Steve Wilkos
Encyclopedia
Steven John "Steve" Wilkos (icon; born March 9, 1964) is an America
n television personality, a former U.S. Marine
and officer with the Chicago police
. He currently hosts his own talk show, The Steve Wilkos Show
, but is best known as the former director of security on The Jerry Springer Show
. Wilkos had previously substituted for Springer
as host on several occasions before being given his own talk show.
, serving from 1982 to 1989. He joined the Chicago Police Department
in 1990. His wife, Rachelle Wilkos
, is the executive producer for Springer as well as his own show; Steve and Rachelle have two children, Ruby (born 2004) and Jack (born 2006). They lived in Park Ridge, Illinois
while working in Chicago. Steve and his family currently reside in the Stamford, Connecticut
area where the show is now taped.
of The Jerry Springer Show
, taped in Chicago, needed security guards for a Ku Klux Klan
-related show, so they decided to hire off-duty police. Wilkos then worked part-time for Springer security. He recruited several fellow officers for the job, and worked exclusively for the show, leaving the police department in 2001.
Entertainment Weekly
reported that Wilkos became a professional wrestler
with the Maryland Championship Wrestling
, during a temporary production hiatus of Springer. In 2005, Wilkos appeared as a guest on Check, Please!
, a restaurant-reviewing program on Chicago's PBS station, WTTW
.
Beyond Springer, he has made cameo appearances on the TV series Between Brothers
, The Wayans Bros.
and The Simpsons
, and in the movie Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
where he was seen as a security guard for Jerry Springer
.
officially announced that Wilkos would host a talk show of his own based at NBC Tower
in Chicago. The self-titled program premiered on September 10, 2007 to high ratings.
While performing security functions at The Jerry Springer Show, Steve would occasionally step in to interrupt or separate guests that would get involved in physical altercations. During his attempt to separate the fighting party, the crowd would sometimes call out his name, "STEVE! STEVE! STEVE!" in support of his actions. Other times, he would be the subject of flirtatious comments by either the invited guests or the audience, afterwards someone in the crowd would again call his name out. This action replicated itself on his own show, often substituting applause for "STEVE! STEVE! STEVE!" as a sign of approval.
As of August 2009, the show has moved its filming location to Stamford, Connecticut.
On October 25, 2010, NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution announced “The Steve Wilkos Show” has been renewed through September 2014.
The show started airing on Living 2, then Living it and later, Sky Living.
The show was parodied on the adult television cartoon, The Boondocks, with John DiMaggio
voicing Wilkos.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
n television personality, a former U.S. Marine
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
and officer with the Chicago police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
. He currently hosts his own talk show, The Steve Wilkos Show
The Steve Wilkos Show
The Steve Wilkos Show is a syndicated American tabloid talk show hosted by Steve Wilkos. The show debuted on September 10, 2007, two months after Wilkos' departure as director of security on The Jerry Springer Show.-History:...
, but is best known as the former director of security on The Jerry Springer Show
The Jerry Springer Show
The Jerry Springer Show is a syndicated television tabloid talk show hosted by Jerry Springer, a former politician, broadcast in the United States and other countries...
. Wilkos had previously substituted for Springer
Jerry Springer
Gerald Norman "Jerry" Springer is a British-born American television presenter, best known as host of the tabloid talk show The Jerry Springer Show since its debut in 1991...
as host on several occasions before being given his own talk show.
Personal background
Wilkos was born in Chicago, Illinois. He graduated from Lane Technical High School in 1982 then joined the United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, serving from 1982 to 1989. He joined the Chicago Police Department
Chicago Police Department
The Chicago Police Department, also known as the CPD, is the principal law enforcement agency of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States, under the jurisdiction of the Mayor of Chicago. It is the largest police department in the Midwest and the second largest local law enforcement agency in the...
in 1990. His wife, Rachelle Wilkos
Rachelle Consiglio
Rachelle Lynn Consiglio-Wilkos is an American television producer.Wilkos is a former senior producer on The Jerry Springer Show and, now executive producer of the The Steve Wilkos Show .When longtime Springer executive producer...
, is the executive producer for Springer as well as his own show; Steve and Rachelle have two children, Ruby (born 2004) and Jack (born 2006). They lived in Park Ridge, Illinois
Park Ridge, Illinois
-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 37,775 people, 14,219 households, and 10,465 families residing in the city. The population density was 5,374.6 people per square mile . There were 14,646 housing units at an average density of 2,083.8 per square mile...
while working in Chicago. Steve and his family currently reside in the Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford, Connecticut
Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...
area where the show is now taped.
