User reviews

'Benson' was a spin-off from 'Soap', but actually did very well in its own right, proving that spin-off's can work (sorry 'Joey').

This is a charming, funny sitcom, with the lovely Robert Guillaume in the lead.

Well worth a revisit.

I enjoy Benson. Mostly because I find wisecracking humor funny. Benson does that well and the Governor and his stories can have you in stitches sometimes.

However the show's plots were far too often the standard stuff of tv sitcoms. Characters getting trapped together (Benson did that at least 3 times), a character bragging about something then having a friend or family show up (F Troop did that too), Old girlfriend or boyfriend plots. The list goes on. Benson had some great episodes too. The two with Danny Thomas, Fireside Chat, Checkmate, and Close Encounters on the 4th hole to name a few.

Comedies are about laughs, right, but you can enjoy comedies, without finding many laughs. Benson is a show, grew on me, now replayed on the new analogue, channel 76. I haven't seen the show for nearly thirty years, but it's the interesting and greatly written characters that complete it for me. I loved the opening music theme, and the wonderful actors. It's Benson, who's the source of a few laughs, among his and sharp witted and dead cute comebacks, where they don't have to be funny. This is kind of like Spin City, in the 80's, but I know what office, I'd rather be in. Benson, wonderfully played by Guillaume, an underrated actor, is a former butler, who's now humbly worked his way up, to role of lieutenant governor, in this executive mansion, where he's the sanest out of them all. I really love how Guilluame's character carries, himself, the cool cat among consistently worried Governor folk, or frantic maids, whatever. There's a coolness about it. If judging it solely on comedy, I'd be giving this a six, but like I said, to me, this sort of of not funny comedy, makes me push aside that factor, just for all the characters and shenanigans this goes in this house of office. And you'll just love Inga Svenson, as Gretchen, the maid/cook, my favorite, apart from Benson, who'll just grows on you, while Rene Auberjonois has the unforgettable face to fit character, as a smarmy sort, played to perfection. Forget Spin City or The Nanny, as you'll be much more at home with Benson. Gifted child star, Missy Gold, gives a very seasoned performance, as the cute Governor Gatling's (Noble's) daughter. Artificial exterior backdrops. How eighties.

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.

This is a splendid series for all viewers to watch and enjoy. The crew did terrific job in creating this series. This series has everything for all viewers to enjoy. The storyline throughout this entire series may have been straightforward but it was more than enough. The cast selection throughout this entire series was strong but not enough. They really committed well to the storyline and to their respective characters. The chemistry that was displayed throughout this entire series between the cast members was strong which worked greatly for this series. This is a great series for everyone to watch and enjoy.

This was a show of all shows that was one of ABC-TV's brilliant Friday night lineup schedule back in the late 1970's and throughout the mid-1980's.The producers of this show(Paul Junger Witt and Terry Thomas) went on to create other successful series to follow like "It's A Living" and "The Golden Girls",and "Empty Nest",but "Benson" is one of their best works ever. This was actually a spin-off on a earlier show called "Soap" in which Robert Guillaume's character was changed from a household servant to Lt. Governor of a huge party of characters and so forth. The reason I watch this show was that of Robert Guillaume's character...He was witty,humorous and hilariously funny. The result made Robert Guillaume a household name not to mention putting this show at the top of the Nielsen ratings during it's run. His constant squabbles with Rene Auberjonois(Clayton Endicott) and Inga Swenson(one of Guillaume's fellow alumni from "Soap")not to mention Governor Gatling(James Noble) made that show was it was and it was the most funniest show on the air during its day. Over the course of the show's run,it was nominated for a total of 17 Emmys. It won two including Best Actor in a Comedy Series for Guillaume's second-to-last season portraying the title character,marking him second to The Jeffersons' Sherman Hemsley as the only African-American actor to win the award. The show lasted seven seasons on ABC-TV producing 158 episodes that aired from the debut episode on September 13,1979 and ending with the two-part series finale on April 19,1986. Most recently,the Antenna TV Channel has brought "Benson" back on the air after missing in action on television for merely a decade since it's original broadcast.

I just saw the "Benson" show for the first time this weekend. It was during the TV Land, 48-hour, Benson Marathon! I had a ball!

I NEVER knew someone could laugh so much and so hard! My favorite episode was the one in which Clayton is kidnapped. That was a good one! Trouble never fails to catch up with that guy! And what a rescue team....Uh yeah!!!....Not!

