"Checkmate"--(S1, Episode #18) Discussion Thread - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

BensonFan · 11-15-2007, 08:55 AM

The Governor’s mansion is hosting a young Soviet chess prodigy named Alexei (played by Meeno Peluce). Alexei has been touring the world to display his chess domination to make the Soviets look good and he is very homesick. In order to end the long and grueling tour he decides to disappear, hiding out in the mansion where no one can find him.

Before long, Alexei turns up in Katie’s room, where Katie keeps him hidden from everyone. The Russians are convinced that the Governor has had him kidnapped and are making threats in an effort to get the boy back.

Benson comes up with a brilliant plan to explain the disappearance of Alexei: he was being hidden in the mansion to avoid a kidnapping plot by outsiders (did he really mention the Chinese?). In doing so, the Governor is off the hook and so is the Soviet responsible for Alexei while on tour, Petrov (played by Michael Bell—wasn’t he Rama Mageesh in that one Three’s Company episode?)

Favorite quotes:
Kraus: Are you crazy?
Benson: Miss Kraus, it’s our only chance.
Kraus: It is stupid, it is foolish.
Benson: Don’t give me no lip, woman, just do it!

Marcy: He (Petrov) did ask me to have a drink with him. He said it’s the last time he’d be seeing a woman for a long time.
Taylor: Well, that’s a novel approach.
Benson: The man sounds desperate to me.
Marcy: Thanks a lot.

Petrov: Wait a minute. You didn’t tell me your secret.
Benson: In the third grade there was a girl named Elaine who used to eat paste.
Petrov: This is no secret!
Benson: It isn’t? Well don’t look at me. I never told anybody.

Governor Gatling: Mr Petrov, why don’t you just come right out and call me a liar?
Petrov: I would have. I couldn’t think of the word.

Katie: I won’t tell anyone, I swear to God.
Alexei: Who?

Not a favorite episode of mine. A decent storyline but not up to par with some of the other stuff we’ve seen in Season 1. I do like the part with Katie showing Alexei the right way to eat an Oreo cookie.

catlover79 · 11-15-2007, 01:06 PM

This is not one of my favorites either. Then again, maybe because the last two episodes were so hilarious, this one seems like a let-down. Oh well.

BensonFan · 11-15-2007, 07:59 PM

Well this one was more of a serious nature with a couple of funny moments here and there. My favorite episodes are more light-hearted and fun.

And back at the time (1980), the Russians were our biggest enemy so maybe the real meaning of this episode gets lost now that so much time has passed and the Russians are looking like lifelong friends compared to some other groups of people who shall remain nameless.

svt65 · 11-16-2007, 01:43 AM

18 -- Checkmate

The best scene in this episode is the Oreos one. The American way of eating those babies!

I have a couple of quotes to share, otherwise not much to show. Although I will say that Petrov is one of my favorite guests, even if I don't approve of his smashing someone else's glasses. Or Benson either, come to think of it.

I also got anxious when he mentioned the Chinese specifically; I mean, what if Benson started something? ANd we'll never know....

ANyway, the quotes:

Petrov: I officially protest that you have the boy in this house!
Gene: Now you know that’s not true.
Petrov: I know nothing.
Benson: Well, at least you know that much!

Benson: What are you going to do with all that stuff?
Katie: Promise not to tell anyone else?
Benson: Maybe.
Katie: I have a tapeworm.

blink · 11-16-2007, 11:21 PM

This was another hilarious episode and the park scene was my favorite. First Petrov accedentlly mugged that poor guy and then Benson's secret about the little girl eating paste in grade school. And speaking of kids what where they doing with that carton of egg's up in Katie's room. Was she fixing up some more of her weird recipes and if so poor Alexei must have been really hungery to eat that stuff.
Favorite lines.
Petrov: In Soviet Union we do everthing well at young age. Marcy: You must be bruned out by now! Katie: The white things or Marshmallows and the yellow things or Potatochips and the rest of it was just junk food.

BensonFan · 11-17-2007, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blink

And speaking of kids what where they doing with that carton of egg's up in Katie's room. Was she fixing up some more of her weird recipes and if so poor Alexei must have been really hungery to eat that stuff.

Maybe they were Easter eggs.

And they probably had some of this stuff:

catlover79 · 11-17-2007, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BensonFan

Maybe they were Easter eggs.

And they probably had some of this stuff:

YUCK!!

blink · 11-17-2007, 11:58 PM

probably would go good with grape-fruit juice and alfalfa-sprouts but I dont know about the raw eggs though.

catlover79 · 11-18-2007, 12:00 AM

You may as well add fruicake and eggnog as long as we're mentioning disgusting foods. GROSS.

BensonFan · 11-18-2007, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blink

probably would go good with grape-fruit juice and alfalfa-sprouts but I dont know about the raw eggs though.

I'm telling you, between this episode and the one where Katie makes the "Campfire Girl Omelet", I wouldn't want Katie serving me anything.

catlover79 · 11-18-2007, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BensonFan

I'm telling you, between this episode and the one where Katie makes the "Campfire Girl Omelet", I wouldn't want Katie serving me anything.

She'd probably be as awful a cook as Thelma Evans (Good Times)!!

BensonFan · 11-18-2007, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

She'd probably be as awful a cook as Thelma Evans (Good Times)!!

