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The Simple Life is a popular reality television series broadcast from December 2, 2003 to August 5, 2007. The first three seasons aired on Fox, and the final two on E!. The comedic show depicts two wealthy young socialites (Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie) as they struggle to do manual, low-paying jobs such as cleaning rooms, doing farm work, serving meals in fast-food restaurants and working as camp counselors.

History

The idea for ‘The Simple Life’ was generated in Fox’s comedy department. Brad Johnson, senior Vice President of comedy development, said The Simple Life was born out of a challenge from Fox Television Entertainment Group Chairman Sandy Grushow and News Corp. President and Chief Operating Officer Peter Chernin to find another way to do comedies outside of the traditional sitcom format.

“The areas that seemed simplest and cleanest was to go back to those high-concept ’60s sitcoms and say let’s do them for real,” Mr. Johnson said. The Simple Life was inspired by Green Acres, a sitcom about a New York society couple who moved to a farm. Mr. Johnson said they originally thought of moving an entire family to the South. Cameras would observe as the former socialites, deprived of access to their bank accounts and Beemers, attempt to get a job, buy groceries and fit in with average Americans.

At the same time the comedy department was developing the idea, Paris Hilton was meeting with the studio’s casting department. Sharon Klein, senior VP of casting at the studio, said she was immediately fascinated by Ms. Hilton and wanted to do a show with her. “I’m used to meeting with actors who are putting on a facade,” Ms. Klein said. “She was so real. She was funny. At that first meeting she did not come off stupid. She was in her own reality and not embarrassed to talk about it. There was a sweetness to her.”

The two departments talked and realized they had their show: Send Paris Hilton and her sister Nicky, who had never worked a day in their lives, to live and work on a farm. At the time, the studio was working closely with Mike Darnell, head of reality programming at Fox, who liked the idea. “They wanted to see stilettos in cow shit,” Ms. Klein said. Paris was convinced to come on board, however Nicky, being somewhat shy to the limelight at the time, opted out. Paris told some media that she was in talks to do the show by herself, but ultimately, Fox decided the city-living cast had to be a duo.

Paris allegedly asked several close friends on board, including Bijou Phillips and Kimberly Stewart, and ended up making the agreement with Nicole Richie. Fox hired established reality producer Bunim/Murray to produce. Bunim/Murray found the Leding family in Altus, Arkansas, for Paris and Nicole to move in with. A band known as The Penfifteen Club recorded one of the show’s themes, a tribute song called “Miss Hilton”. Production began May 2, 2003.

Seasons

Parisbff

While Hilton contends “there’s nothing that’s really hard” about being her best friend, she’s going to take the decision very seriously. “I going to be in my element in Los Angeles and really showing these women my life, which is completely different than The Simple Life.”

Contestants will live in a house with Hilton and she will teach them how to be her best friend, leading them through competitions of loyalty, endurance and “girl politics,” eliminating them one by one.

As for what she’s looking to get out of the 20 contestants, she says, “Someone that I just trust and not someone who’s going to stab me in the back — it’s happened a lot in this town. Just someone I can have fun with, someone who could be like my sister.”

Aspiring contestants apply over the phone or on the Web site www.parisbff.com.