Maury Povich never thought of himself as a star. His podcast changed that
- - Maury Povich never thought of himself as a star. His podcast changed that
Anika Reed, USA TODAY December 22, 2025 at 7:02 AM
0
NEW YORK — Maury Povich has the chills.
Though a star in his own right and a talk show icon to generations of daytime TV viewers, Povich doesn't view himself as a celebrity. But since launching his "On Par" podcast in 2025, he's realizing just how many people "Maury" the show (and Maury the man) impacted.
"What surprised me more than anything else was that so many people knew who I was. I never realized that," Povich, 86, tells USA TODAY. "I would interview hip-hop artists, and the next thing I know, I'm in their lyrics. I interviewed actors who watch the show, athletes who watch the show in the clubhouse and won't come to practice 'til they find out who the father is."
On this particular day, Povich is pinching himself after a run-in with an unexpected fan: hip-hop mogul 50 Cent.
Maury Povich
"I'm walking down the aisle, and all of a sudden this guy wants to give me a big hug. It's 50 Cent, and I'm going, 'Are you kidding?'," Povich says. "I just never believed that my name or my personality extended so far."
After the chance encounter at a taping of Sherri Shepherd's daytime talk show, Povich is adding the multihyphenate to his list of must-have guests for the podcast (joining wish-list stars like Jay-Z, Shaquille O'Neal and, perhaps reaching for the stars, a Cardi B-Nicki Minaj joint interview to "settle their differences").
"On Par," which launched Season 2 in early December, has given Povich the chance to do something that years of talk show hosting never allowed: talk about himself. While he's been "known," most fans haven't gotten to see the real him. Conversing with celebrity guests – everyone from William H. Macy and "Today" show host Craig Melvin to NBA All-Star Andre Drummond – has opened that door.
"For the first time in six decades of being in this business, I can talk about myself. I've never been able to do that," Povich says. "And in a podcast you can talk about things that you went through, your experiences, and compare them with the experiences of my guests."
Maury Povich has had a long and storied career in show business. From news anchor to today, see his life in the spotlight, beginning here with Povich at the 2006 Emmy Awards on March 12, 2006, in New York City. Povich won the Governors Award, which is an honorary Emmy that recognize outstanding achievements in the television industry.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Emmy award-winning talk show host, podcaster and former journalist Maury Povich has had a long and storied career in show business. From news anchor to today, see his life in the spotlight, beginning here with Povich at the 2006 Emmy Awards on March 12, 2006, in New York City. Povich won the Governors Award, which is an honorary Emmy that recognize outstanding achievements in the television industry.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/BaYtZVBek3vmcUiwCNFjdw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NjY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/8320ef2e5ce6d93404f467ba3b07b2e8 class=caas-img data-headline="See award-winning 'Maury' talk show host Maury Povich's career" data-caption="
Emmy award-winning talk show host, podcaster and former journalist Maury Povich has had a long and storied career in show business. From news anchor to today, see his life in the spotlight, beginning here with Povich at the 2006 Emmy Awards on March 12, 2006, in New York City. Povich won the Governors Award, which is an honorary Emmy that recognize outstanding achievements in the television industry.
">Emmy award-winning talk show host, podcaster and former journalist Maury Povich has had a long and storied career in show business. From news anchor to today, see his life in the spotlight, beginning here with Povich at the 2006 Emmy Awards on March 12, 2006, in New York City. Povich won the Governors Award, which is an honorary Emmy that recognize outstanding achievements in the television industry.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/BaYtZVBek3vmcUiwCNFjdw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NjY-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/8320ef2e5ce6d93404f467ba3b07b2e8 class=caas-img>From left, honorees Jeff Sagansky, Amy Poehler, Alex Kurtzman, Channing Dungey and Maury Povich attend the 18th annual Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards on June 2, 2022, in Beverly Hills, California.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Mv_ARVUGAdZVojIuyp0.6w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/49b00fb6bc1ccd94b26610f488b14bd9 class=caas-img data-headline="See award-winning 'Maury' talk show host Maury Povich's career" data-caption="
From left, honorees Jeff Sagansky, Amy Poehler, Alex Kurtzman, Channing Dungey and Maury Povich attend the 18th annual Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards on June 2, 2022, in Beverly Hills, California.
