Ok, I have to start this thread by saying that I LOVE this episode. It’s not only one of my favorite first season episodes, but one of my favorite Benson episodes, period. James Noble also mentioned this one in “Favorites From The First Season” on the DVD. :D

The gist of this episode is quite simply that the Governor’s mansion is being bugged. Only two rooms in the mansion are safe: Katie’s bedroom and the little (and I mean little!) bathroom on the first floor. Finding out the who, how, and why of this situation makes for a very entertaining and funny episode. Thank goodness a love-spurned Taylor knocked Benson’s paperwork off his desk out of frustration, otherwise Benson would never have spotted that first bug under his desk while bending down to pick the papers up.

In one of my favorite scenes, we see a bunch of grown men try to fit into the children’s chairs in Katie’s room to discuss what to do about the situation (I’m surprised they didn’t break the chairs :lol: ). Taylor thinks they should yank the bugs out, but Benson wants to nail the people responsible so he suggests they keep them where they are. The investigator on the scene is willing to proceed in any way the Governor chooses, and Gene chooses to go along with Benson’s plan.

Taylor doesn’t like Benson’s approach: Benson makes up a scandal to get the attention of the buggers. He also creates a script involving himself, Gene, Kraus, and Taylor to trick the buggers into believing the four are involved in some corrupt plot and are going to split a large sum of money. This is another really funny scene that not only fools the buggers (they must not be too bright), but how Benson ties Taylor and Kraus together romantically is priceless. :lol:

And then there’s the scene in the little bathroom. Benson, Taylor, and the Governor cram themselves in to discuss the bugs and we can only hope everyone showered because boy, were they ever close! Pay attention to Robert in this scene because at one point he looks like he’s about to lose it—he is definitely on the verge of laughter leaning against JN’s back. :D

Naturally it ends with the buggers being found, and busted. It seems Taylor was suckered by that woman he was distraught over—she is the one responsible for getting the bugs inside. Poor Taylor, used and then dumped!

Favorite quotes:
Taylor: Sir, let’s go up to Katie’s room.
Governor Gatling: What for?
Benson: Maybe he wants to play with her toys.

Taylor: I can’t wait until we get our share of the money, Gretchen my darling.
Kraus: Ja, Taylor my sweet. Soon we will be dancing the Samba in Rio. It is like a dream come true, my little knockwurst.
Taylor: You are already my dream come true, my furry little bunny.

Governor Gatling: Typo.
Benson: She’s got Type-O blood.
Governor Gatling: Where does it say that?
Benson: On her dog tags.

Taylor: Well, I guess she’ll be going to jail.
Benson: Well, I wouldn’t worry about it, Taylor. Now that you and Kraus got something going, who knows, in a couple years, you all will be married.

Kraus made lifting that chair with one hand look easy. I’ll have to try that. :eek:

GREAT episode. Highly recommended! :thumbsup:

I agree with Lisa. I LOVE this episode!! I was howling throughout the whole thing. I lost it when they were reading Benson's script, and Gov. Gatling says "pause". :rofl: Taylor and Kraus' "romance" is a winner, as is the infamous scene of the Governor, Taylor and Benson crowding into the tiny bathroom. My favorite episode, next to "Snowbound". A real laugh riot, my little strudelface!!! :D

Benson (discovering bugs): Maybe Kraus left the door open.
Kraus (far away): I DID NOT!!!!

I loved this episode it has some outstanding sight gags like the really little bathroom and grown Men setting around in kiddy furniture. You can't get much more comical then that. And did you notice when the table turned over how the governor knocked Katie's poo-bear out of her hands and it arched up over and out towards the camera. The writers did a exellent job on this one. :crazy: :crazy:

I lost it when they were reading Benson's script, and Gov. Gatling says "pause". :rofl:

"Let's get on with this....pause!" :lol:
Yeah, that's great. The first time I ever saw that episode, that line had me cracking up for about 10 minutes! :D

Love Benson's reaction afterwards too.

I loved this episode it has some outstanding sight gags like the really little bathroom and grown Men setting around in kiddy furniture. You can't get much more comical then that. And did you notice when the table turned over how the governor knocked Katie's poo-bear out of her hands and it arched up over and out towards the camera. The writers did a exellent job on this one. :crazy: :crazy:

Yeah, didn't he accidentally kick it with his knee as he was trying to pry himself from the chair? :lol:

I always thought it was part of the scene and probably rehearsed that way because Katie was holding the bear out at about her Knees. But if he did kick it with his foot then it must have been an accident. It would not have been very safe if they had him kick it out of her hands on purpose with his foot. After all it would have been really sad having too watch poor little Katie hobbling around the rest of the show because her daddy kicked her in the knees. :( :(

16 -- Bugging the Governor

Sitting in the little chairs -- you think Gene’d have learned from his previous experience with them, before having ended up on his… end. Cute both times though, I must admit!

