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Benson

Benson

1979–1986Ended7 seasons158 episodes~30 min/epTV-GMidcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

A butler deals with life at the governor's mansion.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Benson?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Benson streaming on The Roku Channel (free) and Tubi (free) and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

Subscription

FreeFree

Rent / Buy

BuyBuy

Highlights

What stands out about Benson?

Benson earns 5 badges, led by Award-winning performance and Standout acting.

  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Cast

Reception

Is Benson worth watching?

Benson's Midcredits score is the 59th percentile of all shows, from 4.9K ratings across 2 sources. 76% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

59th percentile

Better received than 59% of shows

56th percentile among Comedy47th percentile among 1970s
Acclaim (how much people like it)55th
Approval (how many liked it)62nd

Acclaim

Crowd Pleaser: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

72 /100

55th percentile of all shows

55th percentile among Comedy44th percentile among 1970s

Rating distribution

A broad spread centered near 7.4 — solid but not unanimous.

Approval

How many liked it

76% liked it

62nd percentile of all shows

57th percentile among Comedy52nd percentile among 1970s
76% rated it 7–1024% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

79th percentile

4.8K ratings across platforms

67th percentile among Comedy69th percentile among 1970s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 4% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

The show is a spin-off of 'Soap' with a political setting, focused on Benson's witty interactions with the governor's staff.

Fans praised

  • Robert Guillaume's sharp, sarcastic wit as Benson carries the show
  • Strong supporting cast chemistry, especially James Noble and Inga Swenson
  • Clever political satire mixed with domestic sitcom comedy

Detractors panned

  • Benson as a lead was not strong enough to carry his own show
  • Supporting cast described as wishy-washy, providing weak foils
  • Later seasons became contrived and preachy

What stands out

ActingDivisive85

Robert Guillaume's Emmy-winning performance and strong cast praised by fans; detractors found lead weak

HumorDivisive80

Fans praise sharp wit and banter; detractors find it unfunny

DialogueDivisive80

Benson's sharp comebacks and witty one-liners highlighted; detractors thought lines fell flat

CharactersDivisive70

Memorable supporting characters like Gretchen and Clayton, but critics say Benson's character lost edge

Ending70

Series finale with Benson running for governor gives satisfying closure

OriginalityDivisive65

Spin-off formula seen as fresh by fans, derivative by detractors

Pacing65

Dated by today's standards, but generally well-paced for its era

Plot and storyDivisive60

Straightforward sitcom plots with political elements; later seasons criticized as contrived

Preferred by

US vs non-US

Preferred by US Viewers

US viewers scored it 13 points higher than non-US viewers.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 1 point apart
  • Critics vs users 2 points apart

Episodes

7 seasons

Season 7 · 1985 · 22 episodes

  • S7E1
    S7E1

    Benson the Hero

    Oct 4, 198530 min
  • S7E2
    S7E2

    Love and Politics

    Oct 11, 198530 min
  • S7E3
    S7E3

    Uncle Jack

    Oct 18, 198530 min
  • S7E4
    S7E4

    The Stranger

    Oct 25, 198530 min
  • S7E5
    S7E5

    We Spy

    Nov 8, 198530 min
  • S7E6
    S7E6

    $1,000,000 an Hour

    Nov 15, 198530 min

Watch experience

What is Benson like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, light and gentle — a slow-burn watch that leaves you feeling good.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
JoyfulWarm
Heaviest: throughout
Warm humor
Register
WarmPlayfulWry · 7% of shows: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Resets each episode · 10% of showsStatus quo each season
ToneThe show is a straightforward sitcom that plays its comedy with affection for its characters, never undercutting the warmth of the relationships.
The rideConsistently light, cheerful, and comforting with no significant dramatic swings.
StructureEach episode follows a conventional sitcom structure with setup, conflict, and resolution, maintaining a reset status quo.
Episode formatEach episode is a self-contained comedic story with no serialized elements, and the status quo is restored by the end.
Season formatSeasons are broadly interchangeable batches of episodes; the core setting and premise remain stable across the run.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
Feel-goodFun
Why it leaves you this wayThe show leaves audiences with a light, cheerful feeling and a fondness for the characters.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).Comedy
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12% (this title): Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2% (this title)
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Comedy: Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony. · Comedy of manners: Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).

12% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe typical episode features Benson using his wit to navigate and resolve conflicts with the inept or arrogant staff in the governor's mansion, fitting a comedy of manners where social roles and class are gently satirized.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfAmbitionSelf
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% (this title) · Loyalty 7% (this title)
  • Self 27% (this title): Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% (this title) · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Self

Ambition · 14% of showsLoyalty · 7% of showsFriendship
Celebrates its theme: Affirms its theme — this is good and worth having.Community stakes: Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Single lead
How it treats its themeBenson's drive to advance is balanced by his loyalty to the governor's family and the workplace friendships he builds.
StanceThe show celebrates Benson's ambition and wit as he rises, framing his journey as admirable and funny.

The world

ContemporaryInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral classicalSupportive music · original score
Settinga state governor's mansion in a fictional state

Content guide

Is Benson okay for kids?

Ratings in 2 other countries
  • AustraliaM
  • New ZealandM

No detailed content scores for this title yet.

What content warnings does Benson have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Benson?

Cast

2 of the 10 billed cast had never appeared on screen; Robert Guillaume won the Emmy for this show.

Robert Guillaume
as Benson DuBois
Emmy win: Primetime Emmy — Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy SeriesTop draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
James Noble
as Governor Eugene Xavier Gatling
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Inga Swenson
as Miss Gretchen Wilomena Kraus
Missy Gold
as Katherine 'Katie' Olivia Gatling
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Rene Auberjonois
as Clayton Runnymede Endicott III
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Ethan Phillips
as Peter 'Pete' John Downey
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Didi Conn
as Denise Florence Stevens
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Caroline McWilliams
as Marcy Hill
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Billie Bird
as Mrs. Rose Cassidy
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Lewis J. Stadlen
as John Taylor
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.

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636 other shows share the rarest tag below, kind of show: workplace comedy. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.