8.8/1053 votesLoading...#1 - No Sad Songs
Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 3/6/1981
Benson's mother comes to visit and everyone makes her feel welcome. Tender moments stir in this episode between Benson and his mother. Unfortunately Benson's mom passes away which leaves Benson very upset. The only thing that gives comfort to Benson was the faith his mother had in Jesus and when he asks the Lord to give him a sign, the taxicab driver recites the same words his mother taught him for so long. ""You've got to have faith""
Director: John Rich
Writer: Rob Dames, Bob Fraser
- 8.2/1059 votesLoading...
#4 - Takin' It to the Streets
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 3/27/1980
Wanting to know how the ""little people"" really feel about politics and their real needs, Governor Gatling and Benson visit a mangy bar to talk to the constituents but land in trouble when a man picks a fight with Gatling at the bar, not knowing who he is.
Director: Tony Mordente
Writer: Wally Dalton, Shelley Zellman
- 8.2/1043 votesLoading...
#5 - Rivals
Season 2 Episode 14 - Aired 2/27/1981
Kraus' childhood enemy comes from Germany to visit her.
Director: John Rich
Writer: Terry Grossman, Kathy Speer
- 8.2/1043 votesLoading...
#7 - God, I Need This Job
Season 5 Episode 3 - Aired 9/30/1983
Everyone thinks that Benson is out of it when he sees, hears, and talks to Jessica Tate's ghost.
Director: N/A
Writer: Rob Dames, Bob Fraser
- 8.2/1033 votesLoading...
#8 - Let's Play Doctor
Season 5 Episode 22 - Aired 5/4/1984
Benson learns that a crusty old medic does not have a medical license and when that man is up for the governor's Humanitarin Award, he wants none of the credit.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 8.1/1049 votesLoading...
#9 - One Strike, You're Out
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 12/27/1979
The domestic workers demand more money and Benson grants their requests to give them a raise. The blue-collar people go on strike after Governor Gatling refuses their plea. At the same time, very important people come to dinner and Benson has to do all the duties. He does all he can do, and with his smarts he turns it into a disaster so that they can get a taste of what it's like not to have them.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: N/A
- 8.1/1032 votesLoading...
#10 - Clayton, Go Home
Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 3/13/1981
After receiving death threats, the Governor's new advisor, Clayton Endicott the 3rd moves into the mansion.
Director: John Rich
Writer: Tom Whedon
- 8.0/1055 votesLoading...
#11 - The Layoff
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/25/1979
Benson is forced to lay off some staff members when the Governor makes a campaign to cut ""unecessary"" spending. Katie resents Benson when he has to fire the sweet woman who lightens up everyone's day.
Director: Peter Baldwin
Writer: N/A
- 8.0/1038 votesLoading...
#13 - Solid Gold
Season 6 Episode 17 - Aired 2/1/1985
On a trip to Las Vegas, Benson meets the comic duo The Smothers Brothers.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.9/1068 votesLoading...
#14 - Trust Me
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/20/1979
Katie attends a controversial rock concert, even though her father forbid her to go and had Benson watch her. Now the question is, who will get home in time? The Governor or Katie? Benson, afraid Katie will not come home in time applies for another job in the meantime.
Director: Peter Baldwin
Writer: Lee Maddux
- 7.9/1053 votesLoading...
#15 - Just Friends
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 1/3/1980
Governor Gatling is trying to get Howard Walker, the entrepreneur to settle his new factory in his constituency. Benson on his own tries not to let this go through because him and Howard's wife had a love affair years ago.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.9/1040 votesLoading...
#16 - Thick as Thieves
Season 2 Episode 1 - Aired 10/31/1980
Benson and Kraus are held hostage during a market robbery.
Director: John Rich
Writer: Rob Dames, Bob Fraser
- 7.9/1035 votesLoading...
#18 - The Honeymooners
Season 4 Episode 12 - Aired 1/7/1983
Kraus is about to get married. But when he can't make it, Benson plays as a substitute and ends up really getting married to Kraus. What makes him married to Kraus is the fact that he signed the marriage license and didn't sign her real husband-to-be's name on the license.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
- 7.9/1028 votesLoading...
#19 - The Endicott Dynasty
Season 5 Episode 20 - Aired 3/2/1984
Clayton gets upset when his father chooses Benson to run his empire after he dies.
Director: N/A
Writer: Terry Grossman, Kathy Speer
- 7.8/1098 votesLoading...
#20 - Change (Pilot)
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/13/1979
In the pilot of this spinoff series of Soap, Benson, the Butler of Jessica Tate helps out her cousin Gene Gatling, who is the Governor of the state. Benson's first escapade lands him into finding a way for a huge company to build their new bridge without killing beavers. His success in this idea seems to land him a ""trial offer"" for this new job.
Director: Jay Sandrich
Writer: Susan Harris
- 7.8/1043 votesLoading...
- 7.8/1049 votesLoading...
#22 - Fool's Gold
Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 11/14/1980
After a press conference, Benson notices a strange difference in one side of the fire place. He tries to twist it so it is similar with the other side. When he twists the knob a secret map comes out which gives the staff gold fever. They go to the shed in back and frantically look for the gold.
Director: John Rich
Writer: Tom Whedon, Bob Colleary
- 7.8/1039 votesLoading...
#23 - Old School Ties
Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 1/16/1981
Libby, The Governor's sister thinks that Katie should be sent to a boarding school and the Governor sends her to one. The staff is crushed with the Governor taking his sister's advice.
Director: John Rich
Writer: Rob Dames, Bob Fraser
The Best Episodes of Benson
Every episode of Benson ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Benson!
A butler deals with life at the governor's mansion.
Genre:Comedy
Network:ABC
Best Episodes Summary
"No Sad Songs" is the best rated episode of "Benson". It scored 8.8/10 based on 53 votes. Directed by John Rich and written by Rob Dames, Bob Fraser, it aired on 3/6/1981. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Mary and Her Lambs".