The Governor is looking to get input from the people of the state so that he can address their biggest concerns and be a better Governor. Taylor feels that the Governor can find out what the people think by going to his “experts”, which are people like Taylor who work in the Governor’s administration.

Unconvinced that this will do the trick, the Governor decides to go out and talk to the people in person. Unfortunately for him, he picks a rather seedy bar with a shady clientele. :eek:

Fortunately though, Benson is with him. Initially the patrons do not recognize the Governor, and a muscular thug tries to pick a fight with him after seeing him talking to a woman at the bar. (He obviously thought the Governor was trying to pick her up when in reality it was the other way around!) After one of the patrons sees his picture in the newspaper, he shows it to the thug, who is now nice to the Governor. :rolleyes:

Suddenly, everyone seems to be happy he is there, but yet they still shy away from talking to him. Apparently their opinion of politicians is very low and they have no faith that Governor Gatling is any different from the rest of them. By talking to the crowd at the bar however, both Benson and the Governor convince them to voice their feelings. :D

Favorite quotes:

Taylor: Governor, this is the 20th call. You don’t need these people to waste your time.
Benson: Yeah, you got Taylor for that.

Governor Gatling: The problem is I can’t get anybody to talk to me. Either they don’t believe it’s really me, or they tell me what they think I want to hear instead of what they’re feeling.
Benson: Well if somebody called you up on the phone and said, “I’m the Governor,” would you believe them?
Governor Gatling: Of course not. I’m the Governor.

Marcy: What people are really worried about is just keeping a roof over their heads. Do you know I pay $350 a month just for my one bedroom?
Governor Gatling: Imagine having a kitchen and bathroom.

Taylor: Well that’s what makes this country great. Everyone has the right to express an opinion, no matter how little they know.
Benson: Yeah. And you get paid for it.

Governor Gatling: Taylor, ever since I’ve been elected, I’ve been stuck in this office and you’ve been in here with me. How would you possible think you have the pulse of the people?
Benson: I’m not even sure he has a pulse of his own.

This is a decent episode; quite entertaining. I like the part when the Governor calls a constituent on the phone and has to tell him “I’m sorry but Governor Dexter passed away,” and then the man starts crying. And it’s nice to see the Governor in regular street clothes for a change, huh? (Even if they looked like hand-me-downs..:lol:) And “Running Bear Feldman?” :lol:

So why was the thug so mad at the Governor because the hooker at the bar was hitting on him? Was she his “territory” or was he just looking to be a jerk? (By the way, I loved JN’s description of what happens in this scene in the DVD extras. He mentions it in the “Favorites From the First Season” segment.) :)

Not a milk episode again. Maybe the Governor is starting to get the hang of the job a little more now and isn’t having quite as many sleepless nights?

I totally enjoyed this episode! I too liked the bar scene, when the lady tries to pick up on the Governor. (Loved the phone call back at the mansion from the "Queen of England". ;)) This episode brought out how much Gene cared about the people, and genuinely wanted to know how to help them. I like how he and Benson turned to leave after talking to the people, and they all applauded! :D

The lady at the bar was played by Joy Garrett, who is probably best known for her role as Jo Johnson, mother of "Patch", on Days of Our Lives. She played the role from 1987-93, until she passed on.

This episode was a lot of fun! :D

The lady at the bar was played by Joy Garrett, who is probably best known for her role as Jo Johnson, mother of "Patch", on Days of Our Lives. She played the role from 1987-93, until she passed on.


Thanks for the information, Monika...I was not aware of that.

She died? She couldn't have been that old! :confused:

She was only 47. According to imdb, it was liver failure, but I read elsewhere it was breast cancer. :confused: I never saw her on DAYS, but I enjoyed her guest spot on Benson very much.

Here's a picture of her from Star Trek:

http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Joy_Garrett

Wow, I really feel bad now. I had no idea she died. :(

Thanks for posting the Star Trek Wiki, Lisa. I don't think I ever saw that episode.

22 – Takin’ It to the Streets

I love how Benson puts the phone books on Taylor’s chair, wish they would have shown his reaction, but next we see him, he’s already sitting on them.

Katie tried to enlist Benson’s help on getting Gene to let her have a slumber party; even she knows his influence over her dad.

Every time I see the chemicals-in-the-food scene, I think of Pete – he just would have kept on eating!

It's cute how Gene notes that it's the first fight he and Benson have had!

I find the Governor’s ignorance sort of unrealistic here (wait to be seated?). He’s been in two wars, aboard various ships, in foreign lands, and he doesn’t know what to do in a bar downtown? I am under the impression he came from a well-off family, but come on.

And yet he seems to take the proprietor at this word when he i.d.’s himself as H. Kissinger.

Doesn’t like beer? Guess he acquires a taste for it later, when he drinks up at Benson’s place!

The final message of the show definitely makes this an election day ep. :-D

Benson and Gene out for three hours. What the hell does Taylor expect Marcy to do anyway?

How the heck did Sylvia get Benson’s phone number? Wonder why she called? Maybe she got arrested for soliciting?

Katie tries to trick her dad into a little party, and Kraus tries to get Benson in it, and Benson tries to get Kraus into it. I’m sure there’s a lesson in there somewhere.


Fave quotes:
Gene: “Governor Dexter passed away several years ago. We all loved him. Well, he threw out the first ball of the season and sort of went with it.”

Benson: With all due respect, forget it, Governor, it’s a dumb idea.
Gene: It was your idea.
Benson: … then I should know. You have no idea what it’s like out there.
Gene: Well, then, it’s time I find out.
Benson: Why don’t you go out in the daytime? At least you can see who’s mugging you.

Gene: I didn’t come here to make a speech. I came in to listen to you. See, my father always said, “Gene—”
[He must have had to a lot of listening when his dad was around].


An enjoyable episode, not great, but there are various scenes that are fun to watch!

I love how Benson puts the phone books on Taylor’s chair, wish they would have shown his reaction, but next we see him, he’s already sitting on them.

Benson and Gene out for three hours. What the hell does Taylor expect Marcy to do anyway?

How the heck did Sylvia get Benson’s phone number? Wonder why she called? Maybe she got arrested for soliciting?


Speaking of those phone books, did you happen to catch a glance of them when Benson was talking to Marcy before entering the Governor's office? It sure looked like the Great Lakes region to me! Hmmmm.....

Yeah, I have no idea what Taylor expected Marcy to do. He sure interrupted her at a bad time though. Well, Marcy, you might not want to answer the phone the next time you're in the middle of "the act". :lol: :o

Sylvia probably called information, and the number you get if you ask for the Governor's mansion is probably the one in the kitchen. As for why she called, who knows? Maybe she thought nailing the Governor would be a good story to tell. :rofl:

I enjoyed this episode but it's not one of my favorites from season one, although it does however drive home a very important message about how to maintain a healthy democracy. Having said that, did anyone notice that the actor who played the bertender was the same one who played Gus in the episode about the mansion staff going on strike. Oh.. and one more thing, I don't think a slumber party would be much fun if Kraus was over-seeing it. :talk: :talk: " I can hear you!! " ticked:

Having said that, did anyone notice that the actor who played the bertender was the same one who played Gus in the episode about the mansion staff going on strike.

Yep, I think his name is G.W. Bailey and whenever I see him I think of "Police Academy" when he played Captain Harris. "Move it! Move it!" :lol:

Here is Gene Gatling with the "Queen of England". :lol: