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All Seasons

Season 1

  • S01E01 Change (Pilot)

    • September 13, 1979
    • ABC (US)

    Benson comes to work for Governor Gatling and helps find a way for a bridge to be built without killing beavers.

  • S01E02 Trust Me

    • September 20, 1979
    • ABC (US)

    Katie sneaks off to a rock concert while under Benson's watch.

  • S01E03 The President's Double

    • September 27, 1979
    • ABC (US)

    When a visiting African president is incapacitated, Benson steps into the role and is targeted by assassins.

  • S01E04 Benson in Love

    • October 4, 1979
    • ABC (US)

    Benson falls for an attractive senator he meets in the mansion.

  • S01E05 Conflict of Interest

    • October 18, 1979
    • ABC (US)

    Governor Gatling is torn between attending Katie's school play and accepting an important political invitation.

  • S01E06 The Layoff

    • October 25, 1979
    • ABC (US)

    To cut spending, Benson must lay off a sweet old woman, which upsets Katie.

  • S01E07 Snowbound

    • November 1, 1979
    • ABC (US)

    Heavy snowfall leaves the staff stuck in a cottage in the woods.

  • S01E08 Jessica

    • November 8, 1979
    • ABC (US)

    When the visiting Jessica Tate's elderly companion suddenly dies, Benson must help move the corpse to avoid a political scandal.

  • S01E09 Don't Quote Me

    • November 22, 1979
    • ABC (US)

    The staff tries to discover who made a disparaging comment about a state senator that has the governor on the defensive.

  • S01E10 War Stories

    • November 29, 1979
    • ABC (US)

    Benson introduces Marcy to an old army buddy, unaware his friend is married.

  • S01E11 Ghost Story

    • December 6, 1979
    • ABC (US)

    Thinking the mansion is haunted, the staff holds a seance.

  • S01E12 Taylor's Bid

    • December 13, 1979
    • ABC (US)

    Taylor quits to run for public office, but the governor finds he can't do without him.

  • S01E13 One Strike, You're Out

    • December 27, 1979
    • ABC (US)

    With the mansion's domestic workers on strike, the staff must take on all of the household duties.

  • S01E14 Just Friends

    • January 3, 1980
    • ABC (US)

    The governor woos a powerful businessman whose wife is Benson's old flame.

  • S01E15 Chain of Command

    • January 10, 1980
    • ABC (US)

    With the governor ill, the irritating lieutenant governor makes a play for power that the staff tries to thwart.

  • S01E16 Bugging the Governor

    • January 24, 1980
    • ABC (US)

    When hidden microphones are found in the mansion, the staff plots to find the perpetrators.

  • S01E17 Kraus Affair

    • January 31, 1980
    • ABC (US)

    Kraus has a crush on the butcher and needs help from Benson and Marcy to reel him in.

  • S01E18 Checkmate

    • February 7, 1980
    • ABC (US)

    A young Soviet chess prodigy hides in Katie's room and nearly causes an international incident.

  • S01E19 Cold Storage

    • February 28, 1980
    • ABC (US)

    Benson and Kraus become trapped in a freezing storage room.

  • S01E20 Old Man Gatlin'

    • March 6, 1980
    • ABC (US)

    When the governor's loudmouth father visits, it's up to Benson to keep him in check during an important speech.

  • S01E21 Power Play

    • March 20, 1980
    • ABC (US)

    A mysterious environmental activist causes trouble for the governor and his staff.

  • S01E22 Takin' It to the Streets

    • March 27, 1980
    • ABC (US)

    To connect with constituents, Governor Gatling and Benson visit a mangy bar.

  • S01E23 The Army Wants You

    • May 1, 1980
    • ABC (US)

    Benson learns that his military unit was the subject of germ warfare testing.

  • S01E24 Marcy's Vacation

    • May 8, 1980
    • ABC (US)

    When Marcy plans her vacation, she worries her replacement may take her job.

Season 2

  • S02E01 Thick as Thieves

    • October 31, 1980
    • ABC (US)

    Benson and Kraus are held hostage during a market robbery.

  • S02E02 Benson in the Hospital

    • November 7, 1980
    • ABC (US)

    Benson is hospitalized with a mysterious allergy.

  • S02E03 Fool's Gold

    • November 14, 1980
    • ABC (US)

    The staff goes on a frantic search for gold that may be hidden in the mansion.

