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Larry David said that “wokeness” was never important to the Curb Your Enthusiasm fandom, which means that Jerry Seinfeld must not watch much Curb — that guy can’t stop talking about cancel culture.

The final season of Curb Your Enthusiasm featured more overtly political messaging than the previous 11 seasons combined as Larry sparred with the absurd “election integrity” laws instituted by the state of Georgia following the controversial yet conclusive results of the 2020 presidential election. David invited politicians and prominent celebrity Democrats alike to help him flesh out the season-long plot line in which a bottle of water landed Larry in a Georgia jail cell, only for our hero to be sprung moments later in a meta joke that (almost) redeemed the Seinfeld finale.

However, despite David’s descent into liberalism and the conservative side of the culture war’s subsequent efforts to establish Jerry as the brains of Seinfeld in order to discredit David,...

Exclusive: Apploff Entertainment, the unscripted production company behind series such as Fox’s Beat Shazam and Don’t Forget the Lyrics!, is promoting two of its employees.

Rayna Apploff has been upped to Vice President of Talent, and Zach Gelfand is promoted to Manager of Development.

Apploff has spent 15 years at the company, working on a host of game shows including Beat Shazam, Game of Talents, Mental Samurai, Don’t Forget the Lyrics, The Wheel and Lotería Loca. Prior to joining the company, she gained her game show experience working on America’s Got Talent and The Marriage Ref for NBC as well as Match Game, Password and Press Your Luck for ABC.

In her new role, Apploff will be responsible for casting all contestants and celebrities and nurturing the relationships between hosts and partnering networks across the company’s diverse portfolio of IP.

Gelfand has been with the company for two years,...

Jerry Seinfeld is returning to Netflix, and his next movie, Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story, will be about the beloved breakfast pastry. Known for his offbeat observations and distinguished humor, Jerry Seinfeld rose to fame with jokes about “nothing,” or rather the little things people acknowledge but never spend too much mental energy dissecting. From the look of things, Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story reflects Seinfeld’s bizarre insight and unique brand of humor, possibly making for one of his most ambitious projects yet.

Most recognized for being a co-creator of the sitcom Seinfeld, Jerry Seinfeld has an extensive background in entertainment. Following a series of curious projects like Seinfeld’s Bee Movie, the 2010 reality show The Marriage Ref, and others, Netflix announced that they had gained the rights to the comedian’s latest film. Entitled Unfrosted: The Pop-Tart Story, the movie is slated to debut in 2023 with Jerry Seinfeld set to co-write,...

J.B. Smoove is having a very good summer. The comedian is thrilled about the recent announcement that HBO’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” will return for a ninth season, and he cannot wait to see himself on “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee,” Jerry Seinfeld’s runaway hit of a web series, which premiered today on Crackle with Jim Gaffigan in the passenger’s seat.

“I don’t know what’s more fun, hearing that ‘Curb’ is back, or actually shooting the season and hearing it comes on tonight, you know what I mean?” the comedian told IndieWire by phone on Wednesday.

Known for his singular cadence, Smoove got his start on HBO’s “Def Comedy Jam,” wrote for “Saturday Night Live” in the early aughts and became a household name with shows like “The Millers,” “’Til Death” and Larry David’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Some fans may know him best from “Curb,” but Smoove was well known to other audiences long before that.

“’Curb’ definitely opened crazy new doors and new avenues for me, a new demographic, if I may say that,” said Smoove. It also changed what was expected from him on other projects: “People are more lenient, they’d rather see your take on things since you come from an improv based show.”

Earlier this week, Smoove hinted that “Curb” might be returning for a ninth season during an appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show,” saying Larry David had gauged his interest during one of the pair’s bi-monthly phone conversations. Smoove said he would make himself available. “It’s still fun to see Larry’s damn face, always good to see Larry.”

David is not the only “Seinfeld” creator in Smoove’s life, though he is admittedly much closer with David. Smoove first met Seinfeld while doing an episode of his short-lived reality show, “The Marriage Ref.” A car fanatic, Smoove was a big fan of the web series. “Every season I’m like, ‘Damn! When is Jerry gonna call me to do this damn show?’” Call he did, and the two Jerries had a grand ‘ole time.

“My real name is Jerry, his name is Jerry. Jerries are a very particular animal. Jerries are actually the leopard of the animal species. We have a very particular pattern of things we do, a very particular style,” Smoove said.

Read More: “Curb Your Enthusiasm” Returning to HBO for a 9th Season

The show has been a surprise hit. (In early episodes, almost every comedian ribs Seinfeld about doing a web show). Now in its eighth season, the previous season took the internet by storm when President Obama appeared on the first episode.

Filming is fast and pleasant, according to Smoove: “Jerry picks you up in the car, you talk about the car for a few minutes. You get in the car, you go get coffee, you sit there and you talk about life, love, career, kids, wife, anything.” That’s a pretty accurate description of what happens in each episode.

