- Target:
- Phil Silvers and comedy fans worldwide
- Region:
- GLOBAL
- Website:
- www.philsilvers.co.uk
The Phil Silvers Show, originally titled You'll Never Get Rich ran on the CBS Television Network from 1955-1959, over four seasons and 143 episodes.
It was first screened by the BBC in 1957, and had featured regularly in their schedules until 2004. It is without exception the only black and white comedy series from the 1950's to have truly stood the test of time.
During it's original run the show riding high on a sea of critical and public acclaim scooped 8 Emmy awards.
Phil Silvers was a self-confessed Anglophile and adored the admiration the British public bestowed upon him.
In an era when TV shunned using black actors Phil insisted his platoon should have a mixture of multicultural faces.
The creator Nat Hiken and his writing team (including Neil Simon) have been cited as the main influence of latter-day classics Seinfeld and Frasier.
US enlistees trebled during the first run of the show. Bilko represented such fun.
In 2003 Radio Times voted The Phil Silvers Show as 'the greatest situation comedy of all time' beating Fawlty Towers, Seinfeld and Frasier.
In a recent poll Sgt Bilko was voted 4th most likely candidate for the US Presidency!
Although almost forgotten in his home country Phil Silvers is still revered as a comedy god in the UK.
These are just a few reasons why we believe The Phil Silvers Show deserves to be back on our television screens.
Get fell in! Uncle Ernie needs you! We, the undersigned, request the immediate return of the entire series of The Phil Silvers Show to primetime television, in chronological order and a regular BBC weekly timeslot.
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The Bring Back Bilko! petition to Phil Silvers and comedy fans worldwide was written by Steve Everitt and is in the category Television at GoPetition.