Rogers has picked up the Jerry Seinfeld-produced reality series The Marriage Ref to help fill the 10 p.m. timeslot left open by the departure of The Jay Leno Show, starting March 4.

Citytv will simulcast the show with NBC Thursday nights. The show will feature opinionated celebrities, comedians and sports personalities who will advise real-life couples in the midst of a marital dispute. Spats will be shown on tape, and "Marriage Ref" Tom Papa will make "the call" determining the victor of each spat, just like in sports.

Seinfeld and his panel of "experts" will try to sway the Ref's decision. Rumoured guests include Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Eva Longoria and Larry David.

"With Jerry Seinfeld at the helm and a host of celebrities, athletes, and comedians taking part, The Marriage Ref is an exciting anchor to the Thursday night Citytv comedy line up which we are sure our audiences will enjoy," said Malcolm Dunlop, executive vice-president, programming, Rogers Media Television, in a release.

The Marriage Ref marks Seinfeld's first television series since Seinfeld ended its nine-year run in May 1998.

NBC and Rogers both had to scramble to reshuffle their weekday lineups after NBC pulled the plug on Leno's failed prime-time show, and moved him back to his old The Tonight Show hosting duties replacing Conan O'Brien.