Phil Silvers enjoyed a solid career as comic relief in Hollywood, but this TV sitcom made him famous. Scheming Master Sgt. Ernie Bilko (Silvers) is the reigning con-man in charge of the motor pool at Fort Baxter in Roseville, KS, where he and his partners-in-hustle, Corporals Rocco Barbella (Harvey Lembeck) and Steve Henshaw (Allan Melvin), target every fresh recruit and every payday bankroll in soldiers' pockets while playing all the angles to get out of anything that resembles work. Paul Ford is Colonel Hall, the commander who's fully aware of Bilko's reputation but is nonetheless his eternal foil, and Joe E. Ross is the gruff but lovable camp cook, Sgt. Rupert Ritzik. The show earned Emmys for Best Comedy Writing and Best Comedy Series for three years of its four-year run, and Silvers went on to play variations on the Bilko character on TV and in the movies throughout the 1960s. Guest stars include Dick Van Dyke, Charlotte Rae, Larry Storch, Alan Alda, Fred Gwynne, Al Lewis, Paul Lynde, and George Kennedy. A landmark of TV comedy and one of the most highly regarded and influential programs of its era, Sgt. Bilko ran for decades in syndication. Compiling all 142 episodes from 1955–59, extras include episode commentaries, the original “lost” pilot, an archival interview with Silvers, TV appearances, and a photo gallery. Highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)
Sgt. Bilko—The Phil Silvers Show: The Complete Series
Shout! Factory, 20 discs, 2,892 min., not rated, DVD: $129.99 Volume 30, Issue 1
Sgt. Bilko—The Phil Silvers Show: The Complete Series
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: