TV Show

The Phil Silvers Show

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.

TV Show Stats +8%

4 seasons

144 episodes total

Status

Ended

First Aired

1955

Rating

TV Show

7.0/10

21 votes • HD

Season 1

34 episodes
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New Recruits
Episode 1

New Recruits

Episode 1 • Sep 20, 1955

During a poker game the other sergeant's cheat and clean Bilko out of his bankroll so he has to look around for some more money. Just when it looks like he will miss out a new squad of rookies arrive for basic training. With a new source of cash the platoon think he can get back into the game but Bilko's conscience will not let him.

7.0
30m
The Empty Store
Episode 2

The Empty Store

Episode 2 • Sep 27, 1955

Bilko is still broke and can't find a way back into the big poker game. When the three sergeant's win again, by beating one of the new recruits, Bilko decides to get even by renting an empty store and getting the sergeant's to invest in it

7.0
30m
The WAC
Episode 3

The WAC

Episode 3 • Oct 04, 1955

A job comes up for a sergeant that has a jeep allocated Bilko applies for it only to find that he is beaten by a Sgt Joan Hogan. (1st appearance by Elisabeth Fraser As Joan Hogan)

7.0
30m
The Horse
Episode 4

The Horse

Episode 4 • Oct 11, 1955

Bilko loses the platoon welfare money on a horse only to find out that it is suffering from a minor leg injury, with the last of the platoon's money he buys the horse and has to keep it on the post until it is fit to run Then a visiting general comes on a surprise visit

7.0
30m
AWOL
Episode 5

AWOL

Episode 5 • Oct 18, 1955

Pvt Steve Nagy goes awol so Bilko has to go and fetch him back only to find himself caught up in the middle of a family feud

8.0
30m
The Boxer
Episode 6

The Boxer

Episode 6 • Oct 25, 1955

Bilko discovers that one of the platoon Claude Dillingham is a boxing champ so Bilko enters him for the interplatoon championship only to learn that Dillingham refuses to fight

8.0
30m
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Season 2

36 episodes
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Platoon in the Movies
Episode 1

Platoon in the Movies

Episode 1 • Sep 18, 1956

The platoon is chosen to make a film about the correct use of the spark plug.

7.0
30m
It's For The Birds
Episode 2

It's For The Birds

Episode 2 • Sep 25, 1956

Bilko 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

8.0
30m
Bilko Goes To College
Episode 3

Bilko Goes To College

Episode 3 • Oct 02, 1956

When 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.

0.0
30m
The Girl From Italy
Episode 4

The Girl From Italy

Episode 4 • Oct 09, 1956

Rocco's brother refuses to marry a girl brought over from Italy so Bilko sets out to make him jealous and to change his mind

0.0
30m
The Face On The Recruiting Poster
Episode 5

The Face On The Recruiting Poster

Episode 5 • Oct 16, 1956

Bilko 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.

0.0
30m
Bilko's War Against Culture
Episode 6

Bilko's War Against Culture

Episode 6 • Oct 23, 1956

When 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

0.0
30m
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Season 3

37 episodes
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Bilko's Merry Widow
Episode 1

Bilko's Merry Widow

Episode 1 • Sep 17, 1957

0.0
30m
Bilko's Boy's Town
Episode 2

Bilko's Boy's Town

Episode 2 • Sep 24, 1957

When the army go on maneuvers the Colonel orders Bilko to stay in camp, so with Fort Baxter empty he uses the time to form a boy's camp.

0.0
30m
Hillbilly Whiz
Episode 3

Hillbilly Whiz

Episode 3 • Oct 01, 1957

When the platoon lose again in a baseball game Bilko is desperate to find new players. Then a recruit from the south Hank Lumpkin turns up and Bilko can hardly believe his luck, as Lumpkin is a baseball star in the making. Bilko then contrives to have a New York Yankee's scout to 'accidentally' find Lumpkin so he can traded, but as a Southerner Lumpkin doesn't want to play for the Yankee's

0.0
30m
Bilko's Valentine
Episode 4

Bilko's Valentine

Episode 4 • Oct 08, 1957

When Bilko forgets valentines day, Joan Hogan leaves the army, When Bilko realises what he has done, he follows her and tries to get her to reenlist

0.0
30m
The Big Man Hunt
Episode 5

The Big Man Hunt

Episode 5 • Oct 15, 1957

When two men (who have been employed by a soldier who is looking for the man who saved his life during the war ) come looking for Bilko, he comes to the wrong conclusion, why they want him, until he recognises the name of the soldier, but when the two of them finally meet, Bilko has changed so much, that the soldier fails to recognise him.

0.0
30m
Bilko's Double Life
Episode 6

Bilko's Double Life

Episode 6 • Oct 22, 1957

When his money problems start to close in on him, Bilko departs for New York, but while there he is mistaken for a millionaire. Meanwhile the real millionaire is in Roseville sorting out Bilko's problems.

0.0
30m
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Season 4

37 episodes
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Gold Fever
Episode 1

Gold Fever

Episode 1 • Sep 23, 1958

Bilko finds an old map of a secret gold mine near Grove City and investigates the site.

0.0
30m
Bilko's Vampire
Episode 2

Bilko's Vampire

Episode 2 • Oct 01, 1958

When Ritzik starts watching horror films instead of playing poker, Bilko tries to scare him off

0.0
30m
Bilko's De Luxe Tours
Episode 3

Bilko's De Luxe Tours

Episode 3 • Oct 08, 1958

When they have problems getting to town, Bilko goes into the transportation business, by joining the PTA and getting hold of one of their buses.

0.0
30m
Bilko the Potato Sack King
Episode 4

Bilko the Potato Sack King

Episode 4 • Oct 15, 1958

When offered a $20,000 wage Bilko leaves the army for a firm making potato sacks, but it is not long before he is back in the army.

0.0
30m
Bilko v's Covington
Episode 5

Bilko v's Covington

Episode 5 • Oct 22, 1958

Bilko is getting beaten at his own game by a Sgt Covington, so he starts a rumour about a big money making opportunities in Japan, but the plan backfires when Covington learns the truth.

0.0
30m
Bilko Joins the Navy
Episode 6

Bilko Joins the Navy

Episode 6 • Oct 28, 1958

When word of a big crap game for sailors only gets around Bilko Paparelli, and Zimmerman join the navy to take part but somehow they all end up at sea and have problems getting back ashore.

0.0
30m
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