They both need producers/record execs to control them and keep them from doing that crap. With Christina's early albums, those people were insisting that she kept only about 25% of all of the "flourishes" she wanted to put in. She's more powerful and has more control now, and that's why she can't sing a simple melody anymore.

With Jessica, didn't record execs make her re-record "Sweetest Sin" because she put too many extra doo-dads in it? She had to redo it "less like a seen-ger".

I forgot about the endorsements. You're right, that is a chunk of change. I hope Nick is forcing her to put it away in CDs or something so she doesn't spend it all. But it would be her money, not his.

I'd love to see that conversation. Just to see her mistake Certificates of Deposit for compact discs.

Or is that too obvious?

Actually since they live in California should they divorce he could very well receive half of everything she has earned in the last two years and that would enclude her endorsements. OMG-the ad at the top of the page as I type this is Nick Lachey inviting you to take the match 100 challenge for Big Brothers Big Sisters!

Even though she is paid say 1 million for the Pizza Hut endorsement(this isn't an actual figure just a hypothetical), her agent would get so much, her management so much, etc.

I watched something on VH1 or some channel the other day where they had the breakdown of actual earnings for the artists and after the record company gets their cut, the agents get their cut, the management team gets their cut, the radio stations get their cut(because we all know that most record companies *bribe* radio to play certain songs over and over and push certain artists), I think the artist was able to actually bank like 40% so if she was paid 1 million she would only see 400,000 of it and she could spend that in a day the way she shops.

I just get so frustrated watching people like that and those on the "It's Good to Be" that E and VH1 show because it is just totally ridiculous for someone to spend the kind of money these people do on stupid stuff. I mean these artists who go in with the 1,000.00 worth of 100 dollar bills to be cut up and put on their nails? That is stupidity and that's why in five years they are on Where are They Now and they are in a gutter somewhere.

I could see having a security team but these entourages are ridiculous. I wouldn't want ten to twenty people with me at all times I mean you have to fart and stuff sometimes!

My hubby and I had a Jessica/Nick moment last night in the Wal-Mart parking lot LOL. There was a tahoe that someone had poorly tried to trick out and even tried to make it look like an Escalade. I said it was someone trying to "perpertrate". My husband said that was the wrong word and I am like no it's not. He said they are trying to imitate and I was looking at him like you moron that is what perpertrate means. This argument went on for like ten minutes LOL and finally I said "Fine Nick whatever you say" and got in my car. He had no clue what I meant because he hates MTV!

It made me think about the episode with the dogs and he mentioned comradre and she thought it meant the same as accolade and not friendliness.

Good Lord! Check this pic out!

http://img59.photobucket.com/albums/v181/h...fterparty16.jpg

But she's really a good little Christian girl. You can see my eyes rolling, right?

I remember watching TLC's Behind the Music episode and after selling 10 million albums (something Jess will never do) each of them ended up with around $250,000 and they still had to declare bankruptcy. I'm guessing they get around $30,000 per episode, so with 30 episodes that's $900,000 there. Minus all the payouts. Endorsement money is all hers independent of the record company. I think just her agent and manager get cuts from that, maybe her PR rep is she's got one. Dad's her manager, is he also her agent?

what is she doing?

can someone please answer me? That is so odd....

Showing the audience what "talents" she has that Nick is missing out on by not getting laid on a regular basis?

Seriously, though, I've heard of singers getting into it when they sing, but that is a bit much. I would seriously topple over if I ever tried to do that.

She is scarily flexible, I'll give her that. I mean, while watching some of the episodes in the past and seeing her sitting/lying down somewhere in some of the positions that she has, I've actually said to myself, "How in the hell is she able to sit/lay down like that and still be comfortable?"

Too bad Nick doesn't benefit from that.

That reminds me of the Funniest Home Video of the Hall of Presidents at Disney World where the Abe Lincoln animatronic started to fall backward from the waist.

She's a Stepford, y'all.

Heh. I bet that was hilarious in person, because the girl can't dance for shit. If anyone's seen the couple videos in which she attempts to dance you know what I mean. She has as much rhythm as the Tin Man.

I thought the robots that were the Stepford Wives were programmed to please their husbands in every way? If she is one, she's malfunctioning...

Finally got a chance to see the whole first ep (thank you, TiVo!), and not to beat a dead horse, but her purse? Was embarrassing. Ye gods! And Nick rescuing her with the big wad of hundreds, that was terrible on so many levels, I can't talk about it.

