CTVA US Comedy - "Benson" (Witt-Thomas-Harris/ABC) Season 1 (1979-80)

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Starring Robert Guillaume
Season 1 (ABC) (1979-80)
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by: Jorge Galindo
references:
TV Guide /   Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://us.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive

################## Benson ####################
############# season 1 1979-80 ###############
##############################################
ABC (Thursdays 8:30-9:00pm)
24 episodes [prod. nos. 1-24 inc.]
Produced by Don Richetta (also for pilot), Tom Reeder

1.1 [--] BENSON (pilot)
prod. no. 1-BEN-79 / 13-Sep-79 ABC
Written by Susan Harris
Directed by Jay Sandrich
video: Richard Hissong; videotape editor: Gary Anderson.
The butler Benson is borrowed by his employer for a week at the governor Gatling. He must not only get along
with all employees, moreover, he mediates in the disputes between Gatling and his daughter Katie. [JG]

1.2 [--] Benson: TRUST ME
prod. no 4-BEN-79 /20-Sep-79

1.3 [--] Benson: THE PRESIDENT'S DOUBLE
prod. no. 6-BEN-79 / 27-Sep-79 ABC
Written by Tom Reeder
Directed by Jay Sandrich
The African president Ukassi is led with Governor Gatling to a Dinner. When Ukassi undergoes an assassination
attempt and his wounds worsen, Benson must stand in as the president. Now the assassins have their sights on him. [JG]

1.4 [--] Benson: BENSON IN LOVE
prod. no. 5-BEN-79 / 4-Oct-79 ABC
Written by Bob Colleary
Directed by Peter Baldwin
Benson gets to know the attractive Francine in the waiting room of the governor. It is love at first glance.
After he has invited her to dinner, he feels that he adores this new senator. [JG]

1.5 [--] Benson: CONFLICT OF INTEREST
prod. no. 9-BEN-79 / 18-Oct-79 ABC
Written by Paul Wayne
Directed by Jay Sandrich
senior video: Charles Barrett
videotape editors: Gary Anderson, Harold McKenzie.

1.x [--] Benson: (unknown title)
Synopsis: (season 1)(episode unknown)
Directed by Jay Sandrich.
Small Katie is furious that Governor Gatling has so little time for her. At least to see her performance of the
school-theater where he should have attended. Finally Katie has practiced for her role as witch for weeks. [JG]


1.6 [--] Benson: THE LAYOFF
prod. no. 3-BEN-79 / 25-Oct-79 ABC
Written by Bob Colleary
Directed by Peter Baldwin
senior video: Charles Barrett
videotape editors: Gary Anderson, Harold McKenzie.
The governor fights publicly for a rigid cost cutting policy. So he must also practice it within his own four walls.
A part of the personnel should be fired. The ungrateful task is given to Benson who finally has to take the painful
election. [JG]

1.7 [--] Benson: SNOWBOUND
prod. no. 10-BEN-79 / 1-Nov-79 ABC
Written by Susan Harris & Stu Silver
Directed by Jay Sandrich
music by George Aliceson Tipton.
Governor Gatling would like to take time out. Therefore he persuades Benson, Taylor, Marcy, Gretchen and his
daughter Katie to a vacation in a snow-cottage. During the night the vacationers are snowed in. They stand cut off
completely from the civilization. [JG]

1.8 [--] Benson: JESSICA
prod. no. 11-BEN-79 / 8-Nov-79 ABC
Written by Bob Colleary & Tom Reeder
Directed by Jay Sandrich
music by George Aliceson Tipton.
Jessica Tate visits her cousin, the governor, and becomes embroiled in a scandal. She immediately falls in love
with his guest, the French baron D'Arvenaux. A political scandal ensues. [JG]

1.9 [--] Benson: DON'T QUOTE ME
prod. no. 2-BEN-79 / 22-Nov-79 ABC
Written by Tom Reeder
Directed by Peter Baldwin
music by George Aliceson Tipton.
Distrust prevails in Governor Gatling's house. A condescending remark over a senator has gone public. Apparently,
there is a leak in the house of the politician. The guilty party must be found before something else be revealed. [JG]

1.10 [--] Benson: WAR STORIES
prod. no. 8-BEN-79 / 29Nov79 ABC
Written by Michael Weinberger
Directed by Jay Sandrich
senior video: Charles Barrett; videotape editor: Gary Anderson.
Benson is delighted to see again Eddie his old fellow soldier. He uses the favor of the hour and introduces him to the
single Marcy. Soon Marcy's heart only beats for Eddie. However, Benson's old brother-in-arms is a married man. [JG]

1.11 [--] Benson: GHOST STORY
prod. no. 12-BEN-79, 6-Dec-79 ABC (possibly postponed from 15Nov79)
Written by Rick McCurdy & Jeff Levin
Directed by Tony Mordente
music by George Aliceson Tipton.
Strange things happen in the house of Governor Gatling. The sullen housekeeper Gretchen Kraus suspects that it's
haunted. It turns out that a former governor was murdered insidiously in the house. [JG]

1.12 [--] Benson: TAYLOR'S BID
prod. no. 13-BEN-79 / 13-Dec-79 ABC
Written by Rick McCurdy and Jeff Levin
Directed by John Bowab
Taylor quits his position as advisor to Governor Gatling. He applies for a public office. With it, the governor
is practically helpless. Without Taylor, he can manage his political businesses no longer. [JG]

