The Steve Wilkos Show

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{{Infobox television

| image = The Steve Wilkos Show Logo.png

| genre = Tabloid talk show

| creator = Steve Wilkos

| presenter = Steve Wilkos

| country = United States

| language = English

| num_seasons = 18

| num_episodes = 2,200+

| executive_producer = Rachelle Wilkos
Steve Wilkos
Jerry Springer (2007–2023)

| camera = Multiple

| runtime = 42 minutes

| company = Stamford Studios
NBCUniversal Syndication Studios

| related = Jerry Springer

| channel = Syndication

| first_aired = {{Start date|2007|9|10}}

| last_aired = present

}}

The Steve Wilkos Show is a syndicated American tabloid talk show hosted by Steve Wilkos. The series is a spin-off of the Jerry Springer show, where Wilkos was employed as head of security. The Steve Wilkos Show debuted on September 10, 2007, two months after Wilkos' departure as director of security on Jerry Springer. As of May 2024, the show is in its eighteenth season.

Description

The Steve Wilkos show is a spin-off from the Steve to the Rescue segments on Jerry Springer.{{cite web|url=http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/networktv/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003532417|title=NBCU to Launch The Steve Wilkos Show; Announces Clearances|work=Mediaweek|date=January 14, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070218055156/http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/news/networktv/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003532417|archive-date=February 18, 2007}}{{cite news|url=http://www.thehour.com/stamford_times/news/maury-jerry-springer-and-steve-wilkos-talk-shows-renewed-through/article_6153953c-b70c-11e1-a215-0019bb30f31a.html|title= 'Maury,' Jerry Springer and Steve Wilkos talk shows renewed through 2016 |work=The Stamford Times|date=July 15, 2012}}{{cite web|author=Berman, Marc|title= Mr. Television: Talking Tough |work=Mediaweek|url=http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/departments/columns/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003634183|date=September 3, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070914104220/http://www.mediaweek.com/mw/departments/columns/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003634183|archive-date=September 14, 2007}} Some of the topics he covers include adultery, domestic abuse, child molestation, child abuse, paternity, disrespectful children, teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, rape, theft, phobia, murder, kidnapping, and missing person reports.

Polygraph exams are commonly used on the show as a means of resolving issues, despite inconclusive evidence of their effectiveness/accuracy.{{cite web |url=https://fas.org/sgp/othergov/polygraph/ota/index.html |access-date=2008-02-29 |title=Scientific Validity of Polygraph Testing: A Research Review and Evaluation |publisher= Washington, DC: U.S. Congress Office of Technology Assessment |year=1983}}{{cite web |url=http://www.apa.org/monitor/julaug04/polygraph.html |access-date=2008-02-29 |date=July 2004 |title=Monitor on Psychology – The polygraph in doubt |publisher=American Psychological Association}}{{Cite book |title= The Polygraph and Lie Detection |author= Board on Behavioral, Cognitive, and Sensory Sciences and Education (BCSSE) and Committee on National Statistics (CNSTAT) |publisher= National Research Council |year= 2003 |url= http://www.nap.edu/books/0309084369/html/ |doi= 10.17226/10420 |isbn= 978-0-309-26392-4 }} ([http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10420&page=212 Chapter 8: Conclusions and Recommendations, p. 212]) Daniel Ribacoff, a polygraph expert, is commonly featured on the show to explicate polygraph results.{{Cite web|url=https://stevewilkos.com/team/daniel-ribacoff/|title=Daniel Ribacoff - Steve Wilkos|date=February 2, 2021}}

History

Wilkos has appeared twice on Maury; first in 2008,{{YouTube|xk64VZW-dm4}} and then on its 2,500th episode in 2013.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/steve-wilkos/credits/3030490336/|title=Steve Wilkos|website=TVGuide.com}}

On November 22, 2013, The Steve Wilkos Show celebrated its 1000th episode, along with Jerry Springer and Rachelle Wilkos as special guests. The episode looked back on its first seven seasons.{{Cite web|url=https://nypost.com/2013/11/21/ex-marine-steve-wilkos-battles-his-way-to-1000-episodes/|title=Ex-Marine Steve Wilkos battles his way to 1,000 episodes|last=Andrea Morabito|date=November 22, 2013|website=New York Post|access-date=September 18, 2016}}

The Steve Wilkos Show celebrated its tenth anniversary in September 2016. Steve and Rachelle Wilkos, as well as the producers, hosted a series of tributes entitled "A Decade of Steve", looking back on the first nine seasons.

Starting in the 2021-22 television season, a few television stations began removing the show from their lineup likely due to new shows debuting that would push the program into the late night and early morning hours. Some stations that pulled the show from their lineup include WXMI in Grand Rapids, Michigan, KZJO in Seattle, Washington, KTLA in Los Angeles, California, WSFL-TV in Miami, Florida, KWGN in Denver, Colorado and KSWB in San Diego, California.

