List of The Phil Silvers Show episodes

Last updated

This is a list of all episodes of The Phil Silvers Show .

Contents

Series overview

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
Pilot Unaired
1 34September 20, 1955 (1955-09-20)May 15, 1956 (1956-05-15)
2 36September 18, 1956 (1956-09-18)June 11, 1957 (1957-06-11)
3 37September 17, 1957 (1957-09-17)June 27, 1958 (1958-06-27)
4 35September 26, 1958 (1958-09-26)June 19, 1959 (1959-06-19)
Special January 23, 1959 (1959-01-23)

Episodes

Pilot

TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
"Audition Show"Jerome Shaw Nat Hiken Unaired

Season 1 (1955–56)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
11"New Recruits"Al De CaprioNat HikenSeptember 20, 1955 (1955-09-20)
It's morning roll call at Fort Baxter in Roseville, Kansas. Sgt. Ernest G. Bilko (Phil Silvers) is in the middle of a poker game. The game breaks up when Bilko runs out of money and he can't get any from the guys in his platoon. Bilko finds out that the others were using a mirror to cheat during the game. The Chaplain suggests to Col. John T. Hall (Paul Ford) that he give Bilko an additional assignment. Bilko runs the motor pool so well that he has extra time to play poker. The Chaplain says Bilko should train the new recruits. The new recruits arrive and Bilko hopes to get money from them so he can play in the next big poker game. Bilko learns that the men gave all their money to Pvt. Higgins to hold. Higgins tells Bilko that holding the money is too much responsibility for him. He would like Bilko to hold the money. Higgins says that the Chaplain said he could trust Bilko. Bilko tells Cpl. Steve Henshaw (Allan Melvin) and Cpl. Rocco Barbella (Harvey Lembeck) that he won't use the money to gamble with. Bilko is tempted so he gives the money back to Higgins.
22"Empty Store"Al De CaprioNat HikenSeptember 27, 1955 (1955-09-27)
The men are still talking about how Sgt. Stanley Sowici (Harry Clark), Sgt. Andy Pendleton (Ned Glass) and Sgt. Francis Grover took all of Bilko's money in the poker game. Hoping to get some money for another poker game, Bilko tries to sell tickets to a dance, but no one is interested. Bilko learns that Pvt. Higgins lost the money he was holding for the men in a poker game. Bilko comes up with a plan to get his and the men's money back from the three Sergeants. He rents an empty store in town and people start to wonder why. Figuring Bilko is on to something, Pendleton gives him some money to be a partner. Sowici and Grover soon do the same. Col. Hall gave Bilko the OK to rent the store and is now worried about what's going on. A lot of the soldiers have been hanging around the store trying to find out what will be going in it. The Sergeants learn it really just is an empty store. Bilko gives Pvt. Higgins his share of the money back. Bilko finds out that with his share of the money, Barbella and Henshaw rented 6 more empty stores. Herbie Faye as Cpl. Sam Fender.
33"The WAC"Al De CaprioNat Hiken & Arnold AuerbachOctober 4, 1955 (1955-10-04)
Bilko decides to volunteer for a special duty because it would provide him with his own personal jeep. Bilko makes sure the other sergeants aren't interested in volunteering and find out about the jeep. Bilko finds out that a Sgt. Hogan also volunteered, but he doesn't know who that is. He decides to throw a party for this Hogan and then hopefully talk him out of the special duty. Bilko even gets local girl Mildred (Jane Dulo) to be Hogan's date. Hogan turns out to be Sgt. Joan Hogan (Elisabeth Fraser), a WAC. Everyone at the party finds out about the jeep. Bilko tries several ways to get Hogan to withdraw her name. He tries to make Hogan feel sorry for him, but she turns the tables on him.
44"The Horse"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Terry Ryan & Barry BlitzerOctober 11, 1955 (1955-10-11)
New recruit Pvt. Carter tells Bilko to bet some of the platoon's money on Bell Boy at the horse races. Bell Boy comes in last and Bilko doesn't know what he'll tell the men. Bilko learns the horse is for sale for $100 and Carter discovers that the horse has a leg problem he could fix. Carter says that when the leg is better, the horse will win plenty of races. Bilko buys the horse and they sneak it onto the base that night and put it in the gun shed. Meanwhile, Col. Hall is worried because General Strait (John Alexander) is coming for an inspection. In order to get food for the horse, Bilko has to get some of his men to volunteer to eat just oats for an Army experiment. After a while, Carter has Bell Boy's leg all better, but they need to run him. That night, Col. Hall is awakened by the sound of a horse running. Bilko has Pvt. Palmer (P. Jay Sidney) rig up some lights that the horse can wear at night. Carter tells Bilko that due to a bad tendon, Bell Boy will never be able to race. They hide the horse in the guest house just as General Strait arrives. Bilko can't stop Strait from going in the guest house. Strait is actually happy because the horse reminds him of his cavalry days. Jack Healy as Pvt. Mullen.
