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Reality TV Og Jessica Simpson and her husband, former NFL player Eric Johnson, are separating.

Jessica started off as a pop star in the late 1990s, but in 2003, she reached new levels of fame vis-à-vis a then-new genre: reality television.

Jessica and then-husband Nick Lachey – of the boy band 98 Degrees – starred in MTV's Newlyweds: Nick And Jessica in 2003.

Newlyweds was a cultural sensation at the time, and the show emphatically depicted Jessica as ditzy.

One of the most memorable scenes depicted her apparent confusion over a can of tuna:

Is this chicken, what I have, or is this fish? I know it's tuna, but it says 'Chicken By The Sea.'

Both Newlyweds and Jessica's marriage to Nick ended in 2005, and the couple's divorce was finalized in 2006.

Nick went on to marry Vanessa Lachey in 2011, and Jessica married Eric Johnson – with whom she shares three children – in 2014.

In late...

Pop singer and reality TV personality Jessica Simpson is set to launch her musical comeback. However, fans especially took note of a promotional photo taken in honor of her return. In fact, some fans said they didn’t recognize her.

Jessica Simpson Took To Instagram To Tease Her Musical Comeback

As a singer, Simpson is known for songs like “I Wanna Love You Forever,” “I Think I’m in Love with You,” “With You,” and her covers of “Take My Breath Away” and “These Boots Are Made for Walkin.'” She also became known for appearing on the MTV reality series Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, which profiled her marriage with then-husband Nick Lachey.

Simpson was married to singer and 98 Degrees bandmember Nick Lachey from 2002 to 2006. In 2014, she married former professional football player Eric Johnson.

Jessica Simpson – YouTube

Simpson recently shared a few posts on Instagram announcing her plans for a music comeback.

Nick and Vanessa Lachey are among the most popular and beloved couples on reality television. As the hosts of the reality dating show Love is Blind, the Lachey's serve as the ideal for what each of the contestants hopes to achieve—a long-lasting and strong marriage.

The Lachey's have been married for nearly 20 years and have three children together. Their ups and downs as a couple are part of the impressive story of two celebrities who found love and have continued to make it work.

From their initial meeting on MTV to their hosting gig on Love is Blind, here's a look back at the timeline of Nick and Vanessa Lachey's relationship.

Related How Vanessa Lachey Made TV History After Hosting Love Is Blind

Vanessa Lachey has had a colorful career, from Miss Teen USA to TV.

2003: Nick Lachey And Vanessa Minnillo First Meet On Trl

Via: MTV

Nick...

From 'Making the Band' to 'Punk'd,' here are some shows you probably forgot aired on MTV.Mega; MTV UK/YouTubeA Double Shot at LoveMEGA

MTV's A Double Shot at Love, also known as A Double Shot at Love with the Ikki Twins, aired for eight episodes from December 2008 to February 2009. The reality dating game show featured the identical twins, Erica "Rikki" Mongeon and Victoria "Vikki" Mongeon, and their journey to find love.

How Far Is Tattoo Far?MTV/YouTube

How Far Is Tattoo Far? tested relationships by having friends or family members design a tattoo for their loved ones. The inks were only revealed at the end of each episode, keeping the viewers engaged.

Lindsay Lohan's Beach ClubMTV/YouTube

In 2019, Lindsay Lohan launched her MTV show Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club, chronicling the lives of her new Beach Club employees. It only lasted for one season.

With the uptick in popularity of shows like The Kardashians in the early aughts, American families who thought they had an interesting angle would expose themselves to the near constant surveillance of lifestyle reality series of the time. Cameras would catch the good, the bad, and the ugly in their world and editors were not always kind. This was a time when the world was scandalized by a young Kylie Jenner swinging on a stripper pole and imitating Girls Gone Wild by mimicking flipping up her shirt. Shows like 19 Kids and Counting, Pretty Wild, or Newlyweds:Nick and Jessica, all feature families that felt that their lives were fascinating enough to open up to the world. And if the producers knew what they were doing, manufactured scenes and stylized segments would maintain the illusion that everything captured was authentic and raw.

How many millions of records have you sold? If you're Jessica Simpson, that number is well over 20 million. If you're not Jessica Simpson — and you're not, like, Elton John or one of those guys from Aerosmith — that number is probably a heck of a lot less. At the turn of the century, thanks to hit singles like "I Wanna Love You Forever" and her reality TV series "Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica," Jessica Simpson was one of the most famous human beings in the entire world. And she's still really darned famous.

