Based upon a show with the same title from the 60s/70s (which included, amongst the many 'Beasts' it had over the years, current radio personality John Laws), 'Beauty and the Beast' was a talk show in which a panel of women (the 'Beauties') and a lone male (the 'Beast') responded to letters from viewers, gave advice as well as discussed issues of the day (notably politics - Stan was unapologetically anti-Labor). For a majority of the show's life radio personality Stan Zemanek occupied the 'Beast' role with the 'Beauties' being comprised of noted Australian female personalities. In its last year Doug Mulray took over hosting the show.
As many other comments have noted, the show was at its best when Stan was at the helm. What made the show work was not just the discussions on it but also the arguments that could erupt between members of the panel, and when Stan was around you were always guaranteed at least one spat between himself and one of the Beauties. One problem with Doug Mulray was that he was quite frankly too nice, would always agree and try and resort to cracking jokes all the time, which hampered the debate-like nature of the show.
In addition to the changing of Beasts, one other item that I believed caused the shows decline in the end was the extension of the panel. Originally comprised of the Beast plus 4 Beauties, in the later years this was extended to incorporate 6 Beauties. In its original format you would often hear the thoughts of 3 of the Beauties with the last remaining one often having to quickly state their thoughts before the commercial break. When the panel was increased however even more of the Beauties had to quickly state their thoughts and opinions in order to try and squeeze everyone into the time allotted for the issue, so as a result the thoughts and opinions given began to be truncated and simplified in order to fit everyone in, resulting in the loss of some of the more extended debates and discussions that used to be more common in the earlier years with the smaller panel.
All up it was an interesting show, but let down a bit towards the end with a changing of the guard from Stan to Doug as well as having too many Beauties trying to give opinions in their limited amount of time. Sad to have cancelled in the end.
As many other comments have noted, the show was at its best when Stan was at the helm. What made the show work was not just the discussions on it but also the arguments that could erupt between members of the panel, and when Stan was around you were always guaranteed at least one spat between himself and one of the Beauties. One problem with Doug Mulray was that he was quite frankly too nice, would always agree and try and resort to cracking jokes all the time, which hampered the debate-like nature of the show.
In addition to the changing of Beasts, one other item that I believed caused the shows decline in the end was the extension of the panel. Originally comprised of the Beast plus 4 Beauties, in the later years this was extended to incorporate 6 Beauties. In its original format you would often hear the thoughts of 3 of the Beauties with the last remaining one often having to quickly state their thoughts before the commercial break. When the panel was increased however even more of the Beauties had to quickly state their thoughts and opinions in order to try and squeeze everyone into the time allotted for the issue, so as a result the thoughts and opinions given began to be truncated and simplified in order to fit everyone in, resulting in the loss of some of the more extended debates and discussions that used to be more common in the earlier years with the smaller panel.
All up it was an interesting show, but let down a bit towards the end with a changing of the guard from Stan to Doug as well as having too many Beauties trying to give opinions in their limited amount of time. Sad to have cancelled in the end.