Benson was a sitcom that ran for 7 seasons (1979-1986) and originated as a spin-off from the bizarre sitcom Soap (1977-1981).  Benson DuBois (Robert Guillaume) was the butler for the Tate family, and the premise was that Benson was sent by Jessica Tate (Katherine Helmond, who does guest appear) to help out her recently widowed cousin Governor Eugene Gaitling (James Noble)

Season 1 was just released on DVD, and I forgot how funny this show was.  Benson's wisecracks were always right on the spot!  The one thing I best remembered was the intro when the dobermans chase Benson into the mansion.  That still cracks me up ;D

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/8892/7437486ku7.jpg

  I never paid no mind to Benson  until the TV Land marathon earlier this year (or late last year...)

  It's actually not bad.  Not bad at all...

 

I used to watch Benson as a kid. Once again, with not living in the US I see nothing in reruns, so I'm always cautious as to what to get on dvd. I do have it on my retro tv faves list, so it's a good sign.

And searching for intros or clips on You Tube is almost impossible. I've tried different combinations and only came up with this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltIaj7f6Wt0

I used to watch Benson as a kid. Once again, with not living in the US I see nothing in reruns, so I'm always cautious as to what to get on dvd. I do have it on my retro tv faves list, so it's a good sign.

And searching for intros or clips on You Tube is almost impossible. I've tried different combinations and only came up with this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltIaj7f6Wt0


I know.  Before S1 came out, I searched YouTube like crazy looking for clips.  That clip was also the only thing I could ever find

I loved Benson. It was a good show.

Loved it ! Mind you I used to love Soap as well.

I think Robert Guillaume was/is very underrated. He could deliver those one-liners with such timing and that dead-pan look on his face. Not only could he do comedy, he could also do drama. I remember a Christmas episode of Benson where he sang O Holy Night and I was just blown away. Man, the guy could SING!!!!



Cat

Guillaume looks good for his age (as he is now).  On the DVD, he gives interviews, and I was surprised just how good he looked.  He had a mild stoke back in '99

Yeah I remember watching "Benson" when I was little and you guys are right Robert Gulliaume was good. I should also add Robert Guilliame also guest starred on "Its A Different World" as a professor/teacher. He did a good job on his role on "Its A Different World" from what I can remember of it anyway. Why didn't he ever blow up(get popular?) I could have saw him making many guest appearence on Law & Order as defense lawyer and I think he would might have been great in a role like that.

I loved Robert in the tv movie Kid From Left Field with Gary Coleman in 1979, where he played an alcoholic single parent. In fact I recently bought it on vhs to replace my beat up taped copy. Great film!

I loved Robert in the tv movie Kid From Left Field with Gary Coleman in 1979, where he played an alcoholic single parent. In fact I recently bought it on vhs to replace my beat up taped copy. Great film!


I remember that movie.  It was a great film yes 8)

I like the show alot.

My favorite character was Gretchen Kraus (aka. Miss Kraus, played by Ingrid Swenson).  I wish there was an episode where Gretchen's sister Dagmar visits from Bavaria.  She'd be played by Cloris Leachman in the Nurse Diesel character from "High Anxiety."  Benson would try his wisecracks on the new Miss Kraus, and she'd crush his nuts into oblivion!
:D

My favorite character was Gretchen Kraus (aka. Miss Kraus, played by Ingrid Swenson).  I wish there was an episode where Gretchen's sister Dagmar visits from Bavaria.  She'd be played by Cloris Leachman in the Nurse Diesel character from "High Anxiety."  Benson would try his wisecracks on the new Miss Kraus, and she'd crush his nuts into oblivion!
:D



Ingrid Swenson was also very good. And Cloris Leachman is also another very underrated actress. I first remember seeing her as Phillis from the Mary Tyler Moore show before having a spin-off and it basically sucked the big one. But then I started seeing her other parts. She is a terrific character actress- Frau Blücher (nnnnneeeeeiiiiggggghhhhh) from Young Frankenstein & Madame DeFarge from History of the World Part I are probably her best and most notable performances. 


Cat

Ingrid Swenson was also very good. And Cloris Leachman is also another very underrated actress. I first remember seeing her as Phillis from the Mary Tyler Moore show before having a spin-off and it basically sucked the big one. But then I started seeing her other parts. She is a terrific character actress- Frau Blücher (nnnnneeeeeiiiiggggghhhhh) from Young Frankenstein & Madame DeFarge from History of the World Part I are probably her best and most notable performances. 


Cat

So is Nurse Diesel!  She saved "High Anxiety" from being lackluster.

