I'm the first to admit that I have a pretty sweet gig. I get to watch TV for a living, and sometimes I even get to mingle with its stars while drinking free beer. But sometimes the job means sitting through horrible television. And last night's debut of The Marriage Ref may be the worst television I've seen in awhile.
Listen, we all knew it was going to be bad. Anyone who saw the promos NBC threw at us during its Winter Olympics coverage and thought, "This is going to be great!" can probably also be entertained for a weekend by a cat toy.
The premise of the show is to have celebrities give marriage advice to couples with issues (in the premiere, these "issues" included a taxidermied pet and a stripper pole in the living room), but in the end, it's really just celebrities trying to be funny and laughing a little too hard at their jokes. The first episode featured Alec Baldwin and Kelly Ripa sitting alongside mainstay (and show creator) Jerry Seinfeld. And while they briefly had their moments, it all felt way too forced.
In the middle of everything is host Tom Papa, who brings all the charisma of an America's Funniest Home Videos emcee. I'm not blaming him; he's just a pawn in NBC's evil plan to kill network television and make us all want to off ourselves.
But if we can't blame Papa, then we have to blame Jerry Seinfeld, as the show is his brainchild. Once the funniest man in America, Seinfeld somehow Jedi-mind-tricked the execs at NBC into greenlighting this show (presumably because he is, after all, Jerry Seinfeld). It was a greenlight that no one was brave enough to shut down, because of the trickle-down ass-kissing under which the network operates.
The result is a pathetic half-hour that's edited to hell, results in meaningless resolutions, features the worst animated intro of all-time, and is just plain uncomfortable to watch. What is the point of the whole thing? More than 14 million people tuned in for the premiere thanks to an Olympics lead-in, but this show won't last into April.
I've wasted too much time writing about this atrocity already, and you've wasted too much time reading about it. Let's move on. Next up on NBC's list of disasters: Lisa Kudrow's celebrity-genealogy show Who Do You Think You Are?
Comments (20)
Really bad show :(
When will the Comcast CEO act to fire the entire NBC upper echelon. Or did they buy NBC for a tax write-off?
I wish I had seen the end the Olympic Closing Ceremony instead of Seinfeld's new show. I think Seinfeld is a funny guy but that was hard to watch. Alec Baldwin (as great an actor as he is) giving marriage advice? Didn't he have a nasty divorce with Kim Basinger. Pull the plug in this, I guess it goes to show you Larry David really was the brains behind Seinfeld.
HAHA that was part of the joke...Playing on stereotypes others have of us, that we are in love with Moose, Beavers, Maple Leafs...we all dress like mounties, and play hockey lol. But I agree the music was the best. I was hoping one of the comedians would be Russel Peters, but I guess his jokes aren't really PG
r u kidding me, of course it will last til april, its on the nbc, a show only needs 4 million viewers to stay on, look at shows like community and parks and rec, both those r probably gonna get another season.
I was so pissed when they decided not to show the end of the closing ceremonies for this junk. I turned the channel after 1 minute (which is how long it took me to find the remote otherwise i would have turned if off before it started).
sorry for those who missed the good part of the closing ceremonies for this drivel. The music was the best...and NO floating beavers or moose to be seen!
I caught the later show after the olympics (west coast Canada) and I feel sorry for anyone who missed the closing ceremonies for this trash. Sure I am Canadian and take pride in hosting the games, but Mariage Ref over Closing Ceremonies? The ceremonies were like a 2 hour sitcom with a news cast thrown into the middle (speeches) lol. I think the "tongue-in-cheek" ceremonies were really funny and waaaaay better than this crap show. I thought with Seinfeld it can't be bad right...right? WRONG!
Remeber All the good Shows that Paid the price for the Leno Debacle, like Southland and Life , and then they air this dreck. Network tv has no one else to Blame. Back to my TV OnDVD Box Sets.
The only reason that it had 14 mil viewers was because they did a little bait and switch with the closing ceremonies. I bet the viewer count fell by half by the end of the episode. If their lucky.
Meh what good show has NBC come out with lately.
wish it were a sit com
I didn't think the show was going to be bad and I'm not entertained for a weekend by a cat toy. Quit your slamming jerk.
Interrupting the Olympic Ceremony for this like it was a post-Super Bowl time slot. Nice send off to the Olympics NBC.
I have to agree with brettlee93. It is rare when you see a celebrity couple that lasts, so for celebrities to be giving marriage advice is just hypocritical. NBC must have okayed the show because of the fact it's Jerry Seinfeld.
Just saw it a few hours ago.... awful just awfulll! If you thought the seinfeld curse was bad for kramer's and george's failed shows then you are in for a big surprise watching the marriage ref! ghastly definitely GHASTLY!
in other countries who do you think you are is actually quite deep and you get a whole new look at these celebs but if lisa kudrow's hosting i think it might just be a bit crap
Who Do You Think You Are? actually get decent ratings over here, it can be interesting at times. have you guys given it a host though? That's a change.
I really find it comical that they have celebrities on here giving marriage advice when some of them can't even keep a marriage together themselves.
I agree. You have a sweet job. I also agree about this show. I like the three celebrities that were on last night's show, but they just were not funny here. I think you're on to something about NBC's evil plan. *picturing Jeff Zucker with his little finger to his mouth, Dr. Evil style.