98 Degrees of Melodrama: A Tale of Two Lacheys

March 3, 2006 — -- It was the best of times, it was the worst of times -- at least for the Lachey Brothers this week.

It was the age of wisdom, the epoch of belief, and the spring of hope for 29-year-old Drew, who out-hoofed an NFL legend and a pro wrestler to win "Dancing With the Stars." More TV viewers actually watched him hoist the disco-inspired mirror ball trophy over his head Sunday than closing ceremonies at the Winter Olympics. His star is clearly on the rise.

And it was the worst of times, an age of foolishness, an epoch of incredulity and the winter of despair for 32-year-old Nick, who was left explaining the end of his TV marriage to Jessica Simpson to celebrity magazines, and why he may be asking her for support, even though he's still worth several million dollars.

"Don't feel sorry for me," the elder Lachey tells Teen People, as part of his campaign to pump up his flagging career. "I have a great life."

The Lachey brothers now cross on that ladder of success, and Nick is clearly the one being kind on the way down, watching as his brother waltzed his way into history, along with more than 27 million others who tuned in for the broadcast.

The brothers are joined, not just as members of 98 Degrees but by matching armband tattoos that bear the letter "L."

But as one Lachey boy basks in success, the troubles of the other only seem more apparent. Nick was once the big success of the family. When he and Simpson turned their marriage into MTV's "Newlyweds," he was more successful than his brother or his new wife.

Simpson was somehow able to leverage her reality show stardom into success as a recording star and it-girl celebrity. Perhaps it was her famous ditzy blonde routine, somehow playing her inability to distinguish a can of Chicken of the Sea from poultry into an endearing quality.

Since he filed for divorce in December, there have been many shots fired in public, with rumors of romance on both sides making headlines. But in recent weeks, Nick has begun to look desperate, seeking his share of the $35 million his 25-year-old wife has racked up, including earnings from her big screen debut last year as Daisy Duke in "The Dukes of Hazzard."