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Starring Phil Silvers as Sergeant Ernest Bilko
Season 2 (CBS) (1956-57)
Episode Guide compiled by The Classic TV Archive
with contributions by:
references:
TV Guide /   Library of Congress (telnet://locis.loc.gov)
Internet Movie Database (https://www.imdb.com)
UCLA Film and Television Archive / Writers Guild of America (wga)

   ### The Phil Silvers Show: Sergeant Bilko ####
############## season 2 1956-57 ##############
##############################################
CBS Tuesdays 8:00 pm Eastern (36 episodes)

Production credits as for Season 1 except:
Editor: Ray Sandiford
Art director: Richard Jackson
Additional art direction by Robert Rowe Paddock
Additional staging by Charles Friedman
New writers in season 2:
Billy Friedburg, Lou Meltzer, Aaron Rubin, Andrew Russel/A.J. Russell
Phil Sharp, Leonard Stern, Sydney Zelinka

2.1 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: PLATOON IN THE MOVIES
18Sep56 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Tony Webster & Billy Friedburg; #3535)
The motor pool are chosen to make an army training film - the starring role going
to Doberman, who suffers terrible stage fright. Bilko takes the chance provided by
a break in filming to produce his own, more glamorous version of the film.

2.2 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: IT'S FOR THE BIRDS
25Sep56 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken & Billy Friedburg; #3536)
Bilko enters Pvt. Honnergar in the '$64000 Question' TV show. Honnergar is
peforming brilliantly on his specialized subject of birds, until he is struck
by a case of amnesia...

2.3 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: BILKO GOES TO COLLEGE
02Oct56 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Leonard Stern, Tony Webster & Billy Friedburg; #3537)
Bilko tries to get even with a bookie by placing a 1000-1 bet on Schmill College football
team beating the champions from NotreDame. Schmill have a terrible record, but the word
on the streets is that this year's team is something special...

2.4 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: THE GIRL FROM ITALY
09Oct56 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken; #3541)
Bilko has to help out Rocco's brother Angie - the plain Italian girl he once promised
to marry shows up in New York, to his dismay. Bilko thinks he can fix the situation by
glamorizing her, but he does too good a job!

2.5 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: THE FACE ON THE RECRUITING POSTER
16Oct56 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Tony Webster, Leonard Stern & Billy Friedburg; #3540)
 Bilko sees star potential in a new recruit and plans for him a career in movies.
The first step is to get his face onto an army recruiting poster, but somehow
Doberman ends up being selected for the poster!

2.6 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: BILKO'S WAR AGAINST CULTURE
23Oct56 CBS Tue
(Written by Aaron Rubin, Phil Sharp & Nat Hiken; #3538)
The men are lured away from gambling by the art and dance classes run by two beautiful
WAC's from Special Services. Bilko has to find a way to subtly incorporate gambling
into these more genteel activities.

2.7 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: THE SONG OF THE MOTOR POOL
30Oct56 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Billy Friedburg, Tony Webster & Leonard Stern; #3542)
 Bilko is told that he needs new material to be eligible for an army musical contest, and
he thinks he has found it when Paparelli starts singing a song in the showers. However,
Paperelli will only sing in the showers so an on-location recording has to be made...

2.8 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: BILKO'S ENGAGEMENT
06Nov56 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Leonard Stern, Billy Friedburg & Tony Webster; #3539)
A mix-up at a jewelry shop leads to Ernie giving Joan Hogan an engagement ring.
Before he can explain the mistake, news of their 'forthcoming marriage' is all
around the post (and beyond).

2.9 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: A MESS SERGEANT CAN'T WIN
13Nov56 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Tony Webster, Billy Friedburg & Leonard Stern; #3543)
Just about to leave the army, taking with him $400, Rupert Ritzik avoids saying good-bye
to Bilko for fear of losing his savings. Hurt by this, Bilko embarks on a series of
seemingly ridiculous bets with Ritzik just show that he doesn't always end up with
Rupert's hard-earned money...

2.10 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: DOBERMAN'S SISTER
20Nov56 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Billy Friedburg, Tony Webster & Leonard Stern; #3544)
 Bilko arranges dates for the platoon with some of the men's sisters, but who will
get paired off with Diane Doberman? Zimmerman takes some convincing...

2.11 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: WHERE THERE'S A WILL
27Nov56 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Leonard Stern, Tony Webster & Billy Friedburg; #3545)
An old buddy of Bilko's, Greg Chickering, is cut out of a will and left with just
a parrot and $1. Bilko convinces Chickering's now wealthy cousins of the existence
of a lost treasure map. Apparently the parrot holds a vital clue...

