"The President's Double"--(S1, Episode #3) Discussion Thread - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

BensonFan · 08-03-2007, 06:39 PM

This is the episode that Robert Guillaume said is his favorite from Season 1. He gets to dress up as an African president and use his special accent (did he say it was reserved for "offshore negroes" or something like that?).

Anyway Benson finds himself trying to avoid a would-be assassin after impersonating the African president. This is a pretty entertaining storyline and you can tell Guillaume had a lot of fun with it.

I especially liked the scene at the end when Kraus sees the assassin (disguised as an old woman) lifting up a cane (which was really a gun) and she starts beating him with it around a table until she gets him in a choke hold with it and runs him out of the mansion. Later Benson has to acknowledge Kraus as having saved his life.

Good episode.

malicedoom · 08-06-2007, 02:45 PM

I was never a big fan of this episode but, since seeing it again (and seeing it uncut), it definitely is starting to grown on me. R.G. is a riot in this ep and there are quite a few good laughs.

BensonFan · 08-08-2007, 06:38 PM

And I just realized (if I'm not mistaken), this is the first time we hear Kraus' trademark, "I hear you!"--although she actually says "I heard that!" in this episode.

blink · 08-08-2007, 10:08 PM

Thanks to the DVD this was the first time I've seen this episode in a number of years and I have to say it's down right insane. The governors story about his wife's first husband being trampled by elephants was so funny and Nobel's delivery made it just as nutty but believable as the story of her own demise in episode one. In this episode you can also start to see Kraus's attitude towards Benson start to soften up just a bit but she defiantly doesn't want him to know it.

svt65 · 08-09-2007, 02:06 AM

3 -- The President’s Double

Don’t like that the specific election year was indicated (1977), it dates the show too obviously. Actually, so does the Jerry Brown reference in ep. 2, come to think of it.

Eleanor Roosevelt -- hint that the Gatlings and the administration were/are Democrats?

I liked the white-haired gentlemen for some reason, he seemed so nice.

Did anyone figure out who Yates was at the party? I didn’t.

The scene when Taylor helps Benson out with the speech -- followed by the in-synch swaying was hilarious! Bonus points to Taylor for immediately wanting to get Benson out when told of the assassination threat, and for attacking the cigar guy.

Cane dance!! Excellent! I reckon they showed Yates sans wig to show anyone who didn’t get it that it was indeed the assassin and not some poor old lady who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Cool quotes:
***
Caldwell: It’s not that easy, sir. It’s Philip Yates.
Gene: Ahh.
Caldwell: You’ve heard of him then?
Gene: No.
**
Caldwell: We have reason to believe Yates has done jobs as a rabbi, a midget and once as a Shetland pony.
Gene: I didn’t see any of those out there… course, I wasn’t looking for the pony.

My fave line(s):
Kraus: It was no cooperation; you were no help at all.
***
Benson: You saved my life.
Karus: Yeah, but this is worth so much more!

An OK episode for me, good for some laughs.

svt65 · 08-09-2007, 02:40 AM

I checked on that year the Governor was iffy on...

Count Fleet won the Derby (actually the Triple Crown) in 1943.

malicedoom · 08-09-2007, 10:06 AM

Benson: You saved my life.
Kraus: Yeah, but this is worth so much more!

-------------------------------

Funny and, thanks to the DVD, the first time I've ever heard those lines or even seen that scene!

Uncut Benson's rock.

BensonFan · 08-09-2007, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svt65

Eleanor Roosevelt -- hint that the Gatlings and the administration were/are Democrats?

Actually in the very first episode, this is hinted at when Katie says about her dad, "The man's a murderer!" (because as she said, he was "killing beavers") and Benson replied with, "Are you a Republican?"

BensonFan · 08-09-2007, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blink

Thanks to the DVD this was the first time I've seen this episode in a number of years and I have to say it's down right insane. The governors story about his wife's first husband being trampled by elephants was so funny and Nobel's delivery made it just as nutty but believable as the story of her own demise in episode one. In this episode you can also start to see Kraus's attitude towards Benson start to soften up just a bit but she defiantly doesn't want him to know it.

Oops-the episode you're referring to with the elephants was not this one, but the next one, "Benson In Love"....and I'll be posting that discussion thread tonight.

blink · 08-11-2007, 07:26 AM

You're right I watched both late at night and got them mixed-up. I loved "The Presidents Double" it was so funny but I didn't care that much for "Benson in Love" although it did have a real good closing scene I had never seen before.

Scoobiedoo30 · 08-11-2007, 12:20 PM

is this the oval Office episode

svt65 · 08-11-2007, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BensonFan

Actually in the very first episode, this is hinted at when Katie says about her dad, "The man's a murderer!" (because as she said, he was "killing beavers") and Benson replied with, "Are you a Republican?"

I thought about that one too, but since there Benson's talking to Katie instead of her dad, it seems to indicate that Benson's Democrat but not necessarily the Gatling family. However, there will be more hinty scenes later in the series!

catlover79 · 09-13-2007, 12:00 AM

Don't mess with Kraus!!

