"Benson" (1979) TV series 1979-1986

Creator:

Susan Harris
(more)

Seasons:

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

Release Date:

13 September 1979 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Plot:

Jessica Tate's sharp-tongued former butler, Benson DuBois, moves up in the world, becoming first the governor's "director of household affairs," then the state's budget director, then lieutenant governor and candidate for the executive mansion.

Plot Keywords:

Governor | Butler | Servant | Mansion | Single Father

Awards:

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

Cast

Robert Guillaume	...	Benson DuBois (159 episodes, 1979-1986)
James Noble	...	Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling / ... (159 episodes, 1979-1986)
Inga Swenson	...	Miss Gretchen Wilomena Kraus / ... (159 episodes, 1979-1986)
Missy Gold	...	Katherine 'Katie' Olivia Gatling / ... (158 episodes, 1979-1986)
Rene Auberjonois	...	Clayton Runnymede Endicott III / ... (135 episodes, 1980-1986)
Ethan Phillips	...	Peter 'Pete' John Downey / ... (97 episodes, 1980-1984)
Didi Conn	...	Denise Florence Stevens Downey / ... (73 episodes, 1981-1984)

Series Directed by
John Rich		(43 episodes, 1980-1982)
Bill Foster		(43 episodes, 1982-1986)
Gary Brown		(21 episodes, 1983-1986)
Rob Dames		(11 episodes, 1982-1986)
Jay Sandrich		(7 episodes, 1979)
Tony Mordente		(5 episodes, 1979-1980)
John Bowab		(4 episodes, 1979-1980)
Peter Baldwin		(4 episodes, 1979)
Katherine Helmond		(3 episodes, 1983-1984)
Bob Fraser		(3 episodes, 1985-1986)
Asaad Kelada		(2 episodes, 1980)
Linda Day		(2 episodes, 1982-1983)
Mark Warren		(2 episodes, 1983-1984)
Gilbert Moses		(2 episodes, 1984)

Series Writing credits
Susan Harris		(158 episodes, 1979-1986)
Rob Dames		(34 episodes, 1980-1986)
Bob Fraser		(34 episodes, 1980-1986)
Bob Colleary		(21 episodes, 1979-1986)
Terry Grossman		(18 episodes, 1980-1984)
Kathy Speer		(18 episodes, 1980-1984)
Barry Fanaro		(11 episodes, 1983-1985)
Mort Nathan		(11 episodes, 1983-1985)
Bill Boulware		(10 episodes, 1983-1985)
Winifred Hervey		(9 episodes, 1983-1985)
Rich Reinhart		(7 episodes, 1980-1982)
Jeff Levin		(6 episodes, 1979-1980)
Rick McCurdy		(6 episodes, 1979-1980)
Tom Reeder		(6 episodes, 1979-1980)
Tom Whedon		(5 episodes, 1980-1981)
Ralph Phillips		(5 episodes, 1982-1983)
Tom Biener		(5 episodes, 1985-1986)
Ron Landry		(5 episodes, 1985-1986)
John Donley		(4 episodes, 1985-1986)
Clay Graham		(4 episodes, 1985-1986)
Don Hart		(3 episodes, 1982-1986)
Robin Pennington		(3 episodes, 1984-1985)
Russ Woody		(2 episodes, 1981-1982)
David Langston Smyrl		(2 episodes, 1982)

Series Produced by
Susan Harris	....	producer (158 episodes, 1979-1986)
Paul Junger Witt	....	executive producer (158 episodes, 1979-1986)
Tony Thomas	....	executive producer (158 episodes, 1979-1986)
Bob Colleary	....	producer (34 episodes, 1980-1983)
Don Richetta	....	producer / co-producer (27 episodes, 1979-1981)
Tom Reeder	....	producer (23 episodes, 1979-1980)
Bob Fraser	....	co-producer / producer (20 episodes, 1980-1986)
Rob Dames	....	co-producer / producer (20 episodes, 1981-1983)
Andrew J. Selig	....	associate producer (16 episodes, 1979-1980)
Tom Whedon	....	producer (9 episodes, 1980-1981)
Terry Grossman	....	co-producer (4 episodes, 1983)
Kathy Speer	....	co-producer (4 episodes, 1983)
John Rich	....	executive producer (3 episodes, 1980-1981)
Tom Biener	....	co-producer (unknown episodes, 1985-1986)
Ron Landry	....	co-producer (unknown episodes, 1985-1986)
Harry Waterson	....	line producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
George Aliceson Tipton		(3 episodes, 1979)