And like most singers who break into the popular zeitgeist, Simpson has also tried her hand at acting. She's probably best known on the big screen for playing the role of Daisy Duke in the 2005 "Dukes of Hazzard" movie, or at least for her cover of "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" from the soundtrack. She also did a...

Jessica Simpson weighed in on Madison LeCroy‘s Halloween tribute to one of the most viral moments from her reality show Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica.

The 43-year-old pop star starred in the pioneering reality series with then-husband Nick Lachey. The show charted the earliest days of their marriage and catapulted their celebrity status to a whole new level.

Newlyweds sparked many viral moments. However, arguably the most iconic is when Jessica was confused about if she was eating chicken or fish while snacking on tuna, the “chicken of the sea.”

Madison and her husband Brett Randle perfectly recreated the viral scene for Halloween, promoting a response from Jessica.

Read more about Jessica Simpson’s response to Madison LeCroy…

The Southern Charm star shared her Halloween recreation on Instagram where Jessica replied in the comments section.

“Best with miracle whip, apples and chopped pickles...

Rod Aissa, the executive VP, unscripted content at NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, is departing the company after 11 years. Aissa oversaw all unscripted lifestyle and documentary programming across NBCU’s broadcast, cable and streaming platforms: NBC, Bravo, E!, Oxygen True Crime, Syfy, Universal Kids, USA Network and Peacock.

Rachel Smith will take on the interim role of leading the unscripted lifestyle and docuseries group, which reports to Susan Rovner, Chairman, Entertainment Content, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming.

NBCU said it would “be doing a broad search to fill the role.” Smith, and whomever takes over the role permanently, will continue to work closely with Corie Henson, who serves executive vice president of entertainment unscripted content, focused on reality competition, talent competition and game show formats.

Aissa’s domain has included Bravo hits, including shows like “Top Chef,” the “Real Housewives” franchise and “Vanderpump Rules.” He first joined NBCU as exec VP of original programming at Oxygen,...

Joe Simpson — a manager and producer who is perhaps best known for once steering the careers of his famous daughters, Jessica and Ashlee Simpson — has a new gig.

Simpson has joined Eris Talent Agency as chief operating officer, effective immediately. In the Los Angeles-based role, Simpson will partner with Eris owners Tina Randolph Contogenis and Amy Lord Posey and be charged with oversight of the talent agency’s revenue-driving areas, including packaging arm, Eris Entertainment.

Eris Talent Agency, which also maintains offices in New York, has a client list that includes Maite Perroni, Todd Bridges, Shondrella Avery, Nancy McKeon, John Posey, Cristian de la Fuente, Jesse Posey, Mindy Cohn, Musetta Vander, John Kapelos, Miktzi Kapture, Karen Lynn Gorney and Yuri Lowenthal, among many others.

Simpson is a recognizable face who was ubiquitous presence in the aughts as he oversaw the careers of both Jessica and Ashlee. Pop culture aficionados will...

Jessica Simpson smiling close up: ©ImageCollect.com/StarMaxWorldwide

Jessica Simpson is showing off her jaw-dropping body and muscly legs while lounging around an old-school diner.

The 42-year-old singer and fashion mogul was promoting her best-selling Jessica Simpson Style brand, which was already turning 1 billion in sales in 2015.

The Dukes of Hazzard star sizzled with her famous legs on show, hanging out in a booth setting and highlighting her figure as she also reminded fans that the 100 pounds she dropped have stayed off.

Jessica’s photo showed her in a leggy and thigh-skimming minidress. The blonde kicked back in the booth with her legs sprawled across it, modeling a green and long-sleeved minidress that showed plenty of skin but still stayed classy.

Jessica added massive platform heels, wearing huge gold hoop earrings and bracelets to match. Her blonde locks looked flawless all blown-out, with a carefree-come-bombshell vibe completing the look.

Jessica...

Even Jessica Simpson can admit that "Is this chicken that I have, or is this fish?" was TV gold. Asked about her and then-husband Nick Lachey's two-year stint on Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica on the April 18 episode of The Real, the fashion mogul responded, "No, I don't regret that at all. I mean, if anything, it was great TV. It was very real, and Nick and I actually had a lot of fun." Indeed, Simpson, who starred on the program with Lachey from 2003 to 2005, said the two "got to do a lot things" they might not have done otherwise. Although, she admitted she could have done without the camping. As she put it, "There were definitely, like, moments where...