">From left, honorees Jeff Sagansky, Amy Poehler, Alex Kurtzman, Channing Dungey and Maury Povich attend the 18th annual Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards on June 2, 2022, in Beverly Hills, California.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Mv_ARVUGAdZVojIuyp0.6w--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/49b00fb6bc1ccd94b26610f488b14bd9 class=caas-img>Talk show host Maury Povich watches a shot during the third round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic on Jan. 31, 2003, at the Bermuda Dunes Country Club in Bermuda Dunes, California.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/C.pCkJ7k6QVaPWRgcFF9gQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODU4/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/dc9d5a21f177c1294e2407c3bbd94cd3 class=caas-img data-headline="See award-winning 'Maury' talk show host Maury Povich's career" data-caption="
Talk show host Maury Povich watches a shot during the third round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic on Jan. 31, 2003, at the Bermuda Dunes Country Club in Bermuda Dunes, California.
">Talk show host Maury Povich watches a shot during the third round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic on Jan. 31, 2003, at the Bermuda Dunes Country Club in Bermuda Dunes, California.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/C.pCkJ7k6QVaPWRgcFF9gQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODU4/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/dc9d5a21f177c1294e2407c3bbd94cd3 class=caas-img>Maury Povich and Connie Chung arrive at the 31st annual Daytime Emmy Awards at Radio City Music Hall on May 21, 2004, in New York City.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/8kzgnNCv4VsuIx0Nk6TUEw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODU5/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/846345d8d81eca995f83c8c210eb8777 class=caas-img data-headline="See award-winning 'Maury' talk show host Maury Povich's career" data-caption="
Maury Povich and Connie Chung arrive at the 31st annual Daytime Emmy Awards at Radio City Music Hall on May 21, 2004, in New York City.
">Maury Povich and Connie Chung arrive at the 31st annual Daytime Emmy Awards at Radio City Music Hall on May 21, 2004, in New York City.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/8kzgnNCv4VsuIx0Nk6TUEw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODU5/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/846345d8d81eca995f83c8c210eb8777 class=caas-img>Maury Povich and actress Judi Evans announce the 32nd annual Daytime Emmy award nominations on March 2, 2005, in New York City.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/FrroLfp1g0vn3s8RTm8EXg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05NTM-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/b43a95d1d291c47df5d231eb5f4a22dd class=caas-img data-headline="See award-winning 'Maury' talk show host Maury Povich's career" data-caption="
Maury Povich and actress Judi Evans announce the 32nd annual Daytime Emmy award nominations on March 2, 2005, in New York City.
">Maury Povich and actress Judi Evans announce the 32nd annual Daytime Emmy award nominations on March 2, 2005, in New York City.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/FrroLfp1g0vn3s8RTm8EXg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05NTM-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/b43a95d1d291c47df5d231eb5f4a22dd class=caas-img>Honoree Maury Povich speaks on stage during the 18th annual Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on June 2, 2022, in Beverly Hills, California.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ov70fBYJlXm5uj34bBJ1gg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/0632c54e8836554304b2543775712e50 class=caas-img data-headline="See award-winning 'Maury' talk show host Maury Povich's career" data-caption="
Honoree Maury Povich speaks on stage during the 18th annual Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on June 2, 2022, in Beverly Hills, California.
