STEVE WILKOS WILL AIR TWO PART SERIES

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A VERY SPECIAL STEVE WILKOS SHOW
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Steve Wilkos On Set With Teenage Girls

NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution's "The Steve Wilkos Show" will air a special two-part series on the problems facing teenage girls on Thursday March 26 & Friday March 27th (nationally syndicated, check local listings).Close to 200 young girls between the age of 14 and 17 joined Wilkos in Chicago to openly discuss drugs, pregnancy, social networking and other issues facing teen girls across the country. The teen's parents or guardians all took in the show from a separate screening area."As the father of two young children and as a former police officer, I wanted to have an open, frank discussion with a group of teen-age girls who are going through a critical time in their lives,” says Wilkos. "This was an emotional experience for all involved and I truly believe we made an impact on those in attendance. Now I hope these episodes have a similar impact on our TV audience." Wilkos spoke with a number of teen girls facing a variety of obstacles, including a 17-year-old heroin addict. The girl said she began using drugs when she was 11 and by the time she was 14, she was addicted to heroin. Another guest told Wilkos about the shame she experienced because of a video that was posted on an Internet social networking site. One guest talked about becoming pregnant at 16 and the problems facing a single parent at such a young age. "I can't go out to the mall or the movies because I have a son to take care of," the girl said. "I had to grow up. I'm a baby that has a baby. I literally have to decide do I pay my electric bill or buy my son diapers, clothes. I make that decision every month. My son relies on me to live everyday.""The shows were so effective because of Steve's clear interest in what these young women had to say. He wanted to learn from them, as much as he hoped that they would learn from him. He wasn't just another adult telling them what to do. There was mutual respect," says Jim Basile, a family therapist, who oversees the show's aftercare program.After the tapings, a woman with tears in her eyes hugged her daughter and Steve, telling him, ”You have given me the tools and the ability to talk to my child." For more information, please go to www.SteveWilkos.com.

Comments

Anonymous said…

Steve Wilkos is, in my opinion, way over his head and doesn’t realize it. Little knowledge is, in this case as in most, is more dangerous than no knowledge at all. He means well but, no one has told him yet that he is not qualified in the topics on the stage he calls his own. I would also suggest that he may have more problems within, than most of his guests. How else would one explain the tantrums, the chair throwing and the complete lack of control that he shows. I liked the guy better when he was himself but, he brings to mind a great quote: somethimes it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open you mouth and remove all doubt.
I will close by saying to NBC that, if you think that the Steve Wilkos show is uplifting to the morals of our young and that they will get any good from watching this display of utter incompetence, then you, as his employers, need to be educated as well.
WP

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