The Surprising Speech on Marriage From the Creator of ‘The Affair’

It was just like Hollywood to create and flaunt a show around the premise of an affair—and then actually call the show “The Affair.”

But, after winning the award for best TV drama at the Golden Globes last night, the show’s co-creator Sarah Treem had something refreshing to say about the institution of marriage.

She thanked her husband in her acceptance speech, noting that, “If I have learned anything from writing a show about an affair, it’s how sacred and valuable and essential our marriages are.”

In Hollywood, where divorce is common, it was nice to hear someone uphold the importance of marriage—especially in a time when the ravages of divorce and single parenthood are fueling inequality in our society.

Treem's remarks came near the same time that George Clooney spent a few moments praising his new wife Amal Clooney, saying, “It’s a humbling thing to find someone to love” and that he “couldn’t be more proud to be your husband.”

Marriage is great for Clooney and Treem, but its benefits extend across educational, racial and socio-economic backgrounds as well. Studies have shown that marriage helps the economy and prevents child poverty.

In the quest for a juicy story line, Hollywood has discovered something even more important: the benefits of marriage.