The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour

Remember those television variety shows from the 1960s and 70s? The producers and writers of the "The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour" certainly do. They've dug deep into television's archives to mimic the kinds of skits, patter, and songs that popped up on programs hosted more than 30 years ago by Sonny and Cher, Tom Jones, Dean Martin and other singers.

Although the variety show is no longer popular, many of those old shows remain entertaining today. The same cannot be said of "The Nick & Jessica Variety Show." The hosts are the main problems. Jessica Simpson is an average singer with an overwrought style that will either make you laugh or squirm with embarrassment. This woman simply has no idea how ridiculous she looks, and this program, unfortunately for us, provides plenty of opportunities for her to prove it. A duet with the singer Jewell is especially painful to watch.

Nick Lachey has a better voice than his wife Jessica, but given the comparison, I'm afraid that amounts to very faint praise indeed. He appears mostly in hammy duets with Jessica or lame comic pieces with almost forgotten, third-tier celebrities – Kenny Rogers, Johnny Bench, and Miss Piggy and Kermit the Frog.

Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey are best known for their MTV show, "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica." Whatever the merits of that program may be, (I've never seen it), don't waste your time on this claptrap unless you want to have a 43-minute laugh at Jessica and Nick's expense.

3/10

words cannot express this horrid display of "talent". I actually sort of like their show "Newlyweds", they are just annoying enough to be cute. But this variety hour is truly pathetic. I hate to say it, but Jessica Simpson just does not have that good of a voice. And with the very few scenes that Nick was in, (it should have just been the Jessica hour) he ended up looking stupid. For instance, a duet with Kit, the car from Knight Rider?? What is that??

Jessica's Simpson ridiculous dramatic bodily gyrations while singing with Jewel may have been the only funny thing about this variety hour. Please spare yourself the agony of watching, unless you want to laugh AT them, and not with them.

Despite my apprehensions before watching the show for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised. Nick and Jessica work well as a team and the show really is what it says it is; variety. One show I watched had everything from the Muppets to Kenny Rogers to Mr.T with many musical numbers and comedy sketches as well as some bloopers and out-takes.

I know a lot of people would like to dismiss Jessica as a bimbo (and after watching several episodes of Newlyweds I can sort of see why) however I think she is smarter than she gets credit for, and her comedic timing and talent are undeniable.

If you don't like their singing, wait around for a minute and you'll get to see comedy and mindless jokes. There is something for everyone. I plan on watching again!