Augh -- I can’t take Taylor’s annoying song!

Love the little bathroom! Love the little bathroom scene period -- unusual in that it’s non-verbal humor. Also, are *we* supposed to be the mirror? B/c they look out at us.

Think those scripts they used were actually their real ones?

Fave quote:
Harwell: That meeting yesterday, you made it all up?
Benson: Everything. Except for the stuff about Taylor and Kraus.


Yes, I enjoyed this baby! And RG was definitely starting to crack up. I think he must have stepped on/got a little too close to JN somewhere, b/c JN reacted and then RG started to laugh. I love it when the actors start losing it. Fun, fun, fun! I also tend to keep an eye out for JN biting the inside of his mouth to keep a straight face – usually when telling those hilarious stories!

Finally I have to say, those people must have been idiots! [pause] B/c there were various times when the staff says things [oh, look bugs!] that would get me worried that my listening devices had been discovered.

Two thumbs up!! :-D

Augh -- I can’t take Taylor’s annoying song!

Think those scripts they used were actually their real ones?

What song WAS that anyway? And it did sound annoying. Taylor's little "trumpet" version of it probably didn't help though. :lol:

They probably were the real scripts. I'm sure anytime any cast can get away with having to memorize lines, they will!

I also tend to keep an eye out for JN biting the inside of his mouth to keep a straight face – usually when telling those hilarious stories!

Really? He seems to keep a straight face pretty well, but I just figured it's because he's such an excellent actor. I'll have to pay attention to that. :)

That scene in the miniscule bathroom - talk about Close Encounters of the Third Kind!!! :eek: :lol: I've been in airplane bathrooms bigger than that!!

That scene in the miniscule bathroom - talk about Close Encounters of the Third Kind!!! :eek: :lol: I've been in airplane bathrooms bigger than that!!

I know what you mean!

And speaking of airplanes, I am heading to Dallas, TX, today and will be back Sunday afternoon. Not sure if I'll be getting on the internet during that time, so keep the conversation going until I get back. :wave: :D

^ Sure thing! :D Have fun and have a safe trip, Lisa.

^ Sure thing! :D Have fun and have a safe trip, Lisa.

I'm back. Well, it wasn't fun but at least it was safe. :D

No more comments on this episode? Bummer! :( ;)

Well, in any case, we're glad you're back! :wave: :bighug:

Well, in any case, we're glad you're back! :wave: :bighug:

Thanks, Monika! :D

Howdy, friends, here are some more questions/comments I thought of over the W/E:

I wonder why the other rooms were bugged. I can understand the offices, even the bedrooms, but the bathrooms??

Taylor must have shown his lady-love Gene’s office at the Capital as that also was a bugging victim. If I were Benson, I’d be ready to use this blackmail material, b/c let’s face it, Taylor… is Taylor.

Also, this ep throws question on Taylor’s first name being John, as Gene doesn’t think of him at all when he gets the note. Do we actually ever hear Taylor called by his full name?

re: the script -- Benson *does* have a knack for nicknames, doesn’t he? I always laugh when I think of what he calls Kraus (several seasons later): Sugar shorts!

Howdy, friends, here are some more questions/comments I thought of over the W/E:

I wonder why the other rooms were bugged. I can understand the offices, even the bedrooms, but the bathrooms??

Good point. I'm not sure I'd want to hear someone else's "bathroom noises". :lol:

Taylor must have shown his lady-love Gene’s office at the Capital as that also was a bugging victim. If I were Benson, I’d be ready to use this blackmail material, b/c let’s face it, Taylor… is Taylor.

I think he was doing anything he could to impress her.

Also, this ep throws question on Taylor’s first name being John, as Gene doesn’t think of him at all when he gets the note. Do we actually ever hear Taylor called by his full name?

THANK YOU for mentioning this--I completely forgot about it. Not only did Gene not think of Taylor, but Benson didn't either. Is it possible they were so used to calling him "Taylor" that they forgot his first name was actually "John"? And no, we never hear him called "John". I was hoping we'd see it on his campaign posters in "Taylor's Bid", but his name is not on them at all.

I can't wait for the next episode discussion. The Kraus Affair is a favorite of mine as well! :D

I just noticed something...Marcy was not in this episode. She was referred to as being on vacation. Yet in the season finale, she's afraid to go on vacation, thinking they'll like the replacement better, then fire her. We didn't see a replacement in this episode, and it took place over three weeks. Anyone else find that odd??