I did, however, notice that one of the 50 magazines she pulled out of her bag was Entertainment Weekly's Funniest People issue, with Chris Rock on the cover, and that came out back in March...so I agree with everyone who's deduced that this entire ep was filmed long ago. Obviously, the basketball places it in March, too. And by the way, CaCeeeeeee? Taunting Nick about his team? Was terrible. Disgusting. Sports fans should be allowed to mourn when their teams lose. I am inconsolable when my football teams lose, and I will not tolerate any sort of teasing. What a little bitch she is. I can't wait until next week, I hope they throw her skinny ass out; obviously, there are plenty of places to live in L.A. if complexes are having one-month-free promotions! What a waste of air she is.

I don't think she has an agent. As her manager, her father gets 10-15%. Publicists don't get a percentage, they get about $3,000 per month ($36,000 per year). If she's smart (and I think she is about business matters), she's paying her lawyer an hourly rate and not a percentage. She's also got to pay a stylist, a personal assistant ($40-$60,000 per year), hair/makeup people, and somebody to monitor her security. A lot of those fees can be passed off to other people, and what's not is all tax deductible as business expenses.All in all, after taxes and expenses, she probably takes home about 50% of what she earns.

As was evident in the photo. Maybe she's a poor man's Stepford, cobbled together from scrap parts. There's bound to be an error or two in her model.

You reminded me of the magazines...how much did that bag weigh??? When does she flip through these? I refuse to say read, it appeared that most of those were the picture pages kind of mags.

Jessica could torch the Newslyweds McMansion for insurance money, like Left Eye did to Andre Rison's home (although she did it out of pure rage).

My acquaintance, who was very big in 1982 and 1983 (hint: they came from a land down under), has told me that he arrived home from the band's first big tour of the United States and discovered that millions of dollars that should have been in the band's coffers weren't there. And no one else seemed to know what happened to the money. Certainly not the band; they were too busy slaving away night after night building the band's popularity and selling albums. Mismanagement, including a screwy tax scheme that put most of their earnings outside of Australia as a means of avoiding the crippling taxes down there, caused major amounts of money to slip through their hands. Even their own accountants pretty much screwed them.

They have never located the money, nor the individual responsible for the funds missing. Despite missing a significant amount of earnings, the band still had to pay the record company back, their management, their tour company, the roadies, the publicity, the list goes on and on and on. My acquaintance said that he never felt that he was "rich" as a result of having two smash hit albums, two back-to-back #1 singles, and being a favorite on MTV. He had more money than he had ever had before, but he was never rich. The money certainly was not proportionate to the amount of labor the band put in.

The band ultimately broke up over money. Many bands do.

I'll tell you one thing: my contact is a helluva lot smarter than Jessucka, and he managed to have money outright stolen from him while he was on the road. Can you imagine what is being done to Jessucka's finances behind her back (hell, even in front of her face)? The only person looking out for her interests besides Nick is her father, and quite frankly, he skeeves me out. I question his honesty and his motives. Dad Simpson looks like an E! True Hollywood Story waiting to happen: a tearful Jessucka relating that she is no longer on speaking terms with her gay father because he stole her blind during her fleeting popularity. It's a humorous image, but a very realistic one. It happens all of the time in the business.

I'll probably be hated for this, but I like Jessica. I think the dumb stuff is at least somewhat of an act. She plays it up for laughs and ratings.

I also think as far as money goes, she is smart. She has definitely capitalized on her popularity to get endorsements and has the line of edible beauty products.

Also, when she tours, I don't think her record company gets much if any of that. When you think about it, time is money. When you break down what she gets paid an hour, is it worth her time to run around picking up new nail polish or cleaning up after herself?

I do feel sorry for Nick - not because he married Jessica. I think he has a good thing going with her, but it's a shame and I'm sure a strain that he has not been as successful at capitalizing on the show as she has.

I see your point, but it's not as if any of these tasks take large amounts of time. Picking up after yourself is part of being a responsible, normal person. I think she is just extremely spoiled to the point that she cannot handle the most marginal task on her own.

If she wants to throw her money away having people to do everything for her, fine, it's her life, her money, etc. But at the same time, she seems to hire people that are barely more competent than she is. Cacee (sp?) seems to have slightly more brain cells than Jessica, but doesn't appear to have a clue on exactly what role a PA should play.

I feel bad for Nick.


They show Newlyweds like all the time here, and they just showed the one where Nick decorates the house while Jessica is away.


And she comes home and complains so much. After he spent like all day trying to fix it up, and he made his office into a walk in closet for her. What a bitch to come home and complain about that.

She was happy about the walk-in closet. That was a different show, and it was some type of present for her. She seemed really appreciative. She was mad about the decorating because she was not given any say in where things were put and because she wanted a professional designer to come in and design a look for her home. I can see where she would thing Nick was being cheap and going behind her back if he knew how she felt. He could have at least taken what she wanted into consideration instead of waiting until she left and doing what he wanted to do anyway.