The result is a very candid conversation between two comedians at the top of their craft about what they see as the world’s greatest profession. “The comedian is that person who can take tragedy and still be able to give an audience something to go home with,” said Smoove.

The two “Seinfeld” creators are more different than they seem, according to Smoove. “Larry’s a little more neurotic, Jerry seems very outgoing and has lots of energy. You can tell when his eyes light up, certain things he loves,” Smoove said. “Larry is very observant. Larry will walk around a party with his hand in his pocket and just sit there and nod his head and watch people.” After working with both, Smoove can see why the two worked so well together. “It’s the little nuances in life, the little bits of humor that people can relate to,” he said. “That’s what made ‘Seinfeld’ so amazing which also makes ‘Curb’ so amazing.”

Read More: Jerry Seinfeld’s ‘Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee’ Season 8 Trailer Sits John Oliver and Judd Apatow in the Passenger Seat

“Curb Your Enthusiasm” finds humor in the cringeworthy situations Larry David gets himself into. Almost every character on the show is a foil for Larry’s neuroses, but not Leon, the character Smoove plays. “Larry gets something from Leon that he can’t get from anybody else on the show. He gets honesty, he gets someone who has his back, someone who agrees with him, who can say: ‘You’re damn right, Larry.'” Some people claim the show is too painful to watch. “You know why? Because it’s too real,” says Smoove.

Smoove’s episode of “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee” will air sometime in the next eight weeks. It appears Seinfeld is just as secretive as David when it comes to his shows. Smoove has no idea what is in store for Season 9 of “Curb,” because “Larry is very secretive.” Even if he weren’t, Smoove says he never looks at the 6-7 page script outlines for the improvised show, because he “think[s] it would take the edge off the funny.”

What he can say about “Comedians in Cars” is that things will definitely get personal. “They’re gonna see a deeper side of Jb.” If his deeper side is as unique as his funny side, it’s going to be a very interesting ride.

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Related stories'Curb Your Enthusiasm' Returning to HBO for a 9th Season'Curb Your Enthusiasm' Might Return, as J.B. Smoove Says Larry David Is 'Thinking About Coming Back'Jerry Seinfeld's 'Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee' Season 8 Trailer Sits John Oliver & Judd Apatow in the Passenger Seat...

A Queen shall lord over Emerald City, in NBC’s The Wiz Live!

RelatedNBC Picks The Wiz over Music Man as Next Live Musical, Sets December Airdate and Cirque du Soleil Twist

Queen Latifah, a Grammy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award winner (and two-time Emmy nominee), will portray the titular Wiz in the network’s next live production, which will air Thursday, Dec. 3.

Latifah’s casting marks a reunion for her and executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, for whom she worked in the movie musicals Chicago and Hairspray and the TV-movie Steel Magnolias.

RelatedEmerald City...

Prepare to get your groove back on Monday, June 1.

That’s when Season 12 of So You Think You Can Dance will tap/twirl/crunk its way back onto Fox at 8/7c, the network announced Monday.

The dance competition, which previously aired Wednesdays, will kick off its audition rounds at 8 pm. For the first time, street dancers will battle stage dancers for the title of America’s Favorite Dancer; as previously reported, host Cat Deeley and returning judge Nigel Lythgoe will be joined by Paul Abdul (American Idol) and singer Jason Derulo.

Related Jada Pinkett Smith Leaving Fox’s Gotham

In...

TLC is throwing its hat into the late-night battlefield. The reality-focused network has ordered to series weekly late-night talk show All About Sex, The Hollywood Reporter has learned. Actress-comedian Margaret Cho, New York Times best-selling author and Chelsea Lately favorite Heather McDonald, Dancing With the Stars' Marissa Jaret Winokur and sex and relationship expert Dr. Tiffanie Davis Henry will host the series. From Relativity Television and Ellen Rakieten Entertainment (The Marriage Ref, NBC comedy Undateable), the network has picked up six half-hour episodes of the series, which will air on Saturdays at 11 p.

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Update, 8:14 Pm: No joke — the strike is over. After a day-and-a-half labor action on the part of the Motion Picture Editors Guild, IATSE Local 700, the postproduction crew of Last Comic Standing now have a union contract, I’ve learned. With that over, everybody is heading back to work tomorrow on the soon-to-debut NBC reboot. The roughly 15 editors, assistant editors and other briefly striking post employees have won the health and retirement benefits plus vacation and holiday pay they sought when they walked out on Monday. A day of picketing today outside the Glendale postproduction facility of the NBC Studios show also saw significant wage increases for the assistant editors. Last Comic Standing is set to premiere on May 22.

Previous, April 21, Am: Just more than a month before its reboot is set to debut, NBC‘s Last Comic Standing today has been knocked down by a labor action. About 15 editors...