Magical Elves has promoted Dan Murphy to Chief Operating Officer. Murphy previously served as EVP of production behind such series as Emmy-nominated Top Chef, Kevin Hart’s Don’t Fuck This Up and Nailed It! He succeeds Casey Kriley who was named co-ceo alongside Jo Sharon last year.

In his expanded role, Murphy will be responsible for aligning all day-to-day operations including finance, physical production, and strategic growth across Magical Elves’ portfolio of titles.

“It’s an honor to take on this expanded role in leading our team of smart, hardworking and dedicated people focused on producing the highest quality non-fiction programming,” said Murphy. “I am excited to carry on producing hit television series while prioritizing the health and well-being of everyone on our sets and finding new opportunities for initiatives that will continue to grow the business.”

Prior to joining Magical Elves, Murphy served as the VP of production,...

It has been 15 years since Jessica Simpson cracked open a can of tune and uttered a sentence that would make pop culture history: "Is this chicken what I have, or is this fish? It says Chicken By The Sea." The star had said those words to then-husband Nick Lachey on their reality show Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica, which ended in 2005 after three seasons, months before their split. Now married to Eric Johnson for four years and the mother of their son and daughter, Jessica, who began her career as a singer, has since moved on to concentrate on her fashion and beauty empire. She spent a year in 2012 mentoring contestants on Fashion Star and soon, she will make a reality TV...

Six years after she became a breakout reality TV star with MTV's "Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica," Jessica Simpson is returning to MTV Networks for a new reality series on VH1 targeted for a 2010 launch.

"The Price of Beauty," a docu-series produced by Rdf USA, will feature Simpson traveling the world to meet every day women as well as some local pop culture icons.

Simpson will study local fashions, dietary fads and beauty regimes and even participate in some of the extreme practices she discovers.

"I have always believed that beauty comes from within and confidence will always make a woman beautiful, but I know how much pressure some women put on themselves to look perfect," said Simpson, who has gotten a lot of attention for her new full-figure which she has fully embraced.

Added Jeff Olde, exec vp VH1 Original Programming & Production, "Perhaps more than any other pop culture figure on the radar today,...

Actress Jessica Simpson has dismissed reports her latest movie is so bad it won't be released in U.S. cinemas. The 26-year-old's upcoming romantic comedy Blonde Ambition, in which she stars alongside Luke Wilson, is allegedly not as good as studio bosses had hoped. An insider tells website UsMagazine.com, "It is going straight to DVD domestically. It will only come out in theatres internationally. The movie is absolutely horrible. It's just a bomb, mainly because of Jessica's acting." But a spokesperson for Simpson says, "It's definitely a theatrical release." One of the producers behind the project is former Malcolm In The Middle star Justin Berfield, who now lives in the Calabasas, California home that was used in Simpson's hit reality show Newlyweds: Nick And Jessica.

Jessica Simpson was devastated when she saw ex-husband Nick Lachey out on the town with another woman so soon after the couple split. The pair separated in November 2005 and Lachey was photographed soon after with Laguna Beach star Kristin Cavallari. Simpson tells Elle magazine, "Oh, it hurt me. Two or three weeks later? Yeah, I'd say it kind of hurt me." The 26-year-old claims she's still in touch with Lachey explaining, "He's so much a part of my life, how could I not be? Any guy who's going to be with me from this day forward has to understand that." Simpson says she learned a valuable lesson about revealing too much of her private life from starring in the MTV reality series Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica. She adds "I let people in on who I am and how I react to my husband. That's a big deal. Celebrities don't do that. So I think they (the media) brought me down just because I stopped talking and because I have not spoken - and will not speak - about my divorce. And I think people feel like I owe them my reality right now."...

Jessica Simpson and ex-husband Nick Lachey have finally resolved the splitting of their assets, which officially brings their divorce to a complete close. Simpson, 26, and Lachey, 33, were married in 2002 and starred together in the MTV reality TV series Newlyweds: Nick And Jessica. They separated in November 2005 and filed for divorce the following month. The couple were free to legally marry others in June. According to American publication People, details of the settlement are undisclosed. Simpson is currently filming Blonde Ambition in Louisiana, while Lachey has been touring the US to promote his album What's Left Of Me. He has found love again with MTV host Vanessa Minnillo, while Simpson has been romantically linked with musician John Mayer.