My next favorite episode involved Klaus' SPOOF-OF-A-MARRIAGE! Could kind of guess what was coming but it was fun to watch anyway! I spent the whole weekend holding my sides and trying NOT to laugh continuously! Needless to say, I failed! Oh well, you can't win them all! HA HA HA!

I watched Benson before I saw any episodes of Soap so I never knew the connection. I remember watching an episode with the lovely Katherine Helmond guest starring reprising her soap role. Her character's date ends up dead and it could be scandalous. Her character turns to Benson for help. Of course, he helps out rather than let his beloved friend in trouble. His character's rise from governor's head housekeeper to Lieutenant Governor is a bit unrealistic but he makes it believable for the audience. I remember him winning an Emmy. I think it's a first for an African American actor to win for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. I remember cast of characters including an understated actress named Inga Swenson who played Olga. Peter Noble who played the widowed Governor very well. Rene Aubernois who played Benson's nemesis. I won't write enemies because they weren't. I remember them being at odds with each other. I loved Didi Conn who played secretary and the man who played her on screen husband. They left before the show ended after 7 seasons. I also remember Missy Gold, Tracey's Gold's older sister, who played the Governor's daughter. I'm kind of sad that it's been twenty years since it left our airways. Friday nights were never the same on the ABC network. Good shows like Benson are hard to come by nowadays.

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.

Love this show. It's such a time travel back to the 80s! Love the legendary Christmas episode the best with Benson Dubois belting out some serious Xmas tunes along with the whole cast. Wow that man can sing lol..Love the entire cast...Missy Gold is cute and such a great actress like her sister Tracy...Didi Conn episodes are awesome and that guy from Star Trek is cool. I love Inga too. Love the political humor as well. Try to catch it as much as I can on TV. Great theme song!

Caught this show when I was a kid, always remembered the White House-looking building. Remembered it for its many laughs, wit, and deadpan delivery of its cast of characters.

One of the classic an unforgettable shows of the 1980s!

Grade A

I have fond memories of Benson, a spin-off of Soap. I'd say Benson was better than Soap, as much as I liked Soap of course. Maybe because Benson had a more structured storyline rather than a soap opera, and it was aspirational for those facing racial barriers and the color bar.

I wonder if Benson can be rebooted please. If so, I nominate acclaimed British actor Danny Dyer to play Governor Gatling.

It's hard to believe that they cancelled Soap with out wrapping up the story yet they let this terrible show go for 7 seasons. Benson was such an uninteresting and unneeded character on Soap that they never mention he left and you won't even notice until the new butler shows up. This show is proof that people will watch anything.

For anyone who enjoyed "Soap" and for all its wonderful characters there were high hopes and great anticipation for this spin-off in 1979. Spinoffs were the norm back in the 70's and so "Benson" was sure to be a guaranteed hit. But it was one big letdown when it premiered.

One could say the cast was terrible, which it was. But one could say also that the character of Benson wasn't strong enough like Rhoda or Maude Findley to stand on their own. Heck, even Gilligan or Bobby Brady could have done well as a spin off. But on "Benson" Benson just wasn't funny.

On "Soap" the character of Benson was a butler to a middle class family who sometimes refused to serve even a plate of scrambled eggs or had a funny one liner to his rich, crazy employers. All these characteristics disappeared once he became the central character of his own show. The cast of characters he was surrounded by on "Benson" were wishy washy and therefore incapable of giving Benson any kind of opportunity to give some funny lines. The show was a disaster and you never heard anyone rave about it at the water cooler.

Yes, it lasted for seven seasons but so did "Wings," "Who's The Boss," and other simpleminded TV garbage. But have you noticed that "Benson" hasn't been seen in syndication for decades? Television series like "I Love Lucy" and "The Brady Bunch" are still on the air today because they're shows people still want to see. They never get old. Watch one episode of "Benson" and you wonder where people's brains went.

Excellent series. Without a doubt, my favorite episode was when Robert Guillaume sang "O Holy Night" during one of the Christmas-time episodes. This was one of the best of this series, of which there were many fine episodes. Actually, the series finale was just weird in that we never found out who actually won the election. Perhaps though it is just as well. Another excellent episode was when Benson saved Krause's life by using the Heimlich Manuver. Years later a young child (maybe pre-teen, I forget) saved the life of a friend using this technique because this child saw this particular Benson episode. Amazing show by some very talented actors.

