From Deseret News archives:
TV's 'Beauty and the Beast' will delight fans
TV series
- "Beauty and the Beast: The First Season" (CBS/Paramount, 1987-88, six discs, $49.99). Between "The Terminator" and "Terminator 2," Linda Hamilton starred in this romance-laden fantasy-thriller, loosely based on the fairy tale and updated to modern-day New York City.
Deseret Morning News ArchivesLinda Hamilton as an assistant district attorney and Ron Perlman as Vincent star in the '80s fantasy series "Beauty and the Beast."Hamilton plays Catherine, a corporate lawyer who is mistaken for someone else and attacked by thugs. Her face is scarred and she's left for dead, but a mysterious stranger rescues her. Eventually we learn that he is Vincent (Ron Perlman), the giant, hairy, half human/half "Beast" of the title, who lives beneath the subways with an entire civilization unknown to the above-ground world. And thus their strange "forbidden" romance begins.
Eventually, Catherine heals, gets plastic surgery, takes self-defense lessons and returns to her life, but switches to criminal law and joins the district attorney's office. Vincent, who has developed a psychic connection with her, helps Catherine with her cases, and much of this first season plays like an unusual police procedural. (Ron O'Neal plays Catherine's martial-arts instructor in the pilot, replaced by Delroy Lindo in later episodes.)
I was surprised how much I enjoyed this show, which holds up well all these years later. If your wife/girlfriend was a fan, this may be Wednesday's perfect gift.
Extras: Full frame, 22 episodes
- "All in the Family: The Complete Sixth Season" (Sony, 1975-76, three discs, $29.95). In the sixth season, Mike and Gloria (Rob Reiner, Sally Struthers) move into their own home and have a baby, causing strife when Archie (Carroll O'Connor) wants the infant baptized. Guest stars include Billy Crystal, Doris Roberts, Robert Guillaume, Bernadette Peters and Betty Garrett.
Extras: Full frame, 24 episodes
- "The Golden Girls: The Complete Seventh Season" (Touchstone, 1991-92, three discs, $39.99). This was the final season for this funny, albeit sometimes rather naughty, show about oldsters Beatrice Arthur, Betty White, Rue McClanahan and Estelle Getty in a Miami retirement community. Guests this season include Leslie Nielsen, Peter Graves, Kristy McNichol, Merv Griffin and Alex Trebek in a very funny "Jeopardy!" episode.
Extras: Full frame, 26 episodes, featurette
- "The Hills: The Complete First Season" (MTV/Paramount, 2001-02, three discs, $39.99). This MTV "reality" series is a sequel to "Laguna Beach," following Lauren "L.C." Conrad as she moves to Los Angeles on her own (with a roommate), and gets her "dream" internship at Teen Vogue magazine. Life with the rich and boring.
Extras: Widescreen, 10 episodes, deleted scenes, featurettes
