Why Taylor, then Clayton? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

BensonFan · 06-05-2006, 10:07 PM

Does anyone know the story of the switch in the role of the Governor's aide? Did Lewis J. Stadlen (Taylor) decide to leave the show or did the show's producers want Rene Auberjonois (Clayton) to take over the role and then cut Stadlen loose?

Mr. Television · 06-05-2006, 10:10 PM

I have no idea. I'm glad it did though because I always liked Clayton a lot more than Taylor.

Scoobiedoo30 · 06-05-2006, 10:20 PM

I have always wonder that Lewis J Stadlen Left Benson

BensonFan · 06-06-2006, 10:03 PM

Well, I think they may be equally snobby.

GSU2004 · 06-07-2006, 10:07 AM

Probably producer changes as the show progressed into another season. It happens all the time where characters from season one disappear when season two comes.

Scoobiedoo30 · 06-07-2006, 10:21 AM

So Clayton started The Second Season of Benson

TV Knowledge Fan · 06-07-2006, 03:12 PM

....Lewis J. Stadlen was either unhappy with his role of "John Taylor", or (as in the case of Jerry Seinfeld the following season) the producers decided that he just wasn't "working out". In either event, Rene Auberjonois replaced him the following season....and a miracle happened-- HE CLICKED!! Suddenly, there was real comic tension...and memorable performances....."Clayton Endicott III" became just as much a leading character as "Benson DuBois" did.
And the series benefited from this, believe me!!!!

EricEcho · 10-25-2017, 09:34 AM

Looks like it was Lewis himself who truly didn't like being involved with the show Benson, or commercial television in general, and didn't like playing the sniveling, jerky character of Taylor who was only around to be the butt of the joke.
He was also petrified of being typecast because of playing Taylor and didn't even sign his contract until they were 5 episodes in. The producers then agreed to let him out of his contract if he finished out the first season.
Rene (Clayton) did not have the same hangups on playing that type of character when he took over

RetroActive · 10-26-2017, 05:20 PM

They both preferred theater. In fact, Rene was trying to decide between "Benson" and a low-paying stage role he'd signed on for, when a friend pointed out that he really could use the better-paying job (TV) to support his family.

(He still had time to do plays in L.A., too.)

06-05-2006, 10:07 PM	#1
BensonFan Board Psychologist Senior Member Join Date: Mar 16, 2004 Location: Chicago, IL USA Posts: 2,733	Why Taylor, then Clayton? Does anyone know the story of the switch in the role of the Governor's aide? Did Lewis J. Stadlen (Taylor) decide to leave the show or did the show's producers want Rene Auberjonois (Clayton) to take over the role and then cut Stadlen loose?
	__________________ HEY, SONY: Thank you for Benson, Season 2! Now can we get started on Season 3 plans?

06-05-2006, 10:10 PM	#2
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	I have no idea. I'm glad it did though because I always liked Clayton a lot more than Taylor.
	__________________ Sonny

06-05-2006, 10:20 PM	#3
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	why Taylor then Clayton I have always wonder that Lewis J Stadlen Left Benson
	__________________ Who Dat

06-07-2006, 10:21 AM	#6
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	why Taylor then Clayton So Clayton started The Second Season of Benson

06-07-2006, 03:12 PM	#7
TV Knowledge Fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 29, 2006 Location: Long Branch, N.J. Posts: 2,577	Apparently... ....Lewis J. Stadlen was either unhappy with his role of "John Taylor", or (as in the case of Jerry Seinfeld the following season) the producers decided that he just wasn't "working out". In either event, Rene Auberjonois replaced him the following season....and a miracle happened-- HE CLICKED!! Suddenly, there was real comic tension...and memorable performances....."Clayton Endicott III" became just as much a leading character as "Benson DuBois" did. And the series benefited from this, believe me!!!!

06-06-2006, 10:03 PM	#4
BensonFan Board Psychologist Senior Member Join Date: Mar 16, 2004 Location: Chicago, IL USA Posts: 2,733	Well, I think they may be equally snobby.

06-07-2006, 10:07 AM	#5
GSU2004 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Oct 28, 2005 Posts: 764	Probably producer changes as the show progressed into another season. It happens all the time where characters from season one disappear when season two comes.

10-25-2017, 09:34 AM	#8
EricEcho Member First Time Poster Join Date: Oct 25, 2017 Posts: 1	From an Interview with Lewis Stadlen (Taylor on Benson)... Looks like it was Lewis himself who truly didn't like being involved with the show Benson, or commercial television in general, and didn't like playing the sniveling, jerky character of Taylor who was only around to be the butt of the joke. He was also petrified of being typecast because of playing Taylor and didn't even sign his contract until they were 5 episodes in. The producers then agreed to let him out of his contract if he finished out the first season. Rene (Clayton) did not have the same hangups on playing that type of character when he took over

10-26-2017, 05:20 PM	#9
RetroActive Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 11, 2014 Location: California Posts: 25	They both preferred theater. In fact, Rene was trying to decide between "Benson" and a low-paying stage role he'd signed on for, when a friend pointed out that he really could use the better-paying job (TV) to support his family. (He still had time to do plays in L.A., too.)