The Simple Life: The Complete Series

Wealthy celebutante best buddies Paris Hilton (yes, of the $360 million Hilton hotel dynasty) and Nicole Richie (yes, adopted daughter of Grammy-winning artist Lionel) raise a ruckus in Altus, Arkansas (pop. 817), a town whose peace is shattered when the rowdy duo goes “from fur collar to blue collar,” staying with the Leding family in this seven-episode set from Real World producers Jonathan Murray and the late Mary-Ellis Bunim. Chronicling the girls' month-long visit, the series follows the pair from an L.A. shopping spree, ritzy shindig party, and Louis Vuitton luggage, to a battered pickup, chores, rules, and numerous hirings followed by firings (a dairy farm, Sonic fast food), since the flighty duo don't take work seriously. Between homemaking disasters (the girls think its fine to leave fresh-baked contest pie on the ground--and so does the dog that eats it!), insulting the town's public officials (the mayor has to collect the girls from the local bar in order to fulfill their co-chairperson duties), and attacking their temporary “brother's” ex-girlfriend (the callous twosome concoct graphic stories of the fun they've been having with the guy), the wealthy stars manage to flirt with a three-year-old (one paints his name across her chest, the other calls him “hot”), embarrass the stuffing out of their hosts with their outrageous outfits (Hilton's fashion show antics often humiliate the Ledings), and light up a kissing booth--and that's just one episode! So ludicrous you just have to laugh (“What are wells for?” “What is Wal-Mart?”), this hysterically hyped-up series (especially due to Hilton's sex tape scandal and Richie's heroin possession arrest) boasts no socially redeeming qualities whatsoever, but it is intermittently entertainingly. DVD extras include bonus footage and outtakes. Optional. (J. Williams)