">Honoree Maury Povich speaks on stage during the 18th annual Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Awards at Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel on June 2, 2022, in Beverly Hills, California.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/ov70fBYJlXm5uj34bBJ1gg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/0632c54e8836554304b2543775712e50 class=caas-img>Maury Povich, winner of the Daytime Emmys' Lifetime Achievement Award – and, from left, Gold and Silver Circle Inductees Vernee Watson, Al Schwartz, Christina Knack, Tanya Hart and Patrick Weiland – are seen on stage during the 50th Daytime Emmy Awards on Dec. 15, 2023, in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/anqRteR4rCe1Zsn.W5usRw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/7dc5d82bc568bd01a94f229c1bf27da0 class=caas-img data-headline="See award-winning 'Maury' talk show host Maury Povich's career" data-caption="
Maury Povich, winner of the Daytime Emmys' Lifetime Achievement Award – and, from left, Gold and Silver Circle Inductees Vernee Watson, Al Schwartz, Christina Knack, Tanya Hart and Patrick Weiland – are seen on stage during the 50th Daytime Emmy Awards on Dec. 15, 2023, in Los Angeles.
">Maury Povich, winner of the Daytime Emmys' Lifetime Achievement Award – and, from left, Gold and Silver Circle Inductees Vernee Watson, Al Schwartz, Christina Knack, Tanya Hart and Patrick Weiland – are seen on stage during the 50th Daytime Emmy Awards on Dec. 15, 2023, in Los Angeles.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/anqRteR4rCe1Zsn.W5usRw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/7dc5d82bc568bd01a94f229c1bf27da0 class=caas-img>Maury Povich and Connie Chung pose in the press room during the 50th Daytime Emmys with his Lifetime Achievement award on Dec. 16, 2023, in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/fKXUCwCpKqphrpTDoIrB9g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NDU-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/82128e4f0116086487f4bac28e1c5fbd class=caas-img data-headline="See award-winning 'Maury' talk show host Maury Povich's career" data-caption="
Maury Povich and Connie Chung pose in the press room during the 50th Daytime Emmys with his Lifetime Achievement award on Dec. 16, 2023, in Los Angeles.
">Maury Povich and Connie Chung pose in the press room during the 50th Daytime Emmys with his Lifetime Achievement award on Dec. 16, 2023, in Los Angeles.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/fKXUCwCpKqphrpTDoIrB9g--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NDU-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/82128e4f0116086487f4bac28e1c5fbd class=caas-img>
From left, Connie Chung, Bevy Smith, Andy Cohen, John Hill, Sandra Bernhard and Maury Povich celebrate 10 years of SiriusXM's Andy Cohen channel, Radio Andy, at Crane Club on Oct. 23, 2025, in New York City.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/lTQmyZMnJ7azk065Jzkggw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/fb7e2e8dd9061b60523b4e65ed5990c2 class=caas-img data-headline="See award-winning 'Maury' talk show host Maury Povich's career" data-caption="
From left, Connie Chung, Bevy Smith, Andy Cohen, John Hill, Sandra Bernhard and Maury Povich celebrate 10 years of SiriusXM's Andy Cohen channel, Radio Andy, at Crane Club on Oct. 23, 2025, in New York City.
">From left, Connie Chung, Bevy Smith, Andy Cohen, John Hill, Sandra Bernhard and Maury Povich celebrate 10 years of SiriusXM's Andy Cohen channel, Radio Andy, at Crane Club on Oct. 23, 2025, in New York City.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/lTQmyZMnJ7azk065Jzkggw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/fb7e2e8dd9061b60523b4e65ed5990c2 class=caas-img>
1 / 10See award-winning 'Maury' talk show host Maury Povich's career
Emmy award-winning talk show host, podcaster and former journalist Maury Povich has had a long and storied career in show business. From news anchor to today, see his life in the spotlight, beginning here with Povich at the 2006 Emmy Awards on March 12, 2006, in New York City. Povich won the Governors Award, which is an honorary Emmy that recognize outstanding achievements in the television industry.
Maury Povich calls Connie Chung his 'go-to personality'
His wife of four decades, veteran newswoman Connie Chung, was the first guest on the podcast. But Povich interviewed her somewhat begrudgingly.
