Beauty and the Beast

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.

I too really miss Stan on the show. I do not like the unfunny Doug Mulray, he is always agreeing with the Beauties which does not work. He has also put on quite a few of his friends as new Beauties and they add nothing to the show. The show just isn't nearly as entertaining as it used to be. The one consolation is that I can now listen to Stan on the radio everyday.

Since Beauty and the Beast started in 1996, the show just continued to get stronger and stronger every year. 2001 was the best season. The show was hosted by Stan Zemanek, better known as 'The Beast.' Stan was opinionated, intelligent, and more importantly honest. Sure Stan was rude to the women, but he was able to give the viewers who wrote to the show the answers they needed to hear. At the same time, Stan was able to make the show funny with his sense of humour.

And then Foxtel replaced Stan with Doug Mulray. Mulray is no Beast. It gets really annoying when all the beauties laugh at him, and when he laughs at himself. The reason it's annoying is because he's not funny. And every time the beauties answer the questions, he agrees with every one of them. Though it may sound rude that Stan was always interrupting, at least he was able to say what was right or wrong with the answers.

And what the hell is with these new beauties? Hey Foxtel, why don't you bring Jan Murray back? Are you scared she'll walk all over Mulray.

In conclusion, the show is not worth watching now. The only thing that can save Beauty and the Beast is to get rid of Doug Mulray, and bring Stan back. Unless Stan returns, do not waste your time watching this now boring piece of crap.

Until he returns, catch Stan on 3AW radio station (I listen to it through the internet), or read his book The Thoughts of Chairman Stan.

they have recently changed host from the evil man himself the great stan zemanek to the absolutely not funny doug mulray. it's a disgrace to beasts and beauties everywhere! stan was a mean (not-so) lean fighting machine. doug is just a try hard, long haired lout! nothing good can come out of switching hosts. if they want to decrease ratings, they will probably succeed. i just wish they had turned the show from superb to scum over a longer period, not just great one show - rubbish the next!

Stan was too self absorbed. Doug is less rude & I watch it more now that Stan is gone. I realize that the man in the show is supposed to be a beast but Doug is more diplomatic/humorous to the wider audience. People who write in to the show don't need a self absorbed chauvinistic pig answering and directing the beauties to answer their heart felt questions. Doug is better.