About
"I always believed that there was a simpatico with news and talk. I believe that if you did news, that gave you credibility to do a talk show. And a talk show gave you depth that a news anchor spot wouldn't."
In the two-hour solo portion of his interview, Maury Povich talks about his career in radio news before entering the world of television. He describes becoming the long-time host of the show Panorama, anchoring local news in Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, and launching the syndicated news magazine A Current Affair. He speaks of A Current Affair's popularity, and leaving the program to host his own talk show at Paramount, The Maury Povich Show. He also discusses his more recent talk show, Maury, detailing production on the show, guests, and what he believes is the appeal of the program.
In the thirty-minute joint portion of their interview, Maury Povich and Connie Chung describe how they met, when they married, and what their favorite things are about each other. Beth Cochran conducted the interviews on December 15, 2009 in New York, NY.
Highlights
Maury Povich on covering JFK's assassination for radio
Maury Povich on covering the fall of the Berlin Wall on A Current Affair
Maury Povich on how A Current Affair got its name
Maury Povich on his talk show, Maury, at Universal
Maury Povich on the "Povich Rule"
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences; on following his father (sportswriter for The Washington Post) around when he was young; on attending the University of Pennsylvania
On his first job in broadcast journalism; on writing for radio news; on transitioning to television and becoming a host on the show Panorama
On anchoring the news in Chicago; on the "Povich Rule"; on co-anchoring news in Los Angeles with future wife Connie Chung; on doing news and a talk show at KGO in San Francisco and moving back east to Philadelphia
On his preference between hosting a talk show and anchoring news; on returning to Panorama; on Metromedia becoming FOX; on meeting Rupert Murdoch and the plan for A Current Affair
Chapter 2
On stories covered on A Current Affair and the show getting syndicated; on stories that were off-limits on A Current Affair; on how A Current Affair got its name and the sound effects in the introduction
On how A Current Affair changed broadcast journalism and American culture; on leaving A Current Affair and his two subsequent talk shows: The Maury Povich Show and Maury
On the content on his talk shows; on how media savvy guests on his talk show are; on his viewing audience and production on Maury
On his proudest career achievement and how he'd like to be remembered
Chapter 3
START OF JOINT INTERVIEW WITH CONNIE CHUNG: On how they met; on Povich being second banana to Chung in Los Angeles; on getting married; on being competitive as journalists; on reactions when fans see them together; on her appearances on David Letterman's show; on Weekends with Maury and Connie
On working together; on her off-pitch serenade; on giving each other career advice; on Chung as a trailblazer; on Povich not caring what critics think; on their Flathead Beacon newspaper
On the Flathead Beacon newspaper; on Povich's favorite story about Chung; on Chung's favorite story about Povich
Shows
Current Affair, A
Maury Povich on meeting Rupert Murdoch and the plan for A Current Affair
Maury Povich on his initial thoughts on A Current Affair
Maury Povich on stories covered on A Current Affair, the show getting syndicated, and its huge ratings success
Maury Povich on sometimes being uncomfortable with the stories on A Current Affair
Maury Povich on the major stories covered on A Current Affair
Maury Povich on how A Current Affair got its name and the sound effects in the introduction
Maury Povich on how A Current Affair changed broadcast journalism and American culture
Maury Povich on leaving A Current Affair and getting his own talk show at Paramount
Connie Chung and Maury Povich on competing for interviews when Povich was on A Current Affair
Connie Chung and Maury Povich on Povich's favorite Chung story
Late Night with David Letterman
Connie Chung and Maury Povich on Chung's appearances on David Letterman's show
Connie Chung and Maury Povich on Povich's favorite Chung story
Topics
Criticism of TV
Maury Povich on criticisms of his talk show Maury
JFK Assassination and Funeral
Maury Povich on covering JFK's assassination for radio
John F. Kennedy
Maury Povich on covering JFK's assassination for radio
Representation on Television
Maury Povich on co-anchoring news in Los Angeles with future wife Connie Chung; on her start at CBS
Richard M. Nixon
Maury Povich on covering the Senate Committee Watergate Hearings for Panorama and launching political pundits on the program
Television and the Presidency
Maury Povich on covering JFK's assassination for radio
Maury Povich on covering the Senate Committee Watergate Hearings for Panorama and launching political pundits on the program
Television Industry
Maury Povich on Metromedia becoming FOX
Maury Povich on criticisms of his talk show Maury
Underrepresented Voices
Maury Povich on co-anchoring news in Los Angeles with future wife Connie Chung; on her start at CBS
Connie Chung and Maury Povich on Chung as a trailblazer
Women
Maury Povich on co-anchoring news in Los Angeles with future wife Connie Chung; on her start at CBS
Connie Chung and Maury Povich on Chung as a trailblazer
Professions
Anchor
Maury Povich on his preference between hosting a talk show and anchoring news
Maury Povich on what makes a good news anchor
Hosts
Maury Povich on his preference between hosting a talk show and anchoring news
Maury Povich on enjoying hosting Maury
Maury Povich on advice for aspiring talk show hosts
Journalists & News Producers
Maury Povich on his preference between hosting a talk show and anchoring news
Maury Povich on what makes a good news anchor
Talk Show Host
Maury Povich on his preference between hosting a talk show and anchoring news
Maury Povich on enjoying hosting Maury
Maury Povich on advice for aspiring talk show hosts
Genres
News and Documentary
Maury Povich on meeting Rupert Murdoch and the plan for A Current Affair
Maury Povich on his initial thoughts on A Current Affair
Talk Shows
Maury Povich on criticisms of his talk show Maury
Maury Povich on his talk show, Maury
People
Roger Ailes
Maury Povich on Roger Ailes being hired to do research on his popularity and re-vamp his image
Tammy Faye Bakker Messner
Maury Povich on the major stories covered on A Current Affair
Connie Chung
Maury Povich on co-anchoring news in Los Angeles with future wife Connie Chung; on her start at CBS
Maury Povich on a chance to work with his wife, Connie Chung, on a half-hour access show which fell through
Connie Chung and Maury Povich on how they met
Barry Diller
Maury Povich on leaving A Current Affair and getting Barry Diller's wrath
Phil Donahue
Maury Povich on what Phil Donahue added to the talk show format
Don Hewitt
Maury Povich on Don Hewitt of 60 Minutes being a fan of A Current Affair
Jeffrey Katzenberg
Maury Povich on a chance to work with his wife, Connie Chung, on a half-hour access show which fell through
Jay Leno
Connie Chung and Maury Povich on her off-pitch serenade
David Letterman
Connie Chung and Maury Povich on Chung's appearances on David Letterman's show
Connie Chung and Maury Povich on Povich's favorite Chung story
Rupert Murdoch
Maury Povich on meeting Rupert Murdoch and the plan for A Current Affair
Maury Povich on Rupert Murdoch believing he made Povich's career
Maury Povich
Connie Chung and Maury Povich on how they met
Tom Shales
Maury Povich on TV critic Tom Shales' unflattering critique of his talk show
Tom Snyder
Maury Povich on his preference between hosting a talk show and anchoring news
Brandon Tartikoff
Maury Povich on Paramount's Brandon Tartikoff's advice to him for The Maury Povich Show
Donald J. Trump
Maury Povich on Mikhail Gorbachev's planned meeting with Donald Trump, and how A Current Affair spoofed it