The BEST episodes of The Phil Silvers Show
Every episode of The Phil Silvers Show ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Phil Silvers Show!
Classic military comedy set on the fictional Army base of Fort Baxter in Kansas and starred Phil Silvers as Sgt. Ernest Bilko, a fast-talking sharpster who would do anything to make an extra buck. Paul Ford co-starred as Colonel Hall, Bilko's harried commanding officer who often found himself stuck in the middle of Bilko's schemes.
#1 - It's for the Birds
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/25/1956
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
#2 - The Face on the Recruiting Poster
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/16/1956
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.
#3 - Bilko's War Against Culture
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/23/1956
When two special service officers come to educate the platoon the men promise Bilko they will not attend the lectures until they see how attractive the ladies are.
#4 - Doberman's Sister
Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/20/1956
It's family day at Fort Baxter and all the platoon have invited their sisters. They all have dates except Doberman's so Bilko sets out to con Zimmerman into taking her out.
#5 - Love That Guardhouse
Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/15/1957
After 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.
#6 - Rock 'n' Roll Rookie
Season 2 - Episode 23 - Aired 3/5/1957
When singer Elvin Pelvin joins the platoon, Bilko sees a way to make money but he can't get him to sing.
#7 - The Big Scandal
Season 2 - Episode 32 - Aired 5/14/1957
Bilko tries to hypnotize Ritzik, but it's Doberman who falls under the influence and he tells the Colonel's wife that he loves her
#8 - Platoon in the Movies
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/18/1956
The platoon is chosen to make a film about the correct use of the spark plug.
#9 - The Court Martial
Season 1 - Episode 25 - Aired 3/6/1956
When Zippo the ape is accidently inducted into the army the only way to get the army off the hook is to get Bilko as defense council and court martial the ape before anybody finds out
#10 - The Con Men
Season 1 - Episode 32 - Aired 5/1/1956
When Doberman gets a $500 windfall from an insurance policy, he loses it in a poker game with three con men. Bilko gets it back by conning the con men, but then Doberman loses it again by being conned into buying the hotel from another con man
#11 - Hair
Season 1 - Episode 31 - Aired 4/24/1956
Bilko's head is constantly being used by his barber to find a cure for baldness. The other three sergeants know this and while Bilko is asleep decide to play a trick on him, but Bilko has the last laugh
#12 - The Transfer
Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 1/31/1956
When the Colonel makes life difficult Bilko decides to bluff and puts in a transfer, but the Colonel calls the bluff and Bilko is on his way, but at his new camp life is to easy and Bilko hopes he can find a way to get back to Camp Baxter
#13 - Hollywood
Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/3/1956
Hollywood plans a film of the "Battle of Kabuchi" and they hire Bilko as the technical adviser, but after a couple of days he has taken over the whole production, and the film people want shot of him.
#14 - Bivouac
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/29/1955
When maneuvers come round again the Colonel is interested in which illness Bilko has in order to miss out on the joys of marching through the countryside. In order to make him go the Colonel uses reverse psychology
#15 - The Eating Contest
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/15/1955
In an eating contest between the platoons Bilko puts his money on a new member of the platoon nicknamed 'The Stomach' only to find that he can only eat when he is depressed
#16 - The Reunion
Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/20/1955
When Bilko meets up with his old army buddies, he thinks that they are going to be so short of money, that he is going to have to help them out , but it turns out that they have all been very successful.
#17 - Mardi Gras
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/8/1955
When the platoon ask local socialite Miss Joy Landers to be their Mardi Gras queen she laughs and turns them down flat, so Bilko finds a way to change her mind.
#18 - The Hoodlum
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/1/1955
After several transfers a young tough guy is moved to the motor pool platoon and it is left to the Bilko to cut him down to size. Meanwhile Bilko is after the "Soldier of the Month" competition. Little does he know that the tough guy will spring a surprise.
#19 - New Recruits
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/20/1955
During a poker game the other sergeants 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.
#20 - The Song of the Motor Pool
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/30/1956
Bilko looks for a song that the motor pool can adopt. He hears Paparelli singing one in the shower - but it turns out that someone else thought of it first.
#21 - Bilko's Engagement
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/6/1956
After a mix up at the jewelers Bilko finds that Joan has been given an engagement ring and she thinks that they are to be married. Bilko has to think fast of a way out.
#22 - A Mess Sergeant Can't Win
Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/13/1956
Fed 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.
#23 - Bilko Gets Some Sleep
Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 12/25/1956
Unable to sleep Bilko goes to the camp psychiatrist for advice. He is told to give up gambling and women.
#24 - Sergeant Bilko Presents Bing Crosby
Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/22/1957
Bilko promotes a show starring Bing Crosby, but when Bing suddenly fails to show up, Bilko has to find a lookalike as a replacement.
#25 - Bilko Goes South
Season 2 - Episode 25 - Aired 3/26/1957
During 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.