There has never been more reason to say, "That's hot." For the first time in nearly two decades, Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie are set to star in a reality show. The two 2000s fashion icons and legendary socialites will return to the screen, 17 years after their hit The Simple Life went off the air in 2007 following its five-season run.
Fans began speculating that Hilton and Richie were up to something in early May when they posted throwback photos of themselves on Instagram with their longtime nicknames in the caption, writing, "From Day 1: Sill and Bill." Weeks later, they officially confirmed a new project was in the works when they posted a teaser featuring a static screen on an old TV set. "New Era. Same Besties," they wrote in the caption, teasing that their new show is "coming soon to Peacock."
Fans of Hilton, Richie, and The Simple Life should surely be excited—but it's since been reported that their new Peacock show isn't a reboot of their classic '00s reality series. Rather, it's a three-part special, Paris & Nicole: The Encore. With the duo's return to the screen due out soon, we're breaking down everything there is to know about their new project.
When is Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie's new show 'Paris & Nicole: The Encore' coming out?
Paris & Nicole: The Encore will be released on Peacock on Thursday, December 12. The pair and streamer announced the release date by sharing a hilarious teaser on October 30.
In the clip, the besties sit in the audience of a theater, watching an opera singer belt some serious vocal chops, as if it's an audition. After she finishes performing, they ask if she could try again but instead sing "Sanasa" in opera style—a reference to an inside joke of theirs that was frequently mentioned on The Simple Life.
What will Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie's new show 'Paris & Nicole: The Encore' be about?
Paris & Nicole: The Encore has been teased as a "New Era" for the BFFs, and it sounds like it'll be somewhat of a continuation of their classic '00s show, while also entirely different.
Peacock shared an official synopsis for the three-parter ahead of its release, giving fans more insight into what's set to unfold. It reads: "More than 20 years since OG reality icons Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie first took the world by storm, the life-long friends reunite in a new special. Follow the dynamic duo as they try to produce a once-in-a-lifetime operatic performance based on their self-coined phrase, 'Sanasa.'"
Based on that description, fans can expect the show to follow a similar form to The Simple Life, as the duo will be put in an unfamiliar, funny situation. As reality show devotees and '00s pop culture fans will remember, their original show, which debuted on FOX in 2003 before changing networks to E!, saw them participating in manual labor outside their comfort zones.
Both socialites/entrepreneurs have since starred in their own reality shows post-The Simple Life. Richie appeared in the short-lived Candidly Nicole, from 2014 to 2015, which admittedly had more of a comedic, scripted bent. Hilton, meanwhile, has hosted everything from a competition series (Paris Hilton's My New BFF) to a cooking shows (Cooking with Paris) to more candid shows about her life (Paris in Love).
Given their TV history, it's only right that The Encore finds them in an entirely different scenario, trying something new together.
Beyond that, it sounds like the show will really lean into the aughties icons' lore since it's centered around their "Sanasa" joke. The phrase dates back to the besties' childhood and was frequently referenced on The Simple Life, including moments of them singing their made-up song, so the sequel series is clearly for them and their longtime fans.
Is there a trailer for 'Paris & Nicole: The Encore?'
Yes! After months of anticipation, Peacock dropped a trailer on December 4, just a week before the show's premiere. It warms our nostalgic hearts as it begins with Paris saying, "I missed you, Bill," while Nicole responds, "Missed you, Sill," referring to their nicknames.
The clip also gives a more thorough look into what's to come from The Encore. Featuring a voiceover from theater icon/The Traitors host Alan Cumming, he notes how "they're still the same girls willing to try anything" and describes their efforts to turn "Sanasa" into a full-blown opera. Based on the trailer, the pair will attempt to get music written, audition a cast of opera stars, and produce an actual stage show inspired by the song/phrase/bit.
Still, as Cumming describes, "In order to rewrite their magnum opus, they must revisit their past." Meaning, they'll also take a trip down memory lane and go back to places featured on The Simple Life, like small-town Arkansas, as the trailer teases. We can't wait to see what they get up to.
How can you watch Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie's new show?
Hilton and Richie's new reality show will stream on NBC's streaming platform, Peacock, so you'll need a subscription to tune in. The streamer has a handful of special offers, but its most common Premium plan is available for $5.99/month and their ad-free Premium Plus option is available for $11.99/month.
Is 'The Simple Life' streaming?
The Simple Life isn't currently available to stream, but individual episodes or full seasons are available to rent and purchase on Prime Video and Apple TV+. Fingers crossed Peacock acquires the rights to our favorite socialites' OG series so we can tune into it once we've binged the new one.