1.13 [--] Benson: ONE STRIKE, YOU'RE OUT
prod. no. 7-BEN-79 / 27-Dec-79 ABC
Written by Warren S. Murry
Directed by Jay Sandrich
senior video: Charles Barrett; videotape editor: Bill Petty.
music: George Aliceson Tipton;
The domestic personnel is unsatisfied: they demand more money. Benson promises everyone a raise, however the governor
refuses. The servants go on strike and threaten with turmoil. Then Benson concocts a plan. [JG]

1.14 [--] Benson: JUST FRIENDS
prod. no. 14-BEN-79 / 3-Jan-80 ABC Thur
Written by Bob Colleary
Directed by John Bowab
senior video: Charles Barrett; videotape editors: Harold McKenzie, Bill Petty.
music: George Aliceson Tipton;
Governor Gatling is persuading the entrepreneur Howard Walker, to settle his new factory in his constituency. Benson
threatens to thwart this involuntarily because Walker's attractive wife, Carol, was a former affair of Benson's. [JG]

1.15 [--] Benson: CHAIN OF COMMAND
prod. no. 15-BEN-79 / 10-Jan-80 ABC Thur
Written by Tom Reeder
Directed by Asaad Kelada
senior video: Charles Barrett; videotape editor: Bill Petty;
music: George Aliceson Tipton;
An illness confines the governor to the bed. His more ambitiously young replacement Ed takes advantage of his
appointment. His goal is to be given the post of his superior permanently. However Ed ignores the cunning Benson
has detected his intention. [JG]

1.16 [--] Benson: BUGGING THE GOVERNOR
prod. no. 16-BEN-79 / 24-Jan-80 Thur
Written by Bernard Dilbert
Directed by Asaad Kelada
music by George Aliceson Tipton.
Benson concocts a wild scheme to trap the person who bugged the mansion. The otherwise quiet Taylor reveals that he has
had a lover by the name of Betty Green. Benson determines that he has broken keen Mrs. Taylor's heart. Furthermore,
she has also installed an army of microphones in the house of the governor. [JG]

1.17 [--] Benson: KRAUS AFFAIR
prod. no. 17-1BEN80 / 31-Jan-80 Thur
Teleplay by Rick McCurdy & Jeff Levin; Story by Mitch Markowitz
Directed by Tony Mordente
senior video: Charles Barrett; videotape editors: Bill Petty, Abe Schwartz.
music: George Aliceson Tipton;
When Kraus falls for the butcher, Benson is enlisted to help booster her self-confidence.

1.18 [--] Benson: CHECKMATE
prod. no.18 - 2BEN80 / 7-Feb-80 ABC Thur
Teleplay by Bob Colleary and Tom Reeder / Story by Mark Barkan and Louis Coppola
Directed by Tony Mordente
music by George Aliceson Tipton.
A compassionate Benson helps a homesick 11-year-old Soviet chess genius.

1.19 [--] Benson: COLD STORAGE
prod. no. 19 - 3BEN80 / 28-Feb-80 ABC Thur
Written by Jim Tisdale
Directed by John Bowab
Guest Cast:
Greg Finley
Just before a big banquet with important state-guests, Benson inadvertently locks up himself with his intimate enemy
Gretchen into the refrigerator of the house. Of course they can't avoid their private war to continue. [JG]

1.20 [--] Benson: OLD MAN GATLIN'
prod. no. 20 - 4BEN80 / 6-Mar-80 ABC Thur
Written by Rick McCurdy & Jeff Levin
Directed by John Bowab.
Guest cast:
David Huddleston
The governor's irascible father visits the mansion, creating havoc among the staff and guests. [JG]

1.21 [--] Benson: POWER PLAY
prod. no. 21 - 5BEN80 / 20-Mar-80 ABC Thur
Written by Rick McCurdy & Jeff Levin
Directed by John Tracy
Guest cast:
Steve Peterman
Art Metrano
Ken Lerner
Tom Tully
A mysterious conservationist known as El Gato sends dead fish and sludge to the mansion. [JG]

1.22 [--] Benson: TAKIN' IT TO THE STREETS
prod. no. 22 - 6BEN80 / 27-Mar-80 ABC Thur
Written by Wally Dalton & Shelley Zellman
Directed by Tony Mordente
Guest cast:
Kene Holliday
Joy Garrett
Les Lannom
Benson and the governor make a late-night visit to a seedy bar to talk to constituents. [JG]

1.23 [--] Benson: THE ARMY WANTS YOU
prod. no. 23 - 7BEN80 / 1-May-80 ABC Thur
Written by Paul J. Raley
Directed by Tony Mordente.
videotape editor: Bill Petty
cameras: Carol Wertovich, Bill Pope, Bill Scott, Donna Quante
music by George Aliceson Tipton
Benson, a veteran, is puzzled when he is told to report to the Army for "evaluation". [JG]

1.24 [--] Benson: MARCY'S VACATION
prod. no. 24 - 8BEN80 / 8-May-80 ABC Thur
Written by Kathy Speer and Terry Grossman
Directed by Don Barnhart.
videotape editor: Bill Petty
cameras: Carol Wertovich, Bill Pope, Bill Scott, Donna Quante
music by George Aliceson Tipton.
Marcy worries that her replacement may do a better job than she does.

=========
1.x [--] Benson: (unknown title)
Synopsis: (season 1)(episode unknown)
Directed by Peter Baldwin
Although she has been confined to stay home, Katie succeeds with a trick, in attending a controversial rock-concert.
Benson now leaves nothing untried, to find her. Should the governor come home earlier than his daughter, Benson had
to apply for a new employment. [JG]

  ################## Benson ####################
############## end of season 1 ###############
##############################################

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