It's been many years since I saw this episode, so I'm hazy on several details . There was one episode of Benson where Benson was teaching an Economics class, Gretchen Kraus was one of his students, and Benson had to fail her .

Benson got the idea that Gretchen knew more than she let on, so he asked he what "Gross National Product" meant, and she defined it perfectly . Benson asked her "Is that the GNP ?" . Gruber said "Ya, dat is der GNP !" . Benson said "GNP !" . Gretchen said "GNP !" . Benson said "GNP !" . Gretchen said "GNP !" . I know it was repetitive, but that's part of why it was funny .

The number one reason why I'm asking this question is because I got the idea that their routine was based on another item that was adapted for this episode of Benson . I saw a similar routine on an episode of McHale's Navy, which gives me the idea that the routine on Benson and the routine on McHale's Navy was based on another item . It might have been a song or routine from a Broadway show . I know it's not much to go on, but it's all the information I can give . Can anybody pin down which episode this routine is from, or the song or item it was based on ? Thank you in advance for your answers .

Whipped out my trusty old "Benson" episode guide again and it looks like it's from season 5.

"Teacher's Pest" episode #77
(Description) Benson teaches an economics course that test-shy Krauss must pass to keep her job.
Directed by Bill Foster
First Aired 11/19/82

I suffer from hazy memory as well so I can't be of much help pinning down where the routine may have originated but I do remember everyone at the mansion being real sore at Benson for failing Krauss.

Maybe someone else has some insight on what the routine may have been based on.
:)

I posted a thread on the McHale's Navy archive asking this very same question, and somebody gave me an answer . The routines from McHale's Navy and Benson are based on an old song called "Schnitzelbank" .

Cary Grant, Joan Bennett, and Gene Lockhart sing a version of the song in the 1936 film Wedding Present . Another version is included in the 1953 film Stalag 17 where American POWs sing it during a volleyball game to distract guards from spotting a contraband radio antenna hidden in the net .

Comedian Mel Blanc recorded a novelty Christmas song version in the 1950s titled "Yah Das Ist Ein Christmas Tree" . Joel Kopischke made fun of Mel Blanc's version in 2005 with "Stupid Christmas Song" . Bill Haley and the Comets recorded a rock and roll version called "Rockin' Rollin' Schnitzelbank" in 1957 . Yakko, Wakko, and Dot learned a version of the song in a 1994 episoe of Animaniacs . Percy Einsig, ( "the Dutch Country Troubadour" ) recorded a version of "Schnitzelbank" at Up -- Town Records in Reading, Pennsylvania .

Here are some links with further information --

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schnitzelbank

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6YpIlaH_iY

http://www.steincollectors.org/steinmo/2010/01Jan/Schnitzelbank.htm