Honey, people are watching us

First it was Nick and Jessica, then it was Carmen and Dave, and now, for the third time in less than a year, more bad news comes down from a publicist on high: Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler -- the heavily tattooed former drummer of Blink-182 and his former Miss USA wife -- are calling it quits.

That means three celebrity couples who have pimped their relationship on MTV reality shows have ended up in divorce. Coincidence or curse? Is there something about exploiting your relationship on MTV specifically that leads to a breakup or are the odds bad no matter which network you go to?

Here’s a look at some of the couples who’ve sold their marriages to the little screen and how they’ve fared so far.

Jessica Simpson

and Nick Lachey

“Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica”

Marriage lasted three years

These two win the award for how to make the most of a reality TV show. Or maybe that distinction should go to Jessica’s brilliant yet wily father-manager Joe Simpson -- who signed Jess up and was a constant on the show. When Jess and Nick got married in October 2002, she was just another post-Britney potential pop star, while the former member of 98 Degrees was in the post-boy-band doldrums. Now Jess is a full-on superstar and Nick gets put on the front page of the tabloids whenever he goes on a date, even if his solo career hasn’t exactly taken off. All it cost them was their relationship. They separated in November 2005, after three seasons of the show.

Dave Navarro

and Carmen Electra

“ ‘Til Death Do Us Part:

Carmen and Dave”

Two and half years

Dave Navarro, the former guitarist of Jane’s Addiction, and general hottie Carmen Electra seemed so cuddly in the MTV special that followed them in the days before their wedding -- writing their own vows and selecting their wedding song, Sade’s “By Your Side.” The couple married in November ’03 and the show aired at the beginning of ’04. It seemed like a happy ending, but in July they announced an “amicable separation.” So much for happily ever after.

Travis Barker

and Shanna Moakler

“Meet the Barkers”

Just shy of two years

By the time “Meet the Barkers” aired on MTV in April last year, exhibitionist celebrity couples had become so de rigueur as to almost feel passe. The show followed musician Barker and his less successful wife Moakler, who seemed to waiting around a lot, bored and needy, while he played shows with his band (which is now on permanent hiatus). So are we surprised his publicist confirmed that Barker has requested a divorce after less than two years of marriage? Not quite.

Bobby Brown

and Whitney Houston

“Being Bobby Brown”

14 years and still going

It’s nothing short of a miracle that they’ve stayed together for so long, since Bobby Brown, a former member of the boy band “New Edition,” and his longtime wife Whitney Houston seem to live in their own world of insanity. But something is working. Even an ill-advised reality show, “Being Bobby Brown,” couldn’t mess up the relationship between these two. But maybe it’s good the show only lasted one season.

Sharon and

Ozzy Osbourne

“The Osbournes”

22 years and counting

It seems Sharon and Ozzy got exactly what they wanted (and needed) out of their reality show. The world was reminded that Ozzy still walks the earth, and Sharon (the brains of the family) made sure her brood would be financially set for life. The kids did not make out quite as well. The blinding media spotlight that came with the success of the show probably contributed to Jack’s battle with drugs, as well as Kelly’s underage partying. But the parents’ love lingers on.

Britney Spears

and Kevin Federline

“Britney and Kevin: Chaotic”

So far, 1 year, 11 months

In the world of celebreality, it’s a fine line between the worst idea ever and pure unmitigated genius. And so we put it to you, reader: Was giving Britney and K-Fed a camcorder and carte blanche to film whatever they wanted in the months before and right after their wedding super smart or outrageously dumb? Whether it was good TV or a waste of time, so far it has had little effect on the couple’s relationship. Despite the swirling rumors to the contrary, the couple says they are doing just fine.