One of the more unique perks of living in Stamford is being close by for free tapings of daytime TV talk shows, including "The Steve Wilkos Show," "The Jerry Springer Show," and "Maury." If you've been driving past that flashing marquee on Tresser Boulevard past couple of years and have never been to a taping, it’s truly one of those things that you need to experience, even just to be able to say that you were there.

Steve Wilkos is the host of NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution's nationally syndicated series "The Steve Wilkos Show." Now in its fourth season, the show airs locally on WPIX-TV Channel 11 at noon. Just last week, "The Steve Wilkos Show" reported the largest year-to-year ratings gain among daytime talk shows, up 17 percent. Prior to starting a show of his own, Wilkos filled in for Jerry Springer as host of the long-running "The Jerry Springer Show" on more than 50 episodes.

"The Steve Wilkos Show" tapes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Rich Forum  and a shuttle bus is provided for audience members coming from New York City. You can request free tickets for an upcoming show at the show's website.

This past Wednesday, I arrived at the Rich Forum at 1:45 p.m., unquestionably early for the taping. A few other early guests posed for photos outside the building. Staff members kindly waved us to an open door and allowed us wait inside and out of the cold.

Julia Lee, daughters Danielle and Jennifer, and Jennifer’s boyfriend Marvin Flores, were among the first in line for the third taping of the day. The group had traveled an hour-and-a-half from Long Island to see the show.

"I can’t wait to see Steve and to see all of the people he has on the show," Danielle Lee told Patch.

"He's more real than some of the other shows, you can tell he really cares about the issues and about children," Julia Lee said.

As audience members waited inside the front doors, a buzz ran through the crowd and guests exchanged notes about their other favorite television personalities — from Maury Povich to Dr. Mehmet Oz — and discussed the daytime television news of the week— Regis Philbin’s retirement. Some audience members rattled off facts about Wilkos, and all were excited to see the television personality in action.

Within the half-hour, we began to move through the metal detectors and into the audience waiting area. Cardboard cutouts of Wilkos, Springer and Povich keep watch over the room. 

"The Steve Wilkos Show" recommends business casual attire and encourages audience members to dress in jewel-tones and solid colors for the camera. The majority of the men in the audience were in jeans and button-down shirts; women wore jeans, brightly-colored sweaters and various shades of Uggs.

Televisions in the waiting area displayed footage being taped inside the studio during the show’s second taping of the day. As that show ended, staff members gave a final warning on restrooms — there aren’t any once you’re inside the studio — and we were off to the taping.

The set of “The Steve Wilkos Show” looks smaller than you would expect, but Steve himself is still larger than life. The guests, well, just like on television, it’s easy to forget that you’re not watching a play and that these people are for real.

Wilkos often takes questions before the tapings and made time to come back out afterwards to say goodbye to the audience.

“That’s our show, that’s real life, you can’t help everyone,” Wilkos said to the audience. “Thanks for coming and we hope you’ll come back soon.”

As the crowd poured back down the hallway, you just knew that many were already planning their next visits.