Twitter is not a comic’s best friend, the producers and judges of NBC’s exhumed Last Comic Standing said today at NBC Press Day. “I want to see you on stage with that mike, then I’m going to get it,” judge Keenen Ivory Wayans said. “I don’t know where the jokes come from when they’re online. It’s not real to me unless I see you with a microphone.” “I enjoy it, because I like to provoke people and get them pissed off,” judge Roseanne Barr jumped in. “The whole heckler thing is why I got into it. I like being fast with the retort…I like to block people too.” Next month, NBC returns Last Comic Standing, with new judges Barr, Wayans, and Russell Peters, new host Jb Smoove , new format, new celebrity guests, and invitation-only auditions. This reality television talent show aired its first...

Roseanne Barr Keenen Ivory Wayans, and Russell Peters will help find the "Last Comic Standing" this May. The returning NBC series revealed that the trip will serve as judges on the upcoming season, which will premiere Thursday, May 22 at 9 p.m. Et. The new season will be hosted by "Curb Your Enthusiasm" star Jb Smoove. Following the premiere, "Standing" will move to its regular 10 p.m. Thursday timeslot. The season will consist of 13 one-hour episodes. Wanda Sykes and Page Hurwitz ("Wanda Sykes Presents Herlarious"), are exec producing through their Push It Productions, along with Javier Winnik ("The Marriage Ref"). "We are ready to bring back the funny with this relaunch of ‘Last Comic Standing,’ and can’t wait to discover the next great stand-up," said NBC's Paul Telegdy. "With Keenen, Roseanne and Russell set as our new judges, Jb as host and Wanda, Page and Javier at the helm, there...

NBC‘s reality series Last Comic Standing resumes its search for America’s funniest comic on May 22 at 9 Pm with new judges Roseanne Barr (Roseanne), Keenen Ivory Wayans (In Living Color) and Russell Peters (Notorious) and Jb Smoove (Curb Your Enthusiasm) tapped as host. The network is promising innovative format changes, surprise celebrity guests and unexpected twists in 13-episode Season 8, which will open with invitation-only auditions. Last Comic Standing features the top 100 comics in America vying for 20 spots. These 20 will then compete in a semifinal round and the best of the best will emerge, with the top 10 moving into the challenge rounds. In this phase, they will compete in different comedy disciplines, such as sketch, improv and stand-up, proving themselves both individually and in teams. The series will air Thursdays at 10 Pm following the premiere. Wanda Sykes and Page Hurwitz of Push It Prods. executive produce for Universal Television through their deal with the studio,...

NBC’s coverage of the Sochi Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony delivered low ratings and one surreal show-stopping giant bear.

The ceremony was seen by 15.3 million viewers and had a 3.3 rating among adults 18-49. That’s down 29 percent in total viewers and a sharp 40 percent in the demo from Vancouver in 2010. In fact, this marks the lowest Closing Ceremony ever among adults 18-49. The Sochi Gold medal show was likewise down 30 percent in viewers (12.6 million) and 46 percent in the demo (2.6). Overall, the Sochi Olympics have averaged 21.2 million viewers and a 5.5 rating among 18-49, down 13 percent in viewers and 17 percent in demo from four years ago.

CBS has ordered to pilot More Time With Family, a multi-camera comedy starring comedian Tom Papa [see video below], which will be executive produced by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon says The Hollywood Reporter. The show centers on a husband and father (Papa) who is making a career change to spend more time with his family. Papa previously worked with Damon on The Informant! and Behind the Candelabra. You might also notice him from NBC’s The Marriage Ref from Jerry Seinfeld that lasted a year.

This marks the second pilot from Affleck this season, following Fox’s pickup of crime drama The Middle Man. Least we forget he and Damon won an Oscar in 1998 for co-writing Good Will Hunting.

Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David have a secret. Or so Seinfeld said yesterday in his Reddit Ama. Asked what the most mundane thing is that he and David (co-creators of Seinfeld) have obsessed over, he replied, "We never obsess over anything that isn't mundane. Most recent was intentional mumbling. We wrote this script for this thing that you will eventually see but I can't reveal what it is at this time. All I can do is tell you that it's big, huge, gigantic. Even bigger than that Amazon package." (He...

The sitcom star shares the secret of his comedy – and what he can tell about you from your driving

Once or twice a week, towards the end of the day, Jerry Seinfeld leaves the Manhattan office where he spends his afternoons writing, but he doesn't head home to his family. Instead, he shows up unannounced at some minor comedy club in New York or New Jersey, and inserts himself into that night's lineup. Seinfeld reportedly has a private jet, owns more than 40 vintage Porsches and makes at least $32m (£19.5m) a year, in large part from syndication revenue, adding to a net worth estimated at $800m (£487m) in 2010. Having spent a decade making a celebrated "show about nothing", he could easily afford to just do nothing now. But he prefers – or feels compelled – to keep honing his act, trying a new line here, shaving a word off an old one there,...