Produced by the team that bought you "Soap",and later on "The Golden Girls", "It's A Living",and "Empty Nest"(under the supervision of executive producers Susan Harris, Paul Junger-Witt,and Tony Thomas),the sitcom "Benson" became one of the biggest hits to come out of the late-1970's and continue its streak into the mid-1980's. This series was basically a spin-off from the soap opera parody "Soap"(the title character,portrayed by Robert Guillaume,had originally first appeared on the earlier series as the wise-cracking yet level-headed African American butler for the highly dysfunctional Tate family);however,"Benson" discarded the soap opera format of its parent show in favor of a more conventional sitcom structure,which was created by Susan Harris who also served as executive producer of this series.

In the show,Benson DuBois(Guillaume) had been hired to be the head of household affairs for the scatterbrained and widowed Governor Eugene Gatling(James Noble),and his daughter Katie(Missy Gold). Governor Gatling was cousin to Jessica Tate(Katherine Helmond),and Mary Campbell(Cathryn Damon),the two sisters on whose families the stories centered on "Soap". The state of which Gatling was governor remained unidentified with the series,although "Soap" had taken place in Connecticut. The series revolved around Benson's housekeeping dilemmas,his fights with the German cook Gretchen Kraus(Inga Swenson,one of Guillaume's fellow alumni from "Soap" and his interactions with John Taylor(former "Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea" alumnus David Hedison in the pilot episode,and during the first season Lewis J. Stadlen),who assisted Governor Gatling as the chief of staff. After the first season,Taylor's job was filled by Clayton Endicott(Rene Auberjonois for the remained of the series run)who was written out by having him run for political office and actually snub his employer's endorsement. He lost the election,but returned when Benson asked him to. But in spite of their adversarial relationship(during the early years of the series)the insults between Kraus and Benson were intense at times but still became good friends. Benson also have very good relations with the Governor's secretary,Marcy Hill(Caroline McWilliams),and her successor,Denise(Didi Conn). Marcy left after the second season after getting married. Denise and Pete Downey(Ethan Phillips),the Governor's press secretary(who were introduced in Season 2)met and later married while working in the Governor's mansion and were expectant parents for most of the third-to-the-last season.

Throughout the course of the series,Benson worked his way up the ladder going from the head of household affairs to state budget director,and eventually was elevated to the position of Lieutentant Governor(by the show's final season)and almost was elected Governor in the show's final episode(which was a two-part series finale) where Benson DuBois was running against his former employer Governor Gatling. "Benson" was mostly seen on ABC's Friday night line-up of great shows,and it was a immediate hit spanning seven seasons on the air from September 13,1979 until the show's final episode on April 19,1986. A total of 158 episodes were produced. Over the course of the show's seven-year run,it was nominated for an impressive 17 Emmys. It won two including Best Actor in a Comedy Series for Guillaume(beating out Sherman Hemsley of The Jeffersons)marking the only time an African American has won the award.

That was Miss Kraus' favorite line. I swear she had the hearing of a dog. Benson could be at his table in the kitchen and say

something under his breath. Miss Kraus would always yell from an impossibly long distance: "I HEAR YOU!" Clayton and Taylor were jackasses. They were always the foils for Benson's subtle but

ascerbic wit. In one episode, Katie, Governor Gatling's daughter, (that's Gatling as in Gatling gun, folks,) had to write a report on her family. So she got the bright idea to watch The Sound of Music,

(1965), and do a report on the Von Trapp family. When she told her father, he told her to write it about the staff and to consider it her family. So she did and she got a "B" on it some other kid watched

The Sound of Music and did his on the family in the movie. He got an "A." Eugene Gatling, the governor of an unnamed Southern

state, is widowed and Benson goes to work for him. He later

becomes the budget director and lieutenant governor. In one

episode, Kraus writes a convict in prison and unwittingly offers him a job when he shows up unannounced on the doorstep of the

governor's mansion, he turns out to be a great cook. Unfortunately, he's used to cooking for hundreds of convicts. So Kraus gets him

a job at another state agency. When Governor Gatling asks why

he didn't go to Washington to work for Congress, Benson replies that as a condition of his parole, he can't associate with criminals. "I HEAR YOU!"