"Benson" (1979) TV series 1979-1986

User Rating:

7.2/10   

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:

For a comedy, the show had a strange fascination with death. Several story lines involved minor or unseen characters dying and leaving the main cast somehow in a bind. Many of these deaths were unusual and were often used for comic effect such as that of the Governor's wife who was said to have been killed by horses. She was not trampled, but eaten while wearing a costume made largely of sugar. In one instance, Benson himself dies and meets with his dead mother who tells him he has a choice to either return to the living or proceed to heaven. He only decides to return to the living when he sees how bad life would be for his friends after his death. Finally, late in the series, death itself shows up in the form of G. Reaper, a mysterious man seeking refuge from a storm. Benson then has to defeat him in a game of death themed trivial pursuit to save a bus full of children also threatened by the storm.

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:

Katherine Olivia Gatling: Benson, what's a broken heart?
Benson DuBois: Oh, there's no such thing, Katie. It's just a term we use to describe one of life's little disappointment that comes close to killing you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: Steve Buscemi/Third Eye Blind (#23.17)" (1998)

Favorite episode

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.