  • S02E04 Masquerade

    • November 21, 1980
    • ABC (US)

    Benson saves the day when a priceless gold statue becomes the target of revolutionaries from a foreign land.

  • S02E05 First Lady

    • November 28, 1980
    • ABC (US)

    Katie believes her father is going to remarry without having told her first.

  • S02E06 Citizen Kraus

    • December 12, 1980
    • ABC (US)

    Miss Kraus seeks to become an American citizen.

  • S02E07 Benson's Groupie

    • December 19, 1980
    • ABC (US)

    Benson is relentlessly pursued by a wealthy but eccentric former lover.

  • S02E08 In High Places

    • January 9, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    The governor must take the reins of a plane when the pilot dies during the flight.

  • S02E09 Old School Ties

    • January 16, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    Governor Gatling sends Katie off to boarding school but soon realizes he made a mistake.

  • S02E10 The Apartment

    • January 23, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    Benson rents an apartment in a futile attempt to escape the madness of the mansion.

  • S02E11 Big Buddy

    • February 6, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    Benson becomes a mentor to a boy from a broken home.

  • S02E12 Fireside Chat

    • February 13, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    While the governor makes a televised speech, Marcy and her boyfriend squabble and then announce their engagement.

  • S02E13 Marcy's Wedding

    • February 20, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    Benson's role planning Marcy's wedding is complicated by Marcy's meddling mother.

  • S02E14 Rivals

    • February 27, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    Kraus must pretend she is the governor's wife when a lifelong rival pays a visit.

  • S02E15 No Sad Songs

    • March 6, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    Benson grieves the loss of his mother.

  • S02E16 Clayton, Go Home

    • March 13, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    After receiving death threats, Clayton moves into the mansion.

  • S02E17 Easy Kid Stuff

    • March 20, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    Benson struggles with the challenge of being a substitute father for a needy boy.

  • S02E18 Homework

    • April 3, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    Katie's homework assignment sets the stage for vignettes about each cast member.

  • S02E19 Handwriting on the Wall

    • April 10, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    A controversial bill brings the governor strange threats.

  • S02E20 The Governor's House Call

    • May 8, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    The governor, Benson and Clayton are trapped in a bordello and must avoid being noticed.

  • S02E21 All Shook Up

    • May 15, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    Taking refuge during an earthquake, Benson and Clayton get to know each other better.

  • S02E22 Lifesaver

    • May 22, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    Kraus becomes overly appreciative when Benson saves her life.

Season 3

  • S03E01 Benson's Appointment

    • November 6, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    The governor promotes Benson to state budget director.

  • S03E02 The Grass Ain't Greener

    • November 13, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    Benson goes undercover to investigate conditions in a prison.

  • S03E03 Sit-In

    • November 27, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    In Benson's office, a conductor holds a concert in protest.

  • S03E04 Double Exposure

    • December 4, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    Benson must help an FBI agent uncover a bribe scandal.

  • S03E05 The Lobbyist

    • December 11, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    Benson's lobbyist girlfriend poses a conflict of interest.

  • S03E06 Stress

    • December 18, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    The governor tries to alleviate tension among the staff.

  • S03E07 Rainbow's End

    • December 25, 1981
    • ABC (US)

    Benson learns that his old flame is confined to a wheelchair.

  • S03E08 Once in a Blue Moon

    • January 8, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    After Clayton is assaulted, Benson approves of tighter security.

  • S03E09 Kraus Falls in Love

    • January 15, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    Kraus falls for a man she can't have.

  • S03E10 Stocks & Options

    • January 22, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    The staff dabbles in the stock market with disastrous results.

  • S03E11 Kraus's Deadly Mistake

    • February 5, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    Believing she will die soon, Kraus tries to seize the day.

  • S03E12 Wild Irish Rose

    • February 12, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    A former governor visits along with his attractive niece.

  • S03E13 Street Gangs

    • February 19, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    Benson tries to help a street gang stay out of trouble.

  • S03E14 Katie's Romance

    • February 26, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    Katie develops a crush on Pete after he accompanies her to a gymnastics meet.

  • S03E15 Clayton's Condo

    • March 5, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    Clayton buys an apartment building, not knowing Benson is now one of his tenants.

  • S03E16 Getting Even

    • March 12, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    Benson concocts revenge for a wealthy investor who sexually harasses Denise.

  • S03E17 Pete the Hero

    • March 19, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    Pete borrows Benson's car and gets into a wreck that leads to the capture of armed thieves.

