Young paris hilton and nicole richie

Television program

For other uses, see Simple Life (disambiguation).

The Simple Life is an American reality television series starring Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. It depicts the two wealthy socialites, as they struggle to do menial, low-paying jobs such as cleaning rooms, farm work, serving meals in fast-food restaurants, and working as camp counselors. The series premiered on December 2, 2003, on Fox, and concluded on August 5, 2007, on E!. A falling-out between Hilton and Richie in 2005 led the series to be cancelled by Fox following its third season. It was eventually picked up by E!, which aired its fourth and fifth seasons. The Simple Life helped catapult Hilton and Richie into international stardom, and maintained a consistently high viewership throughout its run on both networks. It also spawned a number of international remakes.

Series overview

Main article: List of The Simple Life episodes

In the first season, Paris and Nicole agreed to leave behind their cellphones, credit cards and celebrity status to move in with the Leding family in Altus, Arkansas for a month. The second season follows the two socialites traveling across the United States in a pink pickup truck (driven by Paris), pulling an airstream trailer, and participating in such activities as catching craw fish, working as maids in a nudist resort, and sausage-making. In the third season, Paris and Nicole take various internships with companies along the East Coast of the United States. For the fourth season, both women alternated in the "wife" role to a different family every episode, in a similar manner to Wife Swap. The fifth and final season follows Hilton and Richie working as counselors at Camp Shawnee.

Production and broadcast

Development

The idea for The Simple Life was generated in Fox's comedy department. Brad Johnson, S

Was that his first word?

Hilton: His first word was “yas.” And then “mama.”

I’m curious about your thoughts on the Y2K-style resurgence? You both were key architects of that aesthetic in real time.

Richie: It’s very funny and sweet. I don’t necessarily connect with all the Y2K interpretations, which I’m sure is how people in the ’70s thought when we decided that we loved the ’70s. But yes, as far as the Juicy sweatsuits and the trucker hats and everything, yes, it’s very sweet.

Do you still have stuff from that era?

Hilton: I do. My 21st-birthday dress, which is iconic. I have the Von Dutch hat that I was wearing in Arkansas. The Dior monogram pieces, Louis Vuitton, all of that. It was so out there and so extra. It was the most fun time in fashion.

You both have families, businesses, and now this show. Are there enough hours in a day?

Hilton: I always put my babies first, so I am saying no to things all the time. But I also do have a lot of responsibilities with all of my brands and all the different projects I’m doing on a daily basis. So there’s definitely not enough time in the day to get everything done, but I don’t stop and I multitask. So it’s just trying to stack as much as possible into a day as I can. And I don’t really have weekends off. I try to do as much from home as possible. So I built my recording studio there, which is right next to the baby nursery. And my podcast studio is there as well. I try to do as many of the photo shoots from my house as possible. And just saying no to so many different offers because my family means the most to me.

I want to ask about mental health and overall self-care. Paris, when you were in the Glamour office earlier this fall, some of us saw you hooked up to an IV in the hall that was dispensing blue liquid—and we have questions.

Hilton: I’m obsessed with biohacking and wellness. I have this longevity doctor, and he comes once a month and I do methylene blue mixed with NAD, and it’s in

Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton have been through it all together from meeting as kids to becoming reality TV stars.

The former socialites are best known for their 2000s show The Simple Life. The series followed Hilton and Richie as they moved from Hollywood to rural America in order to experience the “real world," leading to humorous — and cringe-worthy — results.

But, their friendship extends far before the hit show and far beyond it. Hilton and Richie first met when they were kids, and spent time together as they grew up with their well-known parents — Richie is the daughter of musician Lionel Richie and his first wife Brenda Harvey, and Hilton is the daughter of Kathy Hilton and Rick Hilton.

Paris Hilton's 2 Children: All About Phoenix and London

The pair's long-lasting relationship hit a snag in 2005, in the middle of The Simple Life’s run, when Hilton and Richie had a public fallout.

Eventually, the two made up and found a way forward that involved a return to their reality show, support for each other during major life milestones and an understanding that even if they aren’t in constant contact, there’s still love between them. Now, the pair share parenting advice and a new reality series on Peacock.

The first trailer for Paris & Nicole: The Encore debuted in December 2024, with the three-part special set to premiere on Dec. 12.

From their childhood friendship to becoming mothers to their own kids, here’s everything to know about Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie’s friendship.

1980s: Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie meet

Hilton and Richie have known each other since they were kids. Not only are their parents friends, but they went on to attend the Buckley School together in Los Angeles. (Other famous alumni include Kim Kardashian and Rashida Jones.) 

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