Galina I know that "funny" is relative - whatever tickles me off, would make another person frown or even angry but I still can't understand why The Marriage Ref, new reality show produced by Jerry Seinfeld, gets so much bad press and hatred. As the show which is geared toward the married couples, it offers the funny reassurance that no matter how out of hands things may get in your marriage there is always someone out there in even more puzzling and/or weirder situation. This show is not about looking too seriously at the marital problems but about all participants - the audiences, the couples who let their problems become public, and the panel of celebrities-advisers having good time. I personally was more than surprised when I read all the negative comments about The Marriage Ref. To be accurate, I was not too excited about the whole idea before I caught the episode with Larry David, Madonna, and Ricky Gervais. That was hilarious. The best part was the interaction among the celebrities. They were natural and funny; they were themselves, and it worked beautifully. Larry David and Madonna bickering at the same show - now that's the match made in TV heaven...by a crazy angel. I want the show go on. It has potentials, and it is funny and enjoyable (at least for this viewer). Some couples, their problems, and the panel's reaction and discussions have became classics already. The couple with mother-in-low who dominates and smothers her 40+ son- psychiatrist's life and marriage. Larry's, Madonna's and Ricky's advices were priceless - talk to your mother three times a year and ban her from your house for the rest of the year. The couple with an iguana-pet that takes a wife's all time and devotion what makes her husband's understandably upset. Larry David's reaction was priceless, especially after it was revealed that the husband had brought the pet to the house. The Episode 3 with Martha Stewart, Cedric the Entertainer, and Jason Alexander - another funny 60 minutes. I was especially impressed by Jason Alexander. He proved to be very insightful, reasonable, thoughtful and funny guy. His remarks and advices to the couples and interactions with his partners were right to the point. I was entertained, I liked every minute of the show. I am looking forward for more and I hope that more viewers and critics will see what I see - a rare thing nowadays, a funny, witty, and very enjoyable TV reality show. ***Added on March 25, 10 after watching the re-run of the Episode 1 with Jerry Seinfeld, Kelly Ripa, and Alec Baldwin. ***So, I've watched three episodes and I am a fan. I like all three because each of them has a lot of laughs, crazy, absurd and surreal situations as the footage of the couples from all over the country shows, and celebrities' discussions on the panel where they are relaxed and being themselves when faced with the situations one weirder then another. This evening the couple from Florida where the husband keeps his beloved Harley bike in the living room and refuses to move it out and also builds the shrine to Maria Kerry in the bedroom and can't take the eyes from his idol on the big screen TV, is the most surreal of all I've seen. There is also a cat that is creepily smart judging by the way it uses the toilet and with whom the husband seems to have a very close relationship. Luis Bunuel and Salvador Dali would have updated their manifest of surrealism had they seen the tonight episode. The best, the funniest quote also belongs to the episode 1. The last couple on the show had the big disagreement about the husband's pet-dog, Zeus. Zeus constantly attacks the wife and bites her. He even bit 78-years-old mother of the wife. The husband tries to reason with the wife and tells her that the dog has been learning, and he is like a rebellious teenager. The husband says, "Remember when you were a teenager, what did you do? To which wife quite brilliantly replies, "I smoked; I hang out in the park. I did not bite people" My verdict: The show is light, funny and entertaining. I have not gotten bored or annoyed. I was laughing tonight and I laughed while watching the previous episodes. The show is worth watching.***Added on April 1, 2010***Tonight show was a disappointment -not funny, predictable, and irritating. I did not like neither "panelists" nor the real couple with their stories. All subjects have been covered better in the previous episodes. I am changing my vote from 8 to 6

magicsebi I am a big Jerry S. fan and when I heard he was doing a new show, I was really looking forward to seeing it. After watching the first two episodes, I have to say it's a pretty good idea and it is really enjoyable too. Basically, three celebrities gather each week and they are presented with a few couples arguing about some unusual thing. Each celebrity takes a side (the husband's or the wife's) and after that, the argument is ended. The one who is right is the one who has two or three of the celebrities on their side. A simple idea but fun nonetheless.The show is funny and it's nice to watch it with your family as it might be more fun if you would comment with them on the side of the show. Of course, as most of the shows, it's not perfect. The presenter, Tom Papa, is a bit annoying in my opinion but it doesn't matter as the guests speak most of the time. Also, the crowd's laughter is sometimes a bit too loud and you might not hear the couple's presentation or what the guests say. All in all, a good show. I hope its small flaws will disappear and it will become even better in time. 9/10

Asteri-Atypical Like many, I saw the ads during the Olympics. I also saw Seinfeld was attached to it, which, IMHO, gave me hope. So I decided to tune in. I thought I would like it, at least a little. A "guilty pleasure", if nothing else. It seemed a concept which had potential.When I heard the cacophonous canned laughter which roared at every line, I felt myself tense up a little. Usually, the louder the canned laughter, the weaker the material. As I heard the script, the knot in my stomach only got worse.The lines were insincere and contrived. The humor and jokes hackneyed. The situations unbelievable and ridiculous.I honestly don't know what Jerry Seinfeld was thinking. While he contributed a scant bit of amusing banter in the pilot episode, it wasn't nearly enough to rescue what was otherwise a train wreck.I wasn't expecting too much. As I wrote; I expected it to be cheap thrills and "guilty pleasure" material. That shouldn't have been too hard to achieve. Yet it failed to rise to even this level.Maybe if they didn't try so hard, it would be better. This show seemed too desperate to scream "LAUGH AT US! PLEEEEAAASSE"! It's a sad waste of a concept with good potential and a waste of what could have been a good idea.I guess it COULD get better with time, if it's completely re-vamped. But I'm not holding my breath.

Bryan Hargrave I caught the premiere of "The Marriage Ref" after the Closing Ceremony of the Vancouver Games, and I am hooked. Not your typical reality dreck at all. Fast paced, funny and real. Great to see Jerry Seinfeld back on TV, but it's not all about him. The burden will be on the producers to find ammunition for the panel in the form of squabbling couples, and I don't think it's a problem. I'm sure there are no shortage of them, and plenty of stars who will be pleased to appear on this fresh, fun show. Pretty harmless, but deadly funny!Unlike typical reality schlock, this show is quick, entertaining and to the point. One half of the show is devoted to each of two couples resolving issues, like, one partner wanting a recently deceased dog stuffed and placed in the home and the other partner disagreeing. Awesome! Tom Papa is a great host/referee. If they can keep the momentum going, this might make it. Great idea, great show.