Who was the last TV wife to make you reconsider the “bachelor” thing? I
Love Lucy’s Lucille Ball? I Dream of Jeannie’s Barbara Eden? The
King of Queens’ Leah Remini? Whatever your taste, there’s no denying
that they pale in comparison to Jessica Simpson, because she doesn’t just play
the doting, affectionate, hotter-than-blazes wife—she lives it. Armed
with a hot album, a variety show, and a host of other projects, Mrs. Lachey’s
on top of the world. But she’s still got some ’splainin’ to do!
Welcome back! We’re glad you could grace our cover a second time.
It’s funny, but I don’t have a lot of people who are supportive of me doing Maxim.
I guess some of the stuff in this magazine is not the kind of stuff my
grandparents would particularly enjoy reading. But I do it for my guy fans. I
seem to get a lot of heat in my career when I do Maxim, for some
reason.
The word heat does come to mind. Last time you were here, you
said male fans propose marriage to you during your shows. We’re assuming
that’s all stopped now.
No, actually. That’s happened a couple of times since then. I’ll serenade a
guy, and a few of them get down on their knee and propose. I guess they think
I’m really into singing for them and they’re overwhelmed with passion.
We’ll try to restrain ourselves this time. Being young and married is
tough enough. What possessed you to let cameras record your every move?
I’ve always been the type of person who never hides anything. Nick was a
little hesitant, because he’s much more of a private person. I’m confident
of who I am as a person, and of who Nick and I are as a couple. I’m not
ashamed of anything I do.
Not even when the news reports your every mistake? You’ve become this
generation’s answer to Yogi Berra.
I love it when the media jumps on those things—it’s fun that they’ll be
hating you one minute, and the next they’re…putting you on their covers!
Oh, right.
But I’ve always been the kind of person who doesn’t think before I speak,
and I let things fly out of my mouth. I am who I am, and I won’t change or
censor myself. I think the healthiest thing you can do is laugh at yourself. I
mean, the first episode was the “Chicken of the Sea” moment, and at first
people responded really negatively—they were comparing me to Anna Nicole
Smith! But as weeks went by, they started comparing me to Lucille Ball and
Goldie Hawn. That was much more comforting, because I don’t want to come
across as a ditz who doesn’t know what she’s doing. I might let ditzy things
fly out of mouth every now and then, but I’m still a smart person.
Speaking of comparison, when you started out as a singer, you were
constantly compared to Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera. What’s your take
on that now?
My whole perspective on it has matured. I finally found my own place—and
it’s not third! I’m in my own place, and I can be mentioned in a sentence
that doesn’t have their names in it, too. I respect Britney and Christina, and
I’m not saying that so you’ll write it and they’ll be like, “Aw, thank
you.” I do respect them. It’s a hard business, and we all started really
young. I respect anyone who can take it on. And they’re still going strong.
Do you maybe see yourself as a more wholesome alternative to their
two-minute drunken marriages and dirty-girl fashions?
Their acts might be more sexual than mine, but they’re still role models no
matter what. I think Christina has made a lot of incredible decisions with her
music lately. Songs like “Beautiful” are really inspirational. But we’re
all different people, and we’re doing our things in different ways, and
that’s good.
You just scored a hit with a cover of Berlin’s “Take My Breath
Away.” Are you living out a secret Top Gun fantasy?
Yes, I am, actually. That was the first love scene I ever saw. It had a big
effect on me as a young girl. I’ve been in love with Tom Cruise ever since. It
also happened to be the song playing when Nick and I had our first kiss.
Yeah, we remember. What’s something you’ve learned about marriage?
It’s not a fairy tale. When I was little, I dreamed of the Cinderella story.
But I’ve realized it’s OK to fight. The best thing you can do is voice your
opinions—and if it causes a fight, that’s a good thing. It’s healthy
because you’re listening to each other. Marriage is difficult, but worth it.
Do you guys ever watch the show and go, “Oh, man, I wish the cameras
were off that time”?
I haven’t really watched a lot of them. I don’t know why…I guess because I
lived it. I’ve never sat through the marathons. I think I would get annoyed
with myself.
You’ve had a busy year. Are you planning on taking a break?
We’re actually working on a sitcom pilot. It’s already been cast.
A sitcom? Like a “fake” Newlyweds?
It’s hard to describe. It’s like reality meets script. It has that kind of Seinfeld
vibe to it. I play Jessica Sampson. She’s a professional singer who
makes a guest appearance on this 20/20-type show and just takes it
over. So they hire her as a correspondent. The reality part is that I’ll
actually be interviewing celebrities and politicians and athletes. My character
has a lot of my characteristics—the ditzy stuff. It’ll be fun because people
know why I’ve been made fun of in real life, and now it’s like, “Who’s
the joke really on?”
Is Newlyweds going to keep going?
Well, soon we’re not going to be newlyweds anymore. It’ll have to be a whole
new show.
Like Cranky Old Couple?
[laughs] Yeah.
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