The Phil Silvers Show (1955)
The Phil Silvers Show, originally titled You'll Never Get Rich, was a sitcom which ran on CBS from 1955 to 1959 for 142 episodes, plus a 1959 special. The series starred Phil Silvers as Master Sergeant Ernest G. Bilko of the United States Army. The series was created and largely written by Nat Hiken, and won three consecutive Emmy Awards for Best Comedy Series. The show is sometimes titled Sergeant Bilko or simply Bilko in reruns, and is very often referred to by these names, both on-screen and by viewers. The show's success transformed Silvers from a journeyman comedian into a star, and writer-producer Hiken from a highly-regarded behind-the-scenes comedy writer into a publicly recognized creator.
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Episode 1 - Platoon in the Movies
Release Date: 1956-09-18The platoon is chosen to make a film about the correct use of the spark plug.
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Episode 2 - It's For The Birds
Release Date: 1956-09-25Bilko looks around for an expert to go on the 64,000 Dollar quiz show on TV. He ends up with Pvt Honnegar who is an expert on wildlife, After surviving a loss of memory he wins the money but he has a surprise in store for Bilko
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Episode 3 - Bilko Goes To College
Release Date: 1956-10-02When a local gangster insults the army Bilko takes a bet of 1000 -1 That the local College Schmill can beat Notra Dame in a football game. Nobody gives them a chance, but when Bilko gets to work on the press they start to believe that Schmill can win.
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Episode 4 - The Girl From Italy
Release Date: 1956-10-09Rocco's brother refuses to marry a girl brought over from Italy so Bilko sets out to make him jealous and to change his mind
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Episode 5 - The Face On The Recruiting Poster
Release Date: 1956-10-16Bilko hopes to get a handsome young recruit noticed by Hollywood so he tries to get the soldier's face on the new army recruiting poster. But first he must pass a test on the army and with Doberman coaching him a surprise is in store.
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Episode 6 - Bilko's War Against Culture
Release Date: 1956-10-23When two special service officers come to educate the platoon the men promise Bilko they will not attend the lectures until they see who attractive the ladies are
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Episode 7 - The Song Of The Motor Pool
Release Date: 1956-10-30Bilko looks for a song that the motor pool can adopt. He hears Paparelli singing one in the shower but it turns out that someone thought of it first
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Episode 8 - Bilko's Engagement
Release Date: 1956-11-06After a mix up at the jewelers Bilko finds that Joan has been given an engagement ring and she thinks that they are to married. Bilko has to think fast of a way out.
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Episode 9 - A Mess Sergeant Can't Win
Release Date: 1956-11-13Fed up with losing to Bilko all the time Mess Sgt Ritzik is leaving the army having saved up $400 to open a snack bar So Bilko devises a plan to repay all the money that he has won off Ritzik.
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Episode 10 - Doberman's Sister
Release Date: 1956-11-20It's family day at Fort Baxter and all the platoon have invited their sister's. They all have date's except Doberman's so Bilko sets out to con Zimmerman into taking her out.
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Episode 11 - Where There's A Will
Release Date: 1956-11-27A member of the platoon is cheated out of his share in his uncles will. The only thing he gets is a parrot so Bilko starts a rumor that the parrot holds the clue to a hidden treasure map.
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Episode 12 - Bilko's Tax Trouble
Release Date: 1956-12-04Through an error Bilko is called before the tax people to explain his earnings
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Episode 13 - Mink Incorporated
Release Date: 1956-12-11After Bilko loses 100 dollars of the platoons welfare fund on a horse, he tries to get the money back, by starting a mink farm, but the mink's refuse to breed.
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Episode 14 - Sergeant Bilko Presents Ed Sullivan
Release Date: 1956-12-18When TV host Ed Sullivan tries to put on ‘A Salute to the Army' show, the talent scout leaves Bilko out to start with, but when the producer decides to use a jeep in the finale, they turn Bilko to organise things, but he tries to change the show to suit himself.
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Episode 15 - Bilko Gets Some Sleep
Release Date: 1956-12-25Unable to sleep Bilko goes to the camp psychiatrist for advice. He is told to give up gambling and women.
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Episode 16 - The Blue Blood Of The Bilko's
Release Date: 1957-01-08A sergeant from Fort Baxter is to be excluded from his son's wedding to an heiress. They only want officers to attend so Bilko decides to change their minds
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Episode 17 - Love That Guardhouse
Release Date: 1957-01-15After winning 1500 dollars in Las Vegas, Ritzik is desperate to play poker with Bilko, so the Colonel locks him up in the guardhouse for his own protection.