Pop star Jessica Simpson has taken over her own public relations duties after the media fallout surrounding her relationship with singer John Mayer. Simpson's father Joe fired her former publicist Rob Shuter last month, after she appeared on the cover of American publication People proclaiming she was in love with Mayer. Simpson decided to step in and handle her own publicity and personally called all of the tabloid magazine editors to repair her damaged relationship with the press. She tells Jane magazine, "It's been very emotional. But I am my own publicist right now. I've called all the heads of the tabloids. I don't want anyone else to speak for me now." The former Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica star claims she wanted to talk to editors personally about all of the hurtful stories and try and move past her bitter feelings towards them. She adds, "It felt good to call them, but it was hard to find forgiveness. But that's one of my best qualities, I'm very forgiving." Simpson says she knows exactly who leaks information to the media when she reads the tabloid reports adding, "I know who they are, and none are my friends. Trust me, if inside sources were my friends, the magazines would have a lot juicier info!"...

Nick Lachey has slammed his reality show Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica as a "dumb idea" insisting it was partly responsible for breaking up his marriage to Jessica Simpson. Lachey appeared on The Late Show With David Letterman on Wednesday and the talk show host quizzed him about the demise of his marriage. Letterman said he thought taping the show would actually make the marriage stronger to which Lachey replied, "About that. Not so much. I don't think so... it was among the dumber ideas I think I've ever seen executed in history." Lachey claimed it seemed like a good idea at the time: "For a while, I think we actually enjoyed doing the show as well. It was just so invasive that it became a problem." When Letterman asked if the show contributed to the split he said, "You know that's one of those things where I think until you get enough hindsight and enough clarity and perspective, I don't think you can really know what happened. But, I certainly think it was probably a factor." The star insists is still friendly with his ex-wife, adding, "I think both of us have handled it about as well as we possibly could, under the microscope that we're under and everything. But, I think, again, with time, it'll give us a better opportunity to redefine our relationship."...

Hunky singer Nick Lachey refuses to discuss his relationship with new flame Vanessa Minnillo, because he doesn't want his new love to become public property. The former boy band singer accepts part of the blame for the failure of his marriage to Jessica Simpson lies with their decision to open their home to TV cameras for reality show Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica. And the 32-year-old insists he will keep his personal life private from now on, because he only wants to be famous for his music. He tells British magazine Star, "I'm not making that mistake again. There's a real danger, in allowing your personal life to become so public, that people feel a sense of entitlement to it."...

Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson have finally divided up the assets from their marriage after the pop hunk agreed to less than his share in order to avoid an ugly court battle. The couple amassed an estimated $36 million fortune during their three-year marriage, due in large part to the success of MTV reality show Newlyweds: Nick And Jessica and endorsement deals. Under California law, the assets are to be divided equally, which would award each of them $18 million. Simpson had initially offered Lachey $1.5 million to walk away from the marriage, reportedly at her father Joe's request. Lachey rejected the offer and according to news website Tmz.com, he has now agreed to a new settlement amount, which has not been disclosed. Sources say Lachey will take significantly more than the $1.5 million, but considerably less than half of what he and Jessica earned during the course of their marriage. Two sources close to Lachey say that he agreed to end the dispute because he doesn't want to hurt anyone in a contentious court battle.

Black Eyed Peas singer Stacy 'Fergie' Ferguson has slammed rumors she's planning a Newlyweds-style reality show with actor boyfriend Josh Duhamel. The singer, who recently appeared in Hollywood blockbuster Poseidon, met the movie star on the set of American TV show Las Vegas. It has been rumored they are due to follow in the footsteps of pop princess Jessica Simpson and her ex Nick Lachey by appearing on a show about their relationship. But Fergie says, "We don't have any plans to work together again and we would never do a reality show, like a Newlyweds thing - absolutely not. I love to watch them, I just don't want to be on one."...

Nick Lachey has angrily denied tracks on his new album are an attack on his estranged wife Jessica Simpson. The Newlyweds: Nick And Jessica stars split after three years of marriage late last year, however Lachey insists the confessional song "What's Left Of Me" place more blame on himself than her. The 32-year-old says, "It's not in any way vindictive or an assault on her. In a lot of ways, it's more of an assault on me. Jessica knows I still love her." Lachey also sings about his marriage break-up on "I Can't Hate You Anymore."...

MTV reports that Dukes of Hazzard star Jessica Simpson has set her sites on the role of sexy Southfork seductress Lucy Ewing. The no-longer Newlyweds wife says she met with producers of the upcoming Fox feature Dallas to take on the character popularized by cover girl Charlene Tilton. Simpson would join John Travolta, Jennifer Lopez, Shirley MacLaine and Luke Wilson in the Gurinder Chadha-directed project. The singer-actress recently wrapped the comedy Employee of the Month and is rumored to be in the running for another big-screen adaptation of a small-screen treasure, Baywatch.