Batman exercises may be taking Ben Affleck away from some more intensive projects, but his “tired and weary” take on the character won’t be occupying all of his time. He recently signed on to direct The Middle Man pilot for Fox, and now he and Matt Damon have another pilot at CBS with The Marriage Ref himself, comedian Tom Papa. More Time With Family is based on “the stand-up of Papa and the experiences of Damon,” about a man who gives up a life on the road to spend more time with his family, and realizes they never actually ...

Ryan Kavanaugh’s Relativity Media has hired former BBC Worldwide executive Matthew Vafiadis to boost its nascent television business.

Vafiadis becomes senior vice president of development at Relativity Television’s Ellen Rakieten Entertainment, the production company set up by The Marriage Ref producer in association with the film company, which coproduced and distributed films including Shark Night 3D, Immortals, Haywire and Act of Valor.

He was previously development and current executive at BBC Worldwide and its La production arm Adjacent Productions, where he managed the sale of series, special, original formats and UK formats to Us broadcasters.

During his tenure at BBC Worldwide, he exec produced What Not To Wear for TLC, Breaking Pointe for The CW and Big Brooklyn Style for TLC.

Separately, Relativity has also hired Jennifer Danska as senior vice president of development. She was previously svp of development and current at Kinetic Entertainment, the indie owned by Germany’s Red Arrow, where she exec...

Matthew Vafiadis and Jennifer Danska have joined Relativity Television‘s Ellen Rakieten Entertainment as Svp Development. Both will report directly to Ellen Rakieten. Vafiadis previously served as Development and Current Executive at BBC Worldwide & Adjacent Productions, where he managed the sales of series, specials, original formats and UK reformats. While at BBC he executive produced What Not To Wear (TLC) and developed and executive produced Breaking Pointe (CW) and Big Brooklyn Style (TLC). Danska previously served as Svp of Development and Current at Kinetic Entertainment. There she executive produced Perez Hilton All-Access (CW/ITV2), and worked on such shows as Betty White’s Off Their Rockers (NBC) and You Deserve It (ABC). Ellen Rakieten launched her production company within Relativity Television in April 2010, and has since produced such series as The Marriage Ref (NBC), in partnership with Jerry Seinfeld; Losing It with Jillian (NBC), and the Emmy Award-winning Trisha’s...

Wanda Sykes and Page Hurwitz‘s Push It Prods. has signed a first-look deal with Universal TV’s Alternative Studio to develop and produce non-scripted projects. “We are very excited to be working with NBCUniversal,” said Hurwitz. Added Sykes, “Wait, I thought we were getting The Tonight Show.” Joking aside, Sykes would actually be qualified for that — she hosted and executive produced her own late-night talk show on Fox. She also co-created/executive produced and toplined the Fox comedy series Wanda At Large. Sykes, repped by Wme and attorney Roger Pliakas, is among the top stand-up comedians, with her HBO specials earning multiple Emmy nominations. (She has won three sports Emmys for her work on Inside The NFL.) Hurwitz, repped by Wme and attorney Marc Golden, has a history with NBC — she served as an executive producer on two NBC reality series featuring stand-up comedians, Last Comic Standing and Jerry Seinfeld’s The Marriage Ref.

Adam Levine last appeared Saturday Night Live back in November, serving as the musical guest for Jeremy Renner’s lackluster show. Between American Horror Story: Asylum and the upcoming Can a Song Save Your Life?, Levine is clearly trying to make that oh-so-difficult transition from music into acting, but can he do it? The jury’s still out. Last night’s episode wasn’t perfect, but on the whole it seemed to be better than most of the SNL fare we’ve seen of late. I’m just not sure that was thanks to Levine.

The night kicked off with...

During a conversation about television icons, a buddy of mine said that Matthew Perry is on track to achieve legendary status (and she wasn’t talking about his legendary knack for starring on shows that get canceled). Lucille Ball, Andy Griffith, Carol Burnett, Matthew Perry–one of these things is not like the others. What this friend of mine failed to understand is that there is a difference between an icon and someone who is simply a prolific and perhaps beloved television actor, a difference that may be harder to identify when it comes to this medium than it is with film. Perry certainly possess many of the qualities that go in to making an icon–he’s charismatic, his particular set of comedic gifts are perfectly suited for the sitcom format, he’s been on TV for as long as I can remember. But he (on his own and not as a member of the Friends...

By Rachel Bennett

Television Editor & Columnist

***

Movies used to be gold standard for actors, with George Clooney, Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio leaving the small screen for the big to achieve great professional and financial success.

However, times are changing, and many actors who left TV to work in movies are coming back, including Eddie Murphy, Robin Williams and Michael J. Fox. Due to the addition of cable and subscription-based original programming, better roles are being created that will give actors a chance for the recognition, awards and job security that movies no longer provide. Just look at Claire Danes, who returned to TV to star in Showtime’s Homeland, for which she’s nominated for an Emmy.

