The Beast

*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?

I 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??

Aw 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.

i'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.

The 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!