Former golden couple Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson are selling the home made famous in their reality TV show Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica. The pop stars split in November after three years of marriage and Simpson has since filed for divorce. U.S. magazine People reports the couple have placed their Calabasas, California, Mediterranean-style home on sale for $3.75 million through Sotheby's International. Lachey is still living in the home, while Simpson has recently moved into a $3 million home in Beverly Hills.

Pop star Jessica Simpson has officially filed for divorce from her husband Nick Lachey - citing "irreconcilable differences" in their three year marriage. The Dukes Of Hazzard beauty applied not to pay alimony to her Newlyweds co-star in a Los Angeles court on Friday - despite refusing to sign a pre-nuptial agreement before walking down the aisle. When the celebrity couple married in 2002 Lachey was richer than Jessica as a singer in \boyband 98 Degrees. But the 25-year-old beauty has since shot to stardom with a flourishing pop and movie career - and is now worth an estimated $54 million. If Simpson's alimony case is rejected, she will be required to pay Lachey half of her lucrative earnings, as under Californian law any money made during marriage is equally split if there is no pre-nuptial agreement.

Jessica Simpson has reportedly hired a high-powered divorce attorney to handle her split with husband Nick Lachey - just three weeks after they announced their separation. According to Us Weekly, the Newlyweds star has recruited Robert Kaufman, who represented Jennifer Aniston in her divorce from Brad Pitt earlier this year. A representative for Simpson has refused to comment on the report, but a pal of the blonde beauty says, "Jennifer handled her divorce with Brad like a lady, in a non-sleazy way, and Jessica wants to do the same." On November 23, Simpson, 25, and Lachey, 32, announced their separation after three years of marriage.

WB Network has drafted Mad About You co-creator/executive producer Danny Jacobson to craft a comedy project for actor-singer Nick Lachey. Jacobson is set to write a half-hour pilot starring Lachey, who has a holding deal with WB. The project will be produced by Touchstone Television. The Lachey project, described by Jacobson as a "romantic comedy under a microscope," would have the star of MTV's Newlyweds play a famous baseball player trying to navigate a new marriage.

American sweethearts Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey have officially split after months of speculation about the state of their three-year marriage. The pop singers jointly announced the end of their marriage through their publicists on Wednesday night. In an official statement, the couple said, "After three years of marriage, and careful thought and consideration, we have decided to part ways. This is the mutual decision of two people with an enormous amount of respect and admiration for each other. We hope that you respect our privacy during this difficult time." Lachey and Simpson wed in October 2002 and became household names in America when they starred in MTV reality show Newlyweds. US tabloids have been claiming the couple were on the verge of splitting since the summer, highlighting stories of the pair's romantic links to other people. Simpson was at one time linked to former Jackass prankster Bam Margera.

So much for a happy Thanksgiving! Late Wednesday, over-scrutinized Hollywood couple Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey announced, after months of speculation, that they had decided to separate. In what appeared to be an attempt to dodge coverage during the holiday (no such luck, the Today show was all over the story early Thursday morning), an official statement was issued late Wednesday night, and the couple's press reps were unavailable for further comment on Thanksgiving. The statement, submitted "exclusively" to Us Weekly, read: "After three years of marriage, and careful thought and consideration, we have decided to part ways. This is the mutual decision of two people with an enormous amount of respect and admiration for each other." Wed in October 2002, Simpson and Lachey were a telegenic, publicity-perfect couple, celebrating their love in TV specials and making their private life public in the MTV reality show Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica, which made both the B-list singers stars and put them permanently in the public eye from its first broadcast. Break-up rumors surfaced aggressively this year, with Us Weekly reporting a split in October, a story the couple fervently denied at the time. --Prepared by IMDb staff...

Newlyweds star Jessica Simpson is facing a barrage of criticism from humanitarian agencies after she allegedly interrupted a 10-day charity visit to Kenya with a $1,500 safari, despite insisting she was too ill to visit local children. The singer reportedly spent just two days with Operation Smile - a charity repairing facial deformities in children - before embarking on a recreational trip of the same length in the Masai Mara National Reserve last week. A representative for the charity says, "Jessica got sick, like people do, and couldn't get out of bed." But the excuse has been challenged by a hotel insider who alleges, "Simpson was not ill, no doctor was called out to see her." Referring to the safari, an Operation Smile spokesperson says, "It was scheduled downtime." The reality TV star's trip is thought to have cost a staggering $12,500.