55"AWOL"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Terry Ryan & Barry BlitzerOctober 18, 1955 (1955-10-18)
The men are complaining about having to get up so early. Bilko tells them that Pvt. Steve Nagy (Pat Hingle) went AWOL again. Every time there's a family problem, Nagy leaves. Col. Hall sends Bilko to Chicago to retrieve Nagy. If he brings Nagy back by the next day, Hall won't make Nagy serve time. Bilko arrives at the Hungarian home of the Nagys where they are celebrating the engagement of Steve's sister, Magda (Lilia Skala). Bilko wants to leave right away with Steve, but then he sees the beautiful Vilma Nagy. Bilko starts a fight between the two families when he beats the groom's father, Mr. Varga (Hans Schumm), at a card game. The wedding is called off. Despite some confusion, Bilko finds a way for the couple to be married. Col. Hall sends Sgt. Sowici to bring back Bilko. Sowici winds up staying for the celebration.
66"The Boxer"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Terry Ryan & Barry BlitzerOctober 25, 1955 (1955-10-25)
The base will be having a boxing tournament this coming Saturday. Sowici tells the Lieutenant (Frank Marth) that Cpl. Basil Egan (Johnny Seven) was just transferred to his kitchen. Egan is apparently a good boxer. Bilko will be entering Pvt. Dino Papparelli (Billy Sands), who isn't very good. Bilko turns down a bet with Sowici. Bilko then learns that one of his men, Pvt. Claude Dillingham (Walter Cartier), was a Golden Gloves champ. He now makes a bet with Sowici. But then Claude tells Bilko that he promised his fiancé Felicia that he wouldn't box anymore. At a bar, Bilko tries to get Claude to fight a Navy man to defend Felicia's honor. Bilko learns that Claude's hobby is gardening and he gets triggered when someone insults Chrysanthemums. Bilko gets Egan to insult the flower in front of Claude and they're ready to fight. The Chaplain gets Claude and Egan to become friends and they decide not to fight each other. Terry Carter as Grover's Boxer. Dody Goodman as Waitress.
77"The Hoodlum"Al De CaprioNat HikenNovember 1, 1955 (1955-11-01)
Bilko has the men breaking their backs cleaning the barracks. They discover that he's hoping to win Soldier of the Month and get a 3 day pass. Meanwhile, Col. Hall tells the Chaplain that he's going to dishonorably discharge Pvt. Chick Parker because he's nothing but a trouble maker. The Chaplain talks Hall into giving Parker one more chance and he is assigned to Bilko's platoon. For now, Bilko puts up with Parker's insubordination because he doesn't want to jeopardize winning the 3 day pass. Bilko comes up with a plan to straighten Parker out. They tell Parker that they are going to rob Fort Knox and he's going to help. Bilko gives him several things to do in preparation of the job. In the process, Parker is doing a lot of extra work that impresses Hall and the Chaplain. The men start to like Parker and he likes being accepted. Col. Hall comes by and gives the Soldier of the Month award to Parker.
88"Mardi Gras"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Terry Ryan & Barry BlitzerNovember 8, 1955 (1955-11-08)
It will soon be the platoon's annual Motor Pool Mardi Gras. Pvt. Duane Doberman (Maurice Gosfield) is picked to be King. In Doberman's locker the men find a scrapbook with pictures of socialite Joy Landers (Constance Ford), who has just returned from Paris. Bilko decides that Joy will be Doberman's Queen. Cpl. Barbella and some of the men go to see Joy and tell her about being appointed Queen. She laughs at the men and then turns them down. Meanwhile, Bilko tries to teach "girl shy" Doberman how to talk to a woman. Bilko comes up with an elaborate plan to trick Joy into wanting to be Queen by thinking that Doberman is something special. Even after he's describe Doberman's looks, Joy begs Bilko to introduce her to him. Doberman tells Joy to get lost. Bilko tells her that Doberman doesn't enjoy people laughing at him and this was their revenge. Having learned her lesson, Joy agrees to help with the Mardi Gras and be Queen. Russell Hicks as Mr. Landers.
99"The Eating Contest"Al De CaprioNat Hiken & Arnold AuerbachNovember 15, 1955 (1955-11-15)

Bilko's Company B constantly loses money to rival Company A. Cpl. Ed Honnegan (Fred Gwynne) has been transferred to Bilko's platoon. Cpl. Barbella recognizes Honnegan as "The Stomach", an eating champion. Bilko bets Sgt. Allan (Murray Hamilton), from Company A, and arranges an eating contest. Allan's entry will be Sgt. Hog Henderson (Bern Hoffman), who has won many times before. Bilko discovers that Ed only eats a lot when he's miserable. The last time he was that miserable was when his girl back home left him. Bilko finds a way to make Ed miserable again. After a talk with the Chaplain, Ed feels better. Bilko manages to get Ed sad again. It's the night of the contest and Hog remembers Ed. Honnegan wins the contest. Suddenly, Ed's old girlfriend Hazel shows up and they're happy to see each other. The Chaplain makes Bilko give the gambling winnings to the happy couple.