There are several actors who should return to TV, but not all of them will. Take a look at the top 10 TV stars who’ve left TV but should return:

10. America Ferrera...

Almost a decade and a half after Seinfeld went off the air, Jerry Seinfeld has reinvented himself as comedy’s reigning gentleman of leisure. He doesn’t generate his own projects; he’s more likely to pop up here and there, in a cameo on 30 Rock, or a Super Bowl advertisement, or playing himself on Curb Your Enthusiasm. Even when he does commit to a project, he’s never been the headliner: See 2007′s good-not-great Bee Movie, featuring the comedian’s voice, or the deliriously misconceived The Marriage Ref, which Seinfeld produced but pointedly did not host.

Still, there is...

Seinfeld, famously, was a show about nothing. Jerry Seinfeld's new show, on the other hand, is clearly a show about something; it's right there in the title: Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. The meaning of something, of course, is relative. The Emmy winner, who has largely stuck to stand-up comedy since his famed sitcom ended in 1998 (aside from his foray into reality/game shows, with NBC's The Marriage Ref) is back with a new web show that combines his love of classic wheels and Rolodex of top-notch comedian friends. The minute-long first teaser for the show features

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Veteran character actor Edward James Olmos is set to join the cast of Baltasar Kormakur's "Two Guns." The film sees two of the biggest action stars Mark Wahlberg and Denzel Washington unite as two lawmen—a DEA agent and a Navy Seal—who investigate each other as each have been tasked to steal mob money, with James to play Papi Greco, a Mexcian drug lord the two leads run into to. Scribe Blake Masters adapted the story from Steven Grant's graphic novel of the same name with Bill Paxton and Paula Patton also co-starring as a CIA operative and Washington's love interest, respectively. [Variety]

With lensing on "Behind The Candelabra" set to begin very soon, Steven Soderbergh has turned to a former piece of left field casting by reteaming with his "The Informant!" co-star Tom Papa. The comedian, who has since taken on hosting duties for the Jerry Seinfeld-shepherded reality show "The Marriage Ref,...

TBS has ordered talkshow Naked Truth. Hosted by The Marriage Ref's Tom Papa, Naked Truth is a panel show that features three other comedians "to discuss and riff on topics in the zeitgeist, stories big and small, all with a comedic twist", reports Deadline. Stand-up comedian Papa, who will be an executive producer on the show, explained: "We thought it would be fun to have comedians help us sort through the avalanche of information falling on us every (more)...

Exclusive: TBS has greenlighted Naked Truth, a panel talk show hosted by comedian Tom Papa (The Marriage Ref) and produced by late-night guru Robert Morton (Late Show With David Letterman). On the show, Papa sits at a desk with three other comedians who form a panel to discuss and riff on topics in the zeitgeist, stories big and small, all with a comedic twist. “We thought it would be fun to have comedians help us sort through the avalanche of information falling on us every day and help expose what’s wrong with everything,” Papa said. He is executive producing the project with Morton and 3 Arts Entertainment’s Dave Becky and Josh Lieberman. This marks Morton’s return to TBS, where he recently served as executive producer on Lopez Tonight.

If you've noticed that, for the most part, Jerry Seinfeld seems to have disappeared from public view since the end of his all-time great sitcom, you're right. And it's not because he couldn't repeat his success; he just didn't feel comfortable with it in the first place.

He was the king of TV comedy, with millions repeating his witty one liners and weekly-coined catchphrases, but as a trained standup comedian, Seinfeld was more used to self-loathing than congratulations. As he tells Showtime's new series, "Inside Comedy," being "a thing" wasn't exactly his thing.

"There's nothing better for comedian than being penned in, closed off, shut out, not welcome, that's nutrition. That's what you want as a comedian. Acceptance is a very dangerous thing for a comedian," he says. "Standup is a loud desperation."

Once "Seinfeld" was over, Seinfeld went back on the road; aside for producing and starring in the animated "Bee Movie,...

After a long hiatus, Jerry Seinfeld is returning to the L.A. stage.  The comedian, who recently returned to his stand-up roots, announced he will be performing a two-show engagement at L.A.'s Pantages Theatre March 17, 2012.  Video:  Jerry Seinfeld Talks About Taking Over for Regis Philbin on 'Live!' It will mark the first time the Seinfeld and The Marriage Ref star will have appeared solo onstage in the city in over 10 years.  Tickets for the performances (both at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. March 17) will go on sale

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Filed under: TV Replay

Anton Kukal has faced knights and sword fights in his fantasy role playing business, Mystic Realms. He has faced his wife, Bobbi, over the fact that the business never makes any money. But until they appeared on 'The Marriage Ref' (Sundays, 10Pm on NBC), he had never had to face off against an angry Patti Labelle.

Hobbies/businesses that don't turn a profit are a common cause of dispute on the show, but this one was unusual. When Bobbi met her future husband Anton, he was in law school, and Mystic Realms was a side business. Eventually, it became his main business, which didn't make Bobbi happy. Labelle wasn't impressed, either. "This man is pitiful," said Labelle. "She needs to kick his ass."

 

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Tonight there is the premiere of a new sketch comedy show, a genre I didn't realize was something people still did on the basis that those kind of shows keep failing except for "Saturday Night Live" which seems to be kept around just so people can talk about how awesome it used to be and how much it sucks now, a tradition that I'm pretty sure dates back to the second season of the show. This new show, "In the Flow with Affion Crockett" loses points immediately because that's a dumb name and things only go downhill from there as you find out that the titular Crockett got his start on "Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out." I'm slightly bewildered as to how a bit player on an MTV series now has his own show on Fox but I guess that's why I'm not a TV executive. Here's your Sunday night TV:

7:00pm: "I.

Filed under: TV Replay

Robert and Stephanie Wilson were happily married for 22 years before appearing on 'The Marriage Ref' (Sundays, 9Pm on NBC). They seemed to be deeply in love, with just one problem. Robert, a doctor, had a dream of becoming a vintner, and he happened to find a vineyard for sale ... in North Carolina. They were at an impasse, and clearly only will.i.am, Ali Wentworth, and Judah Friedlander were qualified to handle it.

Robert didn't have the qualifications to run a vineyard, but he did have two other guys who also knew nothing about vineyards who he could hire to work the place. Robert figured he was fine, and Stephanie obviously disagreed. "He started a garden this year in our backyard and we wound up reaping six jalapeno peppers and a three hundred dollar water bill because he kept on forgetting to turn off the sprinkler,...

I started writing this column on Saturday and I forgot to change the day on the site I use for TV listings so I was all "Man, there is Nothing" on TV tonight. That sucks" and then I remembered to change the day which is good because I felt like something big was happening today. And I was totally right. Ladies, gentlemen, and commenters, I would like to welcome you all to the most glorious week of the summer. The week which makes all other weeks look silly and inconsequential. The week which makes all the days and weeks of crappy TV seem less significant. I am speaking, of course, of Shark Week!! Seven wonderful days of shows alternating between showing us the raw power of an animal that nature had designed for the sole purpose of killing other animals over the last several hundred thousand years, and shows telling...

Previews from The Marriage Ref hosted by Tom Papa! This Sunday on The Marriage Ref, Tom Papa’s will be joined by some special panelists, including Rachael Ray, Larry Miller and J.B. Smoove! And things get wacky this week when we meet a husband with a very interesting obsession. Don’t miss the preview and sneak peek below! Tune-in for a new episode on Sunday at 10/9c! About The Marriage Ref: Nothing’s funnier than marriage…especially when it’s not yours! Jerry Seinfeld is back and in the producer’s chair for a funny and revealing series about the unpredictable and hilarious institution we call marriage. In his celebrated NBC sitcom Seinfeld, Jerry and friends became household names by highlighting humorous and relatable...

Previews from The Marriage Ref hosted by Tom Papa! This Sunday on The Marriage Ref, Tom Papa’s will be joined by some special panelists, including Rachael Ray, Larry Miller and J.B. Smoove! And things get wacky this week when we meet a husband with a very interesting obsession. Don’t miss the preview and sneak peek below! Tune-in for a new episode on Sunday at 10/9c! About The Marriage Ref: Nothing’s funnier than marriage…especially when it’s not yours! Jerry Seinfeld is back and in the producer’s chair for a funny and revealing series about the unpredictable and hilarious institution we call marriage. In his celebrated NBC sitcom Seinfeld, Jerry and friends became household names by highlighting humorous and relatable...

Previews from The Marriage Ref hosted by Tom Papa! This Sunday on The Marriage Ref, Tom Papa’s will be joined by some special panelists, including Rachael Ray, Larry Miller and J.B. Smoove! And things get wacky this week when we meet a husband with a very interesting obsession. Don’t miss the preview and sneak peek below! Tune-in for a new episode on Sunday at 10/9c! About The Marriage Ref: Nothing’s funnier than marriage…especially when it’s not yours! Jerry Seinfeld is back and in the producer’s chair for a funny and revealing series about the unpredictable and hilarious institution we call marriage. In his celebrated NBC sitcom Seinfeld, Jerry and friends became household names by highlighting humorous and relatable...

Fast National ratings for Sunday, July 24, 2011

Ratings remained extremely steady across the board this week, without much change for the line-up led by CBS's "60 Minutes" and "Big Brother." The one notable difference this week is the introduction of "Same Name," which premiered with actor David Hasselhoff switching lives with a man who shares his name. "Same Name" showed a slight boost over last week's "Undercover Boss" rerun.

CBS had an average of 6.4 million viewers with a 4.0 rating/7 share in households, easily beating ABC's 4.3 million viewers with a 2.6/5 share. NBC followed (4.1 million, 2.6/5) and Fox trailed (2.8 million, 1.7/3).

The adult demo was led by CBS with a 1.5 rating, followed by Fox with 1.4, NBC with 1.0, and ABC with 0.9.

Sunday hour by hour:

7 p.m.

CBS: "60 Minutes" (8.2 million viewers, 5.2/10 households)

ABC: "America's Funniest Home Videos" rerun (5.1 million, 2.8/6)

NBC: "Dateline" (4.3 million, 2.9/6)

Fox: "American Dad" rerun (1.7 million, 1.1/2)/"Bob's Burgers" rerun (2.0 million, 1.2/2)

18-49 leader:  "60 Minutes"  (1.1)

8 p.m.

CBS: "Big Brother 13" (6.9 million,...

This weekend has been marked by an astounding amount of bad news. There are many things I could say here, but mostly I just want to say that my heart goes out to the people of Norway, China, and those who loved Ms.Winehouse either personally or from afar. Russell Brand has an incredibly lovely tribute and heart wrenching discussion of the nature of addiction dedicated to the late singer. I've been following BBC News the last couple days for developments in the bombing and shooting in Norway, as well as updates on the Chinese train accident. Oh, and I'd like to ask for civility and courtesy in the comments if you're going to discuss any of the above events. Thank you. There is, as always, some television on tonight if you're interested. I understand if you're not, but regardless, here's your Sunday night TV:

7:00pm: "Dateline NBC" on...

Filed under: TV Replay

And just when you thought we were done talking about Charlie Sheen ... The former 'Two and a Half Men' star was the talk of the show, for a minute anyway, on the latest episode of 'The Marriage Ref' (Sundays, 10Pm on NBC).

Without actually speaking his name, The Ma-Sheen's ex-wife, Denise Richards, revealed a little about Sheen's controlling ways while comparing their marriage to the show's latest cross couple.

 

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Friday night on NBC, head to Dillon for a special extended series finale of Friday Night Lights at 8/7c. Clips below show an early look at a special moment between Julie and Matt, even if the pair do run into a slight hiccup, and don.t miss the emotional scene featuring Tyra and Tim! Also The Marriage Ref is all new this Sunday and George Wallace, Denise Richards, and Seth Meyers are joining the show. Take a look at two more sneak peeks, including Seth Meyer.s sounding off and the prelude to a tie! These videos are a great way to get ready for a new episode on Sunday at 10/9c. Clear Eyes, Full Hearts! Kelsey Friday Night...

Filed under: TV Replay

A couple in their 60s came onto 'The Marriage Ref' (Sun., 10Pm Et on NBC) with a dispute about her sexiness. Particularly, the husband wanted his wife to dress sexier and "basically do what I do, and that is to try to look your best all the time."

The video package showed the man working out faithfully -- with a Thighmaster to Tom Papa's delight -- and trying to put his wife in a skimpy red dress. After 40+ years of marriage, the panel just couldn't see why he wasn't satisfied with his wife as she was.

Susie Essman said, "She looks great to me. He's trying to make her feel bad about herself."

Tracy Morgan disagreed with that, applauding the man for still seeing his wife as this vivacious woman who can pull off a sultry little number like that, but agreed that...

Filed under: TV Replay

'The Marriage Ref' is supposed to settle disputes between married couples, but according to former contestant Howie Kohlenberg, it broke his marriage apart. Kohlenberg appeared Wednesday on 'Good Morning America' (weekdays, 7Am on ABC) and blamed the show and its creator, Jerry Seinfeld, for his divorce. After getting a taste of fame from appearing on the show's debut episode, Kohlenberg said that his then-wife's Christine's behavior began to change for the worse.

"They were saying how Christine looked so great and her lips were beautiful and all of a sudden she's getting a really big head, she's doing some Botox, she wants to do Playboy," said Kohlenberg. After the show, she left Kohlenberg and their four-and-a-half-year old son to go to Hollywood, he said.

Seinfeld's reaction to the story, which was quoted in the Daily News, was a less-than-apologetic "Love it!

Is The Curse of Seinfeld back?

The return of Jerry Seinfeld's The Marriage Ref barely avoided finishing last in the three-way race in the last hour of Sunday's prime time, garnering 4.57 million viewers. A rerun of CSI: Miami won the 10/9c time slot with 5.21 million while a Body of Proof repeat pulled in 4.03 million to finish third.

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"Family Guy" grabbed the top ratings spot on Sunday Night, while Jerry Seinfeld's reality show "The Marriage Ref" returned for a second season down 20 percent from its season finale last year, according to preliminary numbers. Fox's repeat of "Family Guy" at 9 p.m. received a 1.9 rating/5 share in the adults 18-49 demographic, the evening's highest rank in the demo, and 3.7 million total viewers. "American Dad" followed at 9:30, tying for second place with a 1.6/4 in the demo and 3.1 million total viewers. The rest of the network's...