"Dinner is served promptly at 8:00 in the private dining room.  Those who are tardy do not get fruitcup!"

She was supposedly inspired by One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest's "Nurse Ratched," but there is not much similarity.  Mildred Ratched (Louise Fletcher) was an acurate portrayal of a psychiatric nurse. Charlotte Diesel, while manipulative and controlling, was just a grotesquery. 

And don't forget Leachman's great performance in "Last Picture Show" as Ruth Popper!

But...we are way off topic!

Speaking of grotesque, last December I caught the "Benson" x-mas special.  The entire cast in character sings carols for some orphans.  The producers should have burned that script and never let it see the light of day!  So sappy it's sick!

I tell ya, watching these Benson episodes is a total blast from the past.  I haven't laughed this hard in quite a while.  The way Benson is always making cracks to Miss Krause is hilarious.  In one episode, I almost choked on my drink it was so funny ;D

I tell ya, watching these Benson episodes is a total blast from the past.  I haven't laughed this hard in quite a while.  The way Benson is always making cracks to Miss Krause is hilarious.  In one episode, I almost choked on my drink it was so funny ;D

OK, I'll be the first to say it, but not the first to think it...was there some sort of sexual tension the writers were implying between Benson and Krause?
Yes, I know it wasn't that kind of show, but people who are that dedicated to insult and show such dislike for each other, well you start to wonder...I know it would've never happened, but it would of been great if the writers and the network were brave enough to go down that path... :-X

OK, I'll be the first to say it, but not the first to think it...was there some sort of sexual tension the writers were implying between Benson and Krause?
Yes, I know it wasn't that kind of show, but people who are that dedicated to insult and show such dislike for each other, well you start to wonder...I know it would've never happened, but it would of been great if the writers and the network were brave enough to go down that path... :-X


They should have.  On the 90s sitcom 'The Nanny' they did something similar.  Niles (the butler) was always cracking wise at Miss Babcock's expense and they both shared such a dislike for each other that in one episode, they shared a deep passionate kiss ;D

So is Nurse Diesel!  She saved "High Anxiety" from being lackluster.

"Dinner is served promptly at 8:00 in the private dining room.  Those who are tardy do not get fruitcup!"

She was supposedly inspired by One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest's "Nurse Ratched," but there is not much similarity.  Mildred Ratched (Louise Fletcher) was an acurate portrayal of a psychiatric nurse. Charlotte Diesel, while manipulative and controlling, was just a grotesquery. 

And don't forget Leachman's great performance in "Last Picture Show" as Ruth Popper!



I don't recall seeing either "High Anxiety" or "The Last Picture Show". I should put them on the queue at Netflix. (But I do have "One Flew..." on video).



But...we are way off topic!

Speaking of grotesque, last December I caught the "Benson" x-mas special.  The entire cast in character sings carols for some orphans.  The producers should have burned that script and never let it see the light of day!  So sappy it's sick!


That may have been the one that I mentioned before with Robert Gulliaume singing "O Holy Night". I really don't remember the plot but I do remember him singing which (like I said in my earlier post) really blew me away.




Cat

OK, I'll be the first to say it, but not the first to think it...was there some sort of sexual tension the writers were implying between Benson and Krause?
Yes, I know it wasn't that kind of show, but people who are that dedicated to insult and show such dislike for each other, well you start to wonder...I know it would've never happened, but it would of been great if the writers and the network were brave enough to go down that path... :-X

I have to agree with you here.  And I'm guessing Clayton Endicott had a thing for Governor Gatling!
;)


I don't recall seeing either "High Anxiety" or "The Last Picture Show". I should put them on the queue at Netflix. (But I do have "One Flew..." on video).


"High Anxiety" is worth a viewing.  Mel Brooks as Dr. Thorndyke.  Not as good as "Young Frankenstein"  not as awful as "Robin Hood: Men in Tights."  The psychiatry humor is pretty dated (eg. A big rock crashes through the window with a note, "Greetings from the Violent Ward").  I'll refrain from spoilers, but watch for the peculiar demise of Dr. Wentworth (Dick Van Patten), it's my favorite scene!

Of course, "Last Picture Show" is a classic (Timothy Bottoms, Jeff Bridges, Cybill Shepherd, directed by Peter Bogdanovich, se in small town Texas, 1951).  It's not a comedy per se, but very amusing. 
:)

That may have been the one that I mentioned before with Robert Gulliaume singing "O Holy Night". I really don't remember the plot but I do remember him singing which (like I said in my earlier post) really blew me away.


He sings in Season 1.  The episode where it's been discovered that Listening devices have been planted in the mansion .. Benson is messing around singing in the kitchen lol