superstar49
Joined May 2000
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For anyone who enjoyed "Soap" and for all its wonderful characters there were high hopes and great anticipation for this spin-off in 1979. Spinoffs were the norm back in the 70's and so "Benson" was sure to be a guaranteed hit. But it was one big letdown when it premiered.
One could say the cast was terrible, which it was. But one could say also that the character of Benson wasn't strong enough like Rhoda or Maude Findley to stand on their own. Heck, even Gilligan or Bobby Brady could have done well as a spin off. But on "Benson" Benson just wasn't funny.
On "Soap" the character of Benson was a butler to a middle class family who sometimes refused to serve even a plate of scrambled eggs or had a funny one liner to his rich, crazy employers. All these characteristics disappeared once he became the central character of his own show. The cast of characters he was surrounded by on "Benson" were wishy washy and therefore incapable of giving Benson any kind of opportunity to give some funny lines. The show was a disaster and you never heard anyone rave about it at the water cooler.
Yes, it lasted for seven seasons but so did "Wings," "Who's The Boss," and other simpleminded TV garbage. But have you noticed that "Benson" hasn't been seen in syndication for decades? Television series like "I Love Lucy" and "The Brady Bunch" are still on the air today because they're shows people still want to see. They never get old. Watch one episode of "Benson" and you wonder where people's brains went.
One could say the cast was terrible, which it was. But one could say also that the character of Benson wasn't strong enough like Rhoda or Maude Findley to stand on their own. Heck, even Gilligan or Bobby Brady could have done well as a spin off. But on "Benson" Benson just wasn't funny.
On "Soap" the character of Benson was a butler to a middle class family who sometimes refused to serve even a plate of scrambled eggs or had a funny one liner to his rich, crazy employers. All these characteristics disappeared once he became the central character of his own show. The cast of characters he was surrounded by on "Benson" were wishy washy and therefore incapable of giving Benson any kind of opportunity to give some funny lines. The show was a disaster and you never heard anyone rave about it at the water cooler.
Yes, it lasted for seven seasons but so did "Wings," "Who's The Boss," and other simpleminded TV garbage. But have you noticed that "Benson" hasn't been seen in syndication for decades? Television series like "I Love Lucy" and "The Brady Bunch" are still on the air today because they're shows people still want to see. They never get old. Watch one episode of "Benson" and you wonder where people's brains went.
I must have seen every episode of "Family Affair" at least five times, both during it's original run and early syndication, when CBS used to air it as part of their weekday morning CBS lineup around '70 and '71. As the same age as the children on the show, and just as innocent, this particular episode with Eve Plumb, obviously went above my head. I thought the poor girl was simply ill; I didn't know she was "terminally ill." Some forty-five years later, and as an adult viewer, I see what this episode is truly about, and I was so incredibly moved.
I am surprised this particular episode of "Family Affair" isn't talked about more often. It is truly a classic.
I am surprised this particular episode of "Family Affair" isn't talked about more often. It is truly a classic.
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