"The Army Wants You"--(S1, Episode #23) Discussion Thread - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

BensonFan · 12-20-2007, 08:53 AM

Benson receives a letter from the Army stating that they want him to report for evaluation. The staff becomes worried that it’s something really bad and starts believing he is going to die.

When Benson goes to the nearby office of the Army, he discovers that he is being evaluated because he was part of a test experiment group many years ago that used germ warfare against their own soldiers.

Fortunately Benson ended up fine but many of his fellow cadets weren’t as lucky, as they developed negative long-term health repercussions as a result of the experiments.

Benson is angry at being treated as a “human guinea pig” and tells the Army big-wigs off before leaving the building. Everyone on the Governor’s staff is relieved to find out that Benson is ok, of course (even Kraus, although now she won’t be getting Benson’s portable TV after all.)

Favorite quotes:
Sgt Kingsley: Go to Room 208 and take your clothes off.
Benson: Why, is there a party?

Governor Gatling: Benson, I can’t stand the taste of that stuff. I’m not going to take it.
Benson: Hey, I didn’t invent it, I didn’t prescribe it, and I’m not your mother. So if you don’t want to get better, don’t take it.
Governor Gatling (getting up to take the medicine): My mother should have put it that way.

Kraus (Entering the kitchen): Look at this mess!
Benson: Oh, I don’t know, you look better than you did yesterday.

Kraus: You don’t have it as bad as I do.
Marcy: I think I do, Gretchen, it’s just that in my job I have to keep working.
Kraus: If you had it as bad as I do, you wouldn’t be able to keep working.
Marcy: Some of us have to get by on raw courage.
Kraus: You want raw? You should see my throat.
Benson (waiting for Marcy to reply): Your serve.

Major: Sergeant, it’s 0900, are you sure they’re going to have an inspection?
Sgt Kingsley: I called all over the post, Sir, and everyone’s denying it. So it must be true.

Major: Sergeant, you should have shown him up to Room 208.
Sgt Kingsley: I tried, Sir, but he wouldn’t go.
Benson: Right. I don’t take my clothes off for just anybody.

Major: Did anyone in your family have heart trouble?
Benson: My Uncle Walter—about 30 seconds.

I like this episode. I won’t say it’s in my top 5 favorites from the first season, but it’s a good episode. The whole staff being sick and how they cope is pretty amusing. I really like the kitchen scene when the staff tries to be overly nice to Benson because they think he’s dying. “You all drinking from Kraus’ cup?”

Then there’s the Governor grabbing him clumsily to give him a hug and at the end, giving him another hug after Benson tells him the tests results were negative. “I always get that mixed up!” he would say. Funny stuff.

Not a milk episode again (I must be jinxing it!)

catlover79 · 12-20-2007, 01:13 PM

Wow, hard to believe this the second to last episode of the season. Next week we'll be on the last first season discussion thread. How appropriate that it'll be on the last week of the year, too!

This is an episode I only watched once (I watched quite a few others several times), so I don't remember much of it. I guess you could say I didn't find it very memorable!

BensonFan · 12-20-2007, 03:58 PM

Yeah, it's hard to believe we're almost done with Season 1. I'm gonna have some major withdrawal symptoms after the year is over, so Sony needs to get moving on Season 2.

Monika, maybe you should watch the episode again and see what you think? Just a suggestion!

catlover79 · 12-20-2007, 05:12 PM

I'll have to check it out of the library again. I'll post my thoughts on the episode when I see it!

svt65 · 12-21-2007, 01:49 AM

23 -- The Army Wants You

This episode and the previous (any others?) follow the opening of a weird visitor coming to the Mansion.

The jingle Benson recites sounds like it’s from something: “You need relief, fast, fast, fast!” I can only think of Rolaids. ???

Interesting camera angle as Benson goes past us out of the shot.

Love Sgt. Kingsley’s circular logic. What’s also scary about him is that I used to type that slowly!

Cute scene with Kraus and Marcy arguing about who’s more ill.

Unusual scene in that none of the regular cast is in it, just the doc and his assistant.

Love the unnaturally-cheerful “Hi!’ the kitchen group gives Benson.

Taylor must be a tremendously cranky fellow when ill if the Governor comments on it. Course, he’s not much better when he’s healthy!

Quotes... well, actually BensonFan put most of my faves up! Yes! :-D
***
Marcy: Were you court-martialed or something?
Benson: No, but I made private three times.

An OK ep. Not necessary one I'd repeatedly watch, but I do love Gene's lines about his mother should have put it that way, and how he always gets the terms mixed up!

catlover79 · 12-21-2007, 01:52 AM

^ Great review! You really made me laugh.

Taylor's bad enough when he's well, but he'd just be a big

when sick!!

