"Benson" (1979) TV series 1979-1986

Creator:

Susan Harris

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Release Date:

13 September 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Plot:

The exploits of sharp-tongued gubernatorial butler Benson DuBois.

Plot Keywords:

Governor | Butler | Servant | Mansion | Urban

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Golden Globes. Another 3 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

Robert Guillaume	...	Benson DuBois (158 episodes, 1979-1986)
James Noble	...	Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling (158 episodes, 1979-1986)
Inga Swenson	...	Miss Gretchen Wilomena Kraus (158 episodes, 1979-1986)
Missy Gold	...	Katherine 'Katie' Olivia Gatling (157 episodes, 1979-1986)
Rene Auberjonois	...	Clayton Runnymede Endicott III (134 episodes, 1980-1986)
Ethan Phillips	...	Peter 'Pete' John Downey (96 episodes, 1980-1984)
Didi Conn	...	Denise Florence Stevens Downey (72 episodes, 1981-1984)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Columbia/Sunset Gower Studios - 1438 N. Gower Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Television

Trivia:

The series was on the air seven years, longer than the show from which it was spun-off, "Soap" (1977), which lasted four years.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the episode "Fools Gold" the blueprints Benson was hiding in his robe weren't visible in early shots (long or close-up) of the scene, but can be clearly seen sticking out of his robe right before he takes them out to show the Governor.

Quotes:

[Marcie is checking on the results of an election Taylor was running in]
Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling: So how did Taylor do?
Marcy Hill: He lost. He came in sixth.
Benson DuBois: How did he come in sixth? There were only five candidates.
Marcy Hill: There was a large write-in for "None of the above".

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Tropic Thunder (2008)

Friday nights at 7p.m. CST

I watched this show regularly for about four years or so,all the way to it's last show in 1986. By then,it had been moved to Saturday nights,with ABC clearly putting it out to pasture as the ratings were probably slowing(if not outright dipping)and the writing and story-lines getting more contrived and preachy over the last two seasons. Still,I got into this show and enjoyed it quite a bit.

A spin-off of the groundbreaking,controversial and(in my and I'm sure not the only opinion)brilliant "Soap",this show followed the life of acerbic but humane and wise butler-turned-house servant-turned-budget secretary-turned lieutenant Governor Benson DuBois(Robert Guillame,who seemed to be born to play this role). He,similar to his role on "Soap",has to put up with his share of rich(and almost entirely white)stuffed-shirts and makes friends with the TAte-Gatling family,only this time it's with Jessica Tate's cousin,the Governor himself(JAmes Noble,who is FANTASTIC here)and his daughter KAtie(Missy Gold,who will always be a cute blonde kid to me).It is the Governor,in fact,who appoints Benson to his posts in the Mansion,and Benson in turn puts up with the jovial absent-mindedness that the Gov exudes,being an aid as well as a gentle foil. The primary antagonism/grudging compatriots in the show came from the dour German housekeeper Gretchen Kraus(Inga Swenson,who probably had trouble getting casting directors to NOT cast her as Teutonic women after this show)and the pompous ass of an adviser Clayton Endicott III(Rene Auberjonois,another great actor that probably had to work hard to free himself from being typecast). Also,Benson ended up befriending his secretary Denise(Didi Conn,who will always be Frenchy from Grease to millions!)and her eventual husband,the lovably scattered gubernatorial staffer Pete Downey(Ethan Phillips,still working,Thank God!).Also featured as the staff(mostly in the first two seasons,which I must confess I have not seen as much of as the later shows) were Harris/Thomas/Witt standby Caroline McWilliams,Lewis Stadlen,co-producer Bob Fraser and Jerry Seinfeld(!).

This show was early Friday nights for me when I was too young to have much (if any) of a social life,and while the humor and pacing may seem dated and slow by today's standards(put this up against something like "Seinfeld" or "Scrubs" and see what I mean),watching it on TVLand again had me laughing out loud at times and appreciating this show for what it was:simple sitcom material done right. While this show does SEEM like twenty years or more has passed,it's a good t.v. memory,something that to me makes television worth watching.