Plot: What’s it about?
Paris and Nicole have done it all, lived the lives of the elite and let the cameras watch as they endured “real world” trials & tribulations in The Simple Life. The two began as best friends, but as time passed, the two grew apart and at long last, the show has come to an end. In this fifth season, Paris and Nicole are put into an environment where their love of making fun of people and being cruel can blossom like never before, a summer camp. The rich bitches can insult the fat campers, flirt with the counselors, and prove that roughing it doesn’t have to be so rough. I mean, you haven’t seen a beauty pageant until you’ve seen the one the girls put on for this season. But the camps aren’t just for kids, as Paris and Nicole face all sorts of challenges and normal folks, all in search of The Simple Life.
The epic journey of Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie has come to a conclusion, as The Simple Life’s fifth season will prove to be the last. I was certain the fourth would be the end, given the raucous rivalry the two had drummed up, but they soldiered on and so now we have this fifth and final season. I love The Simple Life, I know the later seasons have been mediocre at best, but I still think its solid entertainment. No season has captured the magic of the first and that trend isn’t broken, as this fifth season is fun, but not as hilarious as I had hoped. As expected, the season seems even more staged than the previous ones, but there are still some good moments to be had. Paris and Nicole’s kiss is a highlight, as is their musical, and of course, an unexpected guest appearance by Susan Powter. The Simple Life is meaner than any previous season, but also seems more produced, though in any case, its worth a look for fans of the series.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame, as intended. The show looks terrific, as it should, since it is brand new and made a quick jump to home video. The image is clean and sharp from start to finish, even better than when originally broadcast. The episodes look great and offer minimal reasons for concern. The bright, bold colors come across well, so all those hot pinks and other exotic hues shimmer as intended, while flesh tones remain natural throughout. No issues with contrast or softness either, so the series looks quite impressive.
Audio: How does it sound?
This is a “reality” show, so the audio has no real duties outside of the show’s main element, dialogue. So the musical soundtrack sounds good and the basic sound effects come through, but the sole spotlight here shines down on the vocals. From Hilton’s raspy observations to Nicole’s outlandish remarks, all the vocal work is in excellent form here. The whispers even sound clear as a bell in this release, so you won’t miss a single dumb remark. This disc also includes subtitles in English, French, and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes no bonus materials.
