Reality

Nick Lachey Recalls Interesting Reaction to Canceled ‘Newlyweds’ Series With Jessica Simpson

The singer says the show’s ending was a bittersweet moment.

Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey Host Sony Ericsson T610/T616 Shoot for the Stars Charity Auction for the Make-A-Wish-Foundation

Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson were reality television gold for three seasons on their MTV series, Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica. Between her sophomoric antics and his frustrations with his younger and less-than-experienced wife, the show provided a much needed escape from reality.

But all good things must come to an end. And when their marriage was unraveling, the show ended.

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Simpson has said the show was a misrepresentation of her, seemingly a caricature that producers pushed for. Lachey says there were real moments on the show but a lot was edited and caused tension in their union, thanks to ongoing public consumption and criticism.

While they may have been happy to not have their lives documented 24/7, Lachey admits the showโ€™s ending was bittersweet. While speaking on the Richer Live podcast recently, he spoke of the bonding experience he had with the showโ€™s staff.

โ€œI actually came to really love the crew,โ€ Lachey said. โ€œI remember crying the day we shut down because you develop relationships with them. They really became family.โ€

Lachey filmed the show from 2003 to 2005. Initially, he was instructed to not fraternize with the crew but found it difficult to do so. 

โ€œI remember at first they were like, โ€˜Donโ€™t talk to the crew. Theyโ€™re a fly on the wall!โ€ he recalled. โ€œAnd I was like, โ€˜Guys, if this is ever going to work, thatโ€™s just not how Iโ€™m wired. Youโ€™re not going to be in my house and watch my every move, and weโ€™re not going to talk to each other. We got to get past that right now.’โ€

The success of the show was a shocker for the boy band member. โ€œMy ex-wife had an album coming out, I had an album coming out,โ€ he said. โ€œWe had no idea it was going to take on this other life of being this reality fly-on-the-wall type of show.โ€ He and Simpson split in 2006. Heโ€™s since married and had children with actress and host, Vanessa Lachey. Simpson went on to marry and have children with Eric Johnson, whom she is now divorcing.