BENSON: THE SCANDAL {SIXTH SEASON PREMIERE} (TV)
Summary
The sixth season premiere in this comedy series about Benson DuBois, who manages the chaotic household of the state's honest yet inept governor. In this episode, Kraus makes "exciting" weekend plans as Clayton smugly tells Benson that he is in trouble with the Governor for allowing the civic-center project to go over budget. The Governor complains that the press is blaming him for the error, though Benson defends hiring the Marathon Brothers construction company, as they gave the best price. He reacts with outrage when the Governor calls him "incompetent," and despite the others' attempts to calm the fight, he quits as budget director just as the Governor fires him. Later, however, the two meet secretly, revealing that the argument was staged in order to allow Benson to go "undercover" and investigate Lieutenant Governor Decker for accepting bribes. The Governor gives him a tape recorder disguised as a pen, and Benson "subtly" attempts to record the brothers when he meets with them the following day. They ask him to steal papers from the Governor regarding a future project, promising to make him rich if they are able to secure the job.
Benson sneaks into the Governor's office late at night, though he is caught by Kraus, who immediately accuses him of being a "sneaky spy." He admits the ruse to her, though when they are joined by Pete and Clayton, Kraus quickly claims that they are having a secret affair and Benson is forced to play along, much to his displeasure. Later, Benson delivers the papers to the Marathon brothers, though their no-nonsense secretary Rita refuses to tell him the name of their "other informer," who is soon to arrive at the office. Determined to uncover the truth, Benson climbs out the 27th-floor window and eavesdrops from the ledge, finding that Decker is indeed working against the Governor. They catch him listening in and he is forced to "fight" them off with some improvised methods, and he ends up saving one of the brothers, Gus, when he nearly falls from the building. Back at the mansion, Benson resumes his usual post, and Kraus notes with annoyance that the newspapers are calling him a "hero" for his wacky antics. Commercials deleted.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: September 21, 1984 8:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:24:58
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:14925
- GENRE: Comedy
- SUBJECT HEADING: African-American Collection - Comedy; Comedy
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 1979-1986
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Paul Junger Witt … Executive Producer
- Tony Thomas … Executive Producer
- Rob Dames … Producer
- Bob Fraser … Producer
- Gary Brown … Co-Producer, Director
- Gilbert R. Junger … Associate Producer
- Susan Harris … Created by
- Barry Fanaro … Writer
- Mort Nathan … Writer
- George Aliceson Tipton … Music by
- Robert Guillaume … Cast, Benson DuBois
- James Noble … Cast, Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
- Inga Swenson … Cast, Gretchen Wilomena Kraus
- Missy Gold … Cast, Katherine 'Katie' Olivia Gatling
- Ethan Phillips … Cast, Peter 'Pete' John Downey
- Didi Conn … Cast, Denise Florence Stevens Downey
- Rene Auberjonois … Cast, Clayton Runnymede Endicott III
- John Reilly … Cast, Augie Marathon
- Art LaFleur … Cast, Gus Marathon
- Susan Ruttan … Cast, Rita
- Dennis Howard … Cast, Lt. Gov. Jerry Decker