Maury(talk show)

(Redirected fromMaury (TV series))

Maury[b]is an Americanfirst-run syndicatedtalk showthat was hosted byMaury Povich.It ran for thirty-one seasons from September 9, 1991, to September 8, 2022, in which it broadcast 5,545 episodes. The show frequently featuredpaternity teststhat determined if participants were father of a child or not.[2]

Maury
Also known asThe Maury Povich Show
GenreTabloid talk show
Created bySkye McDonald
Directed byAndrew Povich
Presented byMaury Povich
Country of originUnited States
No.of seasons31
No.of episodes5,545
Production
Executive producersPaul Faulhaber
Maury Povich
Running time42 minutes
Production company
MoPo Productions
Original release
NetworkSyndication
ReleaseSeptember 9, 1991(1991-09-09)
September 8, 2022(2022-09-08)

It was produced byMoPo Productions Inc.in association withParamount Domestic Television.The show began unofficially using the titleMauryin the 1995–1996 season, although its original title remained official until 1998, when Studios USA (nowNBCUniversal) took over production and the show was officially retitledMaury.MoPo Productions Inc continued to co-produce with NBCUniversal throughout the rest of the show's run. For the series' first 18 seasons, it was taped inNew York City;from 2009 until its end in 2022, the show was taped at theRich ForuminStamford, Connecticut,which is alternatively known as the Stamford Media Center, along with NBC's other syndicated programming.[3]

With a run spanning 31 seasons,Mauryis the longest-running daytime talk show with a single host in American history.[4]

Production

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Conception and development

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Povich, whose background prior to launchingMaurywas in major-market local news and tabloid journalism, treated each episode and story with the seriousness of a journalist, noting that despite the show's theatrics and entertainment elements, each story he covered involved real people and real-life consequences. He was especially proud of cases in which men would own up to their paternity, get involved in their child's life, and reunite with the mother to form a stable nuclear family.[4]Much of Povich's focus on paternity tests came from his steadfast belief in the virtues of the nuclear family and his stance that children were best served with both parents involved in the child's life.[4]

Topic selection

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Mauryhas dealt with a variety of issues across its 31 seasons, including—but not limited to—teenage pregnancy,sexual infidelity,paternity testresults, uncommonillnesses,makeovers,"out of control" teenagers,transgenderindividuals,sperm theft,obese children,domestic violence,little people,bullying,molestation,rape,murder,kidnapping,child abuse,and unusualphobias.After the taping of these episodes, guests were often tracked for progress, both on air and on theMaurywebsite.[5]

Episodes featuring updates on past guests were periodically aired throughout the year. Guests either appeared in person or by video message updating Maury on their situations. At the end of every season, Maury performed a countdown of the top 10 most memorable guests of the year, with updates on each guest.

Broadcast history and release

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For the first 18 seasons,Mauryepisodes were taped back-to-back at the Grand Ballroom of theHotel PennsylvaniainNew York City.The studio shared the facility in the Hotel Pennsylvania withThe People's Courtuntil the show relocated studios in 1998, andThe Sally Jessy Raphael Showuntil its cancellation in 2002.

From 2007, NBC-owned and operated stationsstopped airingMaury.

For the 2009–10 season, production was moved from New York City toStamford, Connecticut,where the series was taped at the Stamford Media Center, along withJerry SpringerandThe Steve Wilkos Show.This move was made in part because Connecticut offeredNBCa tax credit if production of these three series was moved to the state.[3]A large overhead crane was used to hoist the centerpiece backdrop during conversions for show filming. It took about 3 hours and a crew of about 15 decorators and electricians to convert the studio set from one show to the other. When a guest ran backstage onMaury,it was not uncommon to seeSteve WilkosorJerry Springerset props come into view.

On September 14, 2012, during the premiere of its 15th season, episodes ofMaurybegan airing in widescreen, though not inhigh definition.On September 15, 2014, starting with its 17th season, episodes ofMaurystarted airing in high definition. In October 2014,Maurywas renewed through September 2018. In June 2018,Maurywas renewed again through the 2019–2020 television season.[6]

In March 2020,Maurywas renewed through the 2021–2022 season.[7]In December 2021, it was reported that the show would end the following spring.[8]In March 2022, Povich, then 83 years old, announced his retirement from broadcasting effective at the end of the 2021–22 season,[9]with a conflict show hosted byKaramo Brown(who had guest-hosted severalMauryepisodes during its final season) being shopped by NBCUniversal to take over the time slot, while reruns ofMaurywill be made available to stations.[10]In a June 2022 postmortem, Povich discussed his career with Greg Braxton of theLos Angeles Times,noting that he had accomplished all he had wanted to do during his career, was proud of what he had created withMaury(especially in maintaining the show's ratings in a time when daytime television audiences were shrinking rapidly), and had no further desire for any other television projects.[4] The final episode ofMauryaired on September 8, 2022, with reruns continuing to air in syndication ever since.