2.12 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: BILKO'S TAX TROUBLE
04Dec56 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Leonard Stern, Tony Webster & Billy Friedburg; #3546)
Bilko is accidentally selected for an audit by the IRS. Fearing that they have found out
about his numerous schemes, he protests that they are victimizing worthy charity work.
But too much protesting arouses the suspicion of the IRS.

2.13 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: MINK INCORPORATED
11Dec56 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken & Leonard Stern; #3547)
Having once again gambled away the Platoon Welfare Fund, Bilko sees a small
newspaper advert to get-rich-quick by breeding mink. $300 and one pair of mink
later, things are not going as quickly as promised.

2.14 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: SERGEANT BILKO PRESENTS ED SULLIVAN
18Dec56 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Billy Friedburg & Terry Ryan; #3548)
Talent scouts for the Ed Sullivan show don't find any at Fort Baxter! But Ed Sullivan
insists that a GI from the Mid-West is used for a minor role in a planned 'Tribute to the Army'.
Bilko gets chosen for the show, but he gets the wrong idea about the size of his role...

2.15 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: BILKO GETS SOME SLEEP
25Dec56 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Tony Webster & Billy Friedburg; #3549)
Troubled by his guilty conscience, Bilko begins to suffer from insomnia. Following the
advice of the fort psychiatrist, Capt. Adams, Bilko gives up gambling and is cured.
Unfortunately the news of an apparently reformed Bilko does nothing for the mental
health of the other men!

[--] 01Jan57 - no details

2.16 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: THE BLUE BLOOD OF THE BILKOS
08Jan57 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Billy Friedburg & Tony Webster; #3551)
Bilko is infuriated when a colleague is not invited to his own son's wedding due to the
snobbery of the bride's family. Ernie travels to Philadelphia, where a little research
reveals that the bride's family are not as blue-blooded as they seem.

2.17 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: LOVE THAT GUARDHOUSE
15Jan57 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Billy Friedburg, Arnie Rosen & Coleman Jacoby; #3550)
Amazingly, Sgt. Ritzik manages to win $1500 in Las Vegas. On his return, Emma Ritzik
persuades Colonel Hall to lock Rupert in the guardhouse to protect him from Bilko.
To what lengths will Bilko go to get to Ritzik and the $1500?

2.18 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: SERGEANT BILKO PRESENTS BING CROSBY
22Jan57 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Billy Friedburg, Arnie Rosen & Coleman Jacoby; #3552)
To recoup yet another gambling loss, Bilko stages an appearance at Fort Baxter by
Bing Crosby. Ticket sales are brisk, the only problem is getting Bing to appear...
not a problem if you have a lookalike available!

2.19 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: BILKO GOES TO MONTE CARLO
29Jan57 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken & Billy Friedburg; #3553)
Armed with a foolproof system for beating the roulette wheel and a bankroll put up by
the entire camp, Bilko's trip to Las Vegas is thwarted when the Colonel declares
Nevada off-limits to all soldiers. The system is too good to waste, so Ernie enlists
the help of the airforce and heads towards a slightly more exotic location...

2.20 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: BILKO ENTERS POLITICS
05Feb57 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Billy Friedburg, Coleman Jacoby & Arnie Rosen; #3554)
 The mayor of Roseville does not approve of Bilko's proposed new servicemen's center.
If a soldier can get elected mayor, then what can stop Ernie's plans - especially
when the GI candidate is Duane Doberman?

2.21 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: BILKO'S TELEVISION IDEA
12Feb57 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken & Billy Friedburg; #3555)
The comedian Buddy Bickford is losing his popular appeal. So the TV network sends
two writers to Fort Baxter to do background research for a sitcom based on life
in an army camp. Bilko is more interested in selling them his idea for a show
called 'Andrew Armstrong - Tree Surgeon'.

[--] 19Feb57 - no details

2.22 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: THE SON OF BILKO
26Feb57 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Billy Friedburg, Arnie Rosen & Coleman Jacoby; #3556)
Pvt. Perkins is transferred to Fort Baxter and placed under Bilko's supervision.
Perkins has already been thrown out of fourteen other camps - but surely he'll be
no problem for Ernie?

2.23 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: ROCK 'N' ROLL ROOKIE
05Mar57 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken & Billy Friedburg; #3557)
When singing sensation Elvin Pelvin is drafted, the army can't cope with his
screaming fans. The solution? Transfer him to a quiet, out-of-the-way posting.
Perhaps somewhere in the Mid-West, where he will attract less attention and be
safe from the less scrupulous soldier who might try to exploit his fame and fortune...

