BEAUTY AND THE BEAST COMPANION
By Peter J. Formaini, USA

Special Episode Information (click here for contents)
Extracts from His Major Companion

Episode 41 (Series 2, Episode 19)
The Hollow Men

Critical Rating 0.5 Violence Rating 10.0 Original Air Date May 5, 1989

Major Performance Credits

Cameron Benson Brian Bloom Vernon John Diehl
Dale Hallowell Tom Breznahan Detective Hughs John Michael Bolger
Mouse David Greenlee Judge Haignor Apollo Dukakis
D.A. Moreno Bill Marcus Mrs Benson Barbara Lord
Brancton Francois Giroday Mr Benson Hal England
Maurice Willard E. Pugh Mr Hallowell John Garwood
First Victim Samantha Kaye Office Worker Fritz Bonner
Major Production Credits Literary / Musical References
DIRECTOR Victor Lobl Teleplay By P..K. Simonds, Jr.
  • Eliot, Thomas Stearns (1888-1965)
    "The Hollow Men" (1925) [Title] 
EDITOR(s) J.W. Kompare Story By P.K. Simonds, Jr.
Andrew Laskos

Milestones

Beginnings of Vincent's psychological destruction
First suspicions by Joe that Catherine is hiding important aspects of her personal life.

Special Notes / Trivia

The original title for this mess was "Thrill".  A dog by any other name still sheds... How this horrific episode came to be produced is a continuing question among fans of the series.  Most fans feel that "Chamber Music" would have been a much better choice for this slot, preceding the trilogy and setting the tone of loss and hope and unremitting despair.  Also waiting in the wings was a script detailing the past life of Mary, showing her to be a radical from the sixties who took refuge in the tunnels to escape an unjustified murder charge and the loss of her child.  Why this disgusting hour was ever chosen instead will forever remain a mystery to Beauty and the Beast fans, and "The Hollow Men" remains the least favourite episode among fandom, hands down.