I do remember the overly cheerful "HI!!!"

BensonFan · 12-21-2007, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svt65

This episode and the previous (any others?) follow the opening of a weird visitor coming to the Mansion.

The jingle Benson recites sounds like it’s from something: “You need relief, fast, fast, fast!” I can only think of Rolaids. ???

Love the unnaturally-cheerful “Hi!’ the kitchen group gives Benson.

Taylor must be a tremendously cranky fellow when ill if the Governor comments on it. Course, he’s not much better when he’s healthy!

I can't think of any other with a weird visitor at the beginning. And I like how Benson always gets stuck dealing with them even though Marcy's desk is right there.

Yes, that was from the Rolaids commercial. I totally remember it. There's another episode when Kraus asks Benson, "How do you spell relief?" and he thinks she is setting him up but she's completely serious about it.

That "Hi!" given by the staff had me cracking up hysterically when I first saw the episode. They couldn't have made it sound any more phony and melodramatic than they did.

Wonder how many times they had to do it until it sounded just right.

And Taylor....wow....what can you say? Monika likes to use the baby icon (

) which fits him perfectly. (On a side note, the sad thing about this is that he is apparently not the only one who acts this way when sick. All my married female co-workers describe their husbands in exactly the same way when they get sick. Is it a man thing?

)

...waiting for blink to respond to that one.

blink · 12-21-2007, 09:52 PM

To me this episode was funny and had a very inportent humanitarian message in it and that would be. No matter how sick and how big a sacrifice we think we maybe making dealing with a temporary illness some one else maybe alot worse off. The governor and the rest of the staff defiantly realized that and came to Benson's aid in his time of crisis, although they dealt with it in a somewhat goofy way at times but that's exactly what we expect form them. My favorite part was when Benson called the Army and tricked them into thinking that there was going to be an inspection the next day so the elusive commanding officer would be around at the time of his arrival. Oh... and I'm sure you all noticed that the doctor was played by Jack Dodson who also appeared on the Andy Giffith Show as Howard Sprague.

blink · 12-21-2007, 10:11 PM

You're right we are all

's. Oh yes some pic's.

BensonFan · 12-21-2007, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blink

My favorite part was when Benson called the Army and tricked them into thinking that there was going to be an inspection the next day so the elusive commanding officer would be around at the time of his arrival.

True! That was brilliant on Benson's part.

BensonFan · 12-23-2007, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blink

Oh... and I'm sure you all noticed that the doctor was played by Jack Dodson who also appeared on the Andy Giffith Show as Howard Sprague.

Didn't he also play Ralph Malph's dad on Happy Days (the optometrist)? I'm picturing the same guy.

catlover79 · 12-23-2007, 01:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BensonFan

Didn't he also play Ralph Malph's dad on Happy Days (the optometrist)? I'm picturing the same guy.

That's him!! He also had a role in Steve McQueen's Getaway.

blink · 12-23-2007, 09:37 PM

I forgot about The Getaway, it was a good movie and Steve McQueen was so

.

catlover79 · 12-23-2007, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blink

I forgot about The Getaway, it was a good movie and Steve McQueen was so

.

I love Steve McQueen, too! I also really enjoyed his roles in Towering Inferno, Papillon, and (my favorite) Love with the Proper Stranger.

12-20-2007, 08:53 AM	#1
BensonFan Board Psychologist Senior Member Join Date: Mar 16, 2004 Location: Chicago, IL USA Posts: 2,733	"The Army Wants You"--(S1, Episode #23) Discussion Thread Benson receives a letter from the Army stating that they want him to report for evaluation. The staff becomes worried that it’s something really bad and starts believing he is going to die. When Benson goes to the nearby office of the Army, he discovers that he is being evaluated because he was part of a test experiment group many years ago that used germ warfare against their own soldiers. Fortunately Benson ended up fine but many of his fellow cadets weren’t as lucky, as they developed negative long-term health repercussions as a result of the experiments. Benson is angry at being treated as a “human guinea pig” and tells the Army big-wigs off before leaving the building. Everyone on the Governor’s staff is relieved to find out that Benson is ok, of course (even Kraus, although now she won’t be getting Benson’s portable TV after all.) Favorite quotes: Sgt Kingsley: Go to Room 208 and take your clothes off. Benson: Why, is there a party? Governor Gatling: Benson, I can’t stand the taste of that stuff. I’m not going to take it. Benson: Hey, I didn’t invent it, I didn’t prescribe it, and I’m not your mother. So if you don’t want to get better, don’t take it. Governor Gatling (getting up to take the medicine): My mother should have put it that way. Kraus (Entering the kitchen): Look at this mess! Benson: Oh, I don’t know, you look better than you did yesterday. Kraus: You don’t have it as bad as I do. Marcy: I think I do, Gretchen, it’s just that in my job I have to keep working. Kraus: If you had it as bad as I do, you wouldn’t be able to keep working. Marcy: Some of us have to get by on raw courage. Kraus: You want raw? You should see my throat. Benson (waiting for Marcy to reply): Your serve. Major: Sergeant, it’s 0900, are you sure they’re going to have an inspection? Sgt Kingsley: I called all over the post, Sir, and everyone’s denying it. So it must be true. Major: Sergeant, you should have shown him up to Room 208. Sgt Kingsley: I tried, Sir, but he wouldn’t go. Benson: Right. I don’t take my clothes off for just anybody. Major: Did anyone in your family have heart trouble? Benson: My Uncle Walter—about 30 seconds. I like this episode. I won’t say it’s in my top 5 favorites from the first season, but it’s a good episode. The whole staff being sick and how they cope is pretty amusing. I really like the kitchen scene when the staff tries to be overly nice to Benson because they think he’s dying. “You all drinking from Kraus’ cup?” Then there’s the Governor grabbing him clumsily to give him a hug and at the end, giving him another hug after Benson tells him the tests results were negative. “I always get that mixed up!” he would say. Funny stuff. Not a milk episode again (I must be jinxing it!)
	__________________ HEY, SONY: Thank you for Benson, Season 2! Now can we get started on Season 3 plans?

