The Marriage Ref

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The Couples

The Arkenburgs

  • The Husband
  • The Wife

The Situation

The Man Friend

This love story takes place in Chesterland Ohio, near the shores of Lake Erie. Amber and Guy caught each other's gaze one night in a pub about 20 years ago. "It was love at first sight," says Amber. "I knew I was gonna marry him right then." The rest is a happy history - until about two years ago. That's when Amber reconnected with an old high school friend, Matt, via Facebook. They spend lots of time together, shopping, talking, and taking pictures (a passion of Amber's).

She swears it's strictly platonic and that Guy has nothing to worry about. "He has more shoes than I do, he loves shopping," Amber reveals about Matt, implying he more like one of her female friends. "He's just a friend who happens to be a man."

But Amber's husband Guy doth protest. "When I met the guy he told me what a stud he is, dating all these women." For his part, Matt admits that he loves women and that he's always found them easy to talk to. Guy's jealousy grows. "In 2012 when all the planets align, something could happen," he pleads with Amber. "You go to the barber shop enough times, you're gonna get your hair cut."

The panel absorbs it all. Sarah thinks that because Amber is out in the open with it, Guy has nothing to worry about. Matt is simply his wife's friend. And she finds it inappropriate for anyone to dictate who their spouse can or cannot spend time with.

DID THE REF MAKE THE RIGHT CALL?

Tom's suspicious of Matt portraying himself as safe and not interested in sex. He asks "Just the Facts'" Natalie Morales what the research shows on how often men think about sex. She reports that the Kinsey Institute estimates that men have sexual thoughts every 52 seconds on average. "I know his type," Tom says, "'I like clothes, I like pink shoes,'" he mocks. "He's a double agent."

Matthew is also suspicious. "Something about this whole thing feels wrong," he says. He wants to know if the three of them ever spend time together. Not really, Natalie explains.


Martin is 100 percent on the husband's side. "It's inappropriate. It doesn't matter, it doesn't make him comfortable."

Tom and the panel are joined in the studio by a surprise guest, Jay Leno who has a story of his own to relate. The talk show host explains that before he was married he had a friend who was a professional stripper, Silver Moon. There was no romantic relationship Jay says; he would just ask Silver Moon for advice about women. When he got married, Jay relates, "My wife tended to frown on Silver Moon. So we're no longer friends."

Tom's heard enough and greets the Arkenburgs via satellite. "I see a woman who loves her husband," he tells them. "I see a happy family. Then I see a bald home wrecker and I say 'The dude's gotta go.' (Guy) You win!"

The Arkenburgs received a second honeymoon on a Royal Caribbean Cruise. For more information on Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas or Mariner of the Seas, please visit royalcarribbean.com.

Travel journals coming soon!

Tom Papa

A seasoned stand-up comedian personally chosen by Jerry Seinfeld, read Tom's bio.