Can you say Gary Coleman? Aaron Carter? ..................

If I remember, Nick tried to get her to talk about the decorating and she kept refusing to offer any ideas, just that she wanted a decorator to come in. So he got fed up and did it himself. Lousy communication on both their parts.

Men at Work, maggiegault?

IMO, someone who takes off their clothes and throws them on the floor rather than take 2 seconds to hang them up is lazy. Sure, the house is big and they're too busy to clean it - hell, I have friends with much smaller homes that have maids. They work full time jobs, raise children, and have busy lives, yet still find time to put a shirt on a hanger.

Intesting article about record label money and touring here, tying into our discussion.

Another interesting article talking about how Mandy Moore, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Jessica Simpson were once all look-alike, with look-alike careers, and now each of them is in their own direction. Kind of. But I thought it was interesting. I remember about 5 years ago making fun of the 4 of them because most people couldn't tell them apart.

Indeed, Knid. And let me tell you this much: theirs is one of the saddest stories in the history of pop music. These guys were five unassuming blokes who were friends and made music because they enjoyed it. Just by a fluke did they make it big. It tore them apart, so much so that by the end of their big 1983 tour, two of the band members couldn't even share a limousine. Their breakup was a mess of accusations and lawyers all over the place. They don't merit just an episode of E! True Hollywood Story; these blokes should get their own miniseries. A true cautionary tale for any band or artist pondering making a go of it in the music biz.

To this day, Greg Ham, the impish adorable flute player, is the only Man who remains in contact with the remaining Men.

Bottom line: the music industry is loaded with unsavoury characters whose main objective is to rook unwitting artists out of as much money as possible. Even if you are savvy, like my erstwhile acquaintance, you can very easily get screwed out of millions. Men at Work is just one example. I could name others: Wham had a nightmarish first contract; Gin Blossoms and Goo Goo Dolls were basically indentured servants to their record companies; The Romantics never saw a penny of royalties from "What I Like About You"!!!!!

I think it is especially telling in Jessucka's case that the unsavoury character she must contend with is her own father. I hear "cha-ching!" and see dollar signs in his eyes every time he deals with Jessucka. He just seems like a vulture to me. Were I Jessucka (god forbid, but I'd kill to have her ass!), I would hire someone from outside my own family to handle my finances and management. Hiring and doing business with family is never a good idea; when there are millions of dollars at stake, it's crucial that you get an objective third-party opinion.

Come on, Nick...you're smarter than the entire Simpson family combined. Step in and keep an eye on your wife's finances. You owe it to yourself as much as her; if you intend to remain married to her, her liabilities become your liabilities, her debts your debts.

maggiegault, I don't think that bimbo is ever going to take her head out of her ass so how on earth would she know (if indeed her father was snaking her)?

All together now, ewww. And I thought she has a bladder control problem when she laughs.

well I have actually seen someone dumber than Jessica Simpson tonight! I watched Anna Nicole's Caribbean Vacation on E! and she is very dumb. They were in Florida and she said well what is there to do in Florida and then mumbled something and the kicker was well Miami isn't part of Florida is it? Then Kimmie said something about how she(ANS) always says California when she's talking about LA and Smith says well they are two seperate things aren't they? LA isn't California is it? I mean this girl is as dumb as a rock!

maggiegault said:



When Metallica bitched and whined about this they lost me as a fan. Sure they were going to hell anyhow (selling out), but this just was the icing on the cake.

About your friend, after reading another post, I know which band you are talking about and I'm proud to say I do have one of their CDs. And he's definitely NOT forgotten! (Nor is the band.)

Okay! Back on topic! Jessucka, Nick and their finances...I have often wondered the same thing. i don't watch on a regular basis but if I catch it and it's interesting enough, then I'll watch. To see her drop so much money like it were just water makes me ill. Word to whomever said they were sick when they hear people dropping big bones on stupid things, like getting personal valet, assistant, etc. I know she's a celeb but so what?? It makes her look incredibly lazy if you ask me.

What everyone else said about her financials.


Sure, she's rolling in money now - but her looks (such as they are) will not be around forever. She's cashing in on her fame, which as we all know will be fleeting, and one day she'll wake up and wonder what happened to all the money she worked so hard for.

*Cue intro to E True Hollywood Story*

Normally I would think that Jessica would run into money problems later, but it does seem like so many Hollywood people have money when you would not expect it.

