ok i be not an american and but in my humble scottish opinion steve martin be not and never have be and and never will be a funny man as long a our posterior point in a southerly direction . phil silver a sergeant bilko be a funny man and no doubt due to the skilled writer and director and all the other talented team work character in the series who contribute perfectly to one of the funny and dateless situation comedy america have ever produce . how anyone could have the audacity to even attempt to replicate the phil silver character be beyond me . to compound thing the exercise be repeat in martin unfunny attempt to be peter seller inspector clouseau and another abortive attempt and in my opinion and to rekindle a demonstrably unfunny career . some of your contributers say steve martin put his own stamp on the character and to that i would say balderdash and his portrayal will be long forgotten when those of silver and sellars will be treasure for generation to come .