'The Simple Life 5' to reunite Paris and Nicole as camp counselors

Purportedly spurred to action by their common unhappiness with the original concept for the fifth edition of the highly contrived "reality" show that they are still contractually obligated to appear in, The Simple Life stars Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie have ended their ongoing feud and agreed to appear side-by-side in a new The Simple Life 5 concept that will see the celebutantes will serve as camp counselors.


"The thing the viewers love is the two girls together," The Simple Life executive producer Jon Murray told The Associated Press. "America, Paris and Nicole are going to camp."

According to Murray, Hilton and Richie -- who went public with the fact that they had reconciled their relationship via a Sunday night dinner at Dan Tana's Steakhouse in Los Angeles -- rekindled their friendship after discovering that Murray's initial The Simple Life 5 concept involved putting the women on a "deserted island with a bunch of survivalists."

"They reached out to each other in universal disdain for the island concept," explained Murray, "and rekindled their friendship."

The Simple Life 5 is expected to begin production next month. Assuming all goes well, E! -- which picked up The Simple Life after Fox dropped it after three editions last year -- is scheduled to premiere the show next spring


According to Murray, "what led to the breakdown in the friendship and maybe some of the misunderstandings and things that got in the way" will be addressed in the show.