WB has signed separate talent holding deals with actor-singers Nick Lachey and Brandy. Lachey, one half of the married team featured in the MTV hit series Newlyweds, is no stranger to WB, having guest-starred on the series Charmed. He also put in appearances on the ABC series Hope and Faith. He has been attached to a few comedy projects in recent pilot seasons that didn't materialize. Brandy, star of the UPN series Moesha, last appeared in her own MTV reality series Brandy: Special Delivery, which chronicled the birth of her first child. In 2004, she had a development deal with Fox Broadcasting Co., Touchstone TV and Storyline Entertainment for her own half-hour series, which didn't materialize (HR 8/20/04). Lachey is repped by ICM. Brandy is repped by WMA.

Pop beauty Jessica Simpson has slammed "absolutely untrue" reports of her alleged dalliance with rock lothario Fred Durst in Las Vegas last weekend. Local Nevada newspaper Las Vegas Review-Journal columnist Norm Clarke claimed Simpson and the Limp Bizkit frontman "were all over each other" at the Hard Rock Hotel, with the singer's husband Nick Lachey nowhere in sight. Simpson's spokesman says, "Jessica and Fred Durst have mutual friends and were both at the event. The rest is absolutely untrue." The Newlyweds: Nick And Jessica reality TV couple recently purchased a $1 million condominium in Sin City.

Without Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica, is the honeymoon over at MTV? As the Viacom-owned cable powerhouse heads into its upfront presentation Tuesday, its most recent wave of new series is not matching the ratings or buzz of the three high-profile programs that departed last month. Newlyweds, which starred married tabloid fixtures Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, signed off the same week as its successful spinoff, The Ashlee Simpson Show, and the former granddaddy of celebrity-verite TV, The Osbournes. Cameron Diaz might be as blond and beautiful as Simpson, but her new series Trippin' has gotten a tepid reception. Travis Barker of Meet the Barkers is not whipping up the frenzy another tattooed rocker dad, Ozzy Osbourne, did. Even MTV's most reliable standby, The Real World, has cooled.

Without Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica, is the honeymoon over at MTV? As the Viacom-owned cable powerhouse heads into its upfront presentation Tuesday, its most recent wave of new series is not matching the ratings or buzz of the three high-profile programs that departed last month. Newlyweds, which starred married tabloid fixtures Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey, signed off the same week as its successful spinoff, The Ashlee Simpson Show, and the former granddaddy of celebrity-verite TV, The Osbournes. Cameron Diaz might be as blond and beautiful as Simpson, but her new series Trippin' has gotten a tepid reception. Travis Barker of Meet the Barkers is not whipping up the frenzy another tattooed rocker dad, Ozzy Osbourne, did. Even MTV's most reliable standby, The Real World, has cooled.

Newlyweds stars Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey are both recording new albums after taking time out to make movies and star in the reality TV show. The "Irresistible" singer has recently finished filming The Dukes Of Hazzard big screen re-make with Johnny Knoxville - and she's currently working on songs for the film's soundtrack, including a duet with co-star Willie Nelson. The 24-year-old says, "I haven't done that yet, but we will be doing something. I was just in the studio with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis recording the single. I can't wait for people to hear it... I can't give away any of my new secrets." Former 98 Degrees singer Lachey is working on the follow up to his debut solo album Soulo in a custom-built studio at the couple's luxurious home. He says, "It's definitely not gonna be the straight-ahead pop ballad thing that people have been used to hearing from me. I'm trying to mix it up a little bit. Part of the beauty of music is experimentation and kind of finding yourself and your direction. That's what I've been doing the past few months - writing and singing and 'demoing' and getting back to the kind of musical frame of mind and what it is that I really want to do."...

Jackass hell-raiser Johnny Knoxville has slammed rumors he's romanced Jessica Simpson behind her husband Nick Lachey's back. The 33-year-old is furious about reports he seduced Simpson while they filmed movie remake The Dukes Of Hazzard, insisting the stars of MTV reality show Newlyweds: Nick And Jessica are virtually inseparable. He tells gossip website Pagesix.Com, "It's such bulls**t. He visits her on the set, and she is just the sweetest girl."...

Pop beauty Jessica Simpson is facing a legal battle with fitness company Speedfit, after disagreements over the singer's workout style in an exercise video. The Newlyweds: Nick And Jessica reality TV star signed a multi-million dollar contract with SpeedFit last year to star in a fitness video. After seeking help from trainer Michael Alexander to get into shape for her hotpants-wearing role of Daisy Duke in the film adaptation of The Dukes Of Hazzard, Simpson reportedly wanted Alexander's work-out to be incorporated into the video, reports America's In Touch Weekly magazine. The magazine reports SpeedFit producers told Simpson that Alexander's style didn't fit their idea of fitness and are now considering a lawsuit. Simpson's business manager says, "We've been trying to make this work. We thought Mike would increase the marketability of the exercise program."...