"I didn't want her on, but I was overruled," he says. His reasoning? "Because you never know what she's going to say. That's the way we've lived our life for 41 years. You just never know what she's going to do or say, so I'm completely surprised."
Povich says "nobody ever heard of the word" podcast during his earlier career years as a TV journalist doing local news around the country before landing his "Maury" precursor, tabloid newsmagazine "A Current Affair."
Maury Povich, right, accepts the Lifetime Achievement award on stage from wife Connie Chung, left, during the 50th Daytime Emmy Creative Arts and Lifestyle Awards at The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites on Dec. 16, 2023, in Los Angeles.
"I started in journalism and news, and so my wife was saying, 'Nobody knows about the 25 years before you started determining the paternity of every kid in the country. So why don't you go back and show people you've got your chops, and you can interview people from all facts of life?'" He says her main piece of advice was, "Don't make me look like an idiot."
Within the tough love, there's a lot of love love for the two newsmakers, who've been married since 1984.
"She's been my go-to personality all these years. I have always thought of myself as Mr. Chung, and I still do," he says. "She was a big star way before I ever was, and I don't mind."
Maury Povich reveals key for 41-year marriage to Connie Chung
Look back at their marriage in photos, starting here, as they attend SiriusXM's celebration of 10 years of Andy Cohen's Radio Andy channel at Crane Club on Oct. 23, 2025, in New York City.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>TV icons Maury Povich and Connie Chung are still making news with their love story more than 40 years later. Talk show host Povich and TV news trailblazer Chung wed in 1984, and they "love each other to death," Povich tells USA TODAY.Look back at their marriage in photos, starting here, as they attend SiriusXM's celebration of 10 years of Andy Cohen's Radio Andy channel at Crane Club on Oct. 23, 2025, in New York City.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/bo0QklAXBcWNqWxCZfa4Wg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNzYw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e9be7f96ac8fc3856e988d239c9cd6ed class=caas-img data-headline="See Maury Povich and Connie Chung's 41-year love story" data-caption="
TV icons Maury Povich and Connie Chung are still making news with their love story more than 40 years later. Talk show host Povich and TV news trailblazer Chung wed in 1984, and they "love each other to death," Povich tells USA TODAY.Look back at their marriage in photos, starting here, as they attend SiriusXM's celebration of 10 years of Andy Cohen's Radio Andy channel at Crane Club on Oct. 23, 2025, in New York City.
">TV icons Maury Povich and Connie Chung are still making news with their love story more than 40 years later. Talk show host Povich and TV news trailblazer Chung wed in 1984, and they "love each other to death," Povich tells USA TODAY.Look back at their marriage in photos, starting here, as they attend SiriusXM's celebration of 10 years of Andy Cohen's Radio Andy channel at Crane Club on Oct. 23, 2025, in New York City.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/bo0QklAXBcWNqWxCZfa4Wg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNzYw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e9be7f96ac8fc3856e988d239c9cd6ed class=caas-img>They're seen here at the National Board of Review Awards, hosted at Tavern On The Green in New York City on Jan. 16, 2001.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Maury Povich and Connie Chung met as fellow TV news journalists working at Washington, D.C., station WTTG, nearly 20 years before they wed. "Every time an anniversary comes around, I tell her that we're going to take this marriage one decade at a time," Povich tells USA TODAY.They're seen here at the National Board of Review Awards, hosted at Tavern On The Green in New York City on Jan. 16, 2001.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/TmYOQrZHrt6lHbStDOh2Bw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYz/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/7cbae8e8402a99ee1eeed930cff43882 class=caas-img data-headline="See Maury Povich and Connie Chung's 41-year love story" data-caption="
Maury Povich and Connie Chung met as fellow TV news journalists working at Washington, D.C., station WTTG, nearly 20 years before they wed. "Every time an anniversary comes around, I tell her that we're going to take this marriage one decade at a time," Povich tells USA TODAY.They're seen here at the National Board of Review Awards, hosted at Tavern On The Green in New York City on Jan. 16, 2001.