Note: In 1997, TV Guide ranked this episode #53 on its list of the 100 Greatest Episodes. [1]
1010"The Centennial"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Terry Ryan & Barry BlitzerNovember 22, 1955 (1955-11-22)
Lt. Barry Parker (Al Checco), a special services officer, has been transferred to Fort Baxter. Parker is surprised at the total lack of fine arts activities. He tells Bilko's men that he expects to see them at the art class. When they learn that beautiful Miss Doozer will be a model for the class, all the men want to go. But, they are disappointed when they have to paint Miss Doozer fully clothed. Bilko comes up with a plan to celebrate the centennial of the camp, knowing the camp has a pretty shady history. Col. Hall doesn't want Parker to find out about the camp's history because he'll probably quit. But when Parker curtails Hall's own card playing activates, Hall lets Bilko go ahead with his plans. Bilko and the men rehearse a play about the history of Fort Baxter. Parker is shocked at all the corruption that occurred. Parker cancels the celebration and quits. Lt. Kissel (Jason Evers) is the new special services officer and Bilko suggests a centennial celebration to him.
1111"Bivouac"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Terry Ryan & Barry BlitzerNovember 29, 1955 (1955-11-29)
Col. Hall has a trick up his sleeve when Bilko becomes a victim of the "bivouac disease".
1212"The Singing Contest"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Terry Ryan & Barry BlitzerDecember 6, 1955 (1955-12-06)
Bilko hatches a scheme to win a singing contest for a trip to Miami.
1313"The Twitch"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Terry Ryan & Barry BlitzerDecember 13, 1955 (1955-12-13)
Col. Hall forces Bilko and his men to attend a lecture on Beethoven to punish them for gambling.
1414"The Reunion"Al De CaprioNat Hiken & Arnold AuerbachDecember 20, 1955 (1955-12-20)
Bilko feels depressed at a reunion with his war buddies since they've all become successful businessmen.
1515"The Rich Kid"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Barry Blitzer & Terry RyanDecember 27, 1955 (1955-12-27)
Bilko befriends a new recruit - the sole heir to a fortune.
1616"Hollywood"Al De CaprioNat HikenJanuary 3, 1956 (1956-01-03)
Bilko goes to Hollywood to serve as a technical advisor on a war picture.
1717"The Investigation"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Terry Ryan & Barry BlitzerJanuary 10, 1956 (1956-01-10)
Bilko tries to get raises for Fort Baxter from Senate investigators.
1818"Kids in the Trailer"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Terry Ryan & Barry BlitzerJanuary 17, 1956 (1956-01-17)
Bilko becomes a babysitter when he forges paperwork to allow one of his privates to spend time with his wife.
1919"The Revolutionary War"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Terry Ryan & Barry BlitzerJanuary 24, 1956 (1956-01-24)
Bilko changes his ways when he learns that an ancestor served with George Washington in the American Revolution.
2020"The Transfer"Al De CaprioHarvey Orkin, Vincent Bogert and Nat HikenJanuary 31, 1956 (1956-01-31)
Bilko transfers to another post to get away from Col. Hall's restrictions.
2121"The Rest Cure"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Harvey Orkin & Barry BlitzerFebruary 7, 1956 (1956-02-07)
Bilko comes up with a plan to beat the summer heat at Fort Baxter.
2222"Dinner at Sowici's"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Harvey Orkin & Barry BlitzerFebruary 14, 1956 (1956-02-14)
Bilko suspects that his girlfriend wants to marry him.
2323"Army Memoirs"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Harvey Orkin & Barry BlitzerFebruary 21, 1956 (1956-02-21)
Bilko threatens to write an exposé of his superiors if he's demoted in rank.
2424"Miss America"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Arnie Rosen, Coleman Jacoby, Terry Ryan & Barry BlitzerFebruary 28, 1956 (1956-02-28)
Bilko creates a Sweetheart of the Platoon contest.
2525"The Court Martial"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Coleman Jacoby & Arnie RosenMarch 6, 1956 (1956-03-06)
Col. Hall holds a court martial to discharge a private after a chimpanzee is accidentally inducted as part of an attempt to set a time record at the induction center.
2626"Furlough in New York"Al De CaprioNat Hiken & Terry RyanMarch 13, 1956 (1956-03-13)
Bilko and his girlfriend each plan furloughs in New York with the intention of keeping a secret from one another.
2727"The Big Uranium Strike"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Tony Webster, Coleman Jacoby & Arnie RosenMarch 20, 1956 (1956-03-20)
Bilko and his men dig for uranium at Fort Baxter.
2828"Bilko and the Beast"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Tony Webster, Coleman Jacoby & Arnie RosenMarch 27, 1956 (1956-03-27)
Bilko and company clash with a tough drill sergeant.
2929"The Physical Check Up"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Terry Ryan, Coleman Jacoby & Arnie RosenApril 10, 1956 (1956-04-10)
Bilko tries to convince Col. Hall that he can embark on a 20-mile hike.
3030"The Recruiting Sergeant"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Tony Webster & Terry RyanApril 17, 1956 (1956-04-17)
Bilko hatches a scheme to place a sure-fire bet on a horse race.
3131"Hair"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Terry Ryan, Barry Blitzer & Arnold AuerbachApril 24, 1956 (1956-04-24)
Bilko's girlfriend prefers men with flowing locks of hair.
3232"The Con Men"Al De CaprioNat Hiken & Tony WebsterMay 1, 1956 (1956-05-01)
Doberman loses $500 in a card game with three con artists.
3333"War Games"Al De CaprioNat Hiken & Arnold AuerbachMay 8, 1956 (1956-05-08)
Bilko is best man at a wedding that happens to be on the same day as Army maneuvers.
3434"Bilko on Wall St."Al De CaprioNat Hiken & Tony WebsterMay 15, 1956 (1956-05-15)
Bilko helps an old Army buddy become a successful financier on Wall Street.

