Institute
COUPLE OF THE WEEK ARCHIVE
Barbie & Ken
The ultimate plastic couple finally called it quits after 43 years of romance. According to the press release, Russell Arons, vice president of marketing at Mattel, said that Barbie and Ken "feel it's time to spend some quality time—part."
Like other celebrity couples, their Hollywood romance has come to an end," said Arons, who quickly added that the duo "will remain friends."
Besides being the supreme fashion diva, Barbie, nee Barbie Millicent Roberts in 1959, has had multiple career changes, from cheerleader to cowgirl to nurse to rock star. In 1975 she medaled in three Olympic sports: skiing, gymnastics and skating. Poor Ken. There’s just no time for a relationship.
News Flash! Just in—
He may be down but not out. Barbie’s ex is getting yet another complete makeover to challenge Aussie surfer boy Blaine for Barbie’s affections. Will it be ‘Kiss and Make Up’ or quitsville? We’ll keep you posted!
Henry VIII of England (1491-1547)
and [fill in the blank]
He might win the prize for the marrying-est monarch with six marriages under his belt. (Definitely could have used some pointers from Essential Manners for Couples!)
- Catherine of Aragon, married 1509, divorced 1533
- Anne Bolyn, married 1533, beheaded 1536
- Jane Seymour, married 1536, died 1537
- Anne of Cleves, married January 1540, divorced in July 1540
- Kathryn Howard, married 1540, beheaded 1542
- Katherine Parr, married 1543, widowed 1547
The Flintstones & The Rubbles
Even prehistory had its famous couples! Barney and Betty Rubble were best friends and neighbors to Fred and Wilma Flintstone in 1000 BC Bedrock. These two couples knew that ‘kiss and make-up’ and a little “Yabba Dabba Doo” were the key to a long and happy relationship. The cartoon show ‘The Flintstones,’ (Hanna-Barbera) ran from 1960-1966, and inspired nine made for TV movies and two feature films which starred John Goodman as Fred Flintstone.
Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers
Never married to each other, they brought sizzle to the silver screen of the thirties. Fred and Ginger danced their way through 10 movies together:
Flying Down to Rio (1933)
The Gay Divorcee (1934)
Top Hat (1935)
Roberta (1935)
Follow the Fleet (1936)
Swing Time (1936)
Shall We Dance (1937)
Carefree (1938)
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939)
The Barkleys of Broadway (1949)
Penn & Teller
“A couple of eccentric guys who have learned how to do a few cool things.” Who says opposites don’t attract? One’s big, one’s little; one’s verbose, one’s silent. Both incredibly talented and twisted, this duo has been weirding out audiences since they teamed up in 1975.
Penn Jillette, left,
and Joe Teller will make an
800-ton submarine disappear
from the
bottom of
the ocean
on their new
NBC
special airing Sunday,
November 13.
(Credit: Frank Franklin II, AP)
Adam and Eve
If they hadn't been booted from the garden of Eden, we'd have nothing to write about!