The Ashlee Simpson Show, Season 2, Episode 3: Surprise!

Previously on Ashlee: Ashlee ran into problems with her voice, resulting in the now-infamous Saturday Night Live fiasco. Now she has to work harder to prove herself.

I now constantly have “Autobiography” stuck in my head thanks to this show. Wonderful. I’ve heard it a million times just watching this show.

Speaking of ubiquitous songs, the opening bars of Keane’s semi-popular “Somewhere Only We Know” play us into Ashlee’s house, where her friends have arrived to bring her an ice cream cake. It’s Ashlee’s 20th birthday, and she’s celebrating with mint chocolate chip ice cream. Smart girl. She and her friends eat out of the box with plastic forks. Oh, the perks of being a young pop star. Ashlee says that 20 is a weird age - there are no privileges that come with it, and she’s still young, but now she has responsibilities.

Ashlee and her friends try on dresses and mess with their hair. They’re getting ready to go out somewhere for Ashlee’s birthday, but they haven’t told her where. One of her friends jokes that they’re going to the rodeo.

It looks like Ashlee’s friends have rented a stretch Hummer for the evening. The Hummer takes them to the surprise birthday location - Medieval Times. Ashlee’s never been there, and she looks like she can’t decide whether she’s excited or apprehensive. If someone took me to Medieval Times, I would have that same look on my face. Ashlee’s mom Tina meets up with the girls. Ashlee’s band members are also there, wearing crowns and looking like they wish they were anywhere else. They’re good sports. They give Ashlee gifts from Hustler, which embarrasses Tina. Ashlee’s father Joe - he of the weird Jessica/abstinence agreement and overbearing ways - isn’t thrilled about the gifts. Can you blame him, though? He’s an ordained minister, and he’s watching his 20-year-old daughter open gifts most women get at bachelorette parties. Ashlee receives, I believe a blow-up doll and Joe jokes that her band is fired. At least, I think he’s joking. Check your contracts, guys. Ashlee is happy that she got some “adult gifts” and thanks her band for not treating her like she’s ten.

The group watches the joust and Ashlee says she’s enjoying herself now. She thinks that “the kid in all of us” had fun. After the show, she says that it was the perfect birthday night.

The Shins, I believe, play us back to Ashlee’s house, where she’s decided to get a haircut. She’s nervous because she’s getting a lot of hair chopped off, and it’s different. The woman cutting her hair keeps saying that “change is good.” Ashlee wonders if she’s going too short. The stylist tells her to trust her. Ashlee says that her mom will freak out.

Tina arrives and Ashlee tells her not to come into the bathroom. She also doesn’t want her to let the dog, Maggie, in, but Mom and dog both enter. Tina reacts with a, “Wow.” She says that this will change Ashlee’s image and her record label and her father might not be happy because her promotional images are already done. She allows that it’s “fine” and says that Ashlee knew she wouldn’t want her to cut her hair, so she shouldn’t expect her to like it. Tina wonders if Ashlee will have to reshoot all of her stuff now. Ashlee tells her it’s her own decision and cutting her hair was about finding herself.

Tina gets a little more used to the haircut and tells Ashlee that it fits her. Ashlee agrees and is happy with the change. She thinks her mom really does like the haircut, and points out that it’s just hair. Tina tells her she’s beautiful no matter what. Did people make this big of a fuss when Ashlee dyed her hair? That’s an even bigger change. This’ll grow back, and it’s not even that dramatic of a change. It’s not like she shaved her head.

Ashlee and three of her friends head out while Ashlee says that “La La” is her third single and she wants to get in shape for the video. She and her friends go to do Pilates, which looks a lot harder than I ever thought it was. They’re definitely struggling with the moves. Ashlee says that it was painful, but they had a positive experience, and it’s something she wants to try again sometime. After the session, the four girls get drive-thru Popeye’s chicken and eat in the car by the side of the road.

Ashlee and some woman (I think she works for Ashlee’s label) watch video director Joseph Kahn’s reel. He directed Britney Spears’ “Toxic” video - you know, the one where she looks like a flight attendant from the 30th century. Ashlee likes Joseph’s work and decides that she wants him to direct the “La La” video. She and the woman (I don’t know her name, but she has curly hair, so I’m calling her Curly) look through ideas for the video, which seem to involve teenage hijinks. Ashlee says that she doesn’t want to look like she’s in school, since she’s 20 now. She wants to make more of her own decisions.

The morning of the shoot, Ashlee goes to the set and tells us that two of her friends, Lauren and Stephanie, will appear in the video with her. This makes sense, since it’s about her hanging out with her friends - why not be realistic? She’s excited and says that spending time with them will be fun.

Ashlee gets into another hair discussion with Tina, who isn’t sure how she should wear the new style. Ashlee says that it’s her look and who she is now. She cares about the artistic stuff, not her image.

Later, though, Ashlee asks Tina if she should have put in extensions. Tina says that she’s said her piece already. Ashlee calls Tina’s viewpoint “valid,” but thinks she’s overreacting. Hair is an expression of oneself. Tina says that Ashlee can make her own decisions. Ashlee tells the stylist who cut her hair that she loves it.

The video shoot starts - it’s a bunch of scenes of Ashlee and her friends getting into trouble. She says that “La La” is about going crazy and letting loose. Her friends say that they’re having a great time. Of course - they’re getting paid to be on MTV and hang out with their friend.

In the car on the way to another location, Ashlee worries that she’ll look too young in the video. Outside what looks like a convenience store, Ashlee tells Curly what she doesn’t want in the video. She doesn’t want it to be a Britney Spears video. I think she means she doesn’t want it to be “Baby, One More Time.” No one wants that. Interesting that she’s trying to distance herself from Britney when she’s working with the director who did “Toxic.”

After the store scenes, the shoot heads to a set of someone’s house. Ashlee’s basically going to roll around on a couch and look sexy. During one of the shots, she licks the couch. That’s… weird. She says she wanted a reaction out of people. Is confusion and little revulsion the reaction she wanted? Once the shot is done, someone says that she aroused someone else. Curly is asked for her opinion and she says that the couch’s owners will never look at it the same. Or, possibly, sit on it. Ashlee jokes that her father will be proud. She says that they wound up taking the shot out.

The shoot ends with a pool party shot. Ashlee says it was her favorite part, since everyone was having fun and she thinks it came across. This adds a “realness” to the video.

Sometime later, Ashlee heads to the beach, explaining that she’s doing a photo shoot for Entertainment Weekly. They’ve chosen her as one of their breakout stars of the year. The stylist says something about comparing Ashlee to Billy Idol, but that doesn’t seem to pan out, so I don’t know what that was about. Ashlee doesn’t want to look like she’s trying too hard. She says that she feels positive about this shoot, especially after the SNL mess. She respects Entertainment Weekly.

Ashlee flexes some more independent muscles by making some decisions about her makeup for the shoot. She wants the photo to represent her. Fortunately, the photographer appears to be open to her suggestions. They do the shoot on the beach next to what look like gymnasts’ rings. I don’t know why. Ashlee is wearing this weird, gauzy green dress. She’s happy with the shoot. She says that she’s becoming stronger and making more decisions on her own. The Entertainment Weekly shoot was an honor and, she hopes, a sign of things to come.

Next week: Ashlee is in a parade in Detroit. She decides to add some band members and holds auditions. She does some radio interviews, and everyone asks about the SNL mess. And if all that isn’t enough, Ashlee performs “La La” on TRL.

Jenn Brasler is an aspiring writer from Falls Church, VA. You can e-mail her at luckyjenn@hotmail.com . She’s trying to decide whether to use her powers for good… or evil.

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