Series Film Editing by
Bill Petty		(3 episodes, 1979-1980)
Gary Anderson		(3 episodes, 1979)
Bob Fisher		(3 episodes, 1980-1981)
Abe Schwartz		(2 episodes, 1980)
Michael Riolo		(2 episodes, 1981)

Series Casting by
Linda Otto		(4 episodes, 1979)
Judith Weiner		(4 episodes, 1980-1984)
Rhonda Young		(3 episodes, 1980-1981)
Harriet B. Helberg		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Edward Stephenson		(158 episodes, 1979-1986)

Series Art Direction by
Garvin Eddy		(4 episodes, 1980-1982)

Series Costume Design by
Judy Evans		(29 episodes, 1979-1984)

Series Makeup Department
Art Harding	....	makeup artist (11 episodes, 1979-1984)
Kathy Weltman	....	hair stylist (9 episodes, 1979-1981)
Joyce Conroy	....	hair stylist (3 episodes, 1979-1984)

Series Production Management
Layne Sheppard Salter	....	unit manager (22 episodes, 1982-1983)
Loretta Masters	....	unit manager (3 episodes, 1979)
Joe Neary	....	unit manager (3 episodes, 1980-1981)
Nikki Content	....	unit manager (3 episodes, 1980)
Garry A. Brown	....	post-production supervisor (2 episodes, 1980-1981)
Judy Jellinek Pelta	....	unit manager (2 episodes, 1984)
Michael Riolo	....	post-production supervisor (2 episodes, 1984)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Nancy Heydorn	....	associate director (3 episodes, 1979)
Doug Smart	....	associate director (3 episodes, 1980-1981)
Don Barnhart	....	associate director (2 episodes, 1980)
To Chee Kan	....	first assistant director: Hong Kong (2 episodes, 1984)
Hilton L. Smack	....	associate director (2 episodes, 1984)

Series Sound Department
Ron Cronkhite	....	audio / sound (7 episodes, 1979-1980)
Rich Jacob	....	audio (5 episodes, 1979-1982)
Allen Patapoff	....	re-recording / sound re-recording mixer (5 episodes, 1980-1984)
Nick Kleissas	....	audio (2 episodes, 1984)
Ross Davis	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Stephen A. Jones	....	camera operator (66 episodes, 1983-1986)
Flor Siqueiros	....	camera operator (24 episodes, 1984-1986)
Dale Carlson	....	camera operator (24 episodes, 1984-1985)
Alan Keath Walker	....	lighting director / lighting designer / ... (14 episodes, 1979-1982)
Carol Wetovich	....	camera operator (12 episodes, 1979-1980)
Donna Quante	....	camera operator (8 episodes, 1979-1984)
Charles Barrett	....	senior video / video (8 episodes, 1979-1981)
Bill Pope	....	camera operator (8 episodes, 1979-1981)
William Scott	....	camera operator (7 episodes, 1979-1981)
Jack Denton	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 1979-1980)
John Rago	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 1980-1981)
Randy Baer	....	camera operator (3 episodes, 1984)
Ron Brooks	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
Iris Rosenthal	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
John C. Zak	....	lighting director (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Linda Otto	....	original casting (3 episodes, 1980)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Ron Hodge	....	costumer / wardrobe (11 episodes, 1979-1984)
Mary Taylor	....	costumer (2 episodes, 1984)