I just noticed something...Marcy was not in this episode. She was referred to as being on vacation. Yet in the season finale, she's afraid to go on vacation, thinking they'll like the replacement better, then fire her. We didn't see a replacement in this episode, and it took place over three weeks. Anyone else find that odd??

Great observation, Monika. I never even thought about that. The only thing I can figure is that either a) they didn't get a replacement for Marcy the first time around and it was a disaster so they made sure it didn't happen again, or b) they had so much work to do the second time Marcy went on vacation that hiring a temporary replacement was inevitable. We have no way of knowing whether the replacement was at Marcy's suggestion or not, so her reacting in a jealous way the second time around is not really inconceivable.

But that's what I like about these episode threads. We all notice different things! :D

^ It's always fun observing things on TV you hadn't noticed before. :D

Lisa, Katie mentioned something about the Bee Gees as Benson made her leave the kitchen. She was talking to the "bug". What was the comment exactly? I didn't get it all.

Lisa, Katie mentioned something about the Bee Gees as Benson made her leave the kitchen. She was talking to the "bug". What was the comment exactly? I didn't get it all.

She was saying how she had the best dad in the world, how kind he was, blah blah blah, and she was comparing him to a kid at school's dad. She said something like, "He's (Gene) even better than Hal Brady's dad and he knows two of the Bee Gees." I used the name Hal Brady because it sounds like that was the name she used but I'm not totally sure about that. I guess Hal's dad knows two of the Bee Gees so that's supposed to make him look good or something. Seems like she was saying that even though this kid's dad knew two of the Bee Gees, her dad was still better.

At least that's what I figure. :)

That was also at the same time the Bee Gees were at their white-hot peak (following Saturday Night Fever and Spirits Having Flown), so the reference makes sense. Thank you, my friend! :D

That was also at the same time the Bee Gees were at their white-hot peak (following Saturday Night Fever and Spirits Having Flown), so the reference makes sense. Thank you, my friend! :D

No problem and yes, the Bee Gees were all the rage at the time. My sister played their records constantly. :lol:

No problem and yes, the Bee Gees were all the rage at the time. My sister played their records constantly. :lol:
I love the Bee Gees music - all the stuff from the 1960s-2000s. :lol: Katie (and your sister) had great taste!! :D

I have no idea how these gentlemen got through this scene without completely losing it! :rofl:

*singing, on the RIGHT thread this time* "Regrets, I've had a few..." For some reason, that's been running through my head all day. :rofl:

I have no idea how these gentlemen got through this scene without completely losing it! :rofl:

No kidding! That must have been priceless!! :rofl:

*singing, on the RIGHT thread this time* "Regrets, I've had a few..." For some reason, that's been running through my head all day. :rofl:

There ya go....

"but then again, too few to mention...." :cool:

No kidding! That must have been priceless!! :rofl:
I wonder how many takes this scene took, Lisa. I'm sure there was a LOT of laughing going on. :rofl:

There ya go....

"but then again, too few to mention...." :cool:
:brent

I wonder how many takes this scene took, Lisa. I'm sure there was a LOT of laughing going on. :rofl:

Oh, you know it. I really wish someone who was at any of the tapings would log in and comment on them. It was almost 30 years ago, but I'm sure quite a few of them are still around...come on people, give us a report! :happyface

Oh, you know it. I really wish someone who was at any of the tapings would log in and comment on them. It was almost 30 years ago, but I'm sure quite a few of them are still around...come on people, give us a report! :happyface
YEAH!! We want details!! :D

There ya go....

"but then again, too few to mention...." :cool:
That was the Frank Sinatra song, "My Way" - written by Paul Anka. :cool:

Great observation, Monika. I never even thought about that. The only thing I can figure is that either a) they didn't get a replacement for Marcy the first time around and it was a disaster so they made sure it didn't happen again, or b) they had so much work to do the second time Marcy went on vacation that hiring a temporary replacement was inevitable. We have no way of knowing whether the replacement was at Marcy's suggestion or not, so her reacting in a jealous way the second time around is not really inconceivable.

But that's what I like about these episode threads. We all notice different things! :D
Or, maybe "Marcy's Vacation" was filmed before "Bugging the Governor" and they ran the eps out of production order. Yet another TV mystery...:lol:

Or, maybe "Marcy's Vacation" was filmed before "Bugging the Governor" and they ran the eps out of production order. Yet another TV mystery...:lol:

Wow, bringing up an old thread. Very cool....look's like someone's ready for S2 episode threads. :happyface

Wow, bringing up an old thread. Very cool....look's like someone's ready for S2 episode threads. :happyface
:D :wave: