"Taylor's Bid"--(S1, Episode #12) Discussion Thread

[BensonFan]

Finally, an episode that centers on Taylor. Here he decides to run for political office as a representative and is seeking lots of support, mainly from Benson. Taylor thinks he can win the election by getting the black voters behind him—but he needs Benson to back him publicly.

Benson has no interest in this for several reasons, namely because 1) he doesn’t even like Taylor; 2) he thinks two other candidates on the ballot can do the job better than Taylor, and 3) he resents that Taylor is only using him to get the black vote.

Meanwhile, Governor Gatling is struggling to keep things running on his own and is running himself ragged. Now, Taylor may be a lot of things (let’s face it, he’s not a very nice person!), but he does help the Governor tremendously in his duties as chief political aide. Even Benson has to admit that.

As it turns out, Taylor loses the election and blames Benson for not supporting him. When he is told he can come back to the mansion and his old job is still available to him, he threatens not to return unless Benson is gone. After meeting with Taylor (by tricking him in the process), Benson convinces him to stay anyway (mainly for the Governor’s sake) and that’s pretty much the episode in a nutshell.

Here are a couple of things I’m trying to figure out: 1) when Taylor said, “To be in politics, people have to respect you.” Huh? Since when? Did I miss something?
And 2) when Taylor told Marcy she could work for him and it would be a big step up for her. She was already executive secretary to the Governor; how does he figure this would be a step up? Who the heck is he? Boy, someone sure thinks quite highly of himself!

Favorite quotes:
Governor Gatling: “Miss Kraus, how nice of you to be here.”
Kraus: “He (Taylor) paid me to be here.”

Taylor: “Benson, don’t underestimate me.”
Benson: “Taylor, that isn’t possible.”

Taylor: “You have a lot of nerve, Benson. Impersonating a Governor is a crime in this state.”
Benson, “Yeah, but he’s gotten away with it so far.”

Taylor: “I ought to give you a piece of my mind.”
Benson: “You sure you can spare it?”

Taylor: “Well, I’m not surprised to see you here, Benson. Are you here to kick me when I’m down?”
Benson: “No, I can wait til you’re feeling better.”

There were a lot of really good quotes—I know I missed a few here but I can add them to the discussion later. (Or you can).

I find this episode somewhat interesting—wouldn’t call it a personal favorite—but it’s well-written and definitely has some funny parts. The intro with Benson and Kraus fighting is typical and classic. You gotta love the campaign posters: “Not Since Lincoln” (Again, someone thinks highly of himself!). And don’t forget the Governor’s “Bloopo The Clown” story.

[catlover79]

This was a fairly average episode - nothing really special. That said, it was nice to see Lewis J. Stadlen in the spotlight - he was very funny in the role and had great comedic timing. I wouldn't have voted for Taylor either! Good for Benson for sticking to his guns.

[BensonFan]

Originally Posted by catlover79

I wouldn't have voted for Taylor either!

And why should you when his own grandmother didn't even vote for him!

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by BensonFan

And why should you when his own grandmother didn't even vote for him!

Now that's just sad.

[svt65]

12 – Taylor’s Bid

Though this is a very so-so episode, I also agree that it’s chock-full of quotable stuff. For proof, see below; I think I practically typed the whole show!

With all the lack of sleep and mega stress, we get see the Governor in a rare fit of temper and impatience throughout.
***
Gene: That old fogey, he’s done it to me again. First he blocked my reform legislation in committee, then he led the fight against my environmental protection act. Now this!
Marcy: What’s he done?
Gene: He died.


Those prop books look like West’s California Codes.


Gene: You are suggesting that I can’t this government without Taylor. I will have you know that this state is running just as effectively and just as efficiently as the day Taylor left.
Benson: Governor, when was the last time you had a good night’s sleep?
Gene: In the service, when I was on guard duty.
Benson: There, you see? Running the state by yourself is running you into the ground.
Gene: Oh, Benson, I can get by without Taylor. He just handles the political side of my life. You run my home; without the security of knowing that you are here, I couldn’t get anything done. I feel very strongly about this. I hate to say this, Benson, if you ever try quit on me again, I’ll have to fire you!

Taylor: And there’s a personality problem here in the Mansion in case you haven’t noticed. Everybody seems to dislike me.
Benson: I wouldn’t say everybody dislikes you.
Taylor: Everybody likes me?
Benson: Like is a strong word.
Taylor: But you don’t like me?
Benson: Yes, I don’t like you.
Taylor: Well, there, you see?
Benson: Until now I didn’t hate you.
Taylor: Oh, so now you hate me?
Benson: I hate what you’re doing to someone I care about, and there’s nothing I can do about it, except do what I’m doing, asking you to come back.

At the coda, as they head off fishing together:
Gene: Benson, I haven’t felt this good in weeks!
Benson: Neither have I.
Gene: Well, that’s what I thought. So why do you want to leave now?
Benson: I don’t!
Gene: But this letter of resignation was on my desk this morning.
Benson: Let me see that. Well, this is my old letter. Somebody taped it together.
Gene: Who would do that?
Kraus: I thought it was worth a shot.

