‘Maury’ to end after 31 seasons

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The longest-running TV talk show in history, “Maury,” is ending after 31 seasons.

The show, which became infamous for its “conflict talker” format that often included DNA paternity tests revealed on air with the lines “You are the father” and “You are not the father” becoming embedded in the American lexicon.

Maury Povich, who is 81, has helmed the titular talker, originally known as “The Maury Povich Show,” since it launched in 1991.

Original episodes will continue to air through September 2022 but the show will officially shut down production after it completes taping enough episodes to fill the days between then and now.

Reports began surfacing that “Maury” would end after the 2021-2022 season late in 2021, though there was some talk that it might end up running a season or two of repeats repackaged as new episodes as “Judge Judy” is doing.

However, Povich has confirmed he is retiring and NBCUniversal, which distributes the syndicated show, says that while it will continue to syndicate repeats, they won’t be repackaged as new episodes.

“Maury” will likely be replaced by a conflict talker helmed by Karamo Brown, who has been guest hosting select episodes on “Maury” this season, though NBC is still finalizing deals for it.

Povich noted that he had been planning to retire six seasons ago, but NBCUniversal asked him to renew.

“Even though I told them I was ready for assisted living, out of loyalty to NBCUniversal and my more than 100 staff and crew members, Tracie Wilson and I agreed to one more deal. I’m so proud of my relationship with NBCUniversal and all those who worked on the ‘Maury’ show but as I occasionally tell my guests on ‘Maury,’ ‘Enough, already!’” Povich said in a statement.

Wilson, who is executive vice president of NBCUniversal Syndication Studios said that the decision to end “Maury” was made two years ago.

“Maury” was originally taped at Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City alongside “The People’s Court” and “The Sally Jessy Raphael Show.”

In 2009, the show moved to NBCU’s Stanford production facility along with “Jerry Springer” and “The Steve Wilkos Show.” It shared a studio with both shows during their runs, with the sets for each program having to be set up on tape days. Like many similar shows, “Maury,” typically taped multiple episodes back to back.