“The Phil Silvers Show” was really just a Sgt. Bilko showcase. TV Comedy in the late 1950s is so odd to look back on as a creative endeavor rather than a historical document. Sure, I dug what Silvers did in his film work, but the TV shows felt like primitive attempts at establishing serial story structure for TV. The guest stars are neat to see, but again it falls back under the historical document view.
What can you do to cover the material in the present day? Every show should be valued as an entry into said genre. But, why should I care about a rather old guy in the army trying to scam his superiors and others? I grew up in the era of Ollie North, I have a hard time chuckling at stuff like this. I don’t hate what I’m seeing, but how I approach the material is giving me reason to second guess myself.
The DVD comes with interviews as the special features. The A/V Quality is on par with the last few releases. The transfer is pretty strong. However, the mono track is true to its original roots. In the end, I’d recommend a purchase to fans.
Release Date: 8/4/15