TV Guide called this "one of the greatest episodes in TV history." It guest stars Fred Gwynne, who was a nobody at this time but went on to fame in "Car 54 Where Are You" and "The Munsters. Well, I wouldn't go that far. It was good but not that good, in my opinion.
Gwynne plays "Pvt. Ed 'The Stomach' Honnegan," a key figure in Ernie Bilko's plan to win the annual Company A vs. Company B eating contest held at Fort Baxter.
Bilko's Company B platoon just lost the annual football game, 68-0, and he's tired of always losing to "A" company. When new recruit Honnegan arrives, Bilko has no idea who he is but only knows he's no athlete and won't help him win any contests....until Rocco recognizes him and tells the Sarge that Ed is a world-famous eater who always wins the army eating contests.
Now it's time for Ernie to scheme again, trying, as always to win a big bet. This time, it's going to be his man against "Hog Henderson" of Company A. It was interesting to see Murray Hamilton in here at Bilko's opposite. (Hamilton played the town mayor in the "Jaws" films of the '70s, among many other roles.)
The contest is set, but trouble erupts - doesn't it always to Bilko? - when "The Stomach" tells Ernie why he no longer has his famous appetite. Bilko and the boys make sure he gets it back!
A sweet, feel-good ending to this funny episode, too.
Gwynne plays "Pvt. Ed 'The Stomach' Honnegan," a key figure in Ernie Bilko's plan to win the annual Company A vs. Company B eating contest held at Fort Baxter.
Bilko's Company B platoon just lost the annual football game, 68-0, and he's tired of always losing to "A" company. When new recruit Honnegan arrives, Bilko has no idea who he is but only knows he's no athlete and won't help him win any contests....until Rocco recognizes him and tells the Sarge that Ed is a world-famous eater who always wins the army eating contests.
Now it's time for Ernie to scheme again, trying, as always to win a big bet. This time, it's going to be his man against "Hog Henderson" of Company A. It was interesting to see Murray Hamilton in here at Bilko's opposite. (Hamilton played the town mayor in the "Jaws" films of the '70s, among many other roles.)
The contest is set, but trouble erupts - doesn't it always to Bilko? - when "The Stomach" tells Ernie why he no longer has his famous appetite. Bilko and the boys make sure he gets it back!
A sweet, feel-good ending to this funny episode, too.
