This article was updated on Jan. 8, 2004.
Turns out there's a little more life in "The Simple Life."
Fox will air an hourlong special dubbed "The Simple Life Reunion" Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 8, one night before the show's previously announced first season finale. Reunion show has been in the works for a while, but Fox declined to confirm the spec until late Wednesday.
"Simple" stars Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie are flying back to Altus, Arkansas for the spec, which will feature the terrible twosome taking questions (and barbs) from an aud of 300 locals. Leeza Gibbons has been tapped to host.
In addition, hour will contain new footage from Hilton and Richie's adventures in farming, along with the standard highlight clips. The Leding family will also be on hand.
Fox still isn't confirming a greenlight for a second season of "The Simple Life," but given the show's socko Nielsens and boffo buzz, more episodes seem a given. Indeed, Fox PR materials refer to "Simple Life's" Jan. 14 episode as a "season finale" rather than a simple finale.
A DVD of the show's first season will be released by Fox Home Entertainment later this month.
Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jonathan Murray ("The Real World," "Road Rules") are executive producers of "The Simple Life", which is from 20th Century Fox Television in association with Bunim-Murray.
Contact the Variety newsroom at
news@variety.com