[--] 12Mar57 - no details

2.24 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: BILKO'S BLACK MAGIC
19Mar57 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Tony Webster & Billy Friedburg; #3558)
 After having been marooned on a Pacific island since 1942, Pvt. Mendelsohn is
transferred to the platoon together with over $7000 of back-pay. Before Bilko
can take this money into safe-keeping, Mendelsohn loses everything in a card
game with Sgts. Grover and Ritzik!

2.25 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: BILKO GOES SOUTH
26Mar57 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Billy Friedburg & Lou Meltzer; #3559)
 Once again Fort Baxter is suffering from sub-zero temperatures. And once again an
army singing contest, with its prize of a trip to Florida, seems to offer the motor
pool an escape route - but is a singing contest all that they have signed up for?

2.26 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: BILKO GOES AROUND THE WORLD
02Apr57 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Billy Friedburg & Tony Webster; #3560)
 Bilko persuades Mike Todd to run a competition to promote his film 'Around The World
In 80 Days' - offering a prize of $25000 to the first person to go around the world
in 80 hours. Ernie thinks that by pulling a few airforce contacts he can collect...

2.27 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: THE MESS HALL MESS
09Apr57 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Billy Friedburg & Tony Webster; #3561)
 When Bilko tries out a French restaurant in Roseville he thinks he has discovered
a dish which, with the right marketing, will win him the contest to find the best
new American dish. First he must learn its recipe - the chef, Marcel, is somewhat
reluctant to share it with him!

2.28 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: THE SECRET LIFE OF SERGEANT BILKO
16Apr57 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Billy Friedburg & Terry Ryan; #3562)
In search of evidence to back up claims that the army is leaking top secrets,
an investigative reporter visits Fort Baxter. Bilko soon spots him and proceeds to
sell him an number of not-so-important secrets...

2.29 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: RADIO STATION  B.I.L.K.O.
23Apr57 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Billy Friedburg & Terry Ryan; #3563)
 When Roseville's local radio station closes down, Bilko
sees a gap to be filled with the aid of some radio equipment from the signal
corps. Now all he needs is some quality programming to attract the sponsors...

2.30 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: BILKO, THE MARRIAGE BROKER
30Apr57 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Billy Friedburg, Coleman Jacoby, Arnie Rosen & Terry Ryan; #3564)
 The motor pool gets a new commanding officer - Lieutenant Wallace - who has far too
much enthusiasm for Bilko's liking. Perhaps if Ernie can get him married off, Wallace
might ease up on the men.

2.31 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: BILKO ACRES
07May57 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken & Billy Friedburg; #3566)
When rumors spread that Fort Baxter is to be closed down, Bilko thinks this is the
Pentagon's way of driving down land prices so that they can actually expand
the base. Based on this excellent logic, he purchases 25 acres of adjacent
swamp land using the Platoon Welfare Fund!

2.32 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: THE BIG SCANDAL
14May57 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Billy Friedburg & Tony Webster; #3565)
Bilko thinks he can use hypnotism as part of his money making schemes. First he needs
to practice his technique - by trying to make Ritzik fall in love with Mrs. Hall.
However, this appears to be a complete failure...

2.33 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: BILKO'S PERFECT DAY
21May57 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken, Billy Friedburg & Terry Ryan; #3567)
 For the first time in his life, absolutely everything is going right for Sgt. Bilko
- it is his lucky day. Unfortunately, he only realizes this as the day is drawing to a close...

2.34 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: THE COLONEL BREAKS PAR
28May57 CBS Tue
(Written by Sidney Zelinka, Andrew Russel, Nat Hiken & Billy Friedburg; #3569)
 Bilko schemes are put in jeopardy when Colonel Hall decides to forego his annual two
week vacation. Ernie plans to get him out of the way by getting him to enter the annual
officers' golf tournament. The Colonel is reluctant - he is not exactly proud of his
golfing skills (and rightly so) - but Bilko's old army buddy Sam Snead might come to the rescue...

2.35 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: SHOW SEGMENTS
04Jun57 CBS Tue
(Written by Nat Hiken & Billy Friedburg; #3570)
Together with Ed Sullivan, several of the show's cast gather to watch some
clips edited out from previous shows due to time limitations.

2.36 [--] The Phil Silvers Show: HIS HIGHNESS, DOBERMAN
11Jun57 CBS Tue
(Written by A.J. Russell, Sidney Zelinka & Billy Friedburg; #3571)
Doberman has been dating the daughter of a Roseville millionaire, but when her mother
finds out he is just a soldier, Duane is banished from their house. Bilko plans
their comeuppance - little do they realize that they are insulting Crown Prince
Doberman. Little does Doberman realize...

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