On this date in TV Kiese History….
Aug. 19, 2003: Pop singer Jessica Simpson was very confused eating canned Chicken of the Sea tuna.
On the premiere of MTV's “Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica,” a reality show starring Nick Lachey and Simpson, she provided this iconic pop culture moment:
“Is this chicken, what I have, or is it fish? I know its tuna, but it says ‘Chicken by the Sea.’ ”
Nick stared at her in disbelief.
JESSICA: “Don’t make fun of me right now. I’m not in the mood.”
NICK: “You act like you’ve never had tuna before.”
JESSICA: “I’ve had tuna fish like sandwiches and stuff…
NICK: “You and I have eaten tuna like this before.”
JESSICA: “Why is it called ‘Chicken by the Sea,’ or ‘In the Sea?’ ”
NICK: “Chicken of the Sea is the brand. You know, because a lot of people eat tuna. It’s like they like to eat chicken, so it’s like chicken of the sea.
JESSICA: “I understand now. I read it wrong.”
Simpson and Lachey, a School for Creative & Performing Arts graduate, married in October 2002. Ten months later they were starring in the MTV reality show. They filmed 41 episodes in three seasons. The last one aired March 30, 2005. They split later that year, and divorced in 2006.
Lachey has a new reality show, “Lachey’s Bar,” about opening an Over-the-Rhine sports bar and restaurant. It airs 10:30 p.m. Wednesday on A&E.
