Benson - Season 1 DVD - Review: WOW! It's GREAT!!!

[malicedoom]

The DVD for Benson - Season 1 arrived yesterday and it's OUTSTANDING!!!

ALL the episodes are presented fully UNCUT with the ORIGINAL full-length intros! That includes the special 'Pilot' introduction, which I have NEVER seen before - it actually shows Benson first arriving at the Governor's Mansion!!! There are literally over THREE FULL MINUTES OF FOOTAGE extra included on EVERY episode compared to the recently aired, badly chopped versions you've seen on stations like TV Land.

The episodes look INCREDIBLE! I can't believe how great they look considering this was 1979 video. Plus there are EXTRAS! Documentaries, an introduction by Benson himself, previews - all great stuff.

It's a GREAT release and FAR better than the job done on the Soap DVDs!

So please... I BEG OF YOU, pick up this DVD so that we can be sure Seasons 2-7 will also be released in the same fashion!!!

[friendsfan77]

So nice to hear such positive things about this release. I have to admit I was kind of worried since I heard some of the Soap episodes on the DVD apparently had syndie episodes.

*adds Benson season 1 to wantlist*

[catlover79]

Can't wait to see it - thanks for sharing your thoughts!!

[malicedoom]

No problem - happy to let everyone know. I can't tell you what a thrill it is to FINALLY see these episodes (and these babies are almost 30 years old) completely uncut for the VERY FIRST TIME.

Plus, a lot of what gets chopped out of eps like these are the low-key subtle moments that really made this show special for me. Literally, every episode you see in syndication is missing the 'conclusion' that appeared immediately before the final credits - it just gets lopped off, making the ep feel 'unfinished'. No longer, at least with any Season 1 episode! WHOO-HOO!

[BensonFan]

Thanks, malice...I just picked it up today and I haven't watched it yet but I took it out of the packaging and it looks FANTASTIC! From everything I've heard about Sony's past DVD releases, this is a very pleasant surprise indeed.

I am going to be posting threads for each episode so we can get episode discussions going. I'll be out of town tomorrow but returning Thursday so I should have the pilot episode thread up there and we'll get things going. If we get enough participation I think we can have a lot of fun with the discussions.

Looking forward to seeing the DVDs!

Thanks, Sony.

[catlover79]

This will be a lot of fun to watch...especially come Season 2 when Rene arrives!! Whatever happened to Lewis J. Stadlen after Benson, anyway?? Also, when did Jerry Seinfeld's episodes air and which season did Didi Conn give birth in the elevator??

[malicedoom]

Regading Taylor leaving and being replaced by Clayton, I've been in recent contact with uber cool actor Rene Auberjonois and asked him that very question. He was kind enough to respond and also grant his permission to share the story here with everyone.

Here's what he had to say:

"Lou, who is a friend, and an excellent actor, was not happy doing a weekly sit-com and it was mutually agreed by him and the producers to part ways. He is a New York actor who has had considerable success (coincidentally, he and I have the same agent... though we didn't at the time) and he was not comfortable living on the West Coast."

Very nice of him to respond, eh? I love cool people. So that's the story, and now we know.

Also, I believe Seinfeld appeared in 2 episodes, in Season 2 (though his scenes were removed from the recently aired syndicated versions - thanks again, TV Land) and the episode where Denise gives birth in the elevator takes place during Season 5.

[catlover79]

^ Thank you so much!! Is there a current address where I can write to Rene?? Besides Benson, he was also cool as Odo on DS9. Then of course he was a scream as Louis the French chef in The Little Mermaid, and did a very funny guest spot as a French psychiatrist on The Bob Newhart Show.

[BensonFan]

Originally Posted by catlover79

^ Thank you so much!! Is there a current address where I can write to Rene?? Besides Benson, he was also cool as Odo on DS9. Then of course he was a scream as Louis the French chef in The Little Mermaid, and did a very funny guest spot as a French psychiatrist on The Bob Newhart Show.

Monika, yes, go to Rene's website:

www.renefiles.com

You can ask Rene a question right on the site and he'll answer it. You can read questions that have already been asked of him and you can sign the guestbook as well. It's pretty cool!

[blink]

Sony's Benson season one DVD defiantly doesn't disapoint and I can't wait for season two to be released. To help make sure that happens season one would make a very good gift for a birthday or Christmas. Even if you give it to someone who may not have seen the show maybe it will convert them.

[BensonFan]

Originally Posted by blink

Sony's Benson season one DVD defiantly doesn't disapoint and I can't wait for season two to be released. To help make sure that happens season one would make a very good gift for a birthday or Christmas. Even if you give it to someone who may not have seen the show maybe it will convert them.

I got my 11-year-old niece into the show and I bought her Season 1 for her birthday as well as the one I bought for myself. She was really excited when I handed it to her.

[Scoobiedoo30]

I am looking forward to getting Benson on DVD For my Birthday

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by BensonFan

I got my 11-year-old niece into the show and I bought her Season 1 for her birthday as well as the one I bought for myself. She was really excited when I handed it to her.

Awesome!

[Scoobiedoo30]

will Benson has extra's

[BensonFan]

Originally Posted by Scoobiedoo30

will Benson has extra's

Yes, it has a photo gallery, a discussion of favorite Season 1 episodes and a discussion of the actors who are on the show. It's all really good and you'll see when you get the DVD.