Beauty and the Beast (talk show)

Beauty and the Beast is an Australian panel television show that has appeared in numerous versions since the early days of Australian television. The first version began in 1964 on the Seven Network with host Eric Baume as the "Beast". Baume was later replaced by presenters including John Laws, Stuart Wagstaff, Noel Ferrier and Rex Mossop. The original "Beauties" included Maggie Tabberer, Dita Cobb, Ena Harwood (mother of Andrew Harwood), Pat Firman, Patricia Lovell, Hazel Phillips, Noeline Brown and Freda Lesslie.[1]

Beauty and the Beast
Genretalk show
Presented byBeasts:
Seven Network series:
Eric Baume
Stuart Wagstaff
Noel Ferrier
Rex Mossop
Derryn Hinch
Ten Network series:
John Laws
Clive Robertson
Ten & Foxtel series:
Stan Zemanek
Doug Mulray
StarringBeauties:
Various.
Country of originAustralia
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons21
No. of episodes2,000+
Production
Running time60 minutes
Release
Original networkSeven Network (1964-1973; 1982)
Network Ten (1982-1983; 1996-2002)
W (2005-2007)
Picture formatBlack & White (1964-1973)
PAL (1982-1983; 1996-2000)
576i (SDTV) (2001-2002; 2005-2007)
Audio formatMono (1964-1973)
Stereo (1982-2007)
Original release1964-1973; 1982-1983; 1996-2002; 2005 –
2007 (2007)

Synopsis

Viewers write in asking for advice about personal problems such as family squabbles, questions of social etiquette, marriage problems, contraception, work or career problems. The host of the program - usually an intentionally brusque and outspoken older male - presents each viewer question in turn and a panel of female celebrities provide their advice on the problem and the panel discusses the problem and the advice given offering opinions and views.

In 1982, the format was revived, with two rival versions, both carrying the same title, appearing on different networks. Network Ten's version had John Laws back as host, later replaced by Clive Robertson, whilst the Seven Network version was hosted by Derryn Hinch.

Foxtel-produced version

A more recent version of the program has run on both Network Ten and Foxtel, hosted by radio broadcaster Stan Zemanek (1996-2001) and radio broadcaster Doug Mulray (2002). The series ran from 1996–2002, before returning to W exclusively in 2005 after a 3-year hiatus with Stan Zemanek.

Notable female panelists

Notable female panelists in the Network Ten and Foxtel version from 1996 to 2002 and again from 2005 to 2007 including Tracey Bevan, Ann-Maree Biggar, Diana Bowring, Ita Buttrose, Shelley Sykes,[2] Barbara Rogers, Carlotta, Jo Casamento, Angela Catterns, Dita Cobb, Beccy Cole, Alyssa-Jane Cook, Louise Crawford, Clio Cresswell, Elaine Davies, Charlotte Dawson, Delilah, Penne Dennison, Anne Deveson, Miranda Devine, Claire Dunne, Maureen Duval, Susie Elelman, Diana 'Bubbles' Fisher, Lisa Forrest, Rachel Friend, Antonella Gambotto-Burke, Chelsea Gibb, Cleo Glyde, Tottie Goldsmith, Libbi Gorr, Belinda Green, Johanna Griggs, Donna Gubbay, Rose Hancock-Porteous, Pauline Hanson, Ena Harwood, Louisa Hatfield, Fiona Horne, Christa Hughes, Frida Irving, Shauna Jensen, Leigh Johnson, Gretel Killeen, Renae Leith, Rebecca Le Tourneau, Jeanne Little, Rachael Lloyd, Jackie Loeb, Prue MacSween, Gillian Minervini, Carol Moores, Julia Morris, Jan Murray (with whom Stan had an ongoing battle), Ali Mutch, Indira Naidoo, Judy Nunn, Lisa Oldfield, Cindy Pan, Jacqueline Pascarl, Carmelle Pavann, Dr Patricia Petersen, Diana Rodger, Kristine Stanley, Maggie Tabberer, Heather Turland, Rowena Wallace, Lisa Wilkinson, Sally Williams, Rebecca Wilson, Adriana Xenides, and Tania Zaetta.

First cancellation

The original 1964 version ended in 1973. The show was axed after 9 years on air.

Second cancellation

In 1983, Network Ten axed Beauty and the Beast after 2 years. The Seven Network version with Derryn Hinch was axed a year earlier.

Third cancellation

Network Ten along with FX aired the final episode in 2002. Doug Mulray, who hosted the 2002 series announced that the show was not returning after 7 years.

Fourth cancellation and After the show

Beauty and the Beast aired the final episode on W in early July 2007, plus it was not materialized the series' 2008 and it was no longer in production due to the death of Stan Zemanek.

Thus ending the series, Stan Zemanek died of brain cancer (in his sleep in the early hours) on 12 July 2007. His funeral open to the public was held on 17 July 2007 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in North Sydney followed by a private cremation.

New Zealand version

It was also an afternoon New Zealand television series made in TVNZ in Dunedin (1976–85), hosted by Selwyn Toogood with four women panelists, including Shona McFarlane, Catherine Tizard (later Governor-General), and Johnny Frisbie. A show with a similar concept called How's Life? aired in the early 2000s in New Zealand hosted by Charlotte Dawson.

See also
  • Leave it to the Girls - 1957 series with similar format, and which also occasionally featured Eric Baume.
  • Outnumbered - American series with similar format

References
  1. "Beauty and the Beast (1964)". IMDb. Retrieved 8 December 2008.
  2. Shelley Sykes, Shelley Sykes on "Beauty and the Beast" Australia, retrieved 3 January 2019
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