In 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the show was recorded without studio audience involvement due to social distancing regulations, with only a certain number of in-person guests allowed in-studio and others joined virtually (via video chat).

On November 9, 2021, Wilkos announced on social media that his show would once again allow in-studio live audiences.

Some stations that pulled the show from their lineup include WXMI in Grand Rapids, Michigan, KZJO in Seattle, Washington, KTLA in Los Angeles, California, WSFL-TV in Miami, Florida, KWGN in Denver, Colorado and KSWB in San Diego, California.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, executive producer Richard Dominick was forced from the program by Jerry Springer and NBC Universal Domestic Television after encouraging Wilkos to become extremely physical with a guest.

[11][12] Steve Wilkos admitted to being dissatisfied with the show's first season, saying "All I did was yell at everybody and throw people off the stage.

[26] After attending tapings of the show in August 2007, Chicago Sun-Times TV critic Mike Thomas said of Wilkos: "...his toughness is tempered by tenderness".

[27] Brian Lowry of Variety had a negative review of the first week of shows, calling them "tawdry" and adding: "If Wilkos and company really cared, one suspects they'd bypass the televised morality plays, spare tearful teenagers from watching their father humiliated and go straight to the cops for restraining orders, but that's not nearly as cathartic as getting in people's grills and yelling at them.