The Jerry Springer Show
In May 1994, the producersTelevision producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
of The Jerry Springer Show
The Jerry Springer Show
The Jerry Springer Show is a syndicated television tabloid talk show hosted by Jerry Springer, a former politician, broadcast in the United States and other countries...
, taped in Chicago, needed security guards for a Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan
Ku Klux Klan, often abbreviated KKK and informally known as the Klan, is the name of three distinct past and present far-right organizations in the United States, which have advocated extremist reactionary currents such as white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-immigration, historically...
-related show, so they decided to hire off-duty police. Wilkos then worked part-time for Springer security. He recruited several fellow officers for the job, and worked exclusively for the show, leaving the police department in 2001.
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
reported that Wilkos became a professional wrestler
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
with the Maryland Championship Wrestling
Maryland Championship Wrestling
Maryland Championship Wrestling is a regional independent wrestling promotion based in Dundalk, Maryland, and has regularly run events in the Mid-Atlantic region since the late 1990s as well as participating in numerous fundraising events throughout the state.Rivaling other east coast independent...
, during a temporary production hiatus of Springer. In 2005, Wilkos appeared as a guest on Check, Please!
Check, Please!
Check, Please! is a popular restaurant review program that airs on Chicago's PBS member station WTTW. The show first aired in 2001.The format of the show is very simple: three everyday people, from anywhere in the greater Chicago area, sit down with a host to discuss three eating establishments,...
, a restaurant-reviewing program on Chicago's PBS station, WTTW
WTTW
WTTW channel 11 is one of three Public Broadcasting Service member public television stations serving the Chicago, Illinois market; the others are WYCC and WYIN. WTTW began broadcasting on September 6, 1955 and it is owned and operated by Window to the World Communications, Inc., a not-for-profit...
.
Beyond Springer, he has made cameo appearances on the TV series Between Brothers
Between Brothers
Between Brothers is an American television situation comedy centered around four middle-class African American men in their late twenties, living in Chicago. It premiered on September 11, 1997 on Fox, with the second season airing on UPN, until March 2, 1999. The lead characters were portrayed...
, The Wayans Bros.
The Wayans Bros.
The Wayans Bros. is a situation comedy that aired from 1995 to 1999 on The WB. The series starred real-life brothers Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans. Both brothers were already well-known from the sketch comedy show In Living Color...
and The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, and in the movie Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me
Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, released in 1999, is the second film in the Austin Powers series that began with 1997's Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery and continued with Austin Powers in Goldmember. The film was directed by Jay Roach, co-written by Mike Myers and screenwriter...
where he was seen as a security guard for Jerry Springer
Jerry Springer
Gerald Norman "Jerry" Springer is a British-born American television presenter, best known as host of the tabloid talk show The Jerry Springer Show since its debut in 1991...
.
The Steve Wilkos Show
In January 2007, NBC Universal TelevisionNBC Universal Television
NBCUniversal Television Group is an American and global television production/distribution company and a subsidiary of NBCUniversal.The company is composed of six divisions: Universal Television , NBC Universal Television Stations, NBCUniversal Television Distribution, NBCUniversal...
officially announced that Wilkos would host a talk show of his own based at NBC Tower
NBC Tower
The NBC Tower is an office tower on the Near north side of Chicago, Illinois, United States located at 454 North Columbus Drive in downtown Chicago's Magnificent Mile area. Completed in 1989, the 37-story building reaches a height of 627 feet...
in Chicago. The self-titled program premiered on September 10, 2007 to high ratings.
While performing security functions at The Jerry Springer Show, Steve would occasionally step in to interrupt or separate guests that would get involved in physical altercations. During his attempt to separate the fighting party, the crowd would sometimes call out his name, "STEVE! STEVE! STEVE!" in support of his actions. Other times, he would be the subject of flirtatious comments by either the invited guests or the audience, afterwards someone in the crowd would again call his name out. This action replicated itself on his own show, often substituting applause for "STEVE! STEVE! STEVE!" as a sign of approval.
As of August 2009, the show has moved its filming location to Stamford, Connecticut.
On October 25, 2010, NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution announced “The Steve Wilkos Show” has been renewed through September 2014.
The show started airing on Living 2, then Living it and later, Sky Living.
The show was parodied on the adult television cartoon, The Boondocks, with John DiMaggio
John DiMaggio
John William DiMaggio is an American voice actor. A native of North Plainfield, New Jersey, he is known for his gruff, deep voice and New Jersey accent, which he uses to voice mainly villains and anti-heroes.-Filmography:...
voicing Wilkos.
External links
- The Steve Wilkos Show Official Website
- Steve Wilkos' blog at TVWeek.com