A NYC Man Blames Seinfeld For His Divorce! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 06-26-2011, 11:12 AM

It's not about nothing.

A heartbroken Manhattan divorcé blames Jerry Seinfeld and his NBC reality show, "The Marriage Ref," for tearing him and his now-ex-wife apart -- claiming their appearance as contestants on an episode led to her dumping him.

Howie Kohlenberg, 47, charged that after getting their 15 minutes of fame bickering on the March 4, 2010, premiere episode, his wife, Christine, became so obsessed with becoming a star it busted up their 14-year marriage.

"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.

"The Marriage Ref," which starts its second season tonight, places squabbling couples before a panel of celebrities to have their dispute judged.

Kohlenberg says he and Christine were happily married but having money issues with their now-defunct Midtown spa when a friend suggested auditioning for the show.

They were picked out of a pool of thousands.

"We did it to drum up some business," he said. "They promised to promote the spa on air. They didn't."

Their celebrity panel consisted of Seinfeld, Eva Longoria and Tina Fey. The only time the couple met Seinfeld, who is also an executive producer and co-creator, was during taping.

"Our arguments were always over the business, but the argument they [producers] wanted was that I took my wedding ring off when I played basketball," he said.

"It wasn't necessarily a true angle because she really didn't care if I took it off or not."

A publicist for Seinfeld said, "We are going to respectfully decline comment."

Kohlenberg insists their marital bliss turned into a blistering nightmare during preshow filming.

"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.' The producer kept saying her lips looked great, and all of a sudden she was getting a lot of Botox," he recalled.

"Now she's getting this huge head. She wants to do Playboy. We almost got kicked off the show because she was putting racy photos on Facebook.

"I'm not saying our marriage was perfect, but it put it in a whole new direction. It was the nail in the coffin.

"She had all these ideas that 'I have to live my life and be an actress.' "

Christine did not return phone calls or e-mails.

Kohlenberg said that after the "Marriage Ref" segment aired, his wife flew to Los Angeles, where she played a pool girl in the indie comedy film "Chakra Love." There she met a producer from Canada and went to live with him.

Since then, she's appeared in a New York-based reality pilot, "Shopaholics," Kohlenberg said.

Kohlenberg says he pleaded in vain for his wife to return home.

"Everybody thinks reality shows are glamorous -- you're going to get rich, and it's going to be the next 'Jersey Shore,' " he said. "They make you jump through hoops, the bottom line is they don't give a s- - -. You're just another number."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment...#ixzz1QOYmbUMD

JamesG · 06-27-2011, 09:16 PM

Man Blames Marriage Ref for His Divorce; Seinfeld Responds: "I Love It!"
Jun 27, 2011
by Natalie Abrams

Jerry Seinfeld is laughing off claims that NBC's "The Marriage Ref" caused the divorce of a former contestant.

Howie Kohlenberg is blaming the comic and the NBC series he executive-produces for causing the breakdown of his marriage to his wife of 14 years. He claims the show caused his wife to become obsessed with stardom, essentially ruining their relationship, according to the New York Post.

"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,'" Kohlenberg says. "The producer kept saying her lips looked great, and all of a sudden she was getting a lot of Botox."

Kohlenberg claims that when their episode aired — they appeared in the March 4, 2010 premiere — his wife flew to California for a bit part in an indie film, where she met a producer from Canada and went to live with him.

"I love it, I love, I love it!" Seinfeld told the New York Daily News in response to hearing of Kohlenberg's claims that the show is at fault.

"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 favor of."

The second season of "The Marriage Ref" premiered Sunday night to 4.57 million viewers.

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Seinfeld...e-1034667.aspx

Marvo301 · 06-27-2011, 10:00 PM

The very first thought that I had when I first heard of this show is that some couple's marriage would break up after appearing on this show and rightly or wrongly they would blame the show. And I don't expect this couple will be the only one to come forward with this kind of story. I expect there will be more.

JerseyBounce · 07-26-2011, 01:30 PM

This couple sounds like they were just so much fun to know in the first place.

catlover79 · 07-26-2011, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JerseyBounce

This couple sounds like they were just so much fun to know in the first place.

I wouldn't blame Jerry for this - it seems like this couple would've split up anyway. YIKES!!!