While MTV placed an emphasis on three new reality series featuring celebrities during its portion of the Television Critics Assn. press tour, one top exec isn't concerned that the network is becoming too saturated with those types of shows. "Each show has its own characters," MTV Networks Music Group president of entertainment Brian Graden said Friday at the Universal City Hilton. "You don't compare 'The Cosby Show' with 'My Wife & Kids.' It's a format, but it's about people, and as long as there are interesting people and each has its own dynamic, we'll keep doing (these types of shows)." The network also has aired such celebrity-focused reality shows as The Osbournes, Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica, The Ashlee Simpson Show and Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen & Dave.

Singers and Newlyweds stars Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey sympathize with Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's recent split because they've also suffered under the media's scrutiny. The pop couple allowed cameras to chart the ups and downs of their marriage for the MTV reality show and subsequently became victims of the public's obsession with their private life. But they insist Pitt and Aniston could have saved their relationship if they'd accepted fame attracts gossip and media intrusion. Simpson explains, "Fame definitely puts pressure on a marriage. Especially when so many things are untrue, it really becomes an issue. But, you know, you learn early on in this business that with success, you're fair game to that. And you just have to learn to really have tough skin and let it just roll right off. We've kind of put ourselves out there for that. But it's always a difficult thing when you hear things that are being made up."...

MTV has renewed hit unscripted series Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica, starring Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson, and The Ashlee Simpson Show as well as ordered a third series featuring Lachey. All will premiere next year in addition to a fourth unscripted series about another newly married couple, Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and former Miss USA Shanna Moakler.

Top Hollywood couple Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey spent the Thanksgiving weekend reassuring concerned family members that they weren't on the verge of splitting up. The stars of MTV reality show Newlyweds have been apart working on separate projects for the past month, while gossips speculate about the state of their two-year-old marriage. So they took time out over Thanksgiving to clear up the rumors with a family get together in Waco, Texas. Simpson says, "It makes me angry that my whole family has to read it and question Nick and I. We were at home for Thanksgiving and we got to clear everything up. It's just weird, it's so fabricated, it's coming from nowhere. They have to answer to everybody, to the public all the time... I guess it happens to everybody. But Nick and I are definitely in love."...

Pop beauty Jessica Simpson and husband Nick Lachey have hit out at recent claims they're considering a divorce. The stars of MTV reality show Newlyweds: Nick And Jessica are furious America's Star magazine printed a story claiming Lachey had cheated on his wife at a friend's bachelor party, insisting their marriage is stronger than ever. Simpson complains, "Our relationship is better than it's ever been. We are absolutely not breaking up. What married couple doesn't (argue)? You don't want to marry somebody who's just like you. So there are always going to be conflicts. That's what compromise is all about. It means that we're communicating."...

Following his successful multiepisode turn on the WB Network's Charmed, Nick Lachey is ready to become a TV leading man. The singer-actor has inked a development deal with Fox Broadcasting Co., 20th Century Fox Television and studio-based Brad Grey TV to topline a half-hour or one-hour series project created for him. The deal with Fox and 20th is in second position to Lachey's pact with ABC for the comedy project Hot Mom. The pilot, in which Lachey co-starred as part of his development/talent deal with ABC and Touchstone TV, was not picked up by the network in May, but it still has an option on the actor until year's end. Lachey, who became a pop culture fixture as a member of 98? and with the MTV reality hit Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica, in which he stars with wife Jessica Simpson, has been in high demand recently. Last month, he landed his first feature role, joining the indie film The Hard Easy (HR 9/23). Additionally, after the ratings success of the ABC special The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour, Lachey and Simpson are working on a Christmas special for the network. Lachey is repped by ICM and Brillstein-Grey Entertainment.