She really wailed on him with that "cane". It was so funny!!

BensonFan · 09-13-2007, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Don't mess with Kraus!!

She really wailed on him with that "cane". It was so funny!!

Yeah, did you see the way she just wrapped that cane around his neck and jerked him right out of there! Woohoo! Go Kraus!!

catlover79 · 10-12-2007, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BensonFan

Yeah, did you see the way she just wrapped that cane around his neck and jerked him right out of there! Woohoo! Go Kraus!!

Just call her "Kung Fu Kraus" or "Gridiron Gretchen"!!

08-03-2007, 06:39 PM	#1
BensonFan Board Psychologist Senior Member Join Date: Mar 16, 2004 Location: Chicago, IL USA Posts: 2,733	"The President's Double"--(S1, Episode #3) Discussion Thread This is the episode that Robert Guillaume said is his favorite from Season 1. He gets to dress up as an African president and use his special accent (did he say it was reserved for "offshore negroes" or something like that?). Anyway Benson finds himself trying to avoid a would-be assassin after impersonating the African president. This is a pretty entertaining storyline and you can tell Guillaume had a lot of fun with it. I especially liked the scene at the end when Kraus sees the assassin (disguised as an old woman) lifting up a cane (which was really a gun) and she starts beating him with it around a table until she gets him in a choke hold with it and runs him out of the mansion. Later Benson has to acknowledge Kraus as having saved his life. Good episode.

08-06-2007, 02:45 PM	#2
malicedoom Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 09, 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 53	I was never a big fan of this episode but, since seeing it again (and seeing it uncut), it definitely is starting to grown on me. R.G. is a riot in this ep and there are quite a few good laughs.
	__________________ - Wait a minute... who am I here?

08-11-2007, 12:20 PM	#11
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	is this the oval Office episode
	__________________ Who Dat

09-13-2007, 12:00 AM	#13
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Don't mess with Kraus!! She really wailed on him with that "cane". It was so funny!!
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

08-08-2007, 06:38 PM	#3
BensonFan Board Psychologist Senior Member Join Date: Mar 16, 2004 Location: Chicago, IL USA Posts: 2,733	And I just realized (if I'm not mistaken), this is the first time we hear Kraus' trademark, "I hear you!"--although she actually says "I heard that!" in this episode.

08-08-2007, 10:08 PM	#4
blink Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 17, 2004 Location: Texarkana AR. Posts: 950	Thanks to the DVD this was the first time I've seen this episode in a number of years and I have to say it's down right insane. The governors story about his wife's first husband being trampled by elephants was so funny and Nobel's delivery made it just as nutty but believable as the story of her own demise in episode one. In this episode you can also start to see Kraus's attitude towards Benson start to soften up just a bit but she defiantly doesn't want him to know it.

08-09-2007, 02:06 AM	#5
svt65 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 07, 2006 Location: SoCal, USA Posts: 147	3 -- The President’s Double Don’t like that the specific election year was indicated (1977), it dates the show too obviously. Actually, so does the Jerry Brown reference in ep. 2, come to think of it. Eleanor Roosevelt -- hint that the Gatlings and the administration were/are Democrats? I liked the white-haired gentlemen for some reason, he seemed so nice. Did anyone figure out who Yates was at the party? I didn’t. The scene when Taylor helps Benson out with the speech -- followed by the in-synch swaying was hilarious! Bonus points to Taylor for immediately wanting to get Benson out when told of the assassination threat, and for attacking the cigar guy. Cane dance!! Excellent! I reckon they showed Yates sans wig to show anyone who didn’t get it that it was indeed the assassin and not some poor old lady who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Cool quotes: * Caldwell: It’s not that easy, sir. It’s Philip Yates. Gene: Ahh. Caldwell: You’ve heard of him then? Gene: No. Caldwell: We have reason to believe Yates has done jobs as a rabbi, a midget and once as a Shetland pony. Gene: I didn’t see any of those out there… course, I wasn’t looking for the pony. My fave line(s): Kraus: It was no cooperation; you were no help at all. *** Benson: You saved my life. Karus: Yeah, but this is worth so much more! An OK episode for me, good for some laughs.

08-09-2007, 02:40 AM	#6
svt65 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 07, 2006 Location: SoCal, USA Posts: 147	I checked on that year the Governor was iffy on... Count Fleet won the Derby (actually the Triple Crown) in 1943.

08-09-2007, 10:06 AM	#7
malicedoom Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Feb 09, 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 53	Benson: You saved my life. Kraus: Yeah, but this is worth so much more! ------------------------------- Funny and, thanks to the DVD, the first time I've ever heard those lines or even seen that scene! Uncut Benson's rock.

08-11-2007, 07:26 AM	#10
blink Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 17, 2004 Location: Texarkana AR. Posts: 950	You're right I watched both late at night and got them mixed-up. I loved "The Presidents Double" it was so funny but I didn't care that much for "Benson in Love" although it did have a real good closing scene I had never seen before.