Steve Wilkos Quotes

I’m a big believer in personal responsibility. My life wasn’t always peaches and roses. Where I am today is through a belief in hard work and never saying no.

I’ve been watching ‘Pawn Stars’ every week for the last year. I like learning about the history behind the items that people bring into the pawnshop. I actually pawned a ring once that a woman sent to me while I was on ‘Jerry Springer.’ It was really gaudy.

I went home one night and told my dad that an older kid was picking on me. My Dad, a Korean War vet and a Chicago cop for 30 years, told me, ‘You better pick up a brick and hit him in the head.’ That’s when I thought, ‘Wow, I’m going to have to start dealing with things in a different way.’

I couldn’t do my show without spending 12 years on the streets of Humboldt Park. It made me a better interrogator. Still, if they had taken me out of my squad car and gave me a show, I would’ve been terrible. But on ‘Springer,’ the spotlight was on Jerry and I got to grow up within the show.

It’s basically taking a 911 call, bringing them on stage and dealing with it just like when I was a Chicago policeman for 12 years. I personally become involved. Where Jerry lets people tell their story and lets everything happen on stage, I kind of go after the bad guy and protect the little guy.

I’d take a bullet for just about anyone! If someone pulled out a gun, I’d step in front of you even though I’ve never met you.

My show is not just a cop hosting a talk show – the two are completely different. My show is about helping people stand up to the bad guy.