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)

Monday 11 July

By Cathy

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I used to watch Maury all the time...years ago anyway. Now a days, he's all about paternity test and crap like that. He used to be a decent "REAL" topic kind of guy, he used to have integrity. He used to be worth watching. Now, he's one step shy of Jerry Springer...What happened to you Maury?

By hcedeee

Katie is about as likeable as an STD without a cure.

By Gabbie

I do not believe for one minute that he does not know the results of the test before he reads them. Then why is it, every time he has more than one guy on the show, he always reads the name of the guy who "is not" the father first? Never fails.

By bryan

how about the black trash he has on his show like the ones who got 5 guys on there & none is the father

By Luci

Bryan, the show is equally divided between the white trash and the black trash....but aren't white people "supposed" to know better? Guess I've been misinformed all of these years.

By ron

katie sucks, she never was any good and not now , she,s only good for taken horse pics with her smile , a vet dentis musy love her.

By MaryLou Michelin

Katie Couric is disgusting.

By Joey

Ok Where does Ellen fit in ? Sh's the only one I watch and probably the only one I will watch since Oprah's gone

By Richard

Maury's show. Then then line up all those "could-be" dads, they
need to add one other person. A person from social services. I
think that is where most of those kids would be better off.
Reason? If the show were to last another 25 years..the young
afro-kid *gag* would be in the line of "could-be" dads. And the
young afro girls would be sitting there, taking up the entire
couch all by herself, trying to find the "could-be" dad.

...So Richard, I suppose you find the white trailer trash on Maury's show "cool." Funny how white people dismiss the trash in their own race. I think the whole show...Black, White, and indifferent, should be thrown off the air. Meantime, go ahead and enjoy the show, Richard.

By W.D.C

options, options, options. You know what say about them? And everyone has One. Who cares?

By Terry

Just sort of sick and tired of talk shows and reality shows myself. Real life is enough reality to hurt all of us out here. Reruns and extereme shows are ruining TV and the new ones are mostly same ole, same ole. Sorry. I really believe they go to the depths to find the people on talk shows any more.

How about Maria Shriver? I sure would like to see her back on television. Second choice? Star Jones

By Tish Selk

I think Katie Couric is very likeable and extremely good and fair with her reporting and interviewing. She isn't one of those people that talk over the person they are interviewing just to hear herself speak.

By bigtimeliberal

rosie is a lesbian and a extreme left liberal with a shrill voice,she has already turned off most of her viewers except the enlightened ones in the liberal makeup.
katie has failed more than the chicago cubs.

wonder why there's never a mention of someone with morals and claims to be christian and a moderate instead of all the left leaning when looking for a replacement.

By Gayle Palmer

How pathetic to learn that Maury Povich is on top. How low can Americans go?? If I were Connie Chung, I wouldn't want to be seen with him. He has turned into a sleazy character just like Jerry Springer.

By BIG-TARGET

I'm not the baby daddy!!

By Andy

I said it before and I'll say it again it's not about the host it's about the person who is being interviewed, as far as all of these people thrown in the ring, exclude the men, they're not even on the planet, that includes Maury, the women are just a bunch of big mouths, you can throw Sawyer, and walters in the mix as well, nobody worth opening up to. oh sure the celebrities open up to them, but that's the biz, just another product..

By Louis

Why would anyone want to watch Maury? All his shows are the same. Might as well call these shows "I Slept With Everybody I Could......So Now Who's The Daddy?" This sort of show is just more proof of how low America's standards are today.

I think Judge Judy would do very well on a talk show. "Don't pee in my shoe and tell me it's raining." She is the top rated television Judge. Smart, witty, and entertaining.

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