Time Magazine's Review of Benson (Sept. 10, 1979) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

catlover79 · 11-24-2007, 12:19 AM

For the whole article, here's the link:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...0621-1,00.html

Benson (Sept. 13, ABC, 8:30 p.m. E.D.T.)

Scheduled behind Laverne & Shirley, this Soap spin-off is one of the season's few sure hits. Unfortunately, Writer Susan Harris has not capitalized on her secure ratings position by creating a daring and witty show. Benson is another sitcom dedicated to the tedious proposition that servants and children are smarter than employers or parents. In this case the employer is a moronic Governor (James Noble) who hires black Butler Benson (Robert Guillaume) to run his household and, by inference, his unidentified Eastern state. Except for Benson and the Governor's unspeakably precocious subteen daughter (Missy Gold), the series is entirely inhabited by knaves and fools; Harris even drags in a barking Germanic housekeeper (Inga Swenson) who would be more appropriate to Hogan's Heroes. The restrained Guillaume is a refreshing antidote to the caricatured blacks one normally finds in TV comedy, but this series needs political bite and sharper writing to prevent its captive audience from nodding out.

BensonFan · 11-24-2007, 12:26 AM

Some of these critics seem to forget that it takes a little time for a new show to "gel". For many sitcoms the first season can be a little awkward but I thought Benson's first season was actually pretty good.

I also think certain critics from that time era were still expecting to see "Father Knows Best"-type shows when everyone is perfectly cast in a role. Parents are always smart and right about everything and people wouldn't dare trade insults. The 70s changed a lot of things about television!

catlover79 · 11-24-2007, 12:33 AM

^ It sure did!!

blink · 11-24-2007, 01:43 PM

And the 90's ruined it.

BensonFan · 11-24-2007, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blink

And the 90's ruined it.

Yeah---the takeover of the "PC police". I think the only 90s show I was really that into is "Frasier".

EDIT: Oh and "Seinfeld"...now that show challenged the PC police pretty well. LOL

catlover79 · 11-25-2007, 04:29 AM

If there's one thing Seinfeld wasn't it was politically correct!

Ironic that Jerry Seinfeld's first break on TV was on Benson. I've never seen his appearances as Frankie - another reason why Sony needs to get on the ball and release Season 2!!

BensonFan · 11-27-2007, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

If there's one thing Seinfeld wasn't it was politically correct!

Ironic that Jerry Seinfeld's first break on TV was on Benson. I've never seen his appearances as Frankie - another reason why Sony needs to get on the ball and release Season 2!!

Well, in a worst-case scenario, you can get the episodes from me (I have every Benson episode except ONE

), but I'm optimistic we'll be seeing Season 2. As mentioned, sales look pretty good.

catlover79 · 11-27-2007, 08:37 PM

Thank you, Lisa!!

inmusicwetrust · 01-05-2008, 03:17 AM

Lisa-

I'd love to get every episode, except the one you don't have, if possible.

What would I need to do? Let me know... I sent you a private message on here, since you don't except emails from here.

Thanks.

Alex

catlover79 · 07-29-2010, 02:50 AM

Interesting how one's perceptions change with the passage of time, isn't it? I wonder what the writer of the article thinks of Benson now!!

JR1 · 09-19-2010, 05:57 PM

"Benson" wasn't groundbreaking as "Soap" was, nor did it have the level of quality of that series (though "Soap" lost some of its luster near the end)- but it was a cute, enjoyable show.

catlover79 · 09-19-2010, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR1

"Benson" wasn't groundbreaking as "Soap" was, nor did it have the level of quality of that series (though "Soap" lost some of its luster near the end)- but it was a cute, enjoyable show.

I agree!!

TVFactFan · 09-26-2010, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JR1

"Benson" wasn't groundbreaking as "Soap" was, nor did it have the level of quality of that series (though "Soap" lost some of its luster near the end)- but it was a cute, enjoyable show.

