We’ve been eagerly posting any updates we could on the forthcoming Jerry Seinfeld produced show The Marriage Ref. It’s not really because we love reality shows or embrace most network television. The reason is simple. We love it when we see one of our favorite, yet under-utilized comedians get a chance to expose themselves to the nation in a big way.
Tom Papa’s career has been intimately on our radar since our launch in 2005 — he even performed at our third anniversary show last year! — and we’ve seen him deservedly grow exponentially in popularity. And now he’s set to host this new NBC show. And given the current landscape of television and the fact that Seinfeld rarely makes bad business choices, we can’t imagine the show won’t earn decent ratings and move Papa to an even higher echelon of the stand-up comedy elite.
Anyway, we’ve pasted below an adorable video of Papa and Seinfeld — real-life close friends — dealing with their marriages in their own special way. We also get a glimpse into the couples Papa will be dealing with. You see, as the Marriage Ref, he gets to listen to real marital disputes and decide who’s right and wrong. will have a special sneak peak after the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics on Feb. 28 and will then officially premiere Thursday, March 4 at 10 pm.
You may not know it if you watch the news, but NBC has other things going on besides the Late Night War or 2010. In fact, one of the shows that will help fil the gap of Jay Leno’s 10 pm chat show, is the Jerry Seinfeld-helmed The Marriage Ref hosted by comedian Tom Papa.
The show, wherein we get to see real American married folks fight and then Papa concludes who the winner is, is already getting an incredible promotional push, despite its official announcement only coming Jan. 10.
Mainstream stars Eva Longoria Parker, Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey as well as Larry David and Charles Barkley have signed on to act as panelists. And longtime sports announcer Marv Albert will also play a small roll, handing out prizes to winner of the marital disputes.
Check out a funny promo for the show below, starring Seinfeld and Papa. The video after is a look inside of a production meeting at The Marriage Ref offices, wherein the staff, including Jerry and Tom, discuss the differences between being married and just living together.
The Marriage Ref will have a special premiere after the closing ceremony of the Winter Olypmics on Feb. 28 and will then move to its regular slot at 8 pm on Sundays starting on March 14. Check out our interview with Papa here.
After yesterday’s announcement that Jay Leno would be usurping Conan O’Brien’s 11:30 pm spot on NBC, comedic legends and current NBC employees Jerry Seinfeld and Chevy Chase sounded off on how the red-headed host has been treated.
The historically outspoken and divisive Chase, who stars on the network’s scripted series Community told LocateTV.com: “From where I stand, Conan’s getting screwed because of NBC’s long relationship with Jay,” Chase said. “I’m not saying Jay’s screwing him because I wouldn’t deign to do that. I’m just saying I don’t think he’s getting much respect. So it wouldn’t surprise me if he moved on. But they’ll have to work this out relative to their contracts.”
Seinfeld, a longtime friend and first guest on the Jay Leno Show, was a bit more measured in his response, saying, “I don’t think anyone prevented people from watching Conan,” Seinfeld said. “You know, I’m a stand-up comic. It’s like there’s no rules. Once they give you the camera, it’s on you. So I can’t blame NBC for having to move things around. I mean, Conan had a chance to destroy everybody. I don’t think anyone did anything to Conan. I hope he stays. I think he’s terrific.”
Veteran comedian and longtime Jerry Seinfeld collaborator and live opener Tom Papa will be the host of NBC’s newest reality series, The Marriage Ref, it was announced just hours ago in Pasadena, CA. Executive produced by Seinfeld, the show will set out to comically examine married couples’ most divisive domestic squabbles and choose which mate is right and which is dreadfully wrong.
Ref will debut with a sneak preview on Feb. 28 at 10:30 pm following the Olympics’ closing ceremonies; its regular time slot will be Sundays at 8 pm, starting on March 14.
We fired a few questions at Papa about his new role on the show. And he kindly fired some answers back. The proof is below.
What exactly, as the host, is your role on this show?
As the Marriage Ref, it’s my job to end couple’s marital fights once and for all by declaring a winner. But at it’s heart this is a comedy panel show with me as the host and three celebrity guests. My role in that regard is to be adorable and hilarious.
Will you be making the judgments as to who is right or wrong or are you mostly there to antagonize each couple?
We watch footage of these couples in their real homes, having real fights and then give them something they desperately need– a declared winner. We’re on their side. They’re married, they don’t need anyone else antagonizing them.
How do you think your role on this show will affect your life at home with your own wife and kids?
I have been telling jokes about my family life my entire career. So from past experience I would have to say that this show will guarantee that my wife and kids are going to be getting a lot of gifts to keep them happy.
