Paris Hilton's My New BFF
Encyclopedia
Paris Hilton's My New BFF, also known simply as My New BFF and other alternate titles, is a competitive reality television
show in which Paris Hilton
searches for her new BFF
("best friend forever"). Following the success of the original US version
, another US season and two international spin-offs followed. All versions were produced by Ish Entertainment (a subsidiary of Lionsgate Television
) and in association with the original network on which they aired.
The first season premiered on MTV
in the United States
on September 30, 2008. Sixteen women and two men competed in challenges in an attempt to become her new best friend. Four of the female contestants were eliminated, almost straight away, in the first episode and hence did not feature in promotional material (photo shoots, TV spots or even the opening credits) for the show at all.
Guest stars included Benji Madden
, Kyle Richards
, Richie Rich
, Traver Rains
, Kathy Hilton
, Fergie, Simple Plan
, Chris Applebaum
, Perez Hilton
, Dirt Nasty, Allison Melnick
, Ryan Seacrest
, Nicky Hilton
, Keyshia Cole
, Hanna Beth Merjos and Nick Swardson
.
Though Hilton was forbidden from revealing the winner before the show had fully aired, she had on two separate occasions accidentally referred to the winner as "she" - first on the September 25, 2008 airing of the Late Show with David Letterman
, and again on the October 7, 2008 airing of The Ellen DeGeneres Show
.
On December 2, 2008, it was revealed in the finale that Brittany Flickinger had won the contest.
This season was also picked up for international distribution. International airing began in January 2009 on MTV Germany, in April 2009 on MTV Asia and MTV Latin America
. ITV2
, the network that aired the U.K. version, Paris Hilton's British Best Friend
has also licensed the rights to air the U.S. version, titled Paris Hilton's American Best Friend Forever in listings guides (though not on screen) to avoid confusion with the British version, and this season will also air on 8TV
in Malaysia. The series premiered in Australia in May 2010 on MTV Australia
.
The DVD of this season was released in Australia on September 28, 2010. It is a 3-disc set, including every episode of Season 1 & three of the four specials aired on MTV.
The second U.S season premiered on MTV on June 2, 2009. Thirteen women and three men competed in challenges in an attempt to become Paris's latest best friend "forever."
Hilton said that she did not stay friends with Season 1 winner Brittany Flickinger because "I loved her and I trusted her, but sometimes people get too caught up and they change."
Season 1 contestant Onch appeared as a co-host, dubbed the "Life Pet" by Hilton. Natalie Reid (a professional Paris Hilton-lookalike who also appeared with Hilton in The Simple Life
), made a special guest appearance as Hilton's double in the premiere.
Other guest stars included Santino Rice
, Kathy Hilton, Doug Reinhardt
, Allison Melnick, Lil' Kim
, Three Six Mafia, and Kathy Griffin
.
This is the first and so far only format of the series to include straight men in the competition. The U.S. first season included two gay men and the U.K. series included one gay man. As David and Chris were added to the competition mid-way through, in episode four, they do not appear in promotional material for the season.
On August 4, 2009, it was revealed in the finale that the contestant Stephen Hampton had won the contest.
This season also aired on MTV in Australia, ITV2 in the UK, 8TV in Malaysia throughout 2010 and on MTV in The Netherlands throughout 2011.
The British version of the show, Paris Hilton's British Best Friend, premiered on January 29, 2009 on ITV2
in the UK. Hilton shot the majority of the series in London
, with portions of the first and last episodes shot in the U.S. Twelve women and one man competed in challenges in an attempt to become Paris' British
Best Friend.
Guest stars included Charlie Sheen
, Martin Sheen
, Rick Hilton, Kathy Hilton, Akin Konizi, Chris Leger, Scott Henshall
, Boyd Hilton, Will Geddes, Mark Durden-Smith
, Jade Jagger
, Kate Michelson, Jackie Collins
, Tamara Beckwith
, Olivia Lee
, Scott Mills
, Vanessa Lloyd-Platt, Callum Best, Steve Shaw, Julian Bennett, Benji Madden, Allison Melnick, Nicky Hilton and Barron Hilton.
Scenes featuring Hilton partying with Katie Price as well as a performance at the BBF mansion by Good Charlotte
are believed to have been shot, but did not make the final cut in any episodes.
