The Steve Wilkos Show: Difference between revisions

The Steve Wilkos Show
File:Stevewilkos-logo.png
Genre	Talk show
Presented by	Steve Wilkos
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	140+
Production
Executive producers	Richard Dominick, Jerry Springer
Production locations	NBC Tower, Chicago
Running time	60 minutes (with commercials); 48 minutes (without commercials)
Original release
Network	Syndicated WGN America
Release	September 10, 2007 – present
Related
The Jerry Springer Show

The Steve Wilkos Show is a syndicated American talk show which is hosted by the former director of security on The Jerry Springer Show, Steve Wilkos. The show debuted on September 10, 2007.

The show currently airs weekdays in daytime syndication and is also carried nationally on cable network WGN America, airing in a late-night slot from Sunday-Thursday (technically Monday-Friday). The series is produced by NBC Universal Television, but does not air on any NBC O&O's (owned and operated stations) like its sister show Springer. Like Springer, this show also is based in Chicago at the NBC Tower studios of WMAQ-TV.

The show has Wilkos expanding on his successful "Steve To The Rescue" shows that he did while serving as a substitute for Springer whenever Springer took breaks or was doing other projects.^[1] The idea of Wilkos having his own show came as a result of this approach, which proved to be so popular with viewers that the producers of "Springer" pitched the idea to NBC Universal to give Steve his own show. In July 2007, Wilkos left Springer to start focusing on his foray into talk television. The self-titled program is expected to serve as a companion to both "Springer" and Maury and attracted the attention of major television broadcasters, most notably the Tribune and Sinclair broadcasting groups, who cleared the show for their stations.^[2]

To start each episode, Wilkos introduces a guest, informing the audience of the problem and asking the guest questions related to their issues. Third parties may then join them after the guest has answered a few questions. Typical problems include teens involved in dangerous situations, drug abuse, physical abuse, parental neglect, alcoholism, and prostitution.^[3] Wilkos typically conducts the proceedings in a direct, confrontational, "tough love"-style, often screaming at or mocking his guests. He constantly employs a threatening stance over his guests. As Wilkos is both very tall & stocky, his looming presence is very imposing. When his guests become obstinate, he will typically walk over to them and lean in, either face to face or straightened up with arms crossed. Name-calling is frequently utilized in his interview style with the words "bitch", "moron" and "scumbag" being his most frequently used insults. Threats of violence are also quite common. Sometimes shows involve the guests submitting to lie detector or drug tests.

Wilkos is known for refusing certain guests the privilege of sitting down; if he becomes disgusted with a guest's irresponsibility or obstinacy, he may assert that they do not deserve to sit and order them to stand. If they sit without his permission, he usually throws the chair across the stage (a few times, he threw the chairs with such force that it knocks the sign off the wall, or has stuck in the sign itself). At times Wilkos will throw chairs (after the guest has complied to stand) with the simple purpose of releasing anger.

Whenever a guest decides to run off stage, as has happened on occasion, Wilkos sometimes follows them off the stage, still berating and mocking them.

Additionally, he occasionally commands guests to "get off my stage" if he is angered to the point of rage.

Other shows involve Wilkos going on location to either help people out of a bad situation (homelessness, prostitution, drug dealing) or to be on hand for an arrest of a criminal. Sometimes Wilkos will go into prisons for these on-location shows, usually talking to child molesters and murderers. These shows typically air on Fridays.

Physical altercations have been known to occur on the show. In one episode, "Step Brother Rapist", Wilkos was attacked on stage by a man who failed a lie detector test. However, unlike The Jerry Springer Show, security rarely interferes with the altercations that take place on stage. During the frequent occasion when a male guest may threaten him, Wilkos usually tauntingly provokes a response for the guest to hit him. His most iconic provoking action is turning his back, provoking the guest to "take a swing" at him. However, during the run of the first 70+ episodes of the series, no guest has ever followed through on their threats towards Wilkos despite his provoking actions.

At the end of the show, if time permits, Wilkos will either read feedback from viewers (in a segment called "Steve's Mailbag") or field questions from the studio audience pertaining to the show's guest. "Steve's Mailbag" usually features one letter from a fan and a critic; the positive letters laud Wilkos for his approach, and their senders receive an autographed show T-shirt. Critical letters take issue with Wilkos' approach and are often mocked by Wilkos; he has referred to their senders as "belly-rubbers", "knuckleheads" and "morons". He repeatedly says to these people "Hey, this is moron-free TV, and you're not allowed to watch!" He typically ends the show by shaking hands with the audience members as they leave the studio.

• Official site
• Steve's show on MySpace
• Steve's show on YouTube