For 1986-87, third place ABC launched nine new shows. Of the Fall offerings only Head of the Class and Sledge Hammer survived. Benson ended it's run on Saturdays at 8:30, I would just carry that scheduling into the 86-87 season then retire the show.

Sunday
7 Disney Sunday Movie
9 Hotel (ABC Sunday Night Movie)
10 OHARA (ABC Sunday Night Movie)
Monday
8 MacGyver
9 ABC Monday Night Football
Tuesday
8 Who's The Boss?
8:30 Growing Pains
9 Moonlighting
10 JACK AND MIKE
Wednesday
8 Perfect Strangers
8:30 HEAD OF THE CLASS
9 Dynasty
10 The Colbys (Hotel)
Thursday
8 OUR WORLD
9 ABC Thursday Night Movie (The Colbys, 20/20)
Friday
8 Webster
8:30 Mr Belvedere
9 STARMAN (Sidekicks, Sledge Hammer)
10 20/20 (STARMAN)
Saturday
8 LIFE WITH LUCY
8:30 Benson - Season 8
9 SLEDGE HAMMER (HEART OF THE CITY)
9:30 SIDEKICKS
10 Spenser: For Hire

Good move to get Sledge Hammer onto a different night. I remember on one episode a line from Sledge mentioning how being between Dallas and Miami was a tough spot, which was a metajoke about Dallas and Miami Vice, its competition on Friday nights. :lol: That show should've run a lot longer than 2 seasons. :(

Benson ended it's run on Saturdays at 8:30, I would just carry that scheduling into the 86-87 season then retire the show.

Saturday
8 LIFE WITH LUCY
8:30 Benson - Season 8
9 SLEDGE HAMMER (HEART OF THE CITY)
9:30 SIDEKICKS
10 Spenser: For Hire

I have one question: Why renew Benson at all if you could have easily resolved the cliffhanger at the end of Benson's run, even if said resolution required just one more episode? According to director Gary Brown, three outcomes for the finale had been filmed: Benson winning the race for Governor, Gatling winning the race for Governor, and a tie. If the end of Benson's run had been announced beforehand, they would have just aired the outcome with Benson winning and let the series be over right there.

Benson had finished its 7th season at #74 in the 1985-86 year-end Nielsen ratings, averaging a 10.0 household rating. If that rating had been, like, in the 13's range, then the case for a Benson renewal would have been made.

I have one question: Why renew Benson at all if you could have easily resolved the cliffhanger at the end of Benson's run, even if said resolution required just one more episode? According to director Gary Brown, three outcomes for the finale had been filmed: Benson winning the race for Governor, Gatling winning the race for Governor, and a tie. If the end of Benson's run had been announced beforehand, they would have just aired the outcome with Benson winning and let the series be over right there.

Benson had finished its 7th season at #74 in the 1985-86 year-end Nielsen ratings, averaging a 10.0 household rating. If that rating had been, like, in the 13's range, then the case for a Benson renewal would have been made.
The producers of Benson were told by ABC them that they might be renewed for the 1986 season, that's why they lended the finale the way that they did. ABC was still in the basement so it wouldn't have been a big stretch to see the show come back.

The producers of Benson were told by ABC them that they might be renewed for the 1986 season, that's why they lended the finale the way that they did. ABC was still in the basement so it wouldn't have been a big stretch to see the show come back.

If that is true, then how many episodes would a hypothetical Benson season 8 would've had? I believe either the Gatling win or the tie would have required any continuation of Benson; I wouldn't have saw any way to continue Benson after its title character won the race for Governor at the end of season 7. Director Gary Brown also stated that, regardless of the outcome, the long-term intent for the '86-'87 season was for Benson to become the governor.

I don't understand how a network would ask for a low-rated show to do a season-ending cliffhanger only for said cliffhanger to be left unresolved forever.