32 Epic Moments in Reality-TV History

Like perfumes and fashion lines, reality shows are now another part of the modern celebrity package. But the idea of having cameras inside celebrities’ homes was a relatively new concept in 2003, when MTV debuted Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, a reality series about Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson. The show offered a candid look at the all-American couple as they navigated their first year of marriage and boosted Simpson’s popularity — and record sales. By now, the world knows Simpson’s no dumb blonde. But in the debut episode of the reality series, viewers had good reason to doubt. While eating a can of tuna fish, Simpson turned to now ex-husband Lachey and asked, “Is this chicken, what I have, or is this fish? I know it’s tuna, but it says ‘Chicken … by the Sea.’” A dumbfounded Lachey could only laugh.