Here Come the Newlyweds Winners
I’m normally not a big reality TV person but ABC’s Here Come the Newlyweds sucked me in this year. It’s a show where seven just-married couples compete for a nest egg worth over $400,000 to kick-start their new lives together and help them realize their dreams. Each couple faces a variety of mental and physical challenges which will test the love and passion they have for one another as well as their competitive spirit. At the end of each episode, the field will be narrowed as the couples vote to send one couple home. The stakes get higher as the potential nest egg grows, until one couple ultimately wins the grand prize.
One of the final couples were Crystal and Johnnie Moutra, from my hometown Mo. City, TX. He proposed to her at a Houston Rockets game and they currently live with their parents. I got to say this was the couple that had me coming back to watch this show every week. Johnnie was comical and it was nice to see a young black couple do their thing on national television. In the finale, Johnnie made a class-act move by not taking advantage of a situation that could have given them an edge in the final decision. They truly played the game the way it should have been done, the whole way through.
I wish the best for this couple. They grew a lot during the duration of the show and it’s good to see some hometown heroes win it all. When it comes down to it, love can conquer all. As always you can watch the episodes on the internet. I think that’s all the reality TV I can handle for a while.
Update: I didn’t know the show was filmed last year. They are expecting their first child, a boy, due April 27. Read via the Houston Chronicle website.
Update 6/2/09: I was able to get an interview with Johnnie & Crystal Moutra for the blog. Check it out here!
April 7th, 2008 at 12:21 am
I just loved this show. And I loved the Moutras
April 7th, 2008 at 1:04 am
I watched most of the episodes – it was fun!
I hated the ending though – all of that negativity… it just left a bad taste in my mouth. Ultimately, I’m glad the Moutras won. They’re a nice young couple that deserves it.
April 7th, 2008 at 1:41 am
I think this is the best couple to win and I’m really happy for them. I noticed other couples scamming and plotting, while the Moutra’s followed their faith and did the right thing, down to the wire. God Bless!
April 7th, 2008 at 7:07 am
I’m glad to hear that some folks from H-Town won. I know I could use a tithe of that $400K to burn off some last little debt.
April 7th, 2008 at 10:35 am
Thanks everyone for the comments. Pix, I agree. All the bad attitudes at the end were uncalled for. At the end of the day it was a game. There was no reason to hold grudges against anyone. It was a fun show to watch (especially the episode with the father-in-laws).
April 7th, 2008 at 11:22 am
I loved the show and I am happy for the Moutras I was routing for them the whole show They played the games the right way and it paid off in the end, it is about time a young black couple won on National TV. I wish them the best and hopefull they have their own “crib” now.
April 7th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE SHOW. I DIDNT WANT TO ANSWER THE PHONE NOR TALK TO MY HUSBAND AND KIDS WHILE WATCHING THE SHOW. I WAS SO EXCITED AND HAPPY FOR THE MOUTRAS WHEN THEY WON, TO ME THE DESERVED IT. I WISH THEM THE BEST IN THEIR FUTURE. AND I HOPE THAT THEY RELATIONSHIP ALWAYS STAY THE SAME
April 7th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
I watched the last 3 episodes but I enjoyed it even though it probably won’t have gotten my attention or made it on my Tivo based on the premise of the series. My wife was watching it after the Big Give went off so I ended up checking it out.
I think that the other team that made it to the final 2 picked the Moutras because they thought they could beat them in the final round but it backfired when they found out how close they were in their relationship. Personally I am married and I would not have done as good on some of those challanges but I’m not mad!
They kept it clean until the very end. I thought that they would have joined in to the negativity contest when they brought back all of the other couples and I was waiting for the “bleep” sound but they never went there and tha says a lot about them.
April 7th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
Is there a website that tells who voted for whom in the finals?
April 7th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Hi Linda,
I’m not sure. My wife and I were wondering the same thing. They never showed the vote count and I haven’t seen anything on the internet or television.
April 9th, 2008 at 8:08 am
I think the Holmes deserved the win, and felt like the Moutras won simply because they are black. And who says a black couple has NEVER won on National TV??? Nikki B. doesn’t know what she’s talking about.
