So, I was thinking to myself this morning, “What Happened to Maury Povich?”

Maury Povich was born in our nation’s capitol and is now 70yrs. old.  The son of a Washington Post Journalist, he graduated from The University of Pennsylvania, a top Ivy League school, in 1962 with a degree in television journalism.  In that era, from 1950 to 1962 the % of households in America with a Television in their home jumped from 9% to 90% (http://www.tvhistory.tv/facts-stats.htm).  He had tasted and seen, no doubt with his own eyes, the power and influence that television had.  He grew up with the invention of television as he turned into an adult.  Eisenhower had just signed the Civil Rights Act in1960.  That same year JFK was elected president.  In ‘61 Catch 22 is published, and in ‘62 Dylan released his debut album.  Within a decade of his graduation he would see The Beatles rise and fall, a man walk on the moon, and  both JFK and MLK assassinated.  For, a young budding journalist fresh from the halls of Ivy League Elites, this would have been the pinnacle era to be become a journalist.  The entire world was literally changing before his eyes, some for blessing and some for curse.

Maury’s career started out in a more astute direction having worked in publicity and as a reporter for a few radio stations, and then on to television.  Eventually he landed on A Current Affair, which was essentially an old school TMZ, but had the redemptive qualities of airing segments that were a bit more socially responsible and shed light on the unseen needs of the time.

From there, he was granted his own show, The Maury Povich Show, which has gone through several incarnations, but saw a noticeable shift when they introduced a paternity test segment.  It was all down hill from there.  The show began to play to the lowest common denominator and was even deemed “trash tv” by some. 

So, what happened to Maury Povich?  Why did he not become the leading journalist of an age? Why did his career not more shed light on some of the brightest and darkest moments of our time?  What will his legacy be, and more importantly, what will ours be?

I’m just saying… beware, and beware.

wg