Steve Wilkos

Infobox Person


image_size = 150px
name = Steven John Wilkos
|caption =
birth_date = birth date and age|1964|3|9
birth_place = Chicago, Illinois
death_date =
death_place =
other_names = Steven John Wilkos (birth name)
spouse = Rachelle Consiglio
known_for = "The Jerry Springer Show" and the "The Steve Wilkos Show"
occupation = U.S. Marine, United States Marine Corps (1982-1989), Patrolman, Chicago Police Department (1990-2001), director of security for "The Jerry Springer Show" (1994-2007), talk show host of the "The Steve Wilkos Show" (2007-present)
website = [http://www.stevewilkos.com www.stevewilkos.com] Billed weight: 240 pounds. Billed height: 6ft 3in.Steven John Wilkos (IPA|/ˈwɪlˌko(ʊ)s/, born March 9, 1964 in Chicago, Illinois)cite web|title=Steve Wilkos|url=http://www.nndb.com/people/737/000164245/ |publisher=NNDB|date=2007|accessdate=2007-12-15] is an American television personality and former U.S. Marine and Chicago police officer. cite web|last=Weller|first= Sam|title=Talk Toughs|url= http://weeklywire.com/ww/01-12-98/chicago_cover.html |work=Weekly Wire|date=1998-01-12|accessdate=2007-12-15] He currently hosts his own talk show, "The Steve Wilkos Show". Best known as the former director of security on "The Jerry Springer Show", Wilkos had previously substituted for Springer as host on many occasions before being given his own talk show. His wife Rachelle Consiglio is a supervising producer for "Springer" as well as his own show; she and Steve have two children together.cite web|title=About Steve Wilkos|url=http://wgntv.trb.com/entertainment/syn/stevewilkos/ |publisher=WGN-TV|date=2007|accessdate=2007-12-15]

Personal background

Wilkos was born to a Polish American family in 1964. After high school, he joined the United States Marine Corps, serving from 1982 to 1989, joining the Chicago Police Department in 1990. In May 1994, the producers 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. [cite web|last=Graham|first=Colin|title=Steve's Interview|url=http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Picture/5433/steve.htm?20079|date=1999|accessdate=2007-12-15] He recruited several fellow officers for the job, and worked exclusively for the show, leaving the police department in 2001.

In 2002, "Entertainment Weekly" reported that Wilkos became a professional wrestler with the Maryland Championship Wrestling, during a temporary production hiatus of "Springer". [cite web|last=Hiatt|first= Brian|title=ABC Cancels "Once and Again"|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,220962,00.html|work=Entertainment Weekly|date=2002-03-29|accessdate=2008-01-01] [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MulVYofTEr4 YouTube - MCW Steve Wilkos & Gillberg Vs. Dino Divine & Chad Bowman ] ] In 2005, Wilkos appeared as a guest on "Check, Please!", a restaurant-reviewing program on Chicago's PBS station, WTTW. [cite web|title=Vivienne on Check Please!|url=http://toyus.blogspot.com/2005/10/vivienne-on-check-please.html |work=Toyus Interruptus|date=2005-10-20|accessdate=2007-12-15]

Beyond "Springer", he has appeared in cameo roles for the show "The Simpsons" and the movie "".

Talk show

In January 2007, NBC Universal Television officially announced that Wilkos would host a talk show of his own based at NBC Tower in Chicago. The self-titled program is expected to serve as a companion to "Springer" and already has attracted the attention of major broadcasting groups, premiering on September 10, 2007 to high ratings. [cite web|last=Pursell|first=Chris|title=‘TMZ,’ ‘Wilkos’ Have Strong Debuts in Syndication|url=http://www.tvweek.com/news/2007/09/tmz_wilkos_have_strong_debuts.php |work=TV Week|date=2007-09-11|accessdate=2007-12-15] It takes a more serious side to a talk show, unlike Jerry Springer's, and most guests on the Wilkos show are child molesters, drug users, spouse abusers and disappointments to society. Wilkos often confronts and even belittles these guests, with the audience shouting to him in encouragement. He also asks many guests to take a lie detector test, which, if failed, prompts him to order the guest to leave, as he doesn't want 'scumbags' on his stage.

References

External links

* [http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/steve-wilkos/ Steve Wilkos' blog] at TVWeek.com
*imdb name|id=0929506|name=Steve Wilkos
* [http://www.stevewilkos.com The Steve Wilkos Show] Official Website