The good people of PunchlineMagazine.com do not traffic in rumors. That said, we are not above relaying trumors: speculation that sure sounds real.
So we will pass along this scuttlebutt from PopEater: An NBC spokesperson denies it, but TV sources say executives at the network are contemplating replacing the big redhead, Conan O’Brien, and trying to resuscitate the dying Tonight Show with a jolt from its former golden boy, Jerry Seinfeld.
“NBC just can’t carry on like this,” a source tells PopEater. “The Tonight Show has lost 52 percent of its viewership in just one year. The November ratings will be the show’s lowest in 15 years. They’d be idiots to not be having the replacement conversation.”
What do you think? Should Conan be replaced? Sound off in the comments section!
Marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman…and entertainers, athletes and comedians, beginning on March 14, when Marriage Ref premieres on NBC. Tom Papa will host the new series from Jerry Seinfield. On it, a panel of showbiz and sports celebs will give advice to squabbling spouses.
“This isn’t a therapy show; it’s a comedy show,” Seinfeld says. “After nine years of marriage, I’ve discovered that the comedic potential of this subject is quite rich.”
Most husbands and wives fight more than hockey players, so it’s about time the sacred institution of marriage (actually an asylum for the matrimonially insane) hired officials to break up the brawls.
Sunday marks a bittersweet day in the world of comedy, as HBO’s Curb Your Enthusiasm brings its seventh season to an end. It’s been a special one, of course, because of the addition of the entire cast of Seinfeld. Well, in the final episode, we finally see the official Seinfeld reunion begin rehearsals. We also see this scene below, wherein both Jerry and Larry bust Jason’s balls in their own unique ways. Check it out, pass it on and be sure to tune in to HBO on Sunday at 9 pm to see the full episode.
Well, A&E did it with the Sopranos so we guess the TV Guide channel and TV Land will somewhat successfully be able to pull off running episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm. That’s right, Curb fans: said networks announced today that they have acquired basic cable rights to the HBO mega hit. The show will air on TV Guide Network for a multi-year run starting in February; TV Land will then begin airing Curb during prime time after TV Guide’s stint ends.
“We are excited to bring Curb Your Enthusiasm to TV Land PRIME,” says Larry W. Jones, president, TV Land. Curb Your Enthusiasm is one of themost clever, witty and groundbreaking shows on television and we¹re excited to have it join our roster of top-quality sitcoms. The irreverent way Curb uses characters to illuminate real-life situations fit perfectly with our strategy of delivering programming that is geared to the life stage and attitudes of people in their 40s.”
Both networks will also have rights to air the show on broadband, wireless and video-on-demand outlets. The question, however, is this: Will the R-branded humor that Curb has become so known for translate properly on basic cable where there are many more language and situation restrictions? What do you think? Let us know in the comments section.
On Oct. 26, living comedy legend Bill Cosby was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, the highest honor a comedian could earn. Tomorrow, you’ll be able to see the entire 90-minute award show on PBS at 8pm. You should check your local listings here for more viewing info. Cosby joins the ranks of Richard Pryor, George Carlin and Steve Martin as the 12th recipient of the prize. To get you in the mood for the Cos, or “Mr. Cosby” as it seems everyone calls him, here’s a few clips from the award ceremony, the first of which gets you on the red carpet. Check it out.
In this clip, Malcolm Jamal-Warner — Theo, from The Cosby Show — tells the story about how he almost didn’t land his career-making role.
Finally, Cosby’s screen-wife Phylicia Rashad remembers how Cosby helped her make the transition from stage to sitcom.
It wasn’t really all that shocking that a guy like Jerry Seinfeld was chosen to be the first guest on the new Jay Leno Show, which premiered last night. After all, Leno has already made a huge effort to make his show more stand-up comedy focused, hiring the likes of DL Hughley and Jim Norton as special correspondents and devoting more time to stand-up comedy performances on each show.
In the clip below, Jerry brings Oprah Winfrey into the comedy fray when Jay couldn’t seem to pull it off. Cute.
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Veteran comedian and longtime Jerry Seinfeld collaborator and live opener Tom Papa will be the host of NBC’s newest reality series, The Marriage Ref, it was announced just hours ago in Pasadena, CA. Executive produced by Seinfeld, the show will set out to comically examine married couples’ most divisive domestic squabbles and choose which mate is right and which is dreadfully wrong.
Marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a woman…and entertainers, athletes and comedians, beginning on March 14, when Marriage Ref premieres on NBC. 
