Joe Simpson Has a Killer Sense of Humor
After watching Jessica Simpson "duh" her way to superstardom, I was beginning to think that she was a rare genius of Machiavellian mastery. Not only did she make people care about her entirely boring songs, but she also managed to revive the career of a fading 98 Degrees pretty boy - no insubstantial task.
Lately I've been interested (somewhat posthumously) in Ashlee Simpson's SNL debacle last fall. I watched the video and read the story, and thought, "This is too good to be true." And then it occurred to me: it isn't true! Lightning does not strike in the same place twice like that. Ashlee Simpson pretty much did the one thing that she could have done to take her out of her sister's shadow.
What is the common denominator between Ashlee and Jessica's success? Besides vapidity (which, by the way, was executed with commendable originality each time), it's Joe, their father and manager. I cannot believe that everyone in the country except the Simpson family has this deep understanding of the American public's love for travesty. Surely the manager, if anyone, has his finger on that pulse; what sets Joe apart was that he had enough of a sense of humor to capitalize on it.
At every step, Ashlee did the very the thing that would take matters to their worst possible pitch. First, she gave that Lucky interview denouncinng lip-synchers and swearing that she would never do that - a highly fortunate coincidence, in light of things. Then, when the vocal track was exposed on SNL, she did a "hoe down" and walked off stage, instead of ignoring the glitch and finishing the song she was supposed to do. Then, at the end of the show, when she didn't have to say anything at all, she pipes up and blames the band - an excuse that is both tacky and nonsensical. Her band doesn't play vocals, she does. Finally, in the aftermath, she pokes fun at herself in ways that are entirely unfunny.
Damage control in the bizarro world!
I guess it's sad that Joe is willing to make a joke out of his family for fame and fortune, but this, I think, does not cancel out his rapier wit. He must be laughing his way to the bank, even as we speak. As for Ashlee, she is now bigger than ever, and all on her own terms.
Lately I've been interested (somewhat posthumously) in Ashlee Simpson's SNL debacle last fall. I watched the video and read the story, and thought, "This is too good to be true." And then it occurred to me: it isn't true! Lightning does not strike in the same place twice like that. Ashlee Simpson pretty much did the one thing that she could have done to take her out of her sister's shadow.
What is the common denominator between Ashlee and Jessica's success? Besides vapidity (which, by the way, was executed with commendable originality each time), it's Joe, their father and manager. I cannot believe that everyone in the country except the Simpson family has this deep understanding of the American public's love for travesty. Surely the manager, if anyone, has his finger on that pulse; what sets Joe apart was that he had enough of a sense of humor to capitalize on it.
At every step, Ashlee did the very the thing that would take matters to their worst possible pitch. First, she gave that Lucky interview denouncinng lip-synchers and swearing that she would never do that - a highly fortunate coincidence, in light of things. Then, when the vocal track was exposed on SNL, she did a "hoe down" and walked off stage, instead of ignoring the glitch and finishing the song she was supposed to do. Then, at the end of the show, when she didn't have to say anything at all, she pipes up and blames the band - an excuse that is both tacky and nonsensical. Her band doesn't play vocals, she does. Finally, in the aftermath, she pokes fun at herself in ways that are entirely unfunny.
Damage control in the bizarro world!
I guess it's sad that Joe is willing to make a joke out of his family for fame and fortune, but this, I think, does not cancel out his rapier wit. He must be laughing his way to the bank, even as we speak. As for Ashlee, she is now bigger than ever, and all on her own terms.
posted by Rex at 11:18 AM
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