Married... With Cameras

Lachey, in particular, wouldn't mind finding some bigger success as a vocalist, that being his chosen profession and all. (His first solo album, ''SoulO,'' has only sold 94,000 copies to date, peaking at No. 51 on the ''Billboard'' chart.) ''Jessica's smoking me in that regard,'' he says. ''But I was just a guy in a boy band before. [The show has] given me an identity, which is the foundation for whatever I want to do.''

Beyond singing, ''Newlyweds'' is taking their careers in directions that would've seemed preposterous six months ago. Simpson is vying for the lead in an ''I Dream of Jeannie'' movie in development at Sony, and she'll star in a sitcom pilot slated for ABC's fall season. She'll play herself. Sort of. ''I am Jessica Simpson, but it's not reality,'' says the singer, who has appeared on ''That '70s Show.'' ABC Entertainment president Susan Lyne clarifies: ''While there is a lot of Jessica in the character we see on 'Newlyweds,' there is also an awareness on her part that by playing a little dumb blonde, she can get a lot of mileage out of the dramatic tension.'' Translation: She'll play a sweet ditz -- likely one who's not married, which will help avoid meta-confusion if the series airs concurrently with a third season of ''Newlyweds.''

Inspired by his wife's progress, Lachey has hired an additional manager, who'll focus on landing the singer some acting jobs. No luck yet, but he's hoping to find an action hero like his idols Bruce Willis and Harrison Ford. ''But I also like to think that at some point I would have the acting chops,'' he says. ''And like Bruce Willis eventually did in 'Pulp Fiction,' I'd do smaller, more artsy kinds of films.'' And 20 years from now, Simpson would also be comfortable with lower-profile projects. ''Even just singing in a jazz club,'' she says. ''It doesn't have to be anything extravagant, I just want to be doing something I'm passionate about.''

For the moment, though, they're in a perpetual state of ''Newlywed''ed promotional bliss. They started the year headlining the halftime show at the Orange Bowl in Florida, then headed home for some quality time with each other -- and, of course, the MTV cameras. Next, they'll fly to New York City to host ''Saturday Night Live'' Jan. 17. Sometime this winter, they're hoping to squeeze in a ski trip as well -- in part because, as Simpson explains, ''I'm a really good skier and Nick isn't. That'll be a good episode.''