Seinfeld Back On NBC, Sorta
As your probably know by now, Jerry Seinfeld has a new production deal with NBC - "The Marriage Ref" has been picked up.
Right, like NBC wasn't going to pick this up.
This is a network that picks up every reality show.
And not Jerry's?
It's been in development for months, and Jerry has been warming up audiences to the idea as well. Check out this "Tonight Show" appearance from last fall - it's a peak at Jerry's new show.
No, he won't have an on-air role, or will he? Hard to imagine NBC would want something from Seinfeld without some sort of on-air identification, at the very minimum voice-over. So we'll see...
(Happily Married Man, right)
What do we know about this? Very little, and NBC is saying very little. Here's Seinfeld's statement to the trades last night:
"This is not a therapy show, it’s a comedy show,” the 54-year-old comedian said of his new show The Marriage Ref. “After nine years of marriage , I have discovered that the comedic potential of this subject is quite rich.”
Press release is on the jump.
And for proof, this...
(Pix: Jemal Countess/WireImage.com)
UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. – February 26, 2009 – NBC is proud to announce a new
comedy-reality series created by superstar comedian and producer Jerry
Seinfeld's Columbus 81 Productions. Mr. Seinfeld has partnered with Ellen
Rakieten, a 23-year veteran of "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on this project..
This new series titled "The Marriage Ref" (working title) will feature
opinionated celebrities, comedians and sports stars who will candidly comment,
judge and offer different strategies for real-life couples in the midst of a
classic marital dispute.
The announcement was made today by Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman, NBC Entertainment
and Universal Media Studios.
Describing his new creation, Mr. Seinfeld said, "This is not a therapy show,
it's a comedy show. After nine years of marriage I have discovered that the
comedic potential of this subject is quite rich."
"It will be revealing, edgy, controversial and very, very funny. Picture
well-known people weighing in on a couple's relationship issues -- and deciding
who is right and who is wrong -- right on the spot, like a referee," added Ms.
Rakieten.
Mr. Seinfeld is thrilled to partner with Ms. Rakieten on "The Marriage Ref."
Rakieten joined "The Oprah Winfrey Show" as a producer at its inception in 1986,
and was a major force in creating the most dominant program in daytime history.
"There is no better partner for me on this venture than Ellen. She has had such
an amazing experience at Harpo, and our minds seem perfectly synchronized on the
potential of this idea," said Mr. Seinfeld.
For two decades Ms. Rakieten's leadership and creativity earned "The Oprah
Winfrey Show" unprecedented ratings. During her long tenure at Harpo, Ms.
Rakieten produced over 3500 hours of television.
"NBC has a long and enormously successful relationship with Jerry and this great
new concept reflects his incredible and unique point of view," said Silverman.
"Viewers will love this highly relatable new comedy."
Added Paul Telegdy, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, NBC and
Universal Media Studios, "While 'Seinfeld' was a hilarious look at single life,
this new show will focus on the humor of relationships and marriage. It's a
great fit with the slate of alternative comedy we are building at NBC."
The deal was brokered by Jeanne Newman.
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