  • S03E18 In the Red

    • March 26, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    Benson is the victim of an IRS audit.

  • S03E19 Teed Off

    • April 2, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    A golf foursome leads to acrimony among the governor and his male assistants.

  • S03E20 The Party's Over

    • April 30, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    The governor learns his party won't support his renomination.

  • S03E21 The Lumber Mill

    • May 7, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    Governor Gatling decides to run for reelection as an independent.

  • S03E22 Black Tuesday

    • May 14, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    The governor's reelection campaign appears to have ended in failure.

Season 4

  • S04E01 Death in a Funny Position (1)

    • October 22, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    A yacht cruise becomes a murder mystery when the owner of the boat is stabbed to death.

  • S04E02 Death in a Funny Position (2)

    • October 22, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    A yacht cruise becomes a murder mystery when the owner of the boat is stabbed to death.

  • S04E03 What a Revoltin' Development

    • October 29, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    While attending a conference in Latin America, Benson and Pete are kidnapped by revolutionaries.

  • S04E04 Thy Brother's Keeper

    • November 5, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    Benson's younger brother visits at the same time an important report is due.

  • S04E05 Quest for Retire

    • November 12, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    The mansion's gardener seeks Benson's help as he approaches retirement.

  • S04E06 Teacher's Pest

    • November 19, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    Benson tutors Kraus in economics to prepare her for a test.

  • S04E07 Benson's Army Reunion

    • November 26, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    Benson and his army buddies are surprised to hear what became of a Korean kid they befriended during the war.

  • S04E08 Benson's New Home

    • December 3, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    Benson buys a house in need of many repairs from a shady real estate agent.

  • S04E09 Crimes of the Hearth

    • December 10, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    When Benson's condo is robbed, he discovers that it won't be easy to catch the crooks.

  • S04E10 Mary and Her Lambs

    • December 17, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    It's Christmas time and Benson helps an assistant cook keep her foster children.

  • S04E11 Pen Pal

    • December 31, 1982
    • ABC (US)

    Kraus' ex-convict pen pal pays a visit.

  • S04E12 The Honeymooners

    • January 7, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    When Kraus' fiancé can't make it to the wedding, Benson stands in as a substitute.

  • S04E13 Close Encounters on the Third Hole

    • January 14, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    Benson and the governor believe they saw a UFO while playing golf.

  • S04E14 Katie's Boyfriend

    • January 21, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    The governor allows Katie to go on her first date.

  • S04E15 The Royal Painting

    • January 28, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    A former street gang is hired to paint the mansion for the visiting Queen of England.

  • S04E16 Boy's Night Out

    • February 4, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    The male staff members gather at Benson's for a night of fun.

  • S04E17 Family Tree

    • February 18, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    Benson and Clayton learn that they might be related to each other.

  • S04E18 Calamity Kraus

    • February 25, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    Kraus pretends to be a wealthy heiress to keep a manufacturing plant in the state.

  • S04E19 Kraus Sings the Blues

    • March 4, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    Benson hosts a telethon and lets Kraus sing when other acts cancel out.

  • S04E20 Half-Court Trap

    • March 11, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    Benson learns that his basketball-star nephew can hardly read or write.

  • S04E21 A View from the Roof

    • March 18, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    When a ladder falls, Benson and the governor are trapped on the roof of the mansion.

  • S04E22 Love in a Funny Phase

    • March 31, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    Benson is upset when his girlfriend Jennifer wants to date other men.

Season 5

  • S05E01 Band of Gold

    • September 16, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    Benson, Kraus, Denise and Pete become stranded in the forest.

  • S05E02 Human Element

    • September 23, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    A robot becomes an unwelcome visitor to the mansion.

  • S05E03 God, I Need This Job

    • September 30, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    Benson communicates with Jessica Tate's ghost.

  • S05E04 Who's Arnold?

    • October 7, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    Benson poses as Kraus' husband when her mother visits from Germany.

  • S05E05 Full Court Press

    • October 21, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    Fed up with insults, Clayton drags Benson into court.

  • S05E06 Down the Drain

    • October 28, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    When Benson's sink needs attention, he summons a cranky elderly plumber.

  • S05E07 It Ain't Sheik

    • November 4, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    Benson must convince a sheikh to bring his business to the state.

  • S05E08 You Can't Give It Away

    • November 11, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    Benson wins the state lottery but has to donate the winnings to charity.

