Andy DehnartThe Simple Life 4 has been dropped by FOX before the show ever aired or was even filmed. The reason: the network simply ran out of room on its schedule, since, come January, it’ll be airing 654,323 hours a week of American Idol. Seriously, here’s what FOX said in a statement:
“We have a unique midseason situation. In January we have to accommodate 2½ hours of new programming with ’24’ and ‘American Idol.’ We also have completed episodes of both scripted and unscripted series in the wings … collectively; we did not see a place for ‘The Simple Life’ on our schedule this season.”
TV Week reports that 20th Century FOX, which produces the series, “hope[s] to be able to announce a new network partner in the coming days.” And Bunim-Murray Productions’ Jon Murray, the executive producer of the series, says his company is “very excited about the creative plans for the next group of episodes, and are confident this situation will be remedied quickly.”
E! Online notes that “shooting was scheduled to begin by the end of the month.”
The Simple Life 4 already has a sordid history and a number of problems, not the least of which is that Paris Hilton is so 2004. And never mind the fact that Paris and Nicole no longer speak to one another.