Pregnant Paws

“Beauty and the Beast” exec producer Paul Witt has dismissed industry buzz that “Beauty” Linda Hamilton could meet an early demise when the show returns to CBS next season--in short, written out of the series. Witt admitted that Hamilton has not been involved in the show’s current planning but insisted she intends to stay with the series after the birth of her child in September or October (her reps are referring questions about Hamilton to the producers).

The actress is “unavailable to us because of her pregnancy,” Witt said. “Her objective is to be the best mother she can be, and that is what she’s thinking about.”

He added that her motherhood “may alter the number of episodes she’ll appear in, but that doesn’t mean she’s leaving.”

The show has no time slot, but is expected back as a mid-season replacement series.

“We’re not talking about any of our plans yet,” Witt said, “but I can tell you we will remain true to the show as it’s been.”