12-21-2007, 10:11 PM	#9
blink Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 17, 2004 Location: Texarkana AR. Posts: 950	You're right we are all 's. Oh yes some pic's. Attached Images

12-20-2007, 01:13 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Wow, hard to believe this the second to last episode of the season. Next week we'll be on the last first season discussion thread. How appropriate that it'll be on the last week of the year, too! This is an episode I only watched once (I watched quite a few others several times), so I don't remember much of it. I guess you could say I didn't find it very memorable!
	__________________ "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

12-20-2007, 03:58 PM	#3
BensonFan Board Psychologist Senior Member Join Date: Mar 16, 2004 Location: Chicago, IL USA Posts: 2,733	Yeah, it's hard to believe we're almost done with Season 1. I'm gonna have some major withdrawal symptoms after the year is over, so Sony needs to get moving on Season 2. Monika, maybe you should watch the episode again and see what you think? Just a suggestion!

12-20-2007, 05:12 PM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	I'll have to check it out of the library again. I'll post my thoughts on the episode when I see it!

12-21-2007, 01:49 AM	#5
svt65 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 07, 2006 Location: SoCal, USA Posts: 147	23 -- The Army Wants You This episode and the previous (any others?) follow the opening of a weird visitor coming to the Mansion. The jingle Benson recites sounds like it’s from something: “You need relief, fast, fast, fast!” I can only think of Rolaids. ??? Interesting camera angle as Benson goes past us out of the shot. Love Sgt. Kingsley’s circular logic. What’s also scary about him is that I used to type that slowly! Cute scene with Kraus and Marcy arguing about who’s more ill. Unusual scene in that none of the regular cast is in it, just the doc and his assistant. Love the unnaturally-cheerful “Hi!’ the kitchen group gives Benson. Taylor must be a tremendously cranky fellow when ill if the Governor comments on it. Course, he’s not much better when he’s healthy! Quotes... well, actually BensonFan put most of my faves up! Yes! :-D *** Marcy: Were you court-martialed or something? Benson: No, but I made private three times. An OK ep. Not necessary one I'd repeatedly watch, but I do love Gene's lines about his mother should have put it that way, and how he always gets the terms mixed up!

12-21-2007, 01:52 AM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	^ Great review! You really made me laugh. Taylor's bad enough when he's well, but he'd just be a big when sick!! I do remember the overly cheerful "HI!!!"

12-21-2007, 09:52 PM	#8
blink Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 17, 2004 Location: Texarkana AR. Posts: 950	To me this episode was funny and had a very inportent humanitarian message in it and that would be. No matter how sick and how big a sacrifice we think we maybe making dealing with a temporary illness some one else maybe alot worse off. The governor and the rest of the staff defiantly realized that and came to Benson's aid in his time of crisis, although they dealt with it in a somewhat goofy way at times but that's exactly what we expect form them. My favorite part was when Benson called the Army and tricked them into thinking that there was going to be an inspection the next day so the elusive commanding officer would be around at the time of his arrival. Oh... and I'm sure you all noticed that the doctor was played by Jack Dodson who also appeared on the Andy Giffith Show as Howard Sprague.

12-23-2007, 09:37 PM	#13
blink Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 17, 2004 Location: Texarkana AR. Posts: 950	I forgot about The Getaway, it was a good movie and Steve McQueen was so .