The first episode featured cameos from American BFF contestants Brittany, Onch, Vanessa, Kiki, Sinsu and Lauren while showing Paris' going away party before departing for London. In the finale, Vanessa, Onch and Lauren are seen again when Paris introduces the British finalists to some of her American friends. They are also seen with Brittany at Barron Hilton's birthday party in the same episode.
Contestant Laura Meakin was added to the competition in episode two to replace Kat McKenzie, albeit temporarily, due to illness. For this reason, she does not appear in promotional material for the series. McKenzie later died, on July 3, 2009.
On March 19, 2009, it was revealed in the finale that Sam Hextall became Paris' British Best Friend.
Producers licensed the U.K. version for U.S. airing. Paris Hilton's British Best Friend premiered in the U.S. April 6, 2010 on the TV Guide Network It also aired on MuchMusic
in Canada
during 2009.
, United Arab Emirates
.
This version follows Hilton as she puts a group of twenty three young women from all throughout the world, but currently living in Dubai, through a series of tests to see who would best complement her lifestyle. Hilton had also never been to Dubai before, so part of the show includes her initial reactions to her first trip to the United Arab Emirates. This is the first format of the series not to include any male contestants.
Production began mid-June, 2009, shot for seventeen days; the finale then concluded with a final shoot in Los Angeles. In late-December 2009, Hilton updated her Twitter
saying she was recording voice-over and interview scenes for the series. In April, 2010, it was reported that Hilton had just her finished work on the series.
Legal issues delayed the airing of this version for over a year. While it was originally expected to air in Winter 2010, Lionsgate Television executives claim producers at Uniqon Emirates, LLC signed a written agreement, worth US$8 million, to co-produce and distribute Paris Hilton's Dubai BFF in the Middle East. Uniqon Emirates failed to pay more than $4.7 million to cover the production and distribution costs and Lionsgate filed a federal suit for breach of contract in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on February 2, 2010.
No official outcome for the suit was announced, however the series failed to air on Dubai TV
, the announced original network for this version. MTV, being the original stakeholders for the franchise, came to the seemingly doomed series' rescue. MTV assumed world-wide airing rights for Dubai BFF and the series began airing on various MTV networks throughout the world in early 2011. Producers initially stated they planned to also licence the U.A.E. version for U.S. airing , however the U.S. MTV is still yet to add Dubai BFF to their schedule.
On June 12, 2011, it was revealed in the finale that Reem Al Alnezi became Paris Hilton's Dubai BFF.
This is currently expected to be the last incarnation of the franchise.
Hilton expressed interest in doing further versions of the show in Canada
, Australia
, Germany
and Russia
.
During an interview in July 2009, Arika Sato
, who was a contestant on the U.S. My New BFF second season, said she had been in touch with Hilton since shooting wrapped and had been made aware Hilton would be doing further versions of the series beyond the one that was currently shooting in Dubai.
While promoting the second season in Dallas, Hilton told fans she is definitely shooting a third U.S. season for MTV.
During an interview in July 2009, Season 2 runner-up Tiniecia Goldsmith told fans to expect a third U.S. season, saying the ratings for Season 2 had been much higher than Season 1.
On September 30, 2009, Hollyscoop.com reported Hilton is currently busy prepping to shoot the new season of My New BFF.
On October 1, 2010, it was announced that Hilton will star in a new reality series, The World According to Paris
, on Oxygen
in 2011. The new series will showcase her real life more closely and will not be a part of the My New BFF franchise.
Hilton has emphasized she no longer wishes to "play the dumb blonde character" she portrayed herself as in My New BFF and The Simple Life, suggesting that the My New BFF franchise is finished for the forseable future.
Later, Hilton went on to clarify that it’s “probable” that her BFFs from each series will all be brought together, for a "showdown series" of sorts. While emphasising that other countries across the world have still asked her to film further versions, she's said “I’ve really enjoyed doing it, but I have enough BFFs”.
Hilton has since given the final word on the future of the franchise by stating; “[Producers] call almost every single day, from every country around the world, wanting me to do BFF shows. Italy
, Germany, Russia, Japan
; I've been offered to do it everywhere. But I feel like I've really grown up and the show is something that was really fun, but I'm 30 years old now and I feel like I've moved on from that show.”
Hilton added that she is still in touch with former winners from the series and contestants who didn't make it to the final.
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
show in which Paris Hilton
Paris Hilton
Paris Whitney Hilton is an American businesswoman, heiress, and socialite. She is a great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton . Hilton is known for her controversial participation in a sex tape in 2003