Jan 07 2009
It May Not Be “Soap”-Strong, but “Benson” Still Worth a Look
ABC’s Soap spin-off, Benson, hit the small screen in 1979- oddly, it outlasted its superior parent series by three seasons . (image courtesy of www.collectiblesofthegame.com)
Thirty years ago this year, one of television’s most outrageous and controversial series spun off its wisecracking black butler.
Benson DuBois left the confines of the Tate household on ABC’s Soap and landed his own sitcom in the fall of 1979. Robert Guillaume portrayed the title character, who moved to Gov. Jean Gatling’s mansion in an unidentified state (though it could have been Connecticut or close to it, since that’s where Gatling’s cousin, Soap’s Jessica Tate, resided).
Unlike its parent series (which spoofed daytime soap operas), Benson was virtually controversy-free and not much of a sitcom groundbreaker; none of the cross-dressing, homosexuality, left-to-right infidelities, mob activities, murder investigations, priest-girl romances, devil possessions and spaceship encounters that dominated the proceedings on Soap. Even though the show centered around a governor’s mansion, the show itself didn’t offer itself as much of a political mantle.
Rather, as head of household affairs, Benson tried to ensure that everything ran smoothly, amidst quarrels with Gretchen Kraus (the feisty German cook/housekeeper) and the governor’s political aide (whether Taylor in season one or Clayton thereafter), as well as being a second father to the governor’s young daughter and putting up with his boss’ daftness (a common trait in that family- witness Jessica Tate).
While never a big ratings hit (it barely cracked Nielsen’s top 25 in its inaugural season), Benson enjoyed a seven-year run and earned Guillaume an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (he previously had won a Supporting Actor statue for his work on Soap).
Benson’s first season hit DVD last year, though no plans have been announced as of yet for for a second season release. All four season of Soap have been released, so that works in Benson’s favor (though Soap was a bigger ratings hit, finishing in the top 25 for three of its four seasons, and also enjoyed more acclaim, receiving an Emmy nomination as Outstanding Comedy Series in each of its four seasons).
Is Benson essential viewing for avid television watchers? Probably not. But, like some other non-threatening sitcoms that enjoyed lengthy runs, it offered enough entertaining, humorous and sardonic moments to make it a watchable 22 minutes and change on a weekly basis (as well as in syndication or on DVD).
Now, if anyone can offer a reason- besides the Olsen Twins- as to why Full House lasted as long as it did, do tell. It’s one thing for a show to have cutesy moments and be non-threatening in every way, but to build an entire series concept around it, not to mention an entire night of programming (the TGIF Friday night lineup concept that ABC debuted in the late 80s), and to last as long as Full House did… some matters still boggle the mind.