Or Chrissy and Janet on Three's Company.

catlover79 · 11-18-2007, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BensonFan

Or Chrissy and Janet on Three's Company.

blink · 11-18-2007, 12:37 AM

I think Katie may have been a young Ellie Mae Clampett, just with out the exploding biscuits.

catlover79 · 11-23-2007, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blink

I think Katie may have been a young Ellie Mae Clampett, just with out the exploding biscuits.

I wouldn't put it past Katie to make exploding biscuits.

Kraus would totally have a

!!

11-15-2007, 01:06 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	This is not one of my favorites either. Then again, maybe because the last two episodes were so hilarious, this one seems like a let-down. Oh well.
	__________________ "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

11-17-2007, 11:58 PM	#8
blink Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 17, 2004 Location: Texarkana AR. Posts: 950	probably would go good with grape-fruit juice and alfalfa-sprouts but I dont know about the raw eggs though. Attached Images

11-15-2007, 08:55 AM	#1
BensonFan Board Psychologist Senior Member Join Date: Mar 16, 2004 Location: Chicago, IL USA Posts: 2,733	"Checkmate"--(S1, Episode #18) Discussion Thread The Governor’s mansion is hosting a young Soviet chess prodigy named Alexei (played by Meeno Peluce). Alexei has been touring the world to display his chess domination to make the Soviets look good and he is very homesick. In order to end the long and grueling tour he decides to disappear, hiding out in the mansion where no one can find him. Before long, Alexei turns up in Katie’s room, where Katie keeps him hidden from everyone. The Russians are convinced that the Governor has had him kidnapped and are making threats in an effort to get the boy back. Benson comes up with a brilliant plan to explain the disappearance of Alexei: he was being hidden in the mansion to avoid a kidnapping plot by outsiders (did he really mention the Chinese?). In doing so, the Governor is off the hook and so is the Soviet responsible for Alexei while on tour, Petrov (played by Michael Bell—wasn’t he Rama Mageesh in that one Three’s Company episode?) Favorite quotes: Kraus: Are you crazy? Benson: Miss Kraus, it’s our only chance. Kraus: It is stupid, it is foolish. Benson: Don’t give me no lip, woman, just do it! Marcy: He (Petrov) did ask me to have a drink with him. He said it’s the last time he’d be seeing a woman for a long time. Taylor: Well, that’s a novel approach. Benson: The man sounds desperate to me. Marcy: Thanks a lot. Petrov: Wait a minute. You didn’t tell me your secret. Benson: In the third grade there was a girl named Elaine who used to eat paste. Petrov: This is no secret! Benson: It isn’t? Well don’t look at me. I never told anybody. Governor Gatling: Mr Petrov, why don’t you just come right out and call me a liar? Petrov: I would have. I couldn’t think of the word. Katie: I won’t tell anyone, I swear to God. Alexei: Who? Not a favorite episode of mine. A decent storyline but not up to par with some of the other stuff we’ve seen in Season 1. I do like the part with Katie showing Alexei the right way to eat an Oreo cookie.

11-15-2007, 07:59 PM	#3
BensonFan Board Psychologist Senior Member Join Date: Mar 16, 2004 Location: Chicago, IL USA Posts: 2,733	Well this one was more of a serious nature with a couple of funny moments here and there. My favorite episodes are more light-hearted and fun. And back at the time (1980), the Russians were our biggest enemy so maybe the real meaning of this episode gets lost now that so much time has passed and the Russians are looking like lifelong friends compared to some other groups of people who shall remain nameless.

11-16-2007, 01:43 AM	#4
svt65 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 07, 2006 Location: SoCal, USA Posts: 147	18 -- Checkmate The best scene in this episode is the Oreos one. The American way of eating those babies! I have a couple of quotes to share, otherwise not much to show. Although I will say that Petrov is one of my favorite guests, even if I don't approve of his smashing someone else's glasses. Or Benson either, come to think of it. I also got anxious when he mentioned the Chinese specifically; I mean, what if Benson started something? ANd we'll never know.... ANyway, the quotes: Petrov: I officially protest that you have the boy in this house! Gene: Now you know that’s not true. Petrov: I know nothing. Benson: Well, at least you know that much! Benson: What are you going to do with all that stuff? Katie: Promise not to tell anyone else? Benson: Maybe. Katie: I have a tapeworm.

11-16-2007, 11:21 PM	#5
blink Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 17, 2004 Location: Texarkana AR. Posts: 950	This was another hilarious episode and the park scene was my favorite. First Petrov accedentlly mugged that poor guy and then Benson's secret about the little girl eating paste in grade school. And speaking of kids what where they doing with that carton of egg's up in Katie's room. Was she fixing up some more of her weird recipes and if so poor Alexei must have been really hungery to eat that stuff. Favorite lines. Petrov: In Soviet Union we do everthing well at young age. Marcy: You must be bruned out by now! Katie: The white things or Marshmallows and the yellow things or Potatochips and the rest of it was just junk food.

11-18-2007, 12:00 AM	#9
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	You may as well add fruicake and eggnog as long as we're mentioning disgusting foods. GROSS.

11-18-2007, 12:37 AM	#14
blink Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 17, 2004 Location: Texarkana AR. Posts: 950	I think Katie may have been a young Ellie Mae Clampett, just with out the exploding biscuits.