Amidst all the tabloid coverage of her divorce from Nick Lachey and her relationship to her svengali father, it's easy to forget that Jessica Simpson is, first and foremost, an artist: a mediocre, trend-trailing, completely forgettable recording artist. Her new album comes out at the end of August, but visitors to her website are treated to her new single—a catchy, 80s throwback that advocates treating life like one extended vacation, titled "Holiday." Except that she calls it "A Public Affair." (Here they are side by side: We defy you to tell the difference.)

Fauxteur Brett Ratner has helmed the video over the weekend, a veritable who cares of celebrity cameos. (And it's as fittingly derivative as the song: Like Madonna's "Sorry" video, it's also set in a roller rink and features much feathered hair.)

The single was co-written by Simpson and Johnta Austin; the accompanying video was shot over the weekend by director Brett Ratner ("X-Men: The Last Stand") and includes appearances by Eva Longoria, Christina Applegate, Ryan Seacrest, Christina Milian, Andy Dick and Maria Menounos. It will premiere July 19 on MTV's "TRL."

Filling a music video with oversaturated famous people is hardly the logistical nightmare it might seem, especially for someone whose network extends as far as Ratner's. The director needed only send out a text message to his Blackberry's entire "C-list and below" contacts file (subject heading, "Click Here To See If You Won A Walk-On Role In Jessica Simpson's New Video!!!"), then merely wait to see which spotlight-addicts ping back first to take the bait.

• Jessica Simpson owns up to 'Public Affair' [Billboard/MSNBC]
• MADONNA VS. JESSICA [1MoreHit]

Contact information for this author is not available.