Series Editorial Department
Larry Mazzeo	....	post-production coordinator (8 episodes, 1979-1981)
Gary Brown	....	editorial supervisor (6 episodes, 1979-1980)
Jean Jellinek Jones	....	post-production coordinator (6 episodes, 1979-1980)
Frank Merwald	....	editorial supervisor (3 episodes, 1980-1981)
Ellen Gittelsohn	....	editorial supervisor (2 episodes, 1979)
Skip Collector	....	editorial assembly (2 episodes, 1984)
Adria Horton	....	post-production coordinator (2 episodes, 1984)
Lex Passaris	....	editorial assistant (2 episodes, 1984)
Doug Tobin	....	editorial assistant (2 episodes, 1984)

Series Music Department
George Aliceson Tipton	....	composer: theme music (158 episodes, 1979-1986)
Scott Gale	....	music coordinator (5 episodes, 1981-1984)

Series Other crew
Frantz Turner	....	dialogue director (44 episodes, 1984-1986)
Bob Colleary	....	executive story editor (21 episodes, 1979-1980)
Katy Dowdalls	....	script supervisor (14 episodes, 1979-1980)
Herm Falk	....	technical director (11 episodes, 1979-1984)
Hilton L. Smack	....	stage manager (10 episodes, 1979-1982)
Eugene L. Kahn	....	script supervisor / production associate / ... (10 episodes, 1980-1984)
Jeanine Fox	....	technical manager (9 episodes, 1979-1981)
Linda C. Valles	....	assistant to producers / assistant to producer (9 episodes, 1979-1981)
Sue Snyder	....	assistant to producers / assistant to producer / ... (8 episodes, 1979-1982)
Richard Baxter	....	stage manager (6 episodes, 1979-1980)
Arleen Mahoney	....	assistant to producers / production assistant / ... (6 episodes, 1979-1980)
T.J. Johnston	....	production coordinator (6 episodes, 1980-1981)
Laurie Gilbert	....	production assistant (5 episodes, 1979-1980)
Terry Grossman	....	story consultant / executive story consultant (4 episodes, 1980-1982)
Kathy Speer	....	story consultant / executive story consultant (4 episodes, 1980-1982)
Chuck Vinson	....	stage manager (4 episodes, 1980-1982)
Paul Wayne	....	executive story consultant (3 episodes, 1979)
Jim Wycoff	....	production coordinator (3 episodes, 1979)
Rob Dames	....	story editor (3 episodes, 1980-1981)
Bob Fraser	....	story editor (3 episodes, 1980-1981)
Deborah Goodwin	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1980-1981)
Andrew J. Selig	....	production executive (3 episodes, 1980-1981)
Michelle Burrage	....	production coordinator (3 episodes, 1982-1984)
Diane Talmage	....	assistant to producer (2 episodes, 1981)
Jane Greene	....	production assistant (2 episodes, 1984)
Sorel Kaire	....	production staff (2 episodes, 1984)
Sylvia O'Gilvie	....	production associate (2 episodes, 1984)
John Rago	....	technical manager (2 episodes, 1984)
Stacy Saltman	....	assistant to executive producers (2 episodes, 1984)
Ellis Toney	....	stage manager (2 episodes, 1984)

Production Companies

• Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions

Distributors

• American Broadcasting Company (ABC) (1979-1986) (USA) (TV)
• Columbia TriStar Domestic Television (2001)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD) (complete first season)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2012) (USA) (DVD) (complete second season) (DVD-R)
• Sony Pictures Television (2002-)

Runtime:

30 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

1365 S Oakland Avenue, Pasadena, California, USA

Company:

Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions

Trivia:

The sixth season episode "Scenario" (original airdate 22 February 1985) was the first network drama episode to demonstrate the use of the internet. The computer network they were accessing was the ARPANET which was an internet prototype used by the US military and government.

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:

[Benson meets Kraus for the first time]
Gretchen:You are getting muddy footprints all over my clean floor and it is disgusting!
Benson DuBois:Fine, I'll walk on my hands.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire: Episode #7.100" (2009)

funny

This was one of my favorite shows growing up. It was a rare example of a spinoff series being more successful than the original, as it spun off from Soap. Robert Guillaume was perfect as the wisecracking butler who assisted the meek governor for whom he worked in various aspects of his life, especially family and business. Benson is later appointed state budget director and then elected Lt. Governor. All in all, I sometimes miss this show due to its humor and characters.