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Episode 18 - Sergeant Bilko Presents Bing Crosby
Release Date: 1957-01-22Bilko promotes a show starring Bing Crosby, but when Bing suddenly fails to show up, Bilko has to find a lookalike as a replacement.
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Episode 19 - Bilko Goes To Monte Carlo
Release Date: 1957-01-29Bilko comes up with a foolproof method of winning at roulette, so all the camp come up with a bankroll and send him off Monte Carlo to try it out.
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Episode 20 - Bilko Enters Politics
Release Date: 1957-02-05When the plan for a new serviceman's center is turned down by the mayor Bilko gets Doberman to run for Mayor. When it looks like Doberman will win, the campaign manager makes a deal with Bilko to build the center if Doberman will drop out
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Episode 21 - Bilko's Television Idea
Release Date: 1957-02-12When T.V. star Buddy Bickford come to Fort Baxter to research background for a new television show. Bilko tries to sell him a T.V. idea of his own.
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Episode 22 - The Son Of Bilko
Release Date: 1957-02-26A young practical joker joins the platoon and drives everybody crazy until Bilko finds a way to give give him a taste of his own medicine.
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Episode 23 - Rock 'n' Roll Rookie
Release Date: 1957-03-05When singer Elvin Pelvin joins the platoon, Bilko sees a way to make money but he can't get him to sing.
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Episode 24 - Bilko's Black Magic
Release Date: 1957-03-19When Pvt Mendleson who has been lost in the jungle for years receives $7000 in back pay he loses it to Grover and Ritzik in a poker game. Bilko uses their fear of black magic to get his money back.
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Episode 25 - Bilko Goes South
Release Date: 1957-03-26During a cold spell the platoon think that they are entering a singing contest which will be held in Florida, but instead they take part in a dangerous medical experiment.
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Episode 26 - Bilko Goes Around The World
Release Date: 1957-04-02After watching ' Around the World in 80 Days ' Bilko calls the producer Mike Todd and suggests that to publicize the film he offer a prize to the first person who can do the same.
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Episode 27 - The Mess Hall Mess
Release Date: 1957-04-09Bilko has dinner at a French restaurant and finds an old recipe that will win a prize in a competition to find a brand new American recipe.
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Episode 28 - The Secret Life Of Sergeant Bilko
Release Date: 1957-04-16An investigative reporter tries to find evidence that American soldiers are giving away defense secrets. Bilko gets to hear and helps the reporter out
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Episode 29 - Radio Station B.I.L.K.O.
Release Date: 1957-04-23When the local radio station is to close down Bilko sees a good way to make money using army equipment
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Episode 30 - Bilko the Marriage Broker
Release Date: 1957-04-30When Lt Wallace gets transferred to become Bilko's platoon officer he works them hard all day. So they try and get him to fall for a new WAC officer Lt Rogers but he doesn't seem to be interested but unknown to Bilko the two officers are having a secret affair and no one is to find out.
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Episode 31 - Bilko Acres
Release Date: 1957-05-07When Bilko thinks that the camp is being enlarged he buys swamp land next door hoping to make a killing only to find that the camp is being slimmed down. Trying to recoup his money he tries to sell it as building land but first he has to kill all the mosquitoes in the swamp and he gives the job to Doberman with unfortunate repercussions
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Episode 32 - The Big Scandal
Release Date: 1957-05-14Bilko tries to hypnotize Ritzik, but it's Doberman who falls under the influence and he tells the Colonel's wife that he loves her
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Episode 33 - Bilko's Perfect Day
Release Date: 1957-05-21For once everything goes right for Bilko, from hot showers in the morning, to picking all the winners in a horse race, but by the time he realizes it the day is over.
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Episode 34 - The Colonel Breaks Par
Release Date: 1957-05-28Bilko wants the Colonel away from the camp so he can operate without obstruction he decides to get the Colonel to enter a golf tournament in Palm Springs but the Colonel doesn't think he is good enough to play. So Bilko gets Sam Snead to act as a golf novice and for Bilko to give him some golf lessons while the Colonel is watching.
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Episode 35 - Show Segments
Release Date: 1957-06-04 -
Episode 36 - His Highness Doberman
Release Date: 1957-06-11Doberman is dating the daughter of a Roseville millionaire, but when her parents find out that he is just another soldier they refuse permission for them to marry.