That TV Land quickly removed in the summer of 2006

BensonFan · 09-26-2010, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

That TV Land quickly removed in the summer of 2006

I know I am biased as hell but I wish they would give the show a fair chance. Showing 6 episodes at midnight on Friday into Saturday does not qualify.

The show starts getting really interesting into the second and third seasons. I think the first season is weak in comparison, but people will never find out at this rate since when they do give it a shot, it always starts at the beginning and they yank it before Season 2 is set to begin.

TVFactFan · 09-26-2010, 11:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BensonFan

I know I am biased as hell but I wish they would give the show a fair chance. Showing 6 episodes at midnight on Friday into Saturday does not qualify.

The show starts getting really interesting into the second and third seasons. I think the first season is weak in comparison, but people will never find out at this rate since when they do give it a shot, it always starts at the beginning and they yank it before Season 2 is set to begin.

And midnight and after is not sampling time which means it was in a sorry timeslot

11-24-2007, 12:19 AM	#1
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Time Magazine's Review of Benson (Sept. 10, 1979) For the whole article, here's the link: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...0621-1,00.html Benson (Sept. 13, ABC, 8:30 p.m. E.D.T.) Scheduled behind Laverne & Shirley, this Soap spin-off is one of the season's few sure hits. Unfortunately, Writer Susan Harris has not capitalized on her secure ratings position by creating a daring and witty show. Benson is another sitcom dedicated to the tedious proposition that servants and children are smarter than employers or parents. In this case the employer is a moronic Governor (James Noble) who hires black Butler Benson (Robert Guillaume) to run his household and, by inference, his unidentified Eastern state. Except for Benson and the Governor's unspeakably precocious subteen daughter (Missy Gold), the series is entirely inhabited by knaves and fools; Harris even drags in a barking Germanic housekeeper (Inga Swenson) who would be more appropriate to Hogan's Heroes. The restrained Guillaume is a refreshing antidote to the caricatured blacks one normally finds in TV comedy, but this series needs political bite and sharper writing to prevent its captive audience from nodding out.
	__________________ "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

11-24-2007, 12:26 AM	#2
BensonFan Board Psychologist Senior Member Join Date: Mar 16, 2004 Location: Chicago, IL USA Posts: 2,733	Some of these critics seem to forget that it takes a little time for a new show to "gel". For many sitcoms the first season can be a little awkward but I thought Benson's first season was actually pretty good. I also think certain critics from that time era were still expecting to see "Father Knows Best"-type shows when everyone is perfectly cast in a role. Parents are always smart and right about everything and people wouldn't dare trade insults. The 70s changed a lot of things about television!

11-24-2007, 12:33 AM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	^ It sure did!!

11-24-2007, 01:43 PM	#4
blink Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 17, 2004 Location: Texarkana AR. Posts: 950	And the 90's ruined it.

11-25-2007, 04:29 AM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	If there's one thing Seinfeld wasn't it was politically correct! Ironic that Jerry Seinfeld's first break on TV was on Benson. I've never seen his appearances as Frankie - another reason why Sony needs to get on the ball and release Season 2!!

11-27-2007, 08:37 PM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Thank you, Lisa!!

01-05-2008, 03:17 AM	#9
inmusicwetrust Member First Time Poster Join Date: Jan 05, 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 1	Lisa- I'd love to get every episode, except the one you don't have, if possible. What would I need to do? Let me know... I sent you a private message on here, since you don't except emails from here. Thanks. Alex

07-29-2010, 02:50 AM	#10
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Interesting how one's perceptions change with the passage of time, isn't it? I wonder what the writer of the article thinks of Benson now!!

09-19-2010, 05:57 PM	#11
JR1 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 07, 2009 Location: USA Posts: 742	"Benson" wasn't groundbreaking as "Soap" was, nor did it have the level of quality of that series (though "Soap" lost some of its luster near the end)- but it was a cute, enjoyable show.