Format changes

In the second season, Wilkos began dividing some episodes into two segments, each one dealing with different guests and issues. In rare cases, there can be three segments in one episode. Additionally, paternity tests and infidelity were added as topics to the show.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, executive producer Richard Dominick was forced from the program by Jerry Springer and NBC Universal Domestic Television after encouraging Wilkos to become extremely physical with a guest. Rachelle Wilkos, Wilkos's wife, and a long-time Jerry Springer crew member, became the program's executive producer.{{cite news|author=Feder, Robert|title=Choked up; Ex-'Springer' producer says he gave 'everything I had inside me'|work=Chicago Sun-Times |url=http://www.suntimes.com/business/feder/1157023,CST-FIN-feder11.article |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080911211125/http://www.suntimes.com/business/feder/1157023,CST-FIN-feder11.article|date=September 11, 2008|archive-date=September 11, 2008}}{{cite news|author=Feder, Robert|title=Fall from 'Springer'|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=September 3, 2008|url=http://www.suntimes.com:80/business/feder/1141457,CST-FIN-feder03.article|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906080331/http://www.suntimes.com:80/business/feder/1141457,CST-FIN-feder03.article|archive-date=September 6, 2008|access-date=August 27, 2018}} Steve Wilkos admitted to being dissatisfied with the show's first season, saying "All I did was yell at everybody and throw people off the stage. There was no level of emotion -- just hardcore yelling." Upon his wife taking over, she encouraged him to be himself and go with his "gut."{{cite news|url=http://www.zimbio.com/Zimbio+Exclusive+Interviews/articles/6-6mGyY77r2/Steve+Wilkos+Gets+Touch+Softer+Side|title=Steve Wilkos Gets in Touch with His Softer Side|date=February 12, 2015|first=Joey|last=Skladany|publisher=Zimbio}}

Notable episodes

Some episodes of the show have led to guests being arrested or convicted of crimes:

In November 2011, Norwich, Connecticut police arrested Burke Bergman after he failed a lie detector test about molesting his son, in the episode "3 Possible Dads, 1 Possible Molester?", which aired on September 19, 2011.{{cite web|url=http://www.norwichbulletin.com/x189904102/Man-arrested-after-TV-appearance|title=Taftville man arrested after TV appearance|work=The Bulletin|place=Norwich, CT|date=November 2, 2011|last=Smith|first=Greg|access-date=January 8, 2019}}
Five months following the October 3, 2012 episode "Did You Rape My Daughter?", guest Shaun Whitt was arrested in Flagler County, Florida on charges of molesting his then-11-year-old step-daughter beginning in 2010. In September 2014, Whitt was convicted and sentenced to life in prison on count one and to thirty years in prison on count two.{{cite web | url=https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/crime/2014/09/17/32-year-old-palm-coast-man-gets-life-prison-rape-minor/15788201007/ | title=32-year-old Palm Coast man gets life in prison for rape of minor }}
The May 6, 2015 episode "Did You Violate Our Trust...and Our Children?"{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/the-steve-wilkos-show/episodes-season-8/1000255770/|title=The Steve Wilkos Show|website=TVGuide.com}} led to the arrest of 22-year-old Dameion McBride in Kansas City, Missouri for molesting three children.{{cite web|url=https://fox4kc.com/2015/07/15/kansas-city-charged-with-child-molestation-after-appearing-on-daytime-talk-show/|title=Kansas City metro man charged with 1st degree murder after appearing on daytime talk show|last=Babbitt|first=Kasey|publisher=WDAF|work=Fox4KC.com|access-date=January 8, 2019|date=July 15, 2015}} McBride was convicted in late 2016 and sentenced to 10 years in prison.{{cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/steve-wilkos-helps-bust-perv-article-1.2975778|title=Steve Wilkos helps bust perv, failed TV lie detector test launches police investigation |last=Kaplan|first=Don|work=New York Daily News|date=February 19, 2017|access-date=January 8, 2019}}
Nearly a week after the May 15, 2017 broadcast of the episode "Horrific Child Abuse Caught on Video",{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/the-steve-wilkos-show/episodes-season-10/1000255770/|title=The Steve Wilkos Show|website=TVGuide.com}} police in Waynesboro, Pennsylvania arrested 21-year-old Jessica Lynn Samick on 2 charges of 1st degree murder. She was suspected of murdering and killing a one-year-old boy whom she was babysitting.{{cite web |last=Metrick |first=Becky |date=May 24, 2017 |title=Update: Charges filed in Waynesboro murder case featured on Steve Wilkos Show |url=https://www.publicopiniononline.com/story/news/crime/2017/05/23/woman-accused-burning-beating-toddler-charged-after-video-abuse-went-viral/339766001/ |access-date=January 8, 2019 |work=Public Opinion |place=Chambersburg, PA}}{{cite web |last=Metrick |first=Becky |date=April 19, 2018 |title=Family's plea stops agreement in child abuse case featured on Steve Wilkos Show |url=https://www.publicopiniononline.com/story/news/crime/2018/04/19/familys-plea-stops-agreement-child-abuse-case-featured-steve-wilkos-show/529743002/ |access-date=January 8, 2019 |work=Public Opinion |place=Chambersburg, PA}}

