Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie are reuniting for a three-part Peacock special, Paris & Nicole: The Encore, premiering December 12th. Two decades after their reality TV debut, The Simple Life, the duo will return to the small screen, this time attempting to produce an operatic performance based on their catchphrase, “Sanasa.”
The special promises a healthy dose of nostalgia for fans who fondly remember the pair’s early-2000s antics. The Simple Life was a pop culture phenomenon, catapulting Hilton and Richie to fame and establishing a template for the modern reality TV landscape. While the intervening years have seen both stars evolve, Paris & Nicole: The Encore seems poised to tap into the same chaotic energy that made them household names.
The choice of an operatic performance as the central conceit is… interesting. It suggests a self-aware playfulness that could work surprisingly well. Whether their attempt at high culture will result in beautiful music or beautiful disaster is another matter. However, the inherent absurdity of the premise, combined with Hilton and Richie’s undeniable chemistry, should at least provide ample entertainment.
The special is being produced by Fulwell 73 Productions, the company behind recent documentaries on the Bee Gees and Bros, suggesting a potential for a more polished and less overtly silly product than The Simple Life. However, with Hilton and Richie also serving as executive producers, it’s unlikely the special will stray too far from their established brand of lighthearted chaos.
Paris & Nicole: The Encore premieres December 12th on Peacock. Executive producers include Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, Ben Winston, Sarah Dilistone, JJ Duncan, Emma Conway, Bruce Gersh, Bruce Robertson, Michael Baum, and Carrie Franklin. Co-executive producers are David Downey and Ashley Baumann-Sylvester.