Season 2 (1956–57)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
351"Platoon in the Movies"Al De CaprioStory by: Nat Hiken
Teleplay by: Nat Hiken, Tony Webster & Billy Friedberg
September 18, 1956 (1956-09-18)
Fort Baxter is chosen as the location for an Army training film that Bilko manages to make into a musical comedy.
362"It's for the Birds"Al De CaprioStory by: Nat Hiken
Teleplay by: Nat Hiken & Billy Friedberg
September 25, 1956 (1956-09-25)
A member of Bilko's unit with an incredible knowledge of birds goes on a TV quiz show.
373"Bilko Goes to College"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Leonard Stern, Tony Webster & Billy FriedbergOctober 2, 1956 (1956-10-02)
Bilko's latest scheme involves a college football game.
384"The Girl from Italy"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Leonard Stern, Billy Friedberg & Tony WebsterOctober 9, 1956 (1956-10-09)
Bilko attempts to make a newly arrived immigrant girl look presentable.
395"The Face on the Recruiting Poster"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Tony Webster, Leonard Stern & Billy FriedbergOctober 16, 1956 (1956-10-16)
Doberman is chosen as the face on the recruiting poster.
406"Bilko's War Against Culture"Al De CaprioStory by: Aaron Ruben and Phil Sharp
Teleplay by: Nat Hiken, Aaron Ruben and Phil Sharp
October 23, 1956 (1956-10-23)
A WAC lieutenant is sent to Fort Baxter to stop the gambling.
417"The Song of the Motor Pool"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Billy Friedberg, Tony Webster and Leonard SternOctober 30, 1956 (1956-10-30)
When Bilko needs a song as the Motor Corps' theme, he decides to use the tune Paparelli hums in the shower.
428"Bilko's Engagement"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Billy Friedberg, Tony Webster and Leonard SternNovember 6, 1956 (1956-11-06)
Bilko tries to get out of his engagement to a WAC.
439"A Mess Sergeant Can't Win"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Tony Webster, Leonard Stern & Billy FriedbergNovember 13, 1956 (1956-11-13)
With Ritzik retiring from the Army, Bilko tries to increase his bank roll.
4410"Doberman's Sister"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Billy Friedberg, Tony Webster and Leonard SternNovember 20, 1956 (1956-11-20)
No one is willing to date Doberman's visiting sister.
4511"Where There's a Will"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Leonard Stern, Billy Friedberg & Tony WebsterNovember 27, 1956 (1956-11-27)
Bilko steps in when a member of his platoon is cut out of a will.
4612"Bilko's Tax Trouble"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Leonard Stern, Billy Friedberg & Tony WebsterDecember 4, 1956 (1956-12-04)
Bilko finds himself against the IRS.
4713"Mink Incorporated"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Billy Friedberg & Tony WebsterDecember 11, 1956 (1956-12-11)
When Bilko loses the platoon treasury money he borrowed, he tries to replace it.
4814"Sergeant Bilko Presents Ed Sullivan"Al De CaprioStory by: Nat Hiken
Teleplay by: Nat Hiken, Billy Friedberg & Terry Ryan
December 18, 1956 (1956-12-18)
Bilko sets out to represent Fort Baxter on The Ed Sullivan Show .
4915"Bilko Gets Some Sleep"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Tony Webster & Billy FriedbergDecember 25, 1956 (1956-12-25)
When Bilko is unable to sleep, a psychiatrist advises him to reform, but when the sergeant does, everyone suspects he's up to something.
5016"The Blue Blood of Bilko"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Billy Friedberg & Tony WebsterJanuary 8, 1957 (1957-01-08)
Bilko tries to help a fellow sergeant who's been snubbed by Philadelphia blue bloods.
5117"Love That Guardhouse"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Billy Friedberg, Arnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyJanuary 15, 1957 (1957-01-15)
