Maury Povich Talks About Working in San Francisco in 1978! – Watch Kirsten Moran chat with Maury Povich, who returns September 21, 2015 for his 18th season as host of NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution’s syndicated hit talk show “Maury.” Povich is the only person in the history of syndicated television to have back-to-back-to-back successes. This string of success spans over 20+ years, beginning with the groundbreaking Fox newsmagazine “A Current Affair” (1986-1990), Paramount’s “The Maury Povich Show” (1991-1998), and “Maury” (1998-present). For the past year, ‘Maury’ has held the #1 syndicated talk show in demographic ratings for women ages 18-34, adults 18-34, women 18-49, adults 18-49 and adults 25-54.
Povich’s broadcast journalism roots took hold more than 40 years ago in his native Washington, D.C. where he began as a radio street reporter, which led to news, talk and sports shows on WTTG-TV, a local Metromedia station. Povich was the original host of a two-hour daily live news talk show titled “PANORAMA,” which became a television staple for those working on Capitol Hill and in the White House. It was the only midday news show in the nation’s capital before the advent of the 24-hour cable news networks.
During the tumultuous 60’s and 70’s, Povich covered the aftermath of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, riots in Washington following the death of Martin Luther King, Jr., anti-war demonstrations during the Vietnam War and the historic events of Watergate.
In 1977, after 15 years in Washington broadcast journalism, Povich left his hometown and over the next seven years anchored newscasts for ABC, CBS and NBC owned and operated stations in Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Philadelphia. While in Los Angeles at the CBS station, Povich co-anchored the news with his future wife-to-be, Connie Chung. He then returned to WTTG-TV in Washington to host “PANORAMA” and the 10 o’clock news in 1983. That station and the Metromedia group were sold to Rupert Murdoch in 1985 and became Fox Television. In 1986, Murdoch brought Povich to New York to help create and host the maverick newsmagazine “A Current Affair,” which became an instant hit and changed the face of network and cable news.
Povich served two consecutive terms as president of the New York Chapter of the National Television Academy (NTA). Previous presidents of the New York Chapter of the (NTA) have included such luminary figures as Ed Sullivan and Walter Cronkite. In March 2006, Povich received the prestigious Governor’s Award from the New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. The award recognizes individuals whose achievements in the television industry are exemplary.
Povich heads MoPo Entertainment, which produces original programming content and won an Academy Award in 2003 for Best Documentary Short, “Twin Towers,” of which Povich was an executive producer.
In May of 2007, Povich and his wife, Connie Chung, launched the “Flathead Beacon”, a daily on-line and weekly printed newspaper in Flathead Valley, Mont., where they own a home. In 2013, they acquired the quarterly lifestyle magazine “Flathead Living”. By 2015 they also acquired Bigfork Web Development and began a marketing productions division of their newspaper called Flathead Beacon Productions.
In 2009, Povich and his show formed a strategic alliance with The National Campaign To Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy. Kicking off on May 8th (National Day to Prevent Teen Pregnancy), Povich and the nonprofit organization set out to educate and inform the public about the recent rise in the teen pregnancy rate through themed segments on “Maury”, public service announcements and events, and a panel moderated by Povich in Washington, D.C.
On Oct. 11, 2010, Povich played himself in the ‘Subway Wars’ episode of the TV sitcom “How I Met Your Mother”. In 2011, he appeared on the big screen in Tyler Perry’s ‘Madea’s Big Happy Family’. He has also made cameo appearances on the hit shows ’30 Rock’ and ‘Black-ish’.
Family and children’s causes play a special role in the life of Povich, whose efforts to raise awareness for the National Adoption Month led then-New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani to honor the talk show host at a special City Hall ceremony in 1995. Povich is a major contributor to many charitable causes including the National Adoption Agency, the Fallen Heroes Fund, Post 9/11 funds, the New York Chapter of the American Red Cross, and the Jewish Federation of Greater Monmouth County, NJ. He has also endowed a Writer’s in Residence Program at the Kelly Writer’s House at the University of Pennsylvania. Povich has previously been involved with Teach For America – Connecticut, and is currently a supporter of Achievement First NY & CT. In Nov. of 2011, Povich and his family developed the Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism, as part of the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill School of Journalism.
Povich has been married to broadcast journalist Connie Chung since 1984. Povich and Chung reside in New York City and also have a home on Cape Cod, MA. They have a 20-year-old son, Matthew. Povich also has two grown daughters and four grandchildren.
Povich is the son of legendary “Washington Post” sports columnist Shirley Povich, who worked at the Post for 75 years. His sister, Lynn, was a former senior editor at Newsweek, and editor-in-chief of Working Woman. Povich’s brother, David, recently retired as the senior law partner of the well-known Washington law firm Williams and Connolly.
Povich currently has a 2-handicap and competes frequently in U.S. Senior Amateur golf tournaments.
