Reel Murder

**"Reel Murder"** is the fourteenth and fifteenth episode of the seventh season, and one hundred and fiftieth and one hundred and fifty-first episode overall, of the ABC sitcom, *Benson*.

Directed by Bob Fraser, the episodes originally aired on February 8th, 1986, and February 15th, 1986.

## Synopsis

Actor George Kennedy's plan to film a movie in the Governor's Mansion turns into a murder mystery when a grouchy Hollywood director, Richard Tracy (played by Robert Picardo), is found slain in the kitchen. With everyone's lives in danger, the staff searches for the culprit.

## Trivia

* Arthur Daffy was played by Ben Piazza, who previously made an appearance as Mr. Grunning in the Season 2 episode, "Big Buddy".
* It's revealed in the episode that Benson and George Kennedy are Korean War buddies.
	+ In actual fact, Kennedy enlisted in the United States Army during World War II in 1943, at age 17, then served for 16 years, eventually reaching the rank of Captain. Kennedy served in the infantry under the command of General George S. Patton Jr., fought in the Battle of the Bulge, and earned two Bronze Star Medals. He later on re-enlisted after the war, served during the Korean War era and was discharged in the late 1959 due to a severe back injury.
* Richard Tracy was played by Robert Picardo, who's likely best known for portraying The Doctor on S*tar Trek: Voyager,* a series which featured previous *Benson* actor, Ethan Phillips, stars as one of the main roles. It also marks a connection in a list of other connections between *Benson* and the *Star Trek* universe.
	+ Maggie was played by Gracie Harrison, who would also make appearances in the S*tar Trek* universe.
* Benson states that the director kept calling him "Scatman", possibly in reference to actor and singer Scatman Crothers. Crothers himself, would make a guest appearance on *Benson* in the Season 3 episode, "In the Red".
* Watson Street was played by Kevin Guillaume; composer, actor, and son of show star, Robert Guillaume.
* It was stated that the in episode film was titled "The Devil's Workshop".
* Clayton slightly breaks the fourth wall when stating that only in fiction and "B-Movies" are murder mysteries solved by an amateur in the final scene.

## Cultural References

* The Governor states that he loved George Kennedy in the 1970 film, *Airport,* 1967 film, *Cool Hand Luke*, and the 1963 film, *Charade*.
* Arthur mentions meeting actor Basil Rathbone once.
* Clayton states that he knows journalist, Louis Rukyeser.
* Benson states that the director kept calling him "Scatman", possibly in reference to actor and singer Scatman Crothers.
* When Maggie greets both George Kennedy and Benson by their first names only, Mrs. Cassidy states, "George Benson? Where?", in reference to the guitarist and singer, George Benson.
* Benson refers to Kraus as "Sherlock Pinhead", in parody of fictional detective, Sherlock Holmes, when she attempts to trap Arthur into a confession.
* Benson mentions that he's read George Kennedy's books; those books in question would be *Murder On Location (1983)* and *Murder on High (1984)*.
* Clayton wears a scarf and imitates actor, Marlon Brando, during his acting scene as the butler in the film.
* Benson jokes that there are rehearsals for *Westside Story* when he catches Street with a knife pointed at the Governor in the kitchen.
* The Governor states that he's no Gene Shalit when he states that a scene from the film didn't make him laugh.

## Quotes

* **Governor:** Oh, Mr. Kennedy, what a pleasure to meet you, after so many happy hours with you in the dark. I mean...

* **Richard Tracy:** Mr. Street, this is a film. Film is a director's medium. Actors should be seen, and not heard. And comics should be neither.

* **Maggie:** Hi George. Benson.
* **Mrs. Cassidy:** George Benson? Where?

* **George Kennedy:** Well, somehow he doesn't seem like the type.
* **Mrs. Cassidy:** What type? The late Mr. Cassidy used to say, "Beware the quiet man for he hides his passions." But what did Mr. Cassidy know. He didn't even finish High School.

* **Kraus:** Suppose you knew something you didn't even know you knew, and the killer knew you knew but didn't know that you didn't know what you knew.
* **Governor:** She may be right.

* **Governor:** Street is worried about his career, and the one person who could ruin his career was the director of this movie. And the director is dead, so he's trying to get the film! Don't you see how all the pieces fit together?
* **Benson:** Well, one of the pieces is missing. There's no film in that cabinet.
* **Street**: Oh no, they've shipped it already! I'm dead. I'm dead.
* **George:** They couldn't have shipped it already, we're snowed in.
* **Governor:** Maybe he's got it on him. Let's just search him here.
* **Street:** Hold on now, wait a minute! Now I didn't take that reel of film. If it isn't in there, then someone else must've taken it.
* **Governor:** That argument just doesn't hold water. Who else would be interested in your crummy shtick? Answer me that, huh?
* **Street:** Maybe it was your daughter. She's crazy about me.

* **Benson:** Did you say the producers were...
* **George:** Uh, well, that's the rumor. I don't know if it's true. I mean, there's no proof or anything. People just say it. Who knows?
* **Governor:** Hey, nice waffle. Did you ever consider politics?