Col. Hall tries to stop Bilko from getting Ritzik's Las Vegas winnings.
5218"Sergeant Bilko Presents Bing Crosby"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Billy Friedberg, Aaron Ruben and Phil SharpJanuary 22, 1957 (1957-01-22)
Bilko uses Bing Crosby in a scheme to recoup the platoon treasury money he lost.
5319"Bilko Goes to Monte Carlo"Al De CaprioNat Hiken & Billy FriedbergJanuary 29, 1957 (1957-01-29)
Bilko goes to Monte Carlo to try out a new gambling system.
5420"Bilko Enters Politics"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Billy Friedberg, Arnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyFebruary 5, 1957 (1957-02-05)
Bilko manages Doberman's mayoral campaign.
5521"Bilko's Television Idea"Al De CaprioNat Hiken & Billy FriedbergFebruary 12, 1957 (1957-02-12)
Bilko and his men help a comic regain his popularity.
5622"The Son of Bilko"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Billy Friedberg, Arnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyFebruary 26, 1957 (1957-02-26)
Bilko becomes a father figure to a draftee no one else can stand.
5723"Rock 'n' Roll Rookie"Al De CaprioNat Hiken & Billy FriedbergMarch 5, 1957 (1957-03-05)
Bilko's latest pigeon is a rock star recruited into the Army.
5824"Bilko's Black Magic"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Tony Webster & Billy FriedbergMarch 19, 1957 (1957-03-19)
A World War II veteran makes friends with the soldiers of Fort Baxter when he makes a fortune in back pay.
5925"Bilko Goes South"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Billy Friedberg & Lou MeltzerMarch 26, 1957 (1957-03-26)
Bilko and company unwittingly volunteer for a series of medical experiments.
6026"Bilko Goes Around the World"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Billy Friedberg & Tony WebsterApril 2, 1957 (1957-04-02)
Bilko schemes to win a contest to go around the world in 80 hours.
6127"The Mess Hall Mess"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Billy Friedberg & Terry RyanApril 9, 1957 (1957-04-09)
Bilko uses a French recipe to win a contest for the best American dish.
6228"The Secret Life of Sergeant Bilko"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Billy Friedberg & Terry RyanApril 16, 1957 (1957-04-16)
A snooping reporter thinks there's a security leak at Fort Baxter.
6329"Radio Station B.I.L.K.O."Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Billy Friedberg & Terry RyanApril 23, 1957 (1957-04-23)
Bilko starts a radio station at Fort Baxter.
6430"Bilko the Marriage Broker"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Billy Friedberg, Coleman Jacoby, Arnie Rosen & Terry RyanApril 30, 1957 (1957-04-30)
Bilko tries to get an Army efficiency expert interested in a girl.
6531"Bilko Acres"Al De CaprioNat Hiken & Billy FriedbergMay 7, 1957 (1957-05-07)
Bilko gets into the real-estate business when he finds out Fort Baxter will be deserted.
6632"The Big Scandal"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Billy Friedberg & Tony WebsterMay 14, 1957 (1957-05-14)
Doberman thinks he's fallen for Col. Hall's wife.
6733"Bilko's Perfect Day"Al De CaprioNat Hiken, Billy Friedberg & Terry RyanMay 21, 1957 (1957-05-21)
Bilko feels lucky until he decides to cash in on his good luck.
6834"The Colonel Breaks Par"Al De CaprioSydney Zelinka, A.J. Russell, Nat Hiken & Billy FriedbergMay 28, 1957 (1957-05-28)
Sam Snead helps Bilko talk Col. Hall into entering a golf tournament.
6935"Show Segments"Al De CaprioNat Hiken & Billy FriedbergJune 4, 1957 (1957-06-04)
Phil Silvers and crew review segments cut from the show.
7036"His Highness Doberman"Al De CaprioA.J. Russell, Sydney Zelinka & Billy FriedbergJune 11, 1957 (1957-06-11)
Doberman falls for an heiress whose parents are given the royal treatment courtesy of Sgt. Bilko.