Broadcast history and release

Wilkos' third season premiered on September 14, 2009, originating from the Stamford Media Center in Stamford, Connecticut. Production of the show had relocated from Chicago to Stamford earlier that year, complete with a new studio.{{Cite web|last=Andrea Morabito|date=2013-11-22|title=Ex-Marine Steve Wilkos battles his way to 1,000 episodes|url=https://nypost.com/2013/11/21/ex-marine-steve-wilkos-battles-his-way-to-1000-episodes/|access-date=2021-02-26|website=New York Post|language=en-US}} Fellow NBC-Universal talkers Maury and Jerry Springer made the move, as well.{{Cite web|url=http://www.stevewilkos.com/2009/09/the-new-studio.php|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926170730/http://www.stevewilkos.com/2009/09/the-new-studio.php|url-status=dead|title=The new studio – Steve Wilkos|archivedate=September 26, 2009}}

In May 2022, it was announced that The Steve Wilkos Show had been renewed for a sixteenth season.{{cite web |last1=Petski |first1=Denise |title='The Steve Wilkos Show' Renewed For Season 16 In National Syndication |url=https://deadline.com/2022/05/the-steve-wilkos-show-renewed-season-16-national-syndication-1235017410/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=May 5, 2022}} On March 21, 2023, the show was renewed for a seventeenth season.{{cite web |last1=Rice |first1=Lynette |title='The Steve Wilkos Show' Renewed for 17th Season |url=https://deadline.com/2023/03/the-steve-wilkos-show-renewed-17th-season-1235304709/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=March 21, 2023}} The show was renewed for an eighteenth season on March 27, 2024.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2024/03/the-steve-wilkos-show-renewed-season-18-syndication-1235868954/ |title='The Steve Wilkos Show' Renewed For Season 18 In National Syndication |last=Petski |first=Denise |work=Deadline Hollywood |date=March 27, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328012205/https://deadline.com/2024/03/the-steve-wilkos-show-renewed-season-18-syndication-1235868954/ |archive-date=March 28, 2024}}

Reception

=Critical reception=

After attending tapings of the show in August 2007, Chicago Sun-Times TV critic Mike Thomas said of Wilkos: "...his toughness is tempered by tenderness".{{cite web|last=Thomas|first=Mike|title=Tough but tender|url=http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/522546,CST-FTR-steve23.article|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=August 23, 2007|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20070825103804/http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/522546,CST-FTR-steve23.article|archive-date=August 25, 2007|access-date=August 14, 2024|url-status=dead}}

Brian Lowry of Variety had a negative review of the first week of shows, calling them "tawdry" and adding: "If Wilkos and company really cared, one suspects they'd bypass the televised morality plays, spare tearful teenagers from watching their father humiliated and go straight to the cops for restraining orders, but that's not nearly as cathartic as getting in people's grills and yelling at them."{{cite web|last=Lowry|first=Brian|title=The Steve Wilkos Show|url=https://variety.com/2007/scene/markets-festivals/the-steve-wilkos-show-1200556394/|work=Variety|date=September 12, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018172207/http://variety.com/review/VE1117934698.html?categoryid=32&cs=1|archive-date=October 18, 2007|access-date=August 14, 2024|url-status=dead}}

=Television viewership and ratings=

The show's first season had the highest-rated premiere of fall 2007, with a Nielsen rating of 1.1.{{Cite web|last=Albiniak|first=Paige|date=September 11, 2007|title=Syndication Ratings: The Steve Wilkos Show Leads Pack|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/syndication-ratings-steve-wilkos-show-leads-pack-30650|access-date=2021-02-26|website=Broadcasting Cable|language=en}} From 2007 to 2014, the show had the highest rating growth out of any syndicated talk show, especially among households and women aged 25 to 54.{{Cite web|title=Ratings – "The Steve Wilkos Show" Posts Strong November Sweeps Ratings {{!}} TheFutonCritic.com|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2014/12/10/the-steve-wilkos-show-posts-strong-november-sweeps-ratings-829311/20141210nbc03/|access-date=2021-02-26|website=www.thefutoncritic.com}} In November 2014, the show had a Nielsen rating of 1.5,{{Cite web|last=Walsten|first=Jessika|date=December 10, 2014|title=The Steve Wilkos Show Posts Strong November Sweeps Ratings|url=https://www.nexttv.com/post-type-the-wire/steve-wilkos-show-posts-strong-november-sweeps-ratings-136282|access-date=2021-02-26|website=Broadcasting Cable|language=en}} with an estimated 1.8 million daily viewers.{{Cite web|date=2014-10-06|title='Maury,' 'Jerry Springer Show,' 'Steve Wilkos' Get Two-Season Renewals|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/maury-jerry-springer-show-steve-738344|access-date=2021-02-26|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en}} As of March 2020, the show averaged a 1.0 Nielsen rating, with 1.4 million daily viewers according to NBCU.{{Cite web|last=Albiniak|first=Paige|date=March 5, 2020|title='Steve Wilkos' Joins 'Maury' With Two-Season Renewal|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/steve-wilkos-joins-maury-with-two-season-renewal|access-date=2021-02-26|website=Broadcasting Cable|language=en}}