Katie or Rosie? Maury Povich, New King of Daytime, Predicts Who Will Succeed

By Rob Shuter Posted Jul 6th 2011 09:00AM

Maury Povich knows a lot about hosting a successful syndicated daytime talk show, and after 13 seasons is finally at the top of the rankings, based on number of viewers, and tied for No. 1 based on number of households. Now Maury is telling me who he thinks has the best shot of all the new talkers to have a n Oprah-sized influence. Anderson Cooper, Rosie, Katie Couric or Jeff Probst?

"In terms of Oprah's audience, I think Katie probably has the best chance to capture it because she's proved she has a very good following amongst women and is a good story teller," Maury says. "She has the best chance to deliver a show that will appeal to Oprah's audience."

And if she's smart Maury thinks Katie will take a good look at Fox New Channel and its Svengali of a boss, Roger Ailes.

"He helped me find my voice," Maury tells me. "He decided having a show was like a campaign. You have to be able to show a personality that people not only open the door but invite you to sit down on their couch. That's what a talk show host has to do. Forget our politics, we have remained friends for many years and I'm in lock step with Roger about how to create a successful talk show."

As for his own show, Maury doesn't like to toot his own horn but is still thrilled that he's atop the ratings after all these years. Ever humble, the talker gives credit to his hard-working staff.

"I'm more excited for the staff. We have worked very long and very hard," Maury tells me. "We have been No. 1 in certain demos for years now ... now we finally are No. 1 with total viewers."

Creating his remarkable success on themes that attract young viewers, Maury is proud that his show invented televised paternity tests over 12 years ago.

"Others have tried since and not been successful because we are talking about human behavior and tragedy and we have honesty we bring to it," the hands-on boss says. "I think very long and hard about each of our guests and stories we do. I go back to the basic fundamentals of talk -- storytelling, we tell stories with big endings."

Maury admits that even he doesn't know the results before he opens the envelope at the end of his show and has no concerns that his show can sometimes go too far.

"We have had women on the show looking at, sometimes, 14 different guys trying to find the father," Maury explains. "I give her all the credit trying to find a father to be in her baby's life. She's looking for the father of her child. I have to give her points for that."

But what about the critics?

"I don't care about critics," he says. "This is part of the American fabric and I would only hope the politicians that are thumbing their nose at this issue get involved and take care of these young people who are out of control and too promiscuous."

Promiscuity aside ... congrats to you, Maury!

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Tags: Katie Couric, Maury Povich

Comments

(124)

Sunday 10 July

By pacrowderholyoke

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Sorry to disappoint old Maury, but there's NO WAY I'm gonna watch "chipmunk" Courie on daytime TV. How desperate does he think we are?????????

And NO THANKS on Rosie either -- if I hear her say "cutie patootie" one more time, I'm gonna HURL...................

What makes Maury an authority on ANYTHING???

Monday 11 July

By JMark

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Maybe it's because he's in the television entertainment business and you aren't,just sayin...

By Ellie

Maury Povich should be ashamed of this rotten show he seems to be so proud of. It is as rotten or even more rotten than the show he copied. The audiences that follow him should also be ashamed for egging him on. Trash to trash!

By scott

out of all of those, i think i would watch Anderson Cooper. He may be gay but hes an awesome caring dude.

By dcnashinsc

The article didn't say how old Maury is. When I was a teenager in DC he had a mid-day show called Panarama with Connie Chung. I will be 57 this year so he must be really old. He and Connie have been together since they were in high school in the DC area. That is a long relationship. I used to read his father's sports column (Shirley Povich) in the Washinton Post. He has been with Connie so long I guess he does know how to make a relationship last.

By alan562

WHO CARES? There is a LOT more impotent things in this world than who can FILL Oprah's shoes Maury. GET A LIFE.

By goodgrief61945

Anyone who wastes their time watching Maury Povich and his trash show, needs to find out who their relative parents are.

By BJ

I think Katie is talented and likeable, I wish her lots of success.

By meme

I think Anderson Cooper would be excellent, he seems very nice, good looking, gets along well with the men and the women.

By wheelin

THANK GOODNESS DR OZ. IS GETTING OPRAH'S TIMESLOT

By Ben

Guess again... NOT a Republican nor a Sarah palin fan!! I'll take Christiane Amanpour for most of my reporting. Don't take offense people... here you thought I was a Republican and I'm not... Couric is just not that likeable to me.

By Rick

Ummmm who really cares about these dumb talk shows anyways. They don't serve any good purpose in my book except make money.

By Lightotw

I think Ellen is going to and already IS riding to the top and will take over #1 spot even though she doesn't particularly thrill me. You watch and see

By Linda

I put Maury Povich right along with Jerry Springer...all hype and drama, no substance. Every time I have looked in on Maury's program it is all about paternity...really boring. Who cares!!

By Amanda

What does Maury know...I mean Oprah's show touched on delicate issues sometimes and on relative issues. She wasn't all about who some dumb chicks baby daddy really was. That's all I ever see on the Maury show when I read the guide's description. I mean how many men could some of these women have slept with...ridiculous. I don't like Katie at all. I honestly love the Ellen Show though. It's fun usually, but not really serious like some of Oprah's episodes. I don't think it was mentioned at all in this article though. I don't really watch to much daytime tv though, some of us have better things to do...lol.

By Phree

Ellen hands down!

By Chris

Maury if you ARE actually good you will talk about narcissistic personality (

By eastsidenewyorker

BETHANNY FRANKEL!!!!

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