Comedy1979–1986ABC

The Best Episodes of Benson

Every episode of Benson ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Benson!

Best episode
S2E15 No Sad Songs
9.066 votes
Worst episode
S7E7 Flight of the Dodo: Part 1
6.138 votes
Top season
Season 2
7.7avg
Binge time
2d 20h
136 episodes
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Benson Season 2 Episode 15 - No Sad Songs
    9.0/10(66 votes)

    S2:E15

    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
    Writers:Rob Dames, Bob Fraser

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  2. Benson Season 3 Episode 1 - Benson's Appointment
    8.7/10(61 votes)

    S3:E1

    The Governor tries to work out the struggles to make Benson the State Budget Director.

    Director:John Rich
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Benson Season 1 Episode 22 - Takin' It to the Streets
    8.3/10(66 votes)

    S1:E22

    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
    Writers:Shelley Zellman, Wally Dalton

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  4. Benson Season 2 Episode 14 - Rivals
    8.3/10(56 votes)

    S2:E14

    Kraus' childhood enemy comes from Germany to visit her.

    Director:John Rich
    Writers:Kathy Speer, Terry Grossman

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  5. Benson Season 3 Episode 3 - Sit-In
    8.3/10(55 votes)

    S3:E3

    In Benson's office, a conductor holds a concert in protest. He would like to point out the musician's plight with the culture's subsides. Meanwhile Mary has her last working day with Benson.

    Director:John Rich
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Benson Season 2 Episode 16 - Clayton, Go Home
    8.3/10(44 votes)

    S2:E16

    After receiving death threats, the Governor's new advisor, Clayton Endicott the 3rd moves into the mansion.

    Director:John Rich
    Writer:Tom Whedon

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Benson

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  7. Benson Season 1 Episode 13 - One Strike, You're Out
    8.2/10(63 votes)

    S1:E13

    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:Unknown

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  8. Benson Season 2 Episode 1 - Thick as Thieves
    8.2/10(57 votes)

    S2:E1

    Benson and Kraus are held hostage during a market robbery.

    Director:John Rich
    Writers:Rob Dames, Bob Fraser

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  9. Benson Season 1 Episode 6 - The Layoff
    8.1/10(71 votes)

    S1:E6

    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:Unknown

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  10. Benson Season 2 Episode 3 - Fool's Gold
    8.1/10(64 votes)

    S2:E3

    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
    Writers:Tom Whedon, Bob Colleary

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  11. Benson Season 1 Episode 1 - Change (Pilot)
    8.0/10(120 votes)

    S1:E1

    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

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  12. Benson Season 5 Episode 3 - God, I Need This Job
    8.1/10(53 votes)

    S5:E3

    Everyone thinks that Benson is out of it when he sees, hears, and talks to Jessica Tate's ghost.

    Director:Unknown
    Writers:Rob Dames, Bob Fraser

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  13. Benson Season 6 Episode 17 - Solid Gold
    8.1/10(46 votes)

    S6:E17

    On a trip to Las Vegas, Benson meets the comic duo The Smothers Brothers.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Benson Season 1 Episode 2 - Trust Me
    8.0/10(87 votes)

    S1:E2

    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

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  15. Benson Season 6 Episode 20 - Scenario
    8.1/10(43 votes)

    S6:E20

    Benson, the Governor, and everyone in the mansion go to the bomb cellar to try and prepare for a nuclear attack against the United States.

    Director:Rob Dames
    Writers:Rob Dames, Bob Fraser

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  16. Benson Season 1 Episode 14 - Just Friends
    8.0/10(67 votes)

    S1:E14

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Benson Season 5 Episode 20 - The Endicott Dynasty
    8.1/10(38 votes)

    S5:E20

    Clayton gets upset when his father chooses Benson to run his empire after he dies.

    Director:Unknown
    Writers:Kathy Speer, Terry Grossman

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  18. Benson Season 2 Episode 2 - Benson in the Hospital
    8.0/10(57 votes)

    S2:E2

    Humor swipes the Governor's Mansion when Benson is hospitalized. Benson turns out to be their funniest patient ever. They realize that he has a strange malady that has all the doctors in question.

    Director:John Rich
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Benson Season 3 Episode 9 - Kraus Falls in Love
    8.0/10(41 votes)

    S3:E9

    Kraus falls in love with a man who is ineligible for her.

    Director:John Rich
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Benson Season 5 Episode 2 - Human Element
    8.0/10(41 votes)

    S5:E2

    G.I. operatives replace Gene with a double.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Benson Season 5 Episode 22 - Let's Play Doctor
    8.0/10(41 votes)

    S5:E22

    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:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Benson Season 1 Episode 8 - Jessica
    7.9/10(73 votes)

    S1:E8

    Jessica Tate visits and she gets involved in a scandal. She falls in love with the French Baron who is visiting and all of a sudden he dies. It's now up to Benson and Jessica to try to fool a crowd of media that he is still alive and departing the Hotel he's staying at without them knowing and connecting Jessica with the death.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writer:Unknown

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  23. Benson Season 3 Episode 22 - Black Tuesday
    8.0/10(37 votes)

    S3:E22

    The Governor's campaign comes to a hectic close and the election results show that he has lost.

    Director:John Rich
    Writers:Rob Dames, Bob Fraser

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  24. Benson Season 5 Episode 6 - Down the Drain
    8.0/10(37 votes)

    S5:E6

    Plumbing problems at Benson's flat causes him to calling a crotchety old workman to fix his sink, but something unexpected happens to the plumber.

    Director:Bill Foster
    Writers:Barry Fanaro, Mort Nathan

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  25. Benson Season 2 Episode 8 - In High Places
    7.9/10(53 votes)

    S2:E8

    The pilot of the Governor's charter plane becomes ill and there is no co-pilot, so Benson tries to fly the plane himself.

    Director:John Rich
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"No Sad Songs" is the best rated episode of Benson. It scored 9.0/10 from 66 votes. Directed by John Rich and written by Rob Dames, Bob Fraser, it aired on March 6, 1981. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "Benson's Appointment".

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