For example, how do actresses that have not had any big movies for a long time (or ever had a big movie) continue to live the Hollywood lifestyle? Names that come to mind are Mira Sorvino, Hilary Swank, Jennifer Tilly, Chloe Sevigny (who I have never seen in a movie, but is in all of the entertainment magazines with her weird fashion choices). They are all lesser known celebrities that do work occasionally, but do not make much money in their films, and somehow still live the lifestyle--and do not seem to be going broke.

So, I do think Jessica should watch her spending and make sure she is putting a lot away for the future, but based on other Hollywood people that spend almost as much and make much less, she might be okay with her continued spending.

maggiegault That sucks, alot of us over in the Bands Reunited thread have been pulling for them to be one of the bands featured and reunited. I take it that will not be happening. Pity, they were awesome.

Topic? Jessica sucks. Free Nick!

Something to think about when pondering the celebrity lifestyle and the way some "stars" spend money is that they also get a lot of perks and freebies. If you're going to be on a major awards show, you can get your dress from a designer for free, and you also get a huge gift just for appearing -- usually a "bag" (more like a cart!) of free promotional items such as expensive watches, sunglasses, top-knotch spa certificates, jewelry, shoes, etc. And that's for the lower-tier awards. I think the Oscars presenters got a goodie-bag worth about $25,000.

When Nick pulled out the wad 'o 100s and paid for the dinner for about 10 people, you can bet he got a receipt and saved it for a business expense. Surely they wouldn't pay for a meal for their "staff" and then not write it off.

Something tells me that Nick is careful with his/their money and has tried to hire someone responsible to manage it. Still, even the smartest folks in showbiz have been ripped off my money managers, lawyers, and other sharks that swim around Hollywood. I really really hope that Nick never falls victim to those types.

I'm going to give Jessica's father the benefit of the doubt. I would hope that as her FATHER, he has her best interests at heart and wouldn't do anything to hurt her, financially or otherwise. I don't see any signs of him doing that, and I do find him to be a bit creepy. Any mismanagement of funds that happens with Jessica, will most likely be at her own hands, because she loves to shop so much. Though, she may have more money than any of us can imagine. She may spend a lot, but she isn't anywhere near MC Hammer status (I don't see gold plated fixtures in their house, nor are they employing 100 people). I think Jessica is a moderate spender as far as celebrities go. And we must remember that they also get lots of things for free. Now that I think about it, I think that Nick makes her spending seem extreme because he's pretty cheap.

I hope that they both have great, trustworthy accountants that are really on their case about what they're spending and investing. Nick should also be giving her good advice about securing their future (I'm in the minority that thinks that their marriage will last longer than 5 years), especially since his career isn't really going anywhere right now. And once this show ends, neither will Jessica's, at least not until she finds her niche in the music business. I'm all for her being in any and everything under the sun right now, because she really has to get in where she can, while she can. People may think she's dumb, but its working for her. Even if she isn't this great role model for women.

As for being a slob, I don't really hold that against her, though I think the maid shouldn't have to clean their bedroom. Being lazy doesn't make her a terrible person.

The only outrageous purchase I can think of was the $50,000 watch Jessica got Nick for his birthday, and I wouldn't be surprised if he insisted they return it. An occasional purchase of $1,400 sheets or $750 underwear is ok. And I think after the success of season 1, Jessica is getting freebies constantly. Like she's been carrying around the new Vuitton bag, and I'm sure that was a gift because of all the publicity she gave the Murakami.

I wouldn't count on it, look at all the child stars that were ripped off by their parents. Her parents controlled her money until she was 18, and as her manager and whatever her mother's job title is they probably still contol some of it. Betcha she leaves it up to Dad to make her investments too. Billy Joel got ripped off for $10 million by his manager who was also his former brother-in-law. HIring family is a bad, bad idea.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/gossip/sto...6p-176680c.html

If this is true, it's funny and sad at the same time.

My mom has made this same comment to me. I truly doubt the woman is acting. The basis for my opinion:

"Who can name the continents?"

"A, E, I, O, U!"

And the look on her face said she *still* didn't realize those aren't even consonants ten years later.

If she was acting, Meryl Streep should consider retirement.

ETA: I so don't feel sorry for Nick. During the first season, he looked like he could barely stand to hear her voice. They dated for long enough that he had to know what he was getting into as far as her intelligence and screwy logic. I'll grant that the spending habits and lack of cleanliness are probably surprises.

There is nothing I wouldn't put past Creepy Pa and his 14th-century view of women. Jessica's earnings are all part of a dowry for Mr. Simpson, who thinks a woman's worth is made or broken by the status of her hymen [notice the disdain he holds for the less virginal Ashlee], and I'm sure he raised his daughter to realize that accounting is a man's job. He'll make sure she always has enough money -- in his name -- for him to control her with.

