Plot: What’s it about?
Those lovable rich bitches Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie are back for one last adventure, in this fourth season of The Simple Life. The two have worked on a farm, traveled across the country to live with different families, and served as interns in unusual jobs. But for this fourth and final season, Paris and Nicole go head to head, to see who would make the better housewife. Even as their own personal feud prevents the duo from being together all the time, the former friends compete to be the best little wife they can be. That means changing diapers, bathing babies, washing dishes, doing the laundry, and of course, keeping the house nice and neat. Of course, the show’s wholesome nature precludes the two from demonstrating their bedroom skills, but the girls manage to find ways to let loose. As usual, Nicole seems to have more memorable moments, but Paris has her fair share of classic scenes. The new family each episode keeps the premise fresh, as new hijinks occur all the time, as the girls sneak out and get into trouble. But once the season is over and all the episodes are looked at, who will be the better housewife, or should I say, the lesser of two evils?
The first season of The Simple Life was awesome, an insane concept that yielded vapid, but hilarious moments. The second season was also quite good, though the third season seemed more staged and scripted, so less fun. As the fourth season loomed, stars Nicole Ritchie and Paris Hilton were deeper than ever in their skank rivalry, to the point that Hilton insisted Ritchie be replaced. But the producers refused and instead, put the two spoiled bitches at odds, competing against each other. While that sounds like a decent compromise, a lot of the spark is gone this season. The two play off each other so well, even when they clash, that this separation concept just detracts from the entertainment. As cool as it is to watch Paris and Nicole change diapers and do housework, it isn’t the same without them together throughout. And as was the case with the third season, things don’t seem natural and spontaneous, which furthers lessens the fun. I wanted to like this season, as I loved the first two seasons, but The Simple Life 4 is a lackluster end to the series. While it still has its moments, the new formula just isn’t as good as the original. Even so, fans of the previous seasons will still want to give this a rental, but a purchase isn’t justified.
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 and Spanish.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes no bonus materials.
