Series Run : 1955-1959
143 episodes
Network: CBS
Series Premise (as far as I can tell):
Shenanigans of con-man and master sergeant Bilko
Episode Watched: Bivouac (Season 1)
Episode Summary: The annual training exercises are to take place, and the annual scam by Bilko to contract some crazy disease in order to avoid the exercise is also taking place.
My Thoughts: This is an odd one to review, aside from the fact it started as the Phil Silvers show and they changed the name to Sgt. Bilko about half way through its run. There isn’t a whole lot to the show, it mainly follows Bilko as he concocts some kind of scheme and the reactions and fallout from that scheme. I guess the issue I had was that I didn’t really buy that people would fall for or be that gullible for a guy like Bilko. He comes off rather obnoxious and pushy, which may have been Phil Silvers style of comedy, but it doesn’t serve the believability that this guy is a smooth talker who can manipulate people to do whatever he wants them to. Yet time and again, their defenses collapse almost immediately. As such, its hard for me to say I enjoyed watching this. I even struggle to place it for the time it was on, as a mid 50’s show, this was one of the first ones out of the gate, and it does suffer from the same radio to tv transitions we have talked about in other shows of the time, but in this case, unless you really like Phil Silvers, or thought Bilko was a great character, the show lacks appeal. This may be why the Steve Martin movie of the same name failed at the box office, the character just doesn’t play well to modern audiences.
Memorable Quotes:
“Tonsilitis twice, once the hard way, with no tonsils” -Col. Hall
“Mr. Bilko, relax, you’re going to be OK…Nurse! Get the Chaplin” -Curtis
Acting Notables:
Phil Silvers- Bilko
Harvey Lembeck- Rocco
Paul Ford- Col. Hall
Tomorrow: A horror based comedy show from MTV
365 Days of Sitcoms 