">Maury Povich and Connie Chung met as fellow TV news journalists working at Washington, D.C., station WTTG, nearly 20 years before they wed. "Every time an anniversary comes around, I tell her that we're going to take this marriage one decade at a time," Povich tells USA TODAY.They're seen here at the National Board of Review Awards, hosted at Tavern On The Green in New York City on Jan. 16, 2001.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/TmYOQrZHrt6lHbStDOh2Bw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODYz/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/7cbae8e8402a99ee1eeed930cff43882 class=caas-img>They're seen here as Povich, right, accepts the Lifetime Achievement award on stage from Chung, left, during the 50th Daytime Emmy Creative Arts and Lifestyle Awards at The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites on Dec. 16, 2023, in Los Angeles.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Chung and Povich now balance their busy working schedules (his "On Par" podcast and her new bestselling memoir) in the next act of their careers. "She's been my go-to personality all these years. I have always thought of myself as Mr. Chung, and I still do," Povich tells USA TODAY.They're seen here as Povich, right, accepts the Lifetime Achievement award on stage from Chung, left, during the 50th Daytime Emmy Creative Arts and Lifestyle Awards at The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites on Dec. 16, 2023, in Los Angeles.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Fs1SxFywdqLbjBJAI3X5Ug--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04OTQ-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/282439cd2aeb3af4252c9542e9bbdd9d class=caas-img data-headline="See Maury Povich and Connie Chung's 41-year love story" data-caption="
Chung and Povich now balance their busy working schedules (his "On Par" podcast and her new bestselling memoir) in the next act of their careers. "She's been my go-to personality all these years. I have always thought of myself as Mr. Chung, and I still do," Povich tells USA TODAY.They're seen here as Povich, right, accepts the Lifetime Achievement award on stage from Chung, left, during the 50th Daytime Emmy Creative Arts and Lifestyle Awards at The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites on Dec. 16, 2023, in Los Angeles.
">Chung and Povich now balance their busy working schedules (his "On Par" podcast and her new bestselling memoir) in the next act of their careers. "She's been my go-to personality all these years. I have always thought of myself as Mr. Chung, and I still do," Povich tells USA TODAY.They're seen here as Povich, right, accepts the Lifetime Achievement award on stage from Chung, left, during the 50th Daytime Emmy Creative Arts and Lifestyle Awards at The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites on Dec. 16, 2023, in Los Angeles.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/Fs1SxFywdqLbjBJAI3X5Ug--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04OTQ-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/282439cd2aeb3af4252c9542e9bbdd9d class=caas-img>
Maury Povich and Connie Chung attend the sixth season premiere of the HBO series "The Sopranos" at the Museum of Modern Art, on March 7, 2006, in New York City.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/AoSm3jGPgmKRjvCtq9zkmQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNTg2/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/9f44ea8275e8463f6aed1528e89081c7 class=caas-img data-headline="See Maury Povich and Connie Chung's 41-year love story" data-caption="
Maury Povich and Connie Chung attend the sixth season premiere of the HBO series "The Sopranos" at the Museum of Modern Art, on March 7, 2006, in New York City.
">Maury Povich and Connie Chung attend the sixth season premiere of the HBO series "The Sopranos" at the Museum of Modern Art, on March 7, 2006, in New York City.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/AoSm3jGPgmKRjvCtq9zkmQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNTg2/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/9f44ea8275e8463f6aed1528e89081c7 class=caas-img>Maury Povich and Connie Chung at the 2006 New York Emmy Awards at the the Marriott Marquis on March 12, 2006, in New York City. Povich won the Governors Award, which is an honorary Emmy that recognizes outstanding achievements in the television industry.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/8UXX1WbJSEZ8WRZhYNVnDw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNzg2/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/b6442b03a3d58be8e42fb21ddd5fccc2 class=caas-img data-headline="See Maury Povich and Connie Chung's 41-year love story" data-caption="
Maury Povich and Connie Chung at the 2006 New York Emmy Awards at the the Marriott Marquis on March 12, 2006, in New York City. Povich won the Governors Award, which is an honorary Emmy that recognizes outstanding achievements in the television industry.