Season 3 (1957–58)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
711"Bilko's Merry Widow"Al De CaprioNat Hiken & Billy FriedbergSeptember 17, 1957 (1957-09-17)
Bilko puts on a production of The Merry Widow for Roseville, Kansas.
722"Bilko's Boy's Town"Al De CaprioPhil Sharp & Terry RyanSeptember 24, 1957 (1957-09-24)
Bilko starts a boys' camp at Fort Baxter.
733"Hillbilly Whiz"Al De CaprioColeman Jacoby & Arnie RosenOctober 1, 1957 (1957-10-01)
Bilko tries to sell his new recruit to a baseball team.
744"Bilko's Valentine"Al De CaprioPhil Sharp & Terry RyanOctober 8, 1957 (1957-10-08)
To get back at Bilko for forgetting her on Valentine's Day, Joan quits the Army and heads for home.
755"The Big Man Hunt"Al De CaprioPhil Sharp & Terry RyanOctober 15, 1957 (1957-10-15)
An ex-GI is looking for the man who saved his life in World War II -- and Bilko thinks he's the one.
766"Bilko's Double Life"Al De CaprioA.J. Russell and Sydney ZelinkaOctober 22, 1957 (1957-10-22)
Bilko is mistaken for a millionaire while he's in New York on furlough.
777"Sergeant Bilko Presents"Al De CaprioPhil Sharp & Terry RyanOctober 29, 1957 (1957-10-29)
A playwright-recruit gives Bilko the idea of producing a Broadway show.
788"Papa Bilko"Al De CaprioSydney Zelinka & A.J. RussellNovember 5, 1957 (1957-11-05)
A French girl comes to Fort Baxter and calls Bilko "Papa".
799"Bilko Talks in His Sleep"Al De CaprioPhil Sharp & Terry RyanNovember 19, 1957 (1957-11-19)
Bilko unwittingly gives away money while talking in his sleep.
8010"Cherokee Ernie"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen, Coleman Jacoby, Phil Sharp & Terry RyanNovember 26, 1957 (1957-11-26)
Bilko nearly gives the Indians back Oklahoma.
8111"Bilko Buys a Club"Al De CaprioPhil Sharp & Terry RyanDecember 3, 1957 (1957-12-03)
Bilko starts a nightclub to raise money.
8212"Lieutenant Bilko"Al De CaprioSydney Zelinka & A.J. RussellDecember 10, 1957 (1957-12-10)
Bilko decides to leave the army until he learns he was promoted to lieutenant during World War II and sets out to collect his back pay.
8313"Bilko at Bay"Al De CaprioA.J. Russell, Sydney Zelinka & Terry RyanDecember 17, 1957 (1957-12-17)
Bilko, Henshaw and Rocco are held hostage by bank robbers.
8414"Bilko F.O.B. Detroit"Al De CaprioSydney Zelinka & A.J. RussellDecember 24, 1957 (1957-12-24)
Bilko and his men are sent to Detroit to pick up a load of trucks.
8515"Bilko and the Flying Saucers"Al De CaprioColeman Jacoby & Arnie RosenDecember 31, 1957 (1957-12-31)
Bilko claims to have seen flying saucers.
8616"Bilko and the Colonel's Secretary"Al De CaprioSydney Zelinka, A.J. Russell, Phil Sharp & Terry RyanJanuary 7, 1958 (1958-01-07)
Col. Hall's secretary gives Bilko and his men the worst assignments.
8717"Doberman the Crooner"Al De CaprioPhil Sharp, Terry Ryan & Vincent BogertJanuary 14, 1958 (1958-01-14)
Bilko's latest scheme involves Doberman's singing, but Doberman is only a good crooner when he's sick.
8818"Bilko Presents Kay Kendall"Al De CaprioNeil Simon & Terry RyanJanuary 21, 1958 (1958-01-21)
Bilko talks Kay Kendall into performing for his men.
8919"Bilko's Cousin"Al De CaprioPhil Sharp & Terry RyanJanuary 28, 1958 (1958-01-28)
