A&E Sets Premiere for Patrick Swayze's 'Beast'

Zap2It.com | November 20, 2008

Patrick Swayze, 'The Beast'

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FBI drama also stars Travis Fimmel

A&E has scheduled a January premiere date for the Patrick Swayze vehicle "The Beast."

The action drama, which followed "The Cleaner" in A&E's latest round of original scripted development, will have its first airing on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009 in the 10 p.m. ET hour.

Created by William Rotko and Vincent Angell and executive produced by Allan Loeb ("New Amsterdam"), "The Beast" stars Swayze as an unorthodox FBI agent who has to train a rookie partner (Travis "Tarzan" Fimmel) in his very particular methodology.

TV veteran Michael Dinner directed the pilot.

The show's A&E predecessor "The Cleaner" has already been renewed for a second season.

Swayze was cast in "The Beast," which has a 13-episode order, before being diagnosed with cancer in March. A&E picked the series up after doctors determined the "Dirty Dancing" star would be able to work through his treatment.