Howdy, all.

Here's a question for you.

What are the worst and best qualities for each character?

Wow, you're really making us think now, aren't you? :D

Seriously, I'll have to think about this one for awhile and get back to you. Such a profound question! :)

I'm not qualified to psychoanalyze the characters but from a personal opinion standpoint I'll give it a shot any way. So don't get to mad. We all know that Benson had a lot of good traits he was honest intelligent and caring but on the other hand he could be a little bit to smart-alecky at times. The governor was honest and despite his scatterbrained antics the man always had a lot of insight but it was kind of hard to believe that a guy like him could ever be a successful politician. Krauss had a very heard outer shell but she did however have a soft side and genially cared about others. Clayton could defiantly be a pompous jake-ass at times but his insecurities made him a likable creator. Denise was sweet I always liked her and Pete was just down right funny. Marcie was great it's to bad she was only on for two seasons. Katie was adorable as a child but as a adolescent the writers defiantly dropped the ball and mostly neglected her.

- Gov. Gatling was very sweet with a big heart, but wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. :lol:

- Marcy was beautiful and kind-hearted but was also a major snoop!

- Kraus had the best interests of the household at heart but was probably the most intimidating character on the show!

- Taylor was a whiner and a chicken, but his good points were...did he have ANY good points?? :lol:

- Katie was a very bright and fun little girl, but also had a way of lying and hiding that got her into the occasional scrape.

- Benson was very loyal but was also very insolent.

OK, I thought of a good trait of Taylor's - he was a terrific dancer!! :D

Good observations, Monika. And I will say this about Clayton: as the show progresses, he begins to break down a little and start showing more genuine, human qualities. We begin to find out that he acts the way he does because he feels it will bring him success. "It's my experience that being nice is counterproductive" he once said. Plus when you see the relationship he had with his father you can almost understand why he's such a twit! ;)

Of course if you watch the entire series you see that the time he was the biggest jerk to Benson was mostly in the beginning when he felt he had authority over him. In the later seasons when the tables turn (Benson is advancing in his career while Clayton is stagnant) you see a different attitude. Not to say Clayton is suddenly nice (because that never really happens) but you see a lot more respect towards Benson coming from Clayton. Clayton was a kiss-up to anyone who could help him advance his career.

Thank you, Lisa. I'm looking forward to watching Clayton in the seasons to come. Season 2 is the only season with both Clayton and Marcy, isn't it?

Caroline McWilliams lasts 3 episodes into Season 3, and that's it for her. Looking back, I wonder if she ever regrets not staying on the show all the way until the end? (Well, that's if the writers would have allowed it. We wouldn't have the Pete and Denise storyline and there was no way Marcy was going to hook up with Pete. :lol: )

I look forward to seeing all these episodes!! It'll be fun to see the way it all plays out. Did they ever mention why Taylor left or is he just never mentioned again?

Never mentioned again.

Well, maybe once...indirectly:

There is an episode when Clayton thinks he's going to be taking over his father's business and he gives notice. He tells Benson, "You won't have Clayton Endicott to kick around anymore." Then Benson says, "Please don't say that. The last guy that said it kept coming back." (I think he was referring to the time Taylor came back after losing his election. :lol: )

Although I'll admit that Taylor positives are long and hard to find, here's one I found in my notes. In "The President’s Double," he wanted to get Benson out of danger when he found out about the immediate assassination threat.

Of course, Benson promptly took advantage of this protectiveness and used him as a standing shield!

Although I'll admit that Taylor positives are long and hard to find, here's one I found in my notes. In "The President’s Double," he wanted to get Benson out of danger when he found out about the immediate assassination threat.

Of course, Benson promptly took advantage of this protectiveness and used him as a standing shield!
I think anyone would've used Taylor as a shield. :lol: