The Marriage Ref Heads to Australia

Seven Network commissioned a local production from Endemol’s Southern Star Entertainment to run as a prime-time series. Seven also acquired the NBC version from Endemol Worldwide Distribution.

 

Earlier this week a deal was signed with Abu Dhabi Media Company for the format and NBC series as well.

 

“We are very excited to be finding out that the humor of marriage has no boundaries,” said Seinfeld.

 

“The reception we’ve had from the international community has been overwhelming,” added Ellen Rakieten, co-creator and executive producer of The Marriage Ref.

 

Rory Callaghan, the managing director of Southern Star Entertainment, commented: “This is the show that everyone wants and we are extremely proud to be partnering with Seven to bring it to viewers in Australia. It’s very easy to imagine The Marriage Ref becoming a major hit down under—not only has it got brilliant comedy value but people are going to have a lot of fun getting involved and taking sides.”

 

Tim Worner, the director of programming and production at Seven Network Australia, added: “Jerry Seinfeld is a legend of comedy and Seinfeld the show is a timeless classic. Frankly he doesn’t exactly need to be doing something like The Marriage Ref but to hear him talk about it is to hear someone who wants to do it all over again.”

 

Worner continued: “With this show he has a vision and he is so enthusiastic and so passionate about every detail of that vision. He describes marriage as a ‘comedy goldmine’ and this show is designed to make the most of it. It’s not nasty, it’s not marriage counseling, it’s making genuine fun out of situations that couples the world over will be able to relate to.

 

“Seven is really excited to be part of his vision and belief that The Marriage Ref can do for marriage what Seinfeld did for singledom,” Worner concluded.