">Maury Povich and Connie Chung at the 2006 New York Emmy Awards at the the Marriott Marquis on March 12, 2006, in New York City. Povich won the Governors Award, which is an honorary Emmy that recognizes outstanding achievements in the television industry.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/8UXX1WbJSEZ8WRZhYNVnDw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNzg2/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/b6442b03a3d58be8e42fb21ddd5fccc2 class=caas-img>Maury Povich speaks with Connie Chung at the 2006 New York Emmy Awards at the the Marriott Marquis on March 12, 2006, in New York City.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/jzQc5HryluTR7yRvIJUdeQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05MDU-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/780d2f7d2a30f061a3c88dc072525f57 class=caas-img data-headline="See Maury Povich and Connie Chung's 41-year love story" data-caption="
Maury Povich speaks with Connie Chung at the 2006 New York Emmy Awards at the the Marriott Marquis on March 12, 2006, in New York City.
">Maury Povich speaks with Connie Chung at the 2006 New York Emmy Awards at the the Marriott Marquis on March 12, 2006, in New York City.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/jzQc5HryluTR7yRvIJUdeQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD05MDU-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/780d2f7d2a30f061a3c88dc072525f57 class=caas-img>
Connie Chung and Maury Povich arrive for a screening of "Feast of Love" in September 2007 at a theater in New York.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/S4tRXFN.vh4tkRcKWAf1bQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNjUy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/50bed74ae46bde9b34aeb6970e08cbdf class=caas-img data-headline="See Maury Povich and Connie Chung's 41-year love story" data-caption="
Connie Chung and Maury Povich arrive for a screening of "Feast of Love" in September 2007 at a theater in New York.
">Connie Chung and Maury Povich arrive for a screening of "Feast of Love" in September 2007 at a theater in New York.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/S4tRXFN.vh4tkRcKWAf1bQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNjUy/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/50bed74ae46bde9b34aeb6970e08cbdf class=caas-img>
Maury Povich and Connie Chung arrive at the 11th annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational gala at the Aria Resort & Casino at CityCenter March 30, 2011, in Las Vegas.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/eI5.KqqLkTp7oz91pHJONA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NDg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e537554c591c1f039b7802a8671320eb class=caas-img data-headline="See Maury Povich and Connie Chung's 41-year love story" data-caption="
Maury Povich and Connie Chung arrive at the 11th annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational gala at the Aria Resort & Casino at CityCenter March 30, 2011, in Las Vegas.
">Maury Povich and Connie Chung arrive at the 11th annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational gala at the Aria Resort & Casino at CityCenter March 30, 2011, in Las Vegas.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/eI5.KqqLkTp7oz91pHJONA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NDg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/e537554c591c1f039b7802a8671320eb class=caas-img>Maury Povich and Connie Chung attend the 11th annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational gala at the Aria Resort & Casino at CityCenter March 30, 2011, in Las Vegas.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/POmW2we7dQl0.FgerMcxKQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODk3/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/bd32c2f547bff29595b8875768decad5 class=caas-img data-headline="See Maury Povich and Connie Chung's 41-year love story" data-caption="
Maury Povich and Connie Chung attend the 11th annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational gala at the Aria Resort & Casino at CityCenter March 30, 2011, in Las Vegas.