April 9th, 2008 at 10:48 am
I’m not knocking the Holmes’ relationship, but I got to disagree with you on that one. The Moutra’s to me seemed to be the most down to earth couple. They just wanted to have a good time and grow closer in the process. Early on when asked they refused to really even form alliances. I think they won because of that and the fact that Johnnie stepped up to squash all the bickering that was going on.
Nikki B. from what I remember, there was a black couple that won The Amazing Race one year. So Anonymous is right. That’s two black couples that have won on a national reality TV show.
April 12th, 2008 at 6:44 pm
I am from Barbados and totally enjoyed watching the show on cable. Unfortunately I didnt get to see the last episode but I was behind the Moutras all the way. They seemed more genuine than the others who seemed to think that being deceitful and forming alliances was the way to win the game. Good going Moutras and all the best!
April 19th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
I loved this show as well because of the Moutras. A class act all the way and I’m so glad they have a little one on the way whose most certainly coming into the world with a nice little nest egg for college. I wish them all the best.
April 20th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
I was impressed with the Moutras the whole way through from the very first episode. I did not get to see the last show, unfortunately, but I am glad to see that they are the ones who won!!
May 6th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
I live in Mo city I enjoyed the Moutras from day one he was like a Bernie Mac. They were peace makers & loveable. I would love to meet them. They seem like a nice couple. It is nice to know someone from Mo city won on a reality show & Miss USA ( Crystal Stewart) We are proud Blacks & it shows!!!
May 15th, 2008 at 6:48 pm
I watched every episode, and I am happy that the Moutras won. Echoing everyone’s observations, they played it clean all the way. The same cannot be said of some of the other couples, especially the last two. Scheming, hatred and a basic disrespect for truth and ethics can get you nowhere. Don’t play dirty, even if it costs you the game. I hope they change their perspectives on their spouses and others they come into contact with in the future.
May 21st, 2008 at 5:34 am
HEY IJUST WANTED TO SEND A SHOUT OUT TO THE MOUTRAS’ THEY ARE RECREATING THE NEW AGE FAMILY! I AM SO HAPPY THAT A YOUNG COUPLE WON. BECAUSE NOW A DAYS PEOPLE DONT GET MARRIED FOR THE RIGHT REASONS. I AM PROUD LIKE I THERE PARENTS. i WANT TO SEND THEM ALL THE LOVE AND PRAY FOR A STROMG FUTURE. ME AND MY FIANCE’ ARE TRYING TO BRING BACK THE BLCK FAMILY, BUT ANY ONE WHOM FINDS TRUE LOVE IN MARRAIGE I COMMEND THEM. AND I HOPE THE GIVE THEM A SPIN OFF SHOW ARE ATLEAST GIVE JOHN JOHN A CAREER
December 30th, 2008 at 7:56 am
This show is currently showing in south africa so i could not resist to find out who won and as i waited for the web pages to download i was just hoping that it is the black couple that won because it is only them that kept me watching the show.Anyways congrats to them. i hope they spend the money wisely.
December 31st, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Carrie, thanks for checking out the site. I’ll have to see if I can do a follow-up on this story.
January 18th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Pleeeeeeease do so !!! Completly loved the Moutras… Would love to get more of their news !
January 31st, 2009 at 9:12 pm
Hi! I am JohnJohn’s mother. The Moutras are doing fine. They have moved into their new home and their son is almost 10 months old.
February 1st, 2009 at 1:01 am
Mrs. Moutra, thanks for the response. Your son and daughter-in-law have a lot of fans. Glad to hear things are going well for them. If at any time they would like to do an interview to let people know what they’re up to, please let me know.
April 14th, 2009 at 3:09 am
I am glad the Moutra’s won. I loved how they communicated effectively in the show… how they talked before sleeping recapping what happened and everything else. Their individual personality traits just balance each other out. God bless to you family.
April 17th, 2009 at 2:09 pm
Smiles4angels,
Thank you, and God bless you too. I can’t reveal too much, but yall will see us again. Thanks to everyone nationwide (and now around the world) that has had so many nice things to say about us.
May 23rd, 2009 at 8:41 pm
I have been a fan of the show. Season two comes on Monday night. I was so happy that JohnJohn and Crystal won last season. They were my favorite couple. God Bless.