06-26-2011, 11:12 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	A NYC Man Blames Seinfeld For His Divorce! It's not about nothing. A heartbroken Manhattan divorcé blames Jerry Seinfeld and his NBC reality show, "The Marriage Ref," for tearing him and his now-ex-wife apart -- claiming their appearance as contestants on an episode led to her dumping him. Howie Kohlenberg, 47, charged that after getting their 15 minutes of fame bickering on the March 4, 2010, premiere episode, his wife, Christine, became so obsessed with becoming a star it busted up their 14-year marriage. "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. "The Marriage Ref," which starts its second season tonight, places squabbling couples before a panel of celebrities to have their dispute judged. Kohlenberg says he and Christine were happily married but having money issues with their now-defunct Midtown spa when a friend suggested auditioning for the show. They were picked out of a pool of thousands. "We did it to drum up some business," he said. "They promised to promote the spa on air. They didn't." Their celebrity panel consisted of Seinfeld, Eva Longoria and Tina Fey. The only time the couple met Seinfeld, who is also an executive producer and co-creator, was during taping. "Our arguments were always over the business, but the argument they [producers] wanted was that I took my wedding ring off when I played basketball," he said. "It wasn't necessarily a true angle because she really didn't care if I took it off or not." A publicist for Seinfeld said, "We are going to respectfully decline comment." Kohlenberg insists their marital bliss turned into a blistering nightmare during preshow filming. "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.' The producer kept saying her lips looked great, and all of a sudden she was getting a lot of Botox," he recalled. "Now she's getting this huge head. She wants to do Playboy. We almost got kicked off the show because she was putting racy photos on Facebook. "I'm not saying our marriage was perfect, but it put it in a whole new direction. It was the nail in the coffin. "She had all these ideas that 'I have to live my life and be an actress.' " Christine did not return phone calls or e-mails. Kohlenberg said that after the "Marriage Ref" segment aired, his wife flew to Los Angeles, where she played a pool girl in the indie comedy film "Chakra Love." There she met a producer from Canada and went to live with him. Since then, she's appeared in a New York-based reality pilot, "Shopaholics," Kohlenberg said. Kohlenberg says he pleaded in vain for his wife to return home. "Everybody thinks reality shows are glamorous -- you're going to get rich, and it's going to be the next 'Jersey Shore,' " he said. "They make you jump through hoops, the bottom line is they don't give a s- - -. You're just another number." Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment...#ixzz1QOYmbUMD
	__________________ The Key to the Kingdom of Heaven: John 3:3 *Money Doesn't Buy Happiness...But I'd Rather Cry in My Private Jet*

06-27-2011, 10:00 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,456	The very first thought that I had when I first heard of this show is that some couple's marriage would break up after appearing on this show and rightly or wrongly they would blame the show. And I don't expect this couple will be the only one to come forward with this kind of story. I expect there will be more.
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

07-26-2011, 01:30 PM	#4
JerseyBounce Loyal Order of Raccoons Occasional Poster Join Date: Jul 25, 2011 Location: New Jersey Posts: 14	This couple sounds like they were just so much fun to know in the first place.
	__________________ You can lead a horse to water, but you can't look him in the mouth...

06-27-2011, 09:16 PM	#2
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,140	*Man Blames Marriage Ref for His Divorce; Seinfeld Responds: "I Love It!"* Jun 27, 2011 by Natalie Abrams Jerry Seinfeld is laughing off claims that NBC's "The Marriage Ref" caused the divorce of a former contestant. Howie Kohlenberg is blaming the comic and the NBC series he executive-produces for causing the breakdown of his marriage to his wife of 14 years. He claims the show caused his wife to become obsessed with stardom, essentially ruining their relationship, according to the New York Post. "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,'" Kohlenberg says. "The producer kept saying her lips looked great, and all of a sudden she was getting a lot of Botox." Kohlenberg claims that when their episode aired — they appeared in the March 4, 2010 premiere — his wife flew to California for a bit part in an indie film, where she met a producer from Canada and went to live with him. "I love it, I love, I love it!" Seinfeld told the New York Daily News in response to hearing of Kohlenberg's claims that the show is at fault. "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 favor of." The second season of "The Marriage Ref" premiered Sunday night to 4.57 million viewers. http://www.tvguide.com/News/Seinfeld...e-1034667.aspx