">Maury Povich and Connie Chung attend the 11th annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational gala at the Aria Resort & Casino at CityCenter March 30, 2011, in Las Vegas.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/POmW2we7dQl0.FgerMcxKQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODk3/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/bd32c2f547bff29595b8875768decad5 class=caas-img>
Maury Povich and Connie Chung attend the Amazon red carpet premiere screening of the original drama series "Good Girls Revolt" at Hearst Tower on Oct. 18, 2016, in New York City.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/EJErz9cA2q83WHC.90hfow--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNjI0/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/280e2fb8543415a580db0916cb06c9a2 class=caas-img data-headline="See Maury Povich and Connie Chung's 41-year love story" data-caption="
Maury Povich and Connie Chung attend the Amazon red carpet premiere screening of the original drama series "Good Girls Revolt" at Hearst Tower on Oct. 18, 2016, in New York City.
">Maury Povich and Connie Chung attend the Amazon red carpet premiere screening of the original drama series "Good Girls Revolt" at Hearst Tower on Oct. 18, 2016, in New York City.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/EJErz9cA2q83WHC.90hfow--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xNjI0/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/280e2fb8543415a580db0916cb06c9a2 class=caas-img>
1 / 23See Maury Povich and Connie Chung's 41-year love story
TV icons Maury Povich and Connie Chung are still making news with their love story more than 40 years later. Talk show host Povich and TV news trailblazer Chung wed in 1984, and they "love each other to death," Povich tells USA TODAY.Look back at their marriage in photos, starting here, as they attend SiriusXM's celebration of 10 years of Andy Cohen's Radio Andy channel at Crane Club on Oct. 23, 2025, in New York City.
Maury memes, podcast show enduring legacy
In the next phase of his career, Povich has become something of a social media star, joining in on viral TikTok trends, racking up new fans who are discovering clips from "Maury" and finding original viewers still yelling "You are not the father!" to trending audio moments from the talk show.
"I always believed that I was nothing more than an extension of my audience. I would ask the same questions my audience would if they had the chance," he says. "I really kind of downplayed ego stuff. I've seen it so many times working, for instance, co-anchoring with people who had all these big egos. My wife and I like to call it 'big shot-itis,' and we kind of stayed away from that all of our lives."
Maury Povich
It boils down to quality, Povich says.
"All my life, the main thread has been being a storyteller," says Povich, who received a Lifetime Achievement award at the 50th Daytime Emmy Creative Arts and Lifestyle Awards in 2023.
His storytelling began to have a flair for the dramatics of daytime TV during the "Maury Povich Show" era, in its lifespan from 1991 to 2022.
Povich says "one of the great things about the show," beyond "the fact that I was the longest-running daytime talk show host in history," is that "nobody did it better in terms of DNA and lie detector tests."
"A lot of people have tried, but I don't think that any show did it better than we did," he says.
Maury Povich
He recalls shocks, like discovering that a pregnant guest's twins each belonged to two different fathers. But he thinks fondly of a dad who rejoined the mother of his child, got married, had more kids and stayed together for the long haul.
Povich recalls "criticism from media critics" that he was "exploiting" show guests. "I always said, 'I don't think I'm exploiting my guests.' I mean, I'm trying to get a guy who denies that they're the father of this child – and I prove that they are the father – into the life of this child, because that child is going to have a better chance at life with two parents than one.
"And I hang my hat on what I've done. I believe that's true. And because I was on the air so long, I could bring these families back 20 years later, and find out that this guy did get into the life of the child."
Povich's barometer for success has evolved over time. Now it's that "I'm upright and that I can walk around, I can play golf and I can still think on my two feet."
But he recalls an earlier era, before the fame. "I started when I was 16 years old as an assistant producer to the Washington Senators baseball broadcaster in TV and radio. And then I got into the business after college, and I said, 'Look, if I can stay in this business 'til I'm 50, I'll consider myself a success,'" he says. "And that was 35 [years that] I lasted. Now, 36 years later, I'm still trying to handle this."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Maury Povich show left a legacy. Memes, podcast keep it alive
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