Content editing

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The series was edited to meetFCCregulations forindecencyandobscenity,includingbleepingof profane language andpixelizationof nudity, though other censoring does take place; the series purposefully had guests avoid using their last names, mainly for the protection of minors and outside third parties, and said mentions of last names by guests (except for the show's rotation of experts) are bleeped in line with this policy. Additionally, no "uncut" versions of the show exist, unlike with its rival/companion seriesJerry Springer,which openly marketed uncensored content on home video.

Internship promoting and telemarketing

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Two well publicized advertising methods onMauryrelate to the hiring of interns as well as polling the television audience with the allure of "valuable offers". The latter is also a promotional tactic used

The talk show "Maury" is abusing government programs sponsored by the Department of Education. This production is attempting to prove that there is an overwhelming demand for interns and has solicited applications from hundreds of different institutions of higher learning. The interns are almost never hired; however, the production has applied under several clauses for government funding under claims that a large number of internships have been granted.[11]

Maury,like several daytime programs, also had a phone-in survey segment, a feature which has drawn criticism from some as the survey also features third-party "valuable offers" which may offer the purchase of some kind of product, but also give an inroad totelemarketersarounddo not call lists,as the interaction technically counts as allowing those calls past do not call lists, and may place the number called from on 'do call' phone lists used by the telemarketing industry.

Reception

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Critical response

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Some critics denounceMauryas being worse than other similar talk shows, such asJerry Springer.Like such shows, it uses guests' serious problems for the entertainment of the viewing audience, but treated with an insincere sympathy.Whitney Mathesonwrote about the show in herUSA Todaycolumn, "Povich's talk show is, without a doubt, the worst thing on television. Period. Don't be fooled by the pressed shirt and pleated khakis; Maury is miles farther down the commode than Jerry Springer."[12]

Cultural impact

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Thecourt showPaternity Court,which premiered on September 23, 2013, was inspired byMaury.[13]

Awards and nominations

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Awards and nominations
Award Year[c] Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
Daytime Emmy Awards 2017 Outstanding Talk Show Entertainment Maury Nominated [14]

Spin-off

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On February 27, 2012, it was announced thatMauryregularTrisha Goddard,who hosted her own talk show in her native United Kingdom, would be coming to America withThe Trisha Goddard Show,which was produced byMauryexecutive producer Paul Faulhaber and premiered in syndication in fall 2012.[15]The show, considered a spin-off ofMaury,was cancelled after two seasons.

Notes

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  1. ^Produced under the company Ages Electronics, Inc.[1]
  2. ^The show's title was originallyThe Maury Povich Show.
  3. ^Indicates the year of ceremony

References

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  1. ^"Ages Electronics, Inc. Statement of Information".California Secretary of State.January 10, 2024.
  2. ^"Maury Povich on what he wants his legacy to be as show ends after 31 years".ABC News.RetrievedNovember 10,2024.
  3. ^abGrego, Melissa (February 2, 2009)."'Springer,' 'Wilkos,' 'Maury' to Tape in Connecticut ".Broadcasting & Cable.RetrievedMarch 19,2022.
  4. ^abcdBraxton, Greg (June 22, 2022)."Maury Povich, king of daytime, takes a final bow".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedJune 22,2022.
  5. ^"Story Tracker".Maury.Archived fromthe originalon July 6, 2010.RetrievedJuly 15,2010.
  6. ^"'Jerry Springer', 'Maury' & 'Steve Wilkos' Renewed Through 2018 ".Deadline Hollywood.October 1, 2014.RetrievedJune 1,2015.
  7. ^Albiniak, Paige (February 27, 2020)."'Maury' Renewed for Two More Seasons ".Broadcasting & Cable.RetrievedMarch 19,2022.
  8. ^"All Eyes on Fox TV Stations Headed into 2022".December 20, 2021.
  9. ^Nellie Andreeva (March 20, 2022)."MauryTo End After Three Decades: NBCUniversal Confirms Host's "Bittersweet" Retirement – Update ".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedMarch 20,2022.
  10. ^Albiniak, Paige (March 14, 2022)."Syndication: Pieces Falling Into Place for 2022-23 TV Season".Broadcasting & Cable.RetrievedMarch 19,2022.
  11. ^Department of Education, Annual Fiscal Report (2010), pp. 215–289
  12. ^Matheson, Whitney (December 3, 2002)."There shouldn't be a next time, America".USA Today.RetrievedDecember 23,2009.
  13. ^"Exclusive: MGM to Launch 'Paternity Court' This Fall".Broadcasting & Cable.NextTV. December 12, 2012.RetrievedMarch 19,2022.
  14. ^"Daytime Emmy Award Winners: Complete List".Variety.April 30, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on February 14, 2024.
  15. ^Andreeva, Nellie."NBCUni's 'Maury' Spinoff Talk Show 'Trisha' Officially A Go For Fall With 80% Clearances".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedMarch 19,2022.
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