  • S05E09 Katie's Cookies

    • November 18, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    Benson helps Katie win a cookie-baking contest.

  • S05E10 Labor Pains

    • November 25, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    Benson must watch the baby of a neighbor who has been trapped in a snowstorm.

  • S05E11 Unlisted Love

    • December 2, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    The governor reconnects with his high-school crush.

  • S05E12 The Governor's Brain Is Missing

    • December 16, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    Military agents replace Governor Gatling with a double.

  • S05E13 A Real Gone Daddy

    • December 23, 1983
    • ABC (US)

    Pete revisits the beatnik culture of his youth.

  • S05E14 Too Pooped to Pip

    • January 6, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    Benson recruits Gladys Knight and the Pips to perform on a telethon.

  • S05E15 In All the Wrong Places

    • January 13, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    A boy from Katie's school plays matchmaker with Benson and his single mother.

  • S05E16 Embarrassing Moments

    • January 20, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    Benson is pronounced "Bachelor of the Month" by a magazine.

  • S05E17 Take My Life, Please

    • January 27, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    A security check of the governor's staff results in Benson being named as a spy.

  • S05E18 Beauty and the Beef

    • February 3, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    Benson judges a beauty pageant and must resist the persuasive pleas of both Clayton and Governor Gatling.

  • S05E19 We Deliver

    • February 24, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    Denise goes into labor while trapped in an elevator with Benson and the governor.

  • S05E20 The Endicott Dynasty

    • March 2, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    Clayton's father selects Benson to run his business empire.

  • S05E21 The Little Hotel That Could

    • March 9, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    Kraus recruits Benson for help in sparing an old hotel from the wrecking ball.

  • S05E22 Let's Play Doctor

    • May 4, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    A would-be doctor who is to receive an award from the governor is exposed as a fraud.

Season 6

  • S06E01 The Scandal

    • September 21, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    Benson discovers that the lieutenant governor is accepting bribes.

  • S06E02 The Inheritance

    • September 28, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    Benson inherits ownership of a men's magazine.

  • S06E03 Let's Get Physical

    • October 12, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    Benson sweats out the results of his physical.

  • S06E04 The Campaign

    • October 19, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    Benson begins his campaign for lieutenant governor by dealing with a donor who expects political favors.

  • S06E05 The Election

    • October 26, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    Benson's fledgling campaign runs out of money.

  • S06E06 Made in Hong Kong (1)

    • November 2, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    When the governor and his staff travel to Hong Kong, Clayton is mistaken for a famous designer and is kidnapped.

  • S06E07 Made in Hong Kong (2)

    • November 9, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    In Hong Kong, Benson and the local authorities seek to rescue Clayton, Kraus and the governor from a kidnapper.

  • S06E08 Hello, We Must Be Going

    • November 16, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    Benson's plans to appoint Kraus as his assistant are thwarted.

  • S06E09 Double Date

    • November 23, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    Benson unsuccessfully plays matchmaker for Clayton.

  • S06E10 Taking It to the Max

    • November 30, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    Benson's sister ignores his advice to be cautious with her ex-boyfriend.

  • S06E11 The Reunion

    • December 7, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    Benson reunites with his long-lost brother and uncle.

  • S06E12 Make War, Not Love

    • December 14, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    Benson attends a trade conference where two enemy nations declare war on each other.

  • S06E13 Home for Christmas

    • December 21, 1984
    • ABC (US)

    Benson dreams of a boyhood Christmas after falling unconscious from a slip and fall.

  • S06E14 On the Road

    • January 11, 1985
    • ABC (US)

    Benson goes in disguise to lure Kraus away from her acting aspirations.

  • S06E15 Take This Job and Love It

    • January 18, 1985
    • ABC (US)

    Benson fights city hall over a proposed ordinance to ban breakdancing.

  • S06E16 Making Change

    • January 25, 1985
    • ABC (US)

    Benson, Kraus, Clayton and the governor discuss the people who influenced their lives the most.

  • S06E17 Solid Gold

    • February 1, 1985
    • ABC (US)

    Benson travels to Las Vegas and meets the Smothers Brothers.

  • S06E18 The Oval Office

    • February 8, 1985
    • ABC (US)

    Summoned to the White House, Benson and the governor become trapped in the Oval Office.

  • S06E19 Mid-Life Cowboy

    • February 15, 1985
    • ABC (US)

    An exhausted Governor Gatling plays cowboy at a dude ranch to unwind.

