The Simple Life is easily one of the most iconic reality series to date! The show featured none other than Paris Hilton and childhood BFF, Nicole Richie hitting up rural Arkansas to live life like the everyday person.
The show first aired in 2003 and instantly became an overnight success! Although Paris Hilton was simply known at the time due to her last name, the show catapulted the star to lengths greater than anyone could have suspected.
After 5 seasons, the show came to an end, leaving both Paris and Nicole with a newfound platform for them to expand their brand and businesses. Although the duo made the show what it was, it turns out the network was shopping for Paris to appear alongside someone else. Who you might ask? Let's see!
'The Simple Life' Original Duo
The Simple Life remains one of the most legendary reality shows, ever! The series was the first of its kind, where cameras followed Beverly Hills royalty to rural Arkansas where they would live life as an everyday person.
The show came up during Andy Cohen's newest series, For Real: The Real Story of Reality TV, as one of the leading reality TV shows to spark the trend of celebrities bringing cameras into their private lives.
One of the first family's to give this a go was none other than the Osbourne's on their hit MTV show. After the success of their show, it was clear that viewers wanted a sneak peek into the lives of the rich and famous, and Paris Hilton was the epitome of just that.
After securing a spot on both E! and FOX, The Simple Life was officially given the green light and Paris Hilton was set to appear alongside Nicole Richie, however, that wasn't always the case!
During the first episode of The Real Story of Reality TV, it was revealed that Kim Kardashian was considered for the role at first. Producers who were behind the show claimed that their budding friendship and Kim's involvement in Pari's work-life would make a great fit.
The duo was quite close at the time and began their friendship after Kim worked as a closet organizer for Hilton. While their friendship remains an iconic moment of the 2000s, it seems as if Kim was quickly passed up for Richie after producers came across Paris and Nicole's mock casting tape.
The show creator, Jonathan Murray revealed that the chemistry was unparalleled and would make TV gold, and alas, it did! The show went on for a whopping 5 seasons and came to an end following the friendship fallout of both Paris and Nicole.
It goes without saying that the show was as iconic as it was because of Hilton and Richie, however, it's totally worth wondering just how different it could have been had Kim Kardashian been Paris' partner in crime instead.
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