Search - Benson - The Complete First Season on DVD

Harmless fun

Genevieve Hayes | Australia | 02/19/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Although not nearly as funny, nor as silly, as "Soap", the series from which "Benson" spun-off, "Benson" has still, nonetheless, aged pretty well for a 30 year old comedy. Unlike "Soap", which was made in the same format as a soap opera, "Benson" is a straight-up sit-com, with the situation being life at the Governor's mansion (the state in which it is set is never mentioned) with the focus being on the governor's sarcastic head of staff, Benson (Robert Guillaume), his fellow staff members (including the extremely funny, no-nonsense housekeeper, Miss Kraus, played by Inga Swensen), the good-hearted but not-so-bright Governor and his young daughter. Also unlike "Soap", the humour is clean enough to show to the whole family. In fact, "Benson" is clearly targeted at a family audience. The humour is intelligent enough to amuse adults, but also understandable to children (speaking from experience, since I saw "Benson" for the first time as a child). The show does become a bit predictable and repetitive after 24 episodes, but if you stagger them out over a couple of months, its harmless fun that's worth investing in."