I'm convinced that creepy pa's disdain for Asslee has more to do with the size of her paycheck and Q rating.

This was a few pages back, but...

re: short women/tall men pairings. I don't discriminate against short/average height guys, but most of the guys who have shown interest in me (I am 5'2") have been over 6' tall. One guy was at least double my weight and was 6'4". Physically we were kind of a goofy match (actually, we were a poor match all around--personality). It seems that I see a decent amount of short/average men with tall women. I wonder why?

Topic? Jess is a moron, but I still watch! And CaCee (I tend to read that as kaka, but whatevs) might even be worse than Jess, the jury is still out.

I disagree. Only for the fact that she was telling a story of when she did it ten years ago and how stupid it was that she said it.

My best friend graduated 7th in our high school class, she is a college graduate and she STILL asks me how to spell things and she says words wrong all the time. My friend is not dumb by any stretch of the imagination, but she is ditzy. Jessica has said some dumb things, but I don't think she's a complete idiot. Everything she said in the first season, I will say was dumb, but since then, I really do think she's playing the dumbness up a bit.


ITA with this. Sure they didn't live together, so he didn't know it all, but they were together long enough for him to know most of it. Otherwise, he wouldn't have said he wanted her to be "more of a woman" when they got married. And let me just say that if a man ever told me that, I would tell him to find someone else to marry, if he didn't think I was woman enough. If I feel any pity for Nick its for him getting the back seat to Jessica and how it makes him look on television. I don't blame Jessica though.

I'm still going to give both her parents the benefit of the doubt. Just because other people have been screwed by family, it doesn't mean that Jessica (or Ashlee) will.

Wait..what? When did he say this and what exactly did he say? Was it at their wedding, like during their vows? Or was it just an aside during a fight because I tell MrD to grow up and be a man when he does childish things, like freak out at bugs, but never in front of anyone and I dont really think he's not a man, even though his fear of bugs is really kind of girly.

I know. Wasn't it in the first season, when she said that she didn't know how to do things like pick up after herself because she's lived in hotels (performing) since she was 14. What the heck did she learn before she turned 14?

Everytime I see Nick get frustrated with her, I can't help but think that one day, he will kill her. I just feel sorry for him. I know he brought it on himself by marrying her, but I can't help it.

Man you guys were sooo right, her father is sick and obviously attracted to his own offspring.

I suppose he said it before they actually got married. According to Jessica, he told her that (she's always said "Nick said that he wanted me to be more of a woman" or some variation of it) and this is why she took cooking classes. Because somehow, knowing how to cook makes you more of a woman, I guess. She's said this at least twice on the show, and if I recall correctly, she mentioned it on Letterman (and Oprah, maybe). I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't mentioned at the wedding, especially after the whole "Jessica made a promise to God and saved herself" speech the minister gave. Talk about way too much info at a wedding.


HEE! Not that I don't freak out at bugs or anything.

From that gossip item


I wish him luck, since he got screwed by his current label. Seems they're cutting him loose without batting an eye. However he really needs to get with a vocal coach that will help him change his sound, otherwise he'll continue to sing like a boy band reject no matter what genre he tries.

In Nick's defense, I wonder if he meant in the context of being a "grown-up", and not a child. She certainly needs to mature in the sense of taking some responsibility for herself, ...and for Nick who is her husband and life-partner.
It it were not for the 24/7 cameras, I would give credence to the concept that "The Ditz" is an on-stage/screen personna. BUt no-one stays in-characeter 24/7, so I guess she's just a bubblehead.

And if he meant in more as it sounds, I still might be in Nick's corner. She's 25 or 26? She needs to stop acting like his 17-year-old girlfriend, and more like his wife of more than two years.

So the "Daily Dish" has StageMom telling reporters that Ashlee, age 19, is drinking an alcoholic beverage: "And vodka, too. don't forget the vodka."

Well, that's just great. This "Christian" family seems to have dropped all their values once they hit the big time. Doesn't their mother know it's illegal for Ashlee to drink alcohol? From various scenes on the show (Jessica's birthday party, for example) it looks like Tina considers herself "one of the girls" and is partying it up as if she were 24 herself. I feel sorry for Ashlee, who is probably going to wind up in rehab within 12 months.

And I feel sorry for Jessica because I also like her and don't really find her that annoying. She's spoiled and immature, but then her parents are such bad role models. I think she has a very sweet side that often gets buried beneath the immature selfishness. Nick probably saw that in her and loved it. I hope he can encourage that side of her and maybe one day she'll grow up.