Bilko hatches a scheme to make his dim-witted cousin look good.
9020"Bilko's Pigeons"Al De CaprioPhil Sharp & Terry RyanFebruary 4, 1958 (1958-02-04)
Bilko uses carrier pigeons as racing birds to make money.
9121"Cyrano de Bilko"Al De CaprioPhil Sharp & Terry RyanFebruary 14, 1958 (1958-02-14)
Bilko suspects that one of his recruits is being duped by an older woman.
9222"The Colonel's Reunion"Al De CaprioColeman Jacoby & Arnie RosenFebruary 21, 1958 (1958-02-21)
A conflict ensues between Bilko and Col. Hall, who's come up with another effort to stop the gambling.
9323"Bilko Saves Ritzik's Marriage"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyFebruary 28, 1958 (1958-02-28)
Bilko becomes a marriage counselor when Ritzik and his wife fight over a card game.
9424"Bilko, the Art Lover"Al De CaprioPhil Sharp & Terry RyanMarch 7, 1958 (1958-03-07)
An old Army buddy of Bilko's (Alan Alda in his television debut) aspires to be a Bohemian artist.
9525"Bilko, the Genius"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen, Coleman Jacoby, Phil Sharp & Terry RyanMarch 14, 1958 (1958-03-14)
Bilko teaches Army scientists the art of a sure-fire gambling system.
9626"Bilko the Male Model"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyMarch 21, 1958 (1958-03-21)
Bilko is offered a modeling job.
9727"The Colonel's Inheritance"Al De CaprioPhil Sharp, Terry Ryan and Paul JordanApril 4, 1958 (1958-04-04)
Bilko invests Col. Hall's inheritance money in a stock tip that plunges.
9828"Bilko's Honeymoon"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyApril 11, 1958 (1958-04-11)
Bilko and Paparelli dress as newlyweds to win a free vacation in Miami.
9929"Bilko's Chinese Restaurant"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyApril 25, 1958 (1958-04-25)
Bilko starts a Chinese restaurant business.
10030"Operation Love"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen, Coleman Jacoby & Terry RyanMay 2, 1958 (1958-05-02)
Bilko begins a campaign to bring WACs to Fort Baxter.
10131"Bilko's TV Pilot"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyMay 9, 1958 (1958-05-09)
Bilko produces a pilot for a TV show.
10232"Bilko Retires from Gambling"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyMay 16, 1958 (1958-05-16)
Col. Hall uses a card expert to trick Bilko into thinking he's gotten bad at gambling.
10333"Bilko's Vacation"Al De CaprioTerry Ryan & Neil SimonMay 23, 1958 (1958-05-23)
Bilko tries to convince his platoon to vacation at Dimmeldorf Lodge since he'll get a free week there.
10434"Bilko's Insurance Company"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyMay 30, 1958 (1958-05-30)
Bilko starts an insurance business that also offers maternity benefits.
10535"Bilko's Prize Poodle"Al De CaprioNeil Simon & Terry RyanJune 6, 1958 (1958-06-06)
Bilko enters a poodle in a dog show to win $10,000.
10636"Bilko's School Days"Al De CaprioNeil Simon & Terry RyanJune 13, 1958 (1958-06-13)
Bilko hopes to make money of a training school being planned at Fort Baxter.
10737"Joan's Big Romance"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyJune 27, 1958 (1958-06-27)
Joan has a picture taken of her with a millionaire to get back at Bilko for choosing poker over her.

