HOLLYWOOD, CA - Maxaroni and Betty Spaghetty in separate press releases acknowledged what has been the buzz for several months -- they are splitting up. "Ours was a saucy relationship, but that only carries you so far," said Spaghetty's announcement, "We threw it on the wall, but it just never did stick."

"Sure, I'm bummed," said Maxaroni after the announcement, "This wasn't my idea. I think we could've worked it out. Things were sticky, but you add a little milk and things always smooth out. But she just wouldn't give it a chance. 'Where's the cheese?' she would ask. What's that supposed to mean?"

"I gave it six months from the start," said Chef Boy-Ar-Dee, "These young people burst on the scene, they do a commercial or two, and they connect. But when the lights go down and they have to actually nestle in the cabinet together and really live, they don't have what it takes." His marriage to Marie Callender was rocky at one point, but they are now happily married. "You have to work through these things, not just try to cut your losses."

Maxaroni's Stouffer endorsement contract is up for renewal in four months, said insiders, so this is a particularly bad time for image trouble. "We don't anticipate any problems working with Maxaroni as a result of his domestic troubles. We hope the best for Max and look forward to working with him," Stouffers announced on its web site.

Ohio Arts has not commented publicly on the break up, but there is concern behind the scenes that the breakup could put a chill over Spaghetty's child-appeal. There is no contract to cancel, as Ohio Arts developed Betty Spaghetty, however it is not unheard of for a toy line to be cancelled amid a public relations crisis.

"You have our statement," was the only comment Spaghetty's counsel would make.
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