"The Phil Silvers Show" (1955) TV series 1955-1959

Creator:

Nat Hiken
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4

Release Date:

20 September 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Family

Plot:

Sgt. Ernie Bilko is the ultimate con man. He runs the motor pool at a small Kansas US Army Camp. Colonel Hall...

Plot Keywords:

Cult TV | Actor Name In Title | Sergeant

Awards:

Won 8 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 10 nominations

Cast

Phil Silvers	...	MSgt. Ernest G. Bilko / ... (142 episodes, 1955-1959)
Allan Melvin	...	Cpl. Steve Henshaw / ... (141 episodes, 1955-1959)
Harvey Lembeck	...	Cpl. Rocco Barbella / ... (141 episodes, 1955-1959)
Paul Ford	...	Col. John T. Hall / ... (140 episodes, 1955-1959)
Billy Sands	...	Pvt. Dino Paparelli / ... (138 episodes, 1955-1959)
Maurice Gosfield	...	Pvt. Duane Doberman / ... (137 episodes, 1955-1959)
Herbie Faye	...	Cpl. Sam Fender / ... (137 episodes, 1955-1959)
Bernard Fein	...	Pvt. Gomez / ... (136 episodes, 1955-1959)
Mickey Freeman	...	Pvt. Fielding Zimmerman (130 episodes, 1955-1959)
Maurice Brenner	...	Pvt. Irving Fleischman / ... (130 episodes, 1955-1959)
Jack Healy	...	Pvt. Mullen / ... (128 episodes, 1955-1959)
Terry Carter	...	Pvt. Sugie Sugarman / ... (89 episodes, 1955-1959)
Karl Lukas	...	Pvt. Stash Kadowski (88 episodes, 1955-1958)

Series Directed by
Al De Caprio		(106 episodes, 1955-1959)
Aaron Ruben		(34 episodes, 1957-1959)

Series Writing credits
Nat Hiken		(143 episodes, 1955-1959)
Billy Friedberg		(90 episodes, 1956-1959)
Terry Ryan		(56 episodes, 1955-1959)
Coleman Jacoby		(37 episodes, 1956-1959)
Arnie Rosen		(37 episodes, 1956-1959)
Tony Webster		(19 episodes, 1956-1957)
Neil Simon		(17 episodes, 1958-1959)
Barry E. Blitzer		(16 episodes, 1955-1956)
Phil Sharp		(15 episodes, 1956-1958)
Sydney Zelinka		(9 episodes, 1956-1958)
Leonard Stern		(9 episodes, 1956)
A.J. Russell		(7 episodes, 1957-1958)
Arnold M. Auerbach		(5 episodes, 1955-1956)
Harvey Orkin		(4 episodes, 1956)

Series Produced by
Nat Hiken	....	producer / executive producer (38 episodes, 1955-1957)
Edward Montagne	....	producer / supervising producer (12 episodes, 1955-1959)

Series Original Music by
Hank Sylvern		(1 episode, 1955)

Series Cinematography by
William Miller		(44 episodes, 1955-1959)

Series Film Editing by
Ray Sandiford		(17 episodes, 1956-1959)
Sy Singer		(10 episodes, 1955-1956)

Series Art Direction by
Richard Jackson		(17 episodes, 1956-1959)
Don Gilman		(16 episodes, 1955-1956)
Albert Brenner		(3 episodes, 1955)

Series Set Decoration by
Jack Landau		(2 episodes, 1955-1956)

Series Makeup Department
Bob Kelly	....	makeup artist / makeup (4 episodes, 1958-1959)

Series Production Management
M. Clay Adams	....	production manager (29 episodes, 1955-1957)
Edward Montagne	....	production supervisor (19 episodes, 1955-1956)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Peter R. Scoppa	....	assistant director (4 episodes, 1958-1959)

Series Art Department
Jack Landau	....	settings (1 episode, 1955)

Series Sound Department
Jim Shields	....	sound recording engineer / recording engineer / ... (37 episodes, 1955-1959)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Bill Griffin	....	wardrobe (3 episodes, 1959)

Series Editorial Department
Ray Sandiford	....	film editor (5 episodes, 1956-1958)
Sy Singer	....	film editor (2 episodes, 1955)

Series Music Department
John Strauss	....	music supervisor / musical director (23 episodes, 1955-1957)

Series Other crew
Kevin Pynes	....	technical advisor / assistant to producer / ... (52 episodes, 1955-1959)
George Kennedy	....	technical advisor (33 episodes, 1956-1959)
Nat Hiken	....	staged by (5 episodes, 1955-1956)
Billy Friedberg	....	writing supervisor (3 episodes, 1957-1959)

Production Companies

• CBS Television Network

Distributors

• CBS Television Network (1955-1959) (USA) (TV)
• Paramount Home Video (2006) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

"You'll Never Get Rich" - USA (first episodes title)

Runtime:

30 min (143 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:PG

Company:

CBS Television Network

Trivia:

George Kennedy, who served in the US army, was a technical advisor for the show. He was also given a bit part playing an MP, the first acting role of his screen career.

Quotes:

MSgt. Ernest G. Bilko:You said "but". I've put the finger on the whole problem. You're a "but" man. Don't say "but". That little word "but" is the difference between success and failure.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Game-On: Episode #3.2" (1998)

Still worth watching!

A great testament to the talents of Phil Silvers. With its complex plotlines and quickfire dialogue it's still a treat to watch Silvers's monumental character when you can find it somewhere in the BBC schedules. The most said line in the whole series must be "but, Sarge!" as Bilko launches into another diabolical and, ultimately, flawed scheme to make money and dodge work. And Col Hall's stunned looks, "what is he up to?" are a joy.

It must also contain the best adlib in TV history. Bilko has to hide a chimp in camp (don't ask!)and the chimp accidently gets enlisted. To avoid even further embarrassment, the US Army decides to court martial the chimp to get him discharged. Bilko defends him. In the middle of a monologue from Silvers, the chimp, obviously impossible to rehearse, gets off a chair and picks up a nearby phone. After a pause, Silvers says, "he's calling for another lawyer".