Season 4 (1958–59)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
1081"Gold Fever"Al De CaprioNeil Simon & Terry RyanSeptember 26, 1958 (1958-09-26)
Bilko plots to have his platoon transferred to the site of a gold mine.
1092"Bilko's Vampire"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyOctober 3, 1958 (1958-10-03)
Ritzik is too addicted to horror movies on TV to focus on poker games.
1103"Bilko's De Luxe Tours"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyOctober 10, 1958 (1958-10-10)
Bilko organizes Hollywood tours and guarantees meetings with movie stars.
1114"Bilko the Potato Sack King"Al De CaprioNeil Simon & Terry RyanOctober 17, 1958 (1958-10-17)
Bilko tries to convince the Army that the million burlap bags can be useful.
1125"Bilko vs. Covington"Al De CaprioNeil Simon, Terry Ryan & Arnie RosenOctober 24, 1958 (1958-10-24)
A visiting sergeant challenges Bilko's gambling business.
1136"Bilko Joins the Navy"Al De CaprioNeil Simon & Terry RyanOctober 31, 1958 (1958-10-31)
Bilko, Paparelli and Zimmerman pretend to be sailors to get into a dice game.
1147"Bilko's Big Woman Hunt"Al De CaprioNeil Simon & Terry RyanNovember 7, 1958 (1958-11-07)
Bilko falls for a dancing teacher.
1158"Bilko and the Crosbys"Al De CaprioNeil Simon & Terry RyanNovember 14, 1958 (1958-11-14)
Bing Crosby's son Lindsay joins the army, leading Bilko to wonder what life would be like if he were head of the Crosby clan.
1169"Bilko's Allergy"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyNovember 21, 1958 (1958-11-21)
Bilko develops an allergy to playing cards.
11710"Bilko and the Chaplain"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyNovember 28, 1958 (1958-11-28)
Col. Hall assigns a chaplain to the platoon in order to keep Bilko and his men in line.
11811"Bilko Presents the McGuire Sisters"Al De CaprioPhil Sharp & Terry RyanDecember 5, 1958 (1958-12-05)
Bilko plots to make money off managing the McGuire Sisters. Note: Features an uncredited appearance by Maude/The Golden Girls star Bea Arthur and Mickey Rooney.
11912"Bilko's Secret Mission"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyDecember 12, 1958 (1958-12-12)
Bilko and Ritzik end up in Las Vegas on a secret mission in Nevada.
12013"Bilko's Giveaway"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyDecember 19, 1958 (1958-12-19)
Bilko wins a lot of merchandise on a quiz show, then tries to sell it on his own giveaway program.
12114"Bilko and the Medium"Al De CaprioNeil Simon & Terry RyanDecember 26, 1958 (1958-12-26)
Bilko uses a medium to get Ritzik's money.
12215"Bilko's Bopster"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyJanuary 2, 1959 (1959-01-02)
Bilko learns that his new recruit is a famous bandleader.
12316"Bilko's Hollywood Romance"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyJanuary 9, 1959 (1959-01-09)
Bilko becomes part of a press agent's scheme to fix a movie star up with a "simple" soldier.
12417"Bilko's Grand Hotel"Al De CaprioNeil Simon & Terry RyanJanuary 30, 1959 (1959-01-30)
Bilko purchases a rundown hotel in the hope that a famous chain will buy him out.
12518"Bilko's Credit Card"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyFebruary 6, 1959 (1959-02-06)
Bilko starts a credit card club for the Camp Fremont service personnel.
12619"Viva Bilko"Al De CaprioNeil Simon & Terry RyanFebruary 13, 1959 (1959-02-13)
Bilko and his men vacation in Mexico where they have trouble with the language and the law.
12720"The Colonel's Promotion"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyFebruary 20, 1959 (1959-02-20)
When Col. Hall misses out on a promotion, Bilko talks him into complaining to the President.
12821"Bilko's Sharpshooter"Al De CaprioNeil Simon & Terry RyanFebruary 27, 1959 (1959-02-27)
Bilko's latest scheme involves a sharpshooting WAC.
12922"Bilko's Formula Seven"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyMarch 6, 1959 (1959-03-06)
Bilko believes that a mixture of applejack juice and crankshaft oil will make a fortune as the next best cosmetic product.
13023"Bilko's Ape Man"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyMarch 20, 1959 (1959-03-20)
Bilko attempts to make Private Forbes a star by casting him in an ape picture. Features an uncredited appearance by Lucille Ball.
13124"Warrant Officer Paparelli"Al De CaprioNeil Simon & Terry RyanMarch 27, 1959 (1959-03-27)
Bilko promotes Paparelli to warrant officer.
13225"Bilko's Godson"Al De CaprioNeil Simon & Terry RyanApril 3, 1959 (1959-04-03)
Bilko becomes godfather to a baby boy -- and begins planning the infant's future.
13326"Guinea Pig Bilko"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyApril 17, 1959 (1959-04-17)
Col. Hall tricks Bilko into being a test subject for a new tranquilizer.
13427"Bilko, the Butler"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyApril 24, 1959 (1959-04-24)
Bilko worms his way into a society dinner dressed as a butler.
13528"Ritzik Goes Civilian"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyMay 1, 1959 (1959-05-01)
After Ritzik's wife talks him into leaving the army, they lose their life savings to swindlers for their newly opened diner, so Bilko tries to help them get it back.
13629"Bilko's Small Car"Al De CaprioNeil Simon & Terry RyanMay 8, 1959 (1959-05-08)
Bilko uses Col. Hall's new car to transport gambling equipment, but when the police impound the car, Bilko must replace it.
13730"Doberman: Missing Heir"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyMay 15, 1959 (1959-05-15)
When Doberman is discovered to be the long-lost heir to a British fortune, Bilko schemes to receive his cut of the dough.
13831"Bilko's Casino"Al De CaprioNeil Simon & Terry RyanMay 22, 1959 (1959-05-22)
Bilko converts USO headquarters into a casino.
13932"The Colonel's Second Honeymoon"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyMay 29, 1959 (1959-05-29)
For his vacation, Bilko picks the same location where Col. Hall is on his second honeymoon.
14033"Bilko in Outer Space"Al De CaprioNeil Simon & Terry RyanJune 5, 1959 (1959-06-05)
Bilko tricks Ritzik and Grover into taking a space endurance test before winning $600 from them in a poker game.
14134"The Bilko Boycott"Al De CaprioArnie Rosen & Coleman JacobyJune 12, 1959 (1959-06-12)
Bilko concentrates his gambling efforts on the WACs when Henshaw sets up a Gamblers' Anonymous club.
14235"Weekend Colonel"Al De CaprioNeil Simon & Terry RyanJune 19, 1959 (1959-06-19)
Someone resembling Col. Hall turns the officers' club into a casino while the real Col. Hall is on a weekend break with his wife.

Special (1959)

TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
"The Phil Silvers Pontiac Special: Keep in Step"Al De CaprioUnknownJanuary 23, 1959 (1959-01-23)
In this hour-long special, Bilko stages a musical celebration of silver screen beauties entitled Bilko's Brevities.

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References

  1. "Special Collector's Issue: 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time". TV Guide (June 28-July 4). 1997.