  • S06E20 Scenario

    • February 22, 1985
    • ABC (US)

    Fearing a nuclear attack, the governor and his staff retreat to a bomb shelter.

  • S06E21 Dubois: Portrait of a Politician

    • March 15, 1985
    • ABC (US)

    With the governor away on business, Benson takes control of the state government.

  • S06E22 Katie's Cousin

    • March 22, 1985
    • ABC (US)

    Katie's wild cousin brings her to a bar where she is caught by Benson.

  • S06E23 The Bookburner

    • March 29, 1985
    • ABC (US)

    Benson butts heads with a powerful senator over an education bill.

  • S06E24 Jung at Heart

    • April 5, 1985
    • ABC (US)

    Passed over for a prestigious award, a delusional Clayton comes to think he is Benson.

Season 7

  • S07E01 Benson the Hero

    • October 4, 1985
    • ABC (US)

    After thwarting an armed robbery, Benson is sued by the perpetrator.

  • S07E02 Love and Politics

    • October 11, 1985
    • ABC (US)

    Benson dangerously mixes business with pleasure when he rekindles a relationship with a female state senator.

  • S07E03 Uncle Jack

    • October 18, 1985
    • ABC (US)

    Benson reunites Governor Gatling with his long-lost brother.

  • S07E04 The Stranger

    • October 25, 1985
    • ABC (US)

    A mysterious stranger lurks around the mansion on Halloween.

  • S07E05 We Spy

    • November 8, 1985
    • ABC (US)

    In East Germany on business, Benson and Kraus are detained and accused of spying.

  • S07E06 $1,000,000 an Hour

    • November 15, 1985
    • ABC (US)

    Benson and Clayton must spend an enormous budget surplus before the waning fiscal year expires.

  • S07E07 Flight of the Dodo (1)

    • November 29, 1985
    • ABC (US)

    Clayton's attempt to pilot a helicopter puts him, Benson and the governor in peril.

  • S07E08 Flight of the Dodo (2)

    • December 6, 1985
    • ABC (US)

    Benson, Clayton and the governor must endure a helicopter crash landing in the desert.

  • S07E09 Two Boys and Their Dog

    • December 13, 1985
    • ABC (US)

    Clayton draws Benson into his plans to start a dog-breeding business.

  • S07E10 Last Man on Earth

    • January 3, 1986
    • ABC (US)

    Kraus dreams that a comet strike has left Benson and herself as the planet's sole survivors.

  • S07E11 Secret Love

    • January 18, 1986
    • ABC (US)

    Clayton's candidacy for state budget director is threatened by his relationship with a Soviet defector.

  • S07E12 Summer of Discontent

    • January 25, 1986
    • ABC (US)

    Benson and the governor seek advice from a conservationist in relation to environmental legislation.

  • S07E13 Parade Rest

    • February 1, 1986
    • ABC (US)

    A contractor working on one of the mansion's bathrooms goes missing.

  • S07E14 Reel Murder (1)

    • February 8, 1986
    • ABC (US)

    Actor George Kennedy's plans to film a movie in the mansion lead to a murder mystery.

  • S07E15 Reel Murder (2)

    • February 15, 1986
    • ABC (US)

    The staff try to solve the murder mystery before time runs out.

  • S07E16 The Hat and the Ring

    • February 22, 1986
    • ABC (US)

    Benson contemplates a marriage proposal to his state senator girlfriend.

  • S07E17 The Bucks Stop Here

    • March 1, 1986
    • ABC (US)

    Clayton meets the obstacle to inheriting the family fortune, his father's young and beautiful fiancée.

  • S07E18 Pardon Me

    • March 15, 1986
    • ABC (US)

    Benson campaigns for a pardon for an incarcerated man who was wrongfully convicted.

  • S07E19 Hi, Society

    • March 22, 1986
    • ABC (US)

    Kraus unknowingly leaks information to an influential columnist.

  • S07E20 Three on a Mismatch

    • March 29, 1986
    • ABC (US)

    The governor responds to an ad in the personals section of a magazine.

  • S07E21 Friends and Enemies

    • April 12, 1986
    • ABC (US)

    Benson's gubernatorial bid pits him against Governor Gatling.

  • S07E22 And the Winner Is...

    • April 19, 1986
    • ABC (US)

    With the votes cast, Benson and Governor Gatling await the results of the gubernatorial election.

Additional Specials