Following his successful multiepisode turn on the WB Network's Charmed, Nick Lachey is ready to become a TV leading man. The singer-actor has inked a development deal with Fox Broadcasting Co., 20th Century Fox Television and studio-based Brad Grey TV to topline a half-hour or one-hour series project created for him. The deal with Fox and 20th is in second position to Lachey's pact with ABC for the comedy project Hot Mom. The pilot, in which Lachey co-starred as part of his development/talent deal with ABC and Touchstone TV, was not picked up by the network in May, but it still has an option on the actor until year's end. Lachey, who became a pop culture fixture as a member of 98? and with the MTV reality hit Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica, in which he stars with wife Jessica Simpson, has been in high demand recently. Last month, he landed his first feature role, joining the indie film The Hard Easy (HR 9/23). Additionally, after the ratings success of the ABC special The Nick & Jessica Variety Hour, Lachey and Simpson are working on a Christmas special for the network. Lachey is repped by ICM and Brillstein-Grey Entertainment.

MTV reality stars Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey are allegedly considering ending their marriage because the former 98 Degrees hunk is sick of her "dumb blonde" behavior. The Nick And Jessica: Newlyweds couple have shocked viewers with their outrageous rows on the show's second season, which features Lachey calling Simpson a "pampered bimbo", fuelling speculation the couple are drifting apart. An insider tells Britain's Daily Sport newspaper, "They are pretty much living separate lives these days. I wouldn't be surprised if both of them are back on the market in a few months." Lachey reportedly complained, "If I'd wanted a bimbo, I would have married Paris Hilton."...

Jessica Simpson has been cast as Daisy Duke in Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow's The Dukes of Hazzard. The role effectively serves as her feature film debut, though she did make an appearance playing herself in the 2002 feature The Master of Disguise. Seann William Scott and Johnny Knoxville already had been cast as Bo and Luke Duke, respectively, in the big-screen version of the television series that Jay Chandrasekhar is directing, and Bill Gerber is producing. John O'Brien wrote the screenplay that attracted Chandrasekhar's interest. Chandrasekhar and the rest of comedy troupe Broken Lizard will do additional writing. Bruce Berman is exec producing for Village Roadshow. Greg Silverman and Dana Goldberg are the execs overseeing for Warners and Village Roadshow, respectively. Pop star Simpson shot to fame when her marital misadventures with fellow singer and husband, Nick Lachey, aired on MTV's Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica. She has played herself in countless TV appearances and had a guest starring run on That '70s Show. Simpson is repped by CAA.

Jessica Simpson has been cast as Daisy Duke in Warner Bros. Pictures and Village Roadshow's The Dukes of Hazzard. The role effectively serves as her feature film debut, though she did make an appearance playing herself in the 2002 feature The Master of Disguise. Seann William Scott and Johnny Knoxville already had been cast as Bo and Luke Duke, respectively, in the big-screen version of the television series that Jay Chandrasekhar is directing, and Bill Gerber is producing. John O'Brien wrote the screenplay that attracted Chandrasekhar's interest. Chandrasekhar and the rest of comedy troupe Broken Lizard will do additional writing. Bruce Berman is exec producing for Village Roadshow. Greg Silverman and Dana Goldberg are the execs overseeing for Warners and Village Roadshow, respectively. Pop star Simpson shot to fame when her marital misadventures with fellow singer and husband, Nick Lachey, aired on MTV's Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica. She has played herself in countless TV appearances and had a guest starring run on That '70s Show. Simpson is repped by CAA.

Becoming a reality TV star has done little for Jessica Simpson's pop career - promoters have had to cut the price of tickets to see her perform in a bid to fill seats. The sexy star of Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica sang at Los Angeles' Universal Amphitheatre on Friday as part of her Jessica Simpson Reality Tour. But organizers faced a frantic battle before the gig to fill the 6,000 capacity venue. According to American news site Pagesix.Com $50 tickets were cut to $20 prior to the show - and then reduced again to, "Buy three $20 seats - get one free."...

Brillstein-Grey Management has added Colton Gramm to its team of managers. Gramm most recently worked as a talent manager at Original Film. Gramm's clients that he will bring to Brillstein-Grey include Timothy Olyphant (Deadwood), Nick Lachey (Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica), Gary Dourdan (C.S.I.: Crime Scene Investigation), Richard Ruccolo (Two Guys And A Girl), Colin Egglesfield (12 Days Of Terror), Shea Whigham (Tigerland) and Corey Pearson (Still Life). "Colton is a great addition to our company," said Peter Safran, president of Brillstein-Grey Management. "Many of us worked with him closely when he was an agent and we are thrilled to have him now as a colleague. His taste in clients and material, combined with his relationships with the buyers, makes him a real asset for Brillstein-Grey." Gramm began his career in 1994 as a trainee in the mailroom at ICM before becoming an ICM talent agent. After six years at ICM, Gramm moved over to WMA where he worked as an agent for over 2 years.