We recently connected with Motown Maurice and have shared our conversation below.

Motown, appreciate you joining us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

America, 2010, a time of mistrust, division, and unrest. It was a time of fear and violence. Protests spanned the nation. As tension endured, people had to pick a side: Team Coco or Team Leno. It was one of the greatest battles in late-night television history.

It was also a peculiar time; everybody seemed to be getting a late-night show. Less than a year prior, NBC welcomed Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, followed by The Mo’Nique Show on BET, and Lopez Tonight on TBS. Every famous comic wanted a piece of the late-night pie, as did an unknown photographer in Tampa, Florida.

On January 23, 2010, The Motown Maurice Show entered the late-night race. I had not been invited, so I invited myself. Mobilizing over 50 volunteers, maxing out four credit cards, and acquiring one local sponsor, I set forth on a mission to make Tampa the next great destination for late-night television. My show followed the likes of my contemporaries with celebrity guests, a band, and a live studio audience.

The Motown Maurice Show was broadcast on the WTTA-MyTV Tampa Bay station with reserved paid programming slots. The show’s success earned me a Key to the City, presented by Mayor Pam Iorio. However, this undertaking depleted all my resources, ruined my credit, forced me to give up my apartment, and dissolved my business.

In the aftermath, my spirit was deflated, and I spent that summer in a deep depression. I could only overcome the situation by accepting the call to move to Los Angeles and start afresh.

Looking back on what I accomplished, it seems unfathomable. The Motown Maurice Show is best described as a magical grassroots moment. It is the most significant risk of my life and the precursor to my extraordinary late-night quest.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Unlike Conan O’Brien or Jimmy Kimmel, I didn’t grow up dreaming about becoming a late-night host. I had the epiphany at 28 years old, and it instantly transformed into a burning desire. From that moment, no other path in life seemed palatable. I became obsessed with late-night television and hyper-focused on realizing my vision.

Nearly two decades later, despite being buried under a mountain of disappointment, I have produced three titles totaling 12 hours of scripted and documentary storytelling. It’s with great pride that I share my journey with the world, allowing viewers to experience what I believe is the greatest underdog story in the history of late-night television. A fourth project, Hero’s Journey: Myth or Delusion, will be released in 2025.

My most valuable possession is my story, which is comically infused with real-life trials and tribulations. I hope viewers consume my content not only as entertainment but also as inspiration to pursue their own passions relentlessly.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

Often, the response I receive about my destiny is, “Oh, so you’re the next Arsenio Hall,” or “You’re the next Conan,” and “The next Johhny Carson,” and so on. At first, I proudly embraced it as a compliment, but over time, I’ve made it a point to correct people: “No, I’m the first Motown Maurice.”

Celebrity comparisons are fun and often inspiring, but it can become an unhealthy mindset if we try too hard to emulate their paths. I’m a victim of trying to follow the paths of other late-night hosts. I had to unlearn that way of thinking. Everyone’s journey is unique. My quest began once I stopped comparing myself to others and wholly owned my story.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

When I tell people I’m the Future of Late Night, sometimes they think it’s a self-righteous pursuit, but it’s not. I’m driven by purpose and the responsibilities that embody a late-night host. Late-night hosts are not just for entertainment; they educate and unite people. They’re conduits—messengers! They’re reliable and consistent. They tuck Americans in at night and help the nation forget its troubles. They’re heroes, leaders, and generational role models.

I’m motivated by this improbable goal because I know it is my destiny. And what are we here for if not to pursue our destinies? This pursuit has been a powerful driving force in my life, pushing me to make sacrifices I thought were beyond my limits and providing a sense of purpose that has shaped me into the resilient person I am today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://MotownMaurice.com

Image Credits

1. The Motown Maurice Show Ep4 monologue | Phil Buck Photography
2. Mayor of Tampa Pam Iorio presents Motown the key to the city – Ep4 | Phil Buck Photography
3. The Motown Maurice Show karate skit – Ep7 | Phil Buck Photography
4. The Motown Maurice Show team photo | Phil Buck Photography
5. The Future of Late Night promotion