make a quick buck and the hell with a quality show. I think it a horrible shame that there aren't more shows like this--The Street was another outstanding show that died quickly on the network
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garamet17 September 2001*The Beast* never had a chance on network television. Set the viewer down inside the studio of a cutting-edge CNN-like television station, and let us see how its inhabitants live and work by following them around with a handheld camera everywhere but to the restroom. Give us current news, like the brush-wars in small countries no one can find on a map, and have a couple of our reporters detained for interrogation. Add a killer with possible connections to the TV station. Show us how the tech people work behind the scenes. Throw in a - horrors! - interracial love story, and your show is destined to be axed after a handful of episodes. The scripting was brilliant, the acting crisp, the production values edgy, the characters fully-realized and appealing, warts and all. The weekly dilemma between what constitutes good reporting and when it's necessary to sacrifice reportorial objectivity to save people's lives was thought-provoking, the kind of thing you carry away from the hour and ruminate on the next day, and the next. A TV show that asks viewers to *think*? Didn't you guys realize that would doom you to failure?
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KalamazooGal22 January 2011i've seen a lot of clips of this show (mostly out of order, and with giant plot wholes) but every scene I've watched was so entertaining. I sorta wish something had come of the show. The writing and acting were great. And the whole cast seemed to have some great chemistry. I loved Elizabeth Mitchell's character and it's funny about all the Lost folks showing up here. I swear I just saw Jacob in a scene. I knew Naveen and Liz were in it, but now him too! Too funny. The story lines were thoughtful and captivating. Even all these years later, it seems like it would have made great TV. And although a news show might, be a used story line I think this had an interesting spin with the 24/7 internet frenzy that was coming about at that time. I guess this just goes to show that even a great show can fail if it doesn't hit at the right time or find an audience.
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victoria-vt16 January 2002One of the best shows to air in ages and they ax it! Go figure... It would have been a hit for sure given even a slight chance. Realty TV seems to be "in", yet could you get more real than this? Superb cast & writing!
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This show premiered on ABC shortly, then was canceled due to the fact that it could not find an audience. When I watched this show for the first time, I was trying to figure out what was going on, I skipped an episode, then when I watched again I was still stumped. If they ever decide to revive this series, I wouldn't recommend you watch it except for making fun of the character that looks like, and acts like Sean Connery, but isn't him.