So far, we’ve had Marcy and Taylor with their own episode; the ones for Miss Kraus and Gene are coming up soon! And then Marcy again. Katie, well, hers seem to be more spread out -- definitely 5. Conflict of Interest, but also 2. Trust Me and 9. Don’t Quote Me.

[blink]

I thought that Taylors statement about Benson being selfish and rude was very ironic. Talk about the kettle calling the pot black. My favorite quote. Taylor: " Benson someday I will be setting in this chair." Benson: " If you do you'll be setting in somebody's lap." And I thought the closing scene was a bit of track. Katie always struck me as being somewhat tomboyish so it didn't seem right that she would be so grossed out by having to bait a fishing hook with a worm unless she had never been fishing before. Now if they were going to use Cockroaches for bait it may have been a little different.

[BensonFan]

Originally Posted by blink

I thought that Taylors statement about Benson being selfish and rude was very ironic. Talk about the kettle calling the pot black.

Taylor also said Benson was "not too bright". I find it interesting that Taylor (and later on, Clayton) tried so hard to keep Benson down and undermine his potential and abilities. That's what was so great about the Governor. For all of the comments about him being dumb and naive, he was about the only one to see Benson's potential from the start. In retrospect you'd have to say that it was Taylor who was "not too bright."

[BensonFan]

Oh, and by the way, Benson also showed what a decent person he was by trying to reach out to Taylor after he broke down, telling him he still had people who cared about him and still had a great job and "let's go home." But Taylor never did acknowledge Benson for his nice gesture; instead he continued to blame him. (Taylor really was a major twit, wasn't he?)

[blink]

Yes this episode really did bring out the worst in Taylor like when he called Marcy a loser. Although I usually condone violence I have to admit it would have been real funny if she would have just haled off and slapped him right there on the spot.

[BensonFan]

Originally Posted by blink

Yes this episode really did bring out the worst in Taylor like when he called Marcy a loser.

You're right! I forgot about that. Now that was totally uncalled for, even for someone as callous as Taylor. And the Governor should have taken offense at that comment too. He should have looked at Taylor and said, "Oh, because she wants to work for me that makes her a loser?" Put Taylor on the spot.

[catlover79]

I think that's a big reason why Taylor was gone when Season 2 began. Lewis J. Stadlen was a competent and talented actor but the character was a little murky. Was he really an upstart who wanted to undermine Gov. Gatling and take over his job? Or did he really have the Governor's best interests at heart and mask a soft heart with sarcasm? I still couldn't tell after watching all the episodes.

[BensonFan]

Originally Posted by catlover79

I think that's a big reason why Taylor was gone when Season 2 began. Lewis J. Stadlen was a competent and talented actor but the character was a little murky. Was he really an upstart who wanted to undermine Gov. Gatling and take over his job? Or did he really have the Governor's best interests at heart and mask a soft heart with sarcasm? I still couldn't tell after watching all the episodes.

They didn't give the Taylor character much depth in that first season and I'm not sure they would have known what to do with him beyond that. He seemed to be a one-trick-pony (condescending snob and little else). Maybe they feel they backed themselves into a corner. By bringing in Clayton as his replacement, they probably planned to develop that character a little more and make sure his character was more than one-dimensional (even though he started out an awful lot like Taylor).

Of course, whether this decision was made before or after Stadlen decided to leave, I have no idea.

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by BensonFan

They didn't give the Taylor character much depth in that first season and I'm not sure they would have known what to do with him beyond that. He seemed to be a one-trick-pony (condescending snob and little else). Maybe they feel they backed themselves into a corner. By bringing in Clayton as his replacement, they probably planned to develop that character a little more and make sure his character was more than one-dimensional (even though he started out an awful lot like Taylor).

Of course, whether this decision was made before or after Stadlen decided to leave, I have no idea.

Good points, Lisa. Again, Taylor did have his moments (like dancing with Marcy in the kitchen). He was hilarious when he tripped over the bearskin rug and then kicked it (), and when he and Kraus pretended to be lovers in the show where the mansion is bugged (). Lewis J. Stadlen was very good at comedy and I don't think he gets fair credit for that. Of course, they found the best possible replacement for him with Rene A.!!

[BensonFan]

Originally Posted by catlover79

Good points, Lisa. Again, Taylor did have his moments (like dancing with Marcy in the kitchen). He was hilarious when he tripped over the bearskin rug and then kicked it (), and when he and Kraus pretended to be lovers in the show where the mansion is bugged (). Lewis J. Stadlen was very good at comedy and I don't think he gets fair credit for that. Of course, they found the best possible replacement for him with Rene A.!!

Oh yeah, he definitely had his moments. I didn't mean to make Lewis seem like a total slouch or anything, but you're right, Rene was a fantastic addition to the cast.

And Ethan Phillips.

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by BensonFan

Oh yeah, he definitely had his moments. I didn't mean to make Lewis seem like a total slouch or anything, but you're right, Rene was a fantastic addition to the cast.

And Ethan Phillips.

Oh, I know what you meant. I guess with the writers unable to decide what to make of the character, coupled with Mr. Stadlen's desire to move back to NY, let them start all over by creating Clayton. It must have been hard playing Taylor since he wasn't a well-rounded character, and I give Mr. Stadlen props for giving it his all.

Any word on Season 2 on DVD??