The premise of NBC’s “The Marriage Ref” is fairly simple. A couple has an issue that needs resolution — something not too serious — and a panel of celebrity guests help determine who is in the right. So does the “Marriage Ref” actually help anyone?

“No, not at all,” said stand-up comedian and show host Tom Papa, who performs this weekend at the D.C. Improv. “If you really want help, you can go some place else. This is just a comedy show. I think the same way that comedy serves people, if we do anything at the ‘Marriage Ref,’ it’s to let you see a little bit of yourself and laugh at it and realize that you shouldn’t really take any of this that seriously.”