Maury, the longtime daytime talk show that turned paternity tests into entertainment, is coming to an end.
The NBCUniversal series hosted by Maury Povich will end original productions this year as Povich plans to retire, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. New episodes will continue to air until September, after which reruns will air in syndication.
A spokesperson for Povich did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mori started life as The Maury Povich Show in 1991 before adopting the official moniker Maury in 1998. The show was known for lewd themes, including the broadcast of paternity test results, and Povich’s “You’re Not the Father” performance became a famous catchphrase.
The program had a significant impact on pop culture, with the 83-year-old star playing himself in How I Met Your Mother and Madea’s Big Happy Family. Previously, Povich ran the entertainment magazine A Current Affair.
“They touch on so many classic themes, be it love, mistrust, conflict, drama,” Povich said in a 2012 Chicago Tribune interview about the appeal of Maury’s episodes. – And, in particular, paternity shows that he-said, she-said, he-father, not-he. While soap operas play these themes for six months, we play them for 12 minutes.”