Benson (TV series)

Benson
GenreSitcom
Created bySusan Harris[1]
StarringRobert Guillaume
James Noble
Inga Swenson
Missy Gold
René Auberjonois (1980–1986)
Ethan Phillips (1980–1985)
Caroline McWilliams (1979–1981)
Didi Conn (1981–1985)
Lewis J. Stadlen (1979–1980)
Billie Bird (1984–1986)
Theme music composerGeorge Tipton
ComposerGeorge Aliceson Tipton
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons7
No. of episodes158 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producersPaul Junger Witt
Tony Thomas
Susan Harris
Running time24–25 minutes
Production companyWitt/Thomas/Harris Productions
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseSeptember 13, 1979 (1979-09-13) –
April 19, 1986 (1986-04-19)
Related
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Benson is an American television sitcom that originally aired on ABC from September 13, 1979, to April 19, 1986. The show stars Robert Guillaume in the title role of Benson DuBois, the head of the household for Governor Eugene X. Gatling, played by James Noble. The show focused on the conflicts and relationships within the Governor's household, with Benson generally providing the sarcastic voice of reason. Inga Swenson, Missy Gold, Didi Conn, Ethan Phillips, and René Auberjonois all played long-term supporting roles.

The series was a spin-off of Soap in which the character Benson first appeared as the wise-cracking yet level-headed African-American butler for the highly dysfunctional Tate family. However, Benson avoided the soap opera format of its parent series for a more conventional sitcom structure, and the lead character eventually moved from his service position to a role as lieutenant governor. The series was created by Susan Harris, and produced by Witt/Thomas/Harris Productions. In 1985, Guillaume won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in the series.[2]

  1. ^ "Golden Girls' Creator Adds Shows". Los Angeles Times. September 10, 1991. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  2. ^ "37th Emmy Awards Nominees and Winners". Television Academy. Retrieved January 19, 2022.