"The Phil Silvers Show" billed as greatest sitcom ever
Monday,September29,2003,11:23 AM
London-AP -- A British magazine has rated a nearly 50-year-old American T-V show the greatest sitcom ever. "The Phil Silvers Show" beat out "Seinfeld" for the title.
That's according to the "Radio Times Guide to T-V Comedy." It's a weekly magazine published by the B-B-C.
"The Phil Silvers Show" was the saga of the work-shy, money-grubbing Sergeant Bilko. It ended in 1959 after four years on T-V. But late night reruns continued for years on British television.
The list was compiled by author and T-V historian Mark Lewisohn, who calls the Bilko show "sitcom's high-water mark." He says the show has been "buried and forgotten in America, while in Britain it is still revered."
Also included in the top 20 sitcoms are MASH at number seven, "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" at number 12 and "The Simpsons" sneaking onto the list at 20.
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