History Trivia / ThePhilSilversShow

* IAmNotSpock: Sgt. Bilko is far more famous than Phil Silvers.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Brad Fiedel would have scored ''Sgt. Bilko'' if Music/AlanSilvestri's schedule couldn't accommodate it.

* IronyAsSheIsCast: PhilHartman was fond of impersonating Paul Ford, even though he acknowledged it was obscure for younger audiences. He even did the impression of Ford as Colonel Hall for his SNL audition (with help from his friend JonLovitz (then already a cast member) doing a Bilko impression). So of course, when they did the movie, Phil Hartman gets to participate, but he doesn't get to play Colonel Hall.

* IronyAsSheIsCast: Phil Hartman was fond of impersonating Paul Ford, even though he acknowledged it was obscure for younger audiences. He even did the impression of Ford as Colonel Hall for his SNL audition (with help from his friend Jon Lovitz (then already a cast member) doing a Bilko impression). So of course, when they did the movie, Phil Hartman gets to participate, but he doesn't get to play Colonel Hall.

* IronyAsSheIsCast: Phil Hartman was fond of impersonating Paul Ford, even though he acknowledged it was obscure for younger audiences. He even did the impression of Ford as Col. Hall for his SNL audition (with help from his friend and current cast member Jon Lovitz doing Bilko). So of course, when they did the movie, Phil Hartman gets to participate, but not playing Colonel Hall.

* HostilityOnTheSet: Maurice Gosfield was hired because he was a natural for Doberman -- a small, dumpy character, wearing a suit stained with food to his audition, and submitting a list of acting credits that were mostly fake. His castmates, however, didn't regard him as a natural ''performer'', as he had difficulty remembering or delivering even the simplest lines, and his belittling, pompous attitude off-screen increased as the show grew more popular. Phil Silvers mused years later that "he thought of himself as Creator/CaryGrant playing a short, fat man", and had "delusions" that he was naturally funny without the writers' help, even considering himself the most talented member of the cast.

* TheDanza: [[Film/{{Airport}} George Kennedy]], yes ''that'' [[Film/{{Earthquake}} George Kennedy]], worked as a military advisor for the show. He was seen in the background for 14 episodes as [=MP=]Sergeant Kennedy.

* HostilityOnTheSet: Phil Silvers claimed that Maurice Gosfield (Pvt. Doberman) was difficult to work with: "he thought of himself as Creator/CaryGrant playing a short, fat man."

* ActingForTwo: Maurice Gosfield also plays Doberman's sister in one episode.

* HeyItsThatGuy: AlanAlda as a young artist, [[Series/Car54WhereAreYou Fred]] [[Series/TheMunsters Gwy]][[Film/MyCousinVinny nne]] as a bird expert, Creator/DickVanDyke as a baseball phenom.

* FountainOfExpies: Sgt. Ernie Bilko would be the inspiration for numerous military con-men and fast-talkers, including [[TheNavyLark CPO Jon Pertwee]], [[Series/McHalesNavy Torpedoman's Mate Lester Gruber]], and perhaps even [[Series/{{MASH}} Cpl., later Sgt. Maxwell Q. Klinger]].

* TheDanza: [[{{Airport}} George Kennedy]], yes ''that'' [[{{Earthquake}} George Kennedy]], worked as a military advisor for the show. He was seen in the background for 14 episodes as [=MP=]Sergeant Kennedy.

* TheDanza: [[{{Airport}} George Kennedy]], yes ''that'' [[{{Earthquake}} George Kennedy]], worked as a military advisor for the show. He was seen in the background for 14 episodes as [=MP=]Sergeant Kennedy.

* HeyItsThatGuy: Alan Alda as a young artist, Fred Gwynne as a bird expert, Creator/DickVanDyke as a baseball phenom.

* HeyItsThatGuy: Alan Alda as a young artist, Fred Gwynne as a bird expert, DickVanDyke as a baseball phenom.