If you haven’t heard of The Simple Life, the reality series starring celebrity debutantes Paris Hilton and Nicole Ritchie, you must not own a TV. If you just haven’t ever watched the show, you’re one lucky person. I used to be lucky, too, but now I’ve seen the show’s fourth season on DVD.
The Simple Life features Hilton and Ritchie, spoiled rich and absolutely clueless, experiencing everyday American life. You know, like doing chores on a farm. What’s new for this season? The girls have had a falling out, which I’m sure was covered in great detail in all of the tabloids and on all of the entertainment “news” programs. So this time Paris and Nicole are alternating days, so as not to cross paths and get in a catfight.
Also new for this fourth season, subtitled ‘Til Death Do Us Part, is the girls are experiencing life as a wife in relationships across the country. Each of the 10 episodes presents the girls taking turns visiting a new family. Hilarity ensues. No, not really. There is plenty to laugh at, though, as Paris and Nicole create ridiculous situations out of normal life.
The Simple Life is trashy television. Some people eat this stuff up, and love watching these “famous for being famous” girls, either to laugh at how poorly they fit in with regular folks, or to imagine just how “hot” it would be to have Paris or Nicole visit them. I’m not one of those people. I avoided this show like the plague until I crawled out of my hole to watch this DVD, and now I’ll go back to respectable entertainment.
So the show is a complete waste of time. How’s the DVD?
Video
All 10 episodes of The Simple Life – The Complete Fourth Season are presented on one double-sided disc, in 1.33:1 full screen format. For a TV series, it looks really good. The transfer is spot on, with vibrant-yet-natural colours and sharp picture.
The menu is static, and scored.
Audio
The Dolby Digital 2.0 sound mix is solid, with all dialogue perfectly clear. There isn’t much else going on, but the soundtrack sounds just fine, too.
Subtitles are available in English and Spanish.
Special Features
There are no special features included with this disc. Too bad, because I think a commentary track by Hilton and Ritchie would be amusing.
Final Thoughts
Fans of The Simple Life will probably find more to like in this fourth season. Lucky for them, the video and audio presentation is rock solid. At the same time, they’ll be disappointed in the complete lack of bonus material.
