Reviews

I used to watch this series as a child during the 1980's and enjoyed alongside other 80's "Family Ties", "Different Strokes" and "Facts of Life" and more. This was a spin-off to the hit comedy "Soap" which lasted longer than it's processor and went on to win Emmies for best comedy sitcom.

Benson Dubois(Robert Guillaume), the Tate's wisecracking, no-nonsense butler from "Soap" is now working in the Governor's mansion as the head of the household staff but ends up becoming the right hand man for the lovable yet bumbling and scatter-brained Govenor Eugene Gatlin(James Noble) who is also Jessica Tate's cousin, by solving his and everybody's problems. The rest of the staff includes secretary Marcy Hill(Caroline McWilliam),the only normal person in household other than Benson, Gretchen Kraus(Inga Swenson), the sharp-tongue German cook, John Taylor(Lewis J. Stadlen), the Governor's pompous, stuff-shirt aid, and the Governor's nine year old daughter Katie(Missy Gold).

I liked this funny show even better than "Soap" which had humor and sharp wit and unforgettable characters. I particularly enjoyed Benson's interactions with the other members in the mansion. With his sharp-tongue and acerbic wit was always squaring off his nemesis Miss Kraus or Taylor who resented Benson's constant interference. Then there was his friendship with Marcy which was very believable and with Katie he was good fatherly figure and of course there's the Governor himself there was a great buddy/employer relationship with Benson as the straight guy to the goofy politician. Taylor left after end of the first season and was replaced by the the equally pompous Clayton Endicott(Rene Auberjonois)who was funnier and I loved his rivalry with Benson more which was one of my favorite parts of the show. He was the perfect nemesis and foil with his sharp wit and arrogance and had great chemistry together. Other characters came and went over the years, Marcy left early in the third season and the ditsy Denise Stevens(Didi Conn)replaced her. Pete Downey(Ethan Phillips) also joined the staff as the idiotic PR man and Mrs. Cassidy(Billie Bird) came aboard in the later part of the series as the new housekeeper. a then unpopular Bob Fraser and Jerry Seinfold had recurring roles and Jessica(Katherine Helmond) made two guest appearances(the second time as a ghost). Over the years Benson position in staff would change as he became Budget Director then Lt. Governor. Pete and Denise would marry and have a baby, Miss Kraus would become Benson's secretary and Katie grow up into a teenager. Just like "Soap" this series ended with a cliffhanger when Benson was running against Governor Gatlin but viewers were left wondering who got elected.

Anwyay, I will never forget this fabulous show and wish they would air re-runs maybe on TV Land or Nick at Night. It's shame that nowadays they don't seem to make great shows like the did in the 80s and 90s.

I recall this series as a child, although I never watched when it was airing but saw all the re-runs every afternoon became hooked on this very hilarious and fabulous comedy that was basically a spoof of TV soap operas with funny, offbeat memorable characters. I always looked forward to the Announcer(Rod Roddy) who narrated the summary of the previous episode in the beginning and asked would happen in the next episode near the end of episode.

Basically the series was about two very different sisters and the oddball dysfunctional families. Jessica Tate(Katherine Helmond)was the very sweet,lovable but ditsy and scatter-brained socialite that lived in the mansion with her wealthy philandering husband Chester(Robert Mandan) and their three children, good girl Corinne(Diana Conova), the not so good girl Eunice(Jennifer Salt) and teenage Billy(Jimmy Baio). There was also the Major(Arthur Peterson), Jessica's kooky shell-shocked father who still believed the war was going on and Benson(Robert Guilliame), the sassy no-nonsense butler was the only sane person in the household or the whole show for that matter.

Then there was Mary Campbell(Cathryn Damon)her older, sensible more down-to-earth sister who was the only normal person in her household that consisted of her lovable but kooky blue-collar second husband Burt Campbell(Richard Milligan) and her two sons from her previous marriage, the dim-witted Danny Dallas(Ted Wass) and homosexual Jodie(Billy Crystal). Later came one of Burt's sons Chuck(Jay Johnson), a ventriloquist who always has his wise-cracking dummy Bob with him that he seems to believe is another person.

This show was ahead of it's time sometimes with it's kooky, and even controversial yet funny story lines from homosexuality, alien abduption, mafia, devil-possession, interracial relationships, student/teacher relationship, amnesia to murder etc. Standout was Helmond who played Jessica comedic dizziness yet with sweet child-like innocence that you'll loved her character even if she wasn't the brightest bulb and her relationship with her sister Mary was the best part since it was very believable. Others were Milligan as Burt was sweet yet clownish and comedic talent reminded me of Jerry Lewis or the Three Stooges plus he had the most interesting story lines from thinking he was invisible to being kidnapped by aliens and The crazy Major stole every scene he was in as with his hilarious antics in the Tate's household where he lived in his own little world. But one of my favorites was Chuck and Bob who were a riot especially since the dummy Bob had the most funny dialogue and more lines than Chuck did. I also recall this series had a lot of known actors/actresses such as Robert Urich, Lynne Moody, Dinah Manoff, Randee Handler, Caroline McWilliams and Inga Swenson. It was shame that they ended this series so soon especially leaving viewers with a cliffhanger. Fortunately some of the actors moved onto bigger things. First Robert Guillame left the show after two seasons to star in his own spin-off "Benson" which lasted much longer(which also starred both Swenson and McWilliams) and was replaced by Saunders(Roscoe Lee Browne). Katherine Helmond went on to portray Mona in the 1980s hit comedy "Who's The Boss", Richard Milligan also starred in hit 80's sitcom "Empty Nest" which also starred Dinah Manoff and was Ted Wass played Blossom's dad in the 90's sitcom "Blossom". Last on least the legendary Billy Crystal went on to appear on "Saturday Night Live" and later became a one of the most popular comedians to hit the big screen and host the Emmys.

I always wished that there could have been a reunion show so at least we could find out what happened to the characters yet sadly Milligan, Damon, Peterson, and Roddy have all passed away. I hope this series comes back to TV, it did briefly air on TV Land but I will I always remember this fabulous show.