There’s no such thing as a time out from making fun of NBC’s The Marriage Ref! The show returned to a modest 4.6 million and a 1.6 preliminary adults 18-49 rating Sunday night. The summer debut is down 67 percent from its in-season debut last year, though still maintained its lead-in rating from a repeat of America’s Got Talent and won its hour.

More interestingly: Marriage Ref is being sued by a disgruntled former contestant. Reality show lawsuits are ridiculously common and this one is super silly, but it earns a mention because the contestant claims the Marriage Ref broke...

47-year-old New Yorker Howie Kohlenberg is blaming his recent divorce on Jerry Seinfeld’s NBC show The Marriage Ref, claiming that after appearing on the show, his wife’s exposure to reality tv caused her to pursue a career in show business and ruined their relationship. Turns out, The Marriage Ref isn’t all just glamour and confusion and celebrities politely laughing to promote their projects: “The headline should read, ‘Jerry Seinfeld ruined my life: the danger of reality shows,’ ” Kohlenberg said. Not only does the beauty-products salesman claim his sexy 37-year-old wife ditched him and their 4½-year-old son to chase a dream of starring in a “Real Housewives”-style reality show, he also says he went bankrupt and is now facing eviction. “Jerry, Mr. Billionaire, I blame. And his show,” he said. Are you happy, Jerry “Mister Billionaire” Seinfeld? Playing with peoples’ lives from atop Mount Billionaire, where you live?...

A former contestant on Jerry Seinfeld's hit reality TV show The Marriage Ref has blamed the comedian and his popular series for allegedly wrecking his marriage.

Howie Kohlenberg, 47, from New York, appeared in the show's debut episode last year with his wife, Christine, in an attempt to save their relationship. But Kohlenberg is adamant their marriage crumbled following their appearance on the TV programme, which saw them discuss their problems with a celebrity panel made up of Seinfeld, Eva Longoria and Tina Fey.

Kohlenberg claims producers fuelled Christine's desire for a new life without him and he is blaming executive producer and co-creator Seinfeld for the eventual break down of their relationship.

He tells the New York Post, "The headline should read, 'Jerry Seinfeld ruined my life: the danger of reality shows'... Jerry, Mr. Billionaire, I blame. And his show... The people on the show were pumping us up, saying, 'You're going to wake up and be stars. You're going to be famous and make money'... I'm not saying our marriage was perfect, but it put it in a whole new direction. It was the nail in the coffin... Everybody thinks reality shows are glamorous - you're going to get rich, and it's going to be the next Jersey Shore... They make you jump through hoops, the bottom line is they don't give a s**t. You're just another number."

But Seinfeld is showing no remorse over the allegations, telling the New York Daily News, "I love it, I love, I love it! When people get upset I enjoy it. That he’s having problems, and blaming me, it’s all - anything that alleviates the withering, blithering boredom of existence I’m in favour of.”...

Filed under: TV Replay

'The Marriage Ref' (Sun., 10Pm Et on NBC) returned with a slightly tweaked format this season. Now, the couples are brought into the studio, and the audience gets to pick which person was the most right and that person will get a billboard in their hometown telling everyone they were right. Oh, and they'll also pocket a cool $25,000.

The most memorable of the three couples was definitely the Johnsons. The wife was frustrated because of her husbands obsession with all things pumpkins, including growing gigantic ones and even naming them.

The celebrities were on his side, though Jerry Seinfeld told him to do something about how ugly they look when they get so big.

 

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Howie Kohlenberg claims he has become a victim of reality show. The 47-year-old, who appeared in an episode of "The Marriage Ref", says his marriage with Christine was torn apart after they took part in the reality show produced by Jerry Seinfeld.

"The headline should read, 'Jerry Seinfeld ruined my life: the danger of reality shows'," Kohlenberg tells New York Post as he opens up about his marriage breakdown. He points out that his ex-wife started to be obsessed with becoming a star and ditched him as well as their 4-year-old son after she experienced 15 minutes of fame during the show's premiere in March 2010 which featured Seinfeld, Eva Longoria and Tina Fey on the celebrity panel.

Kohlenberg says he and Christine did the show to "drum up some business", which also became the issue in their arguments. But instead of highlighting this problem, producers wanted the then couple to...

By Kim Palacios

hollywoodnews.com: Before agreeing to be featured on “The Marriage Ref,” Howie Kohlenberg’s problems were few. Barring mild financial troubles and the occasional marital woe, Kohlenberg was happy with his wife, Christine. He thought Christine was happy, too; so, why did the couple recently file for divorce? According to Mr. Kohlenberg (via a New York Post interview), his wife changed after their appearance on “The Marriage Ref”—and it’s all Jerry Seinfeld’s fault.

Though Seinfeld was a judge on the episode in which the Kohlenbergs’ story aired, he is also a producer and co-creator of the “Marriage Ref” franchise. And it is the producers, and the show at large, which Kohlenberg blames for his wife leaving he and their 4 ½ year old son.

“The people on the show were pumping us up, saying, ‘You’re going to wake up and be stars. You’re going...