Benson

Name: Benson
Genre: Comedy
Released: 1979-09-13
Cast: Robert Guillaume

TV-G
1979
7 Seasons
7.1 (2,836)

Benson is an American situation comedy that ran from the late 1970s through the mid-1980s. The show was a spin-off of the sitcom Soap and featured the character named Benson DuBois, played by Robert Guillaume, as he made a major change in profession. Benson is hired as the head of household affairs for the governor's mansion of a state never named throughout the history of the series. He gets along with his boss, the sweet but somewhat dimwitted Governor Eugene Gatling (James Noble), his daughter Katie (Missy Gold), and Gatling's secretary Marcy Hill, played by Caroline McWilliams. Not everyone got along with Benson. From the very first day he was at odds with the mansion's chef Gretchen Kraus (Inga Swenson), chief of staff John Taylor (Lewis J. Stadlen), and his replacement Clayton Endicott (Rene Auberjonois). Gatling's chief of staff was not the only employee of the mansion to change over. When Marcy left at the end of season two, she was replaced by Denise (Didi Conn). She, in turn, married Gatling's press secretary Pete Downey (Ethan Phillips). Both characters were written out of the show after their marriage and the subsequent birth of their child. There were changes to Benson's position as well throughout the series. After being named the Governor's Budget Director and then Lieutenant Governor, Benson ran for Governor against Gatling in the last season. The series ended in a cliffhanger, with the winner of the gubernatorial contest left up in the air. Created by Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas, and Susan Harris, Benson was produced by Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions in association with Columbia Pictures Television. The show aired on the United States' ABC network for seven seasons, from 1979 to 1986. The first two seasons are available on DVD. As of this writing there are no plans to release further seasons.

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22. And the Winner Is ...

April 19, 1986

As time is running out, Benson, the Governor, or the crooked senator will soon be out of a job. Which one? As the details come to a close we find that the winner of the election is......

21. Friends and Enemies

April 12, 1986

With Governor Gatling's term about to close and Benson up to run for Governor, the Governor learns that he can run for yet one more term and decides to grab it. This leads to a final competition, hurt, and quarrels between the Governor and Benson. (Part 1 of 2)

20. Three on a Mismatch

March 29, 1986

The Governor answers an ad from a personal's column from a magazine.

19. The Hat and the Ring

March 22, 1986

A conservation expert may help Benson and the Governor pass an inportant bill, but when Kraus hears of the strategy, she leaks it out to a friend who turs out to be a columnist and a major gossip to people who can owe her a favor for information.

18. Hi, Society

March 15, 1986

Benson persuades to pardon a man who was wrongfully imprisoned for 25 years.

17. Pardon Me

March 1, 1986

Clayton has his sights on running the family fortune, until he meets his father's new, young, and pretty fiancee. Then he realizes that inheriting the fortune will be pretty challenging.

16. The Bucks Stop Here

February 22, 1986

Benson, convinced that the question Senator Hartford has for him is "the" question, runs quickly to initiate a proposal.

15. Reel Murder

February 15, 1986

With everyone's lives in danger and not much time left, they try to crack the case and survive.

14. Reel Murder

February 8, 1986

Actor George Kennedy's plan to film a movie in the Goveror's mansion runs into deadly problems, and turns into a lethal murder mystery.

13. Parade Rest

February 1, 1986

A veteran is hired to retile the bathroom, but happens to disappear. Benson now has to investigate what happened and where his wherabouts are.

12. The Last Man on Earth

January 25, 1986

Benson and the Governor seek advice from a conservationist in helping them pass some environmental legislation.

11. Summer of Discontent

January 18, 1986

Clayton's nomination of the Governor's budget director has a problem after it is found out that Clayton lives with a Soviet defector.

10. Secret Love

January 3, 1986

After talk about Halley's comet, Karus dreams that she and Benson are the only ones left on earth.

9. Two Boys and Their Dog

December 13, 1985

Benson becomes involved in one of Clayton's wacky investment schemes. This one is investing in a weiner-dog to breed for puppies, but Benson grows too attached to the dog, as does also Clayton.

8. Flight of the Dodo

December 6, 1985

After crash landing the helicopter in the desert, Benson, the Governor, and Clayton all struggle to survive on account of them being stranded.

7. Flight of the Dodo

November 29, 1985

Despite warnings, on their way to fly a helicopter to play golf, Benson, the Governor, and Clayton run into disasterous problems with Clayton as their pilot.

6. $1 Million an Hour

November 15, 1985

Synopsis currently unknown

5. We Spy

November 8, 1985

While Benson and Kraus go to East Germany on official business, the two are accused of being spies and get arrested.

4. The Stranger

October 25, 1985

A mysterious stranger lurks around the Governor's mansion on Haloween night.

3. Uncle Jack

October 18, 1985

Benson tries to bring the Governor and his brother Jack together after 25 years of not seeing each other.

2. Love and Politics

October 11, 1985

When Benson revisits a relationship with Senator Hartford, the Senator changes her position on Clayton's commercial-development-of-state-parks bill. When Benson calls her on it, she flip-flops again and ultimately abstains.

1. Benson the Hero

October 4, 1985

While Governor Gatling is away, Benson and Clayton are depended upon to spend an 8 million dollar budget surplus before the next fiscal year, which is only a matter of several hours away. When the surplus was found out by someone, The Governor and Clayton go through political embarassment.

Description

Benson is hired as the head of household affairs for the governor's mansion of a state never named throughout the history of the series. He gets along with his boss, the sweet but somewhat dimwitted Governor Eugene Gatling (James Noble), his daughter Katie (Missy Gold), and Gatling's secretary Marcy Hill, played by Caroline McWilliams. Not everyone got along with Benson. From the very first day he was at odds with the mansion's chef Gretchen Kraus (Inga Swenson), chief of staff John Taylor (Lewis J. Stadlen), and his replacement Clayton Endicott (Rene Auberjonois).

Gatling's chief of staff was not the only employee of the mansion to change over. When Marcy left at the end of season two, she was replaced by Denise (Didi Conn). She, in turn, married Gatling's press secretary Pete Downey (Ethan Phillips). Both characters were written out of the show after their marriage and the subsequent birth of their child. There were changes to Benson's position as well throughout the series. After being named the Governor's Budget Director and then Lieutenant Governor, Benson ran for Governor against Gatling in the last season. The series ended in a cliffhanger, with the winner of the gubernatorial contest left up in the air.

Created by Paul Junger Witt, Tony Thomas, and Susan Harris, Benson was produced by Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions in association with Columbia Pictures Television. The show aired on the United States' ABC network for seven seasons, from 1979 to 1986. The first two seasons are available on DVD. As of this writing there are no plans to release further seasons.Benson is a series that is currently running and has 7 seasons (158 episodes). The series first aired on September 13, 1979.

Where to Watch Benson

Benson is available for streaming on the Sony website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Benson on demand at Amazon, The Roku Channel Free, Google Play and Apple TV.