Jerry Springer's Steve gets own talkshow

Jerry Springer's security guard Steve Wilkos has landed his own talkshow.

The bald-headed, ex-Chicago police officer will be "offering advice and doling out his own version of justice" in the daily one-hour show, which is due to air in the US from the Autumn.

The as-yet untitled series will be filmed in front of a live studio audience at WMAQ-TV Chicago, the home of The Jerry Springer Show for the past sixteen years. Richard Dominick, ep of Jerry, will also serve as ep on the new show.

Wilkos has become synonymous with the show since he joined in 1993, and has even filled in as guest host in Jerry's absence over the past two seasons.

"It's truly incredible that I first came to work part-time with Jerry and Richard some 14 years ago and here I am now getting my own show," said Wilkos. "I believe my Marine training of what is right and what is wrong and the street smarts I picked up as a police officer, will assist me in helping my guests get through the hard times they face each day."

The series has already been sold to Tribune and Sinclair station in some of the top US markets, including to WPIX-TV New York, KTLA-TV Los Angeles, WGN-TV Chicago, WPHL-TV Philadelphia, WTTA-TV Tampa, WPGH-TV Pittsburgh, WNUV-TV Baltimore and WLFL-TV Raleigh. In most markets the show will air back-to-back with Jerry and The Maury Show, also from NBCU.

"Steve and I have been working on this project for many years and it's very exciting to see it come to fruition," said Dominick. "If you are rich and need help, you can call a lawyer or a doctor. For ordinary people, when they have a problem, they call the police and now they can call Steve. America needs a hero and now they have one."

Springer added: "I am thrilled that Steve is getting his own shot and the fact that we will be paired back-to-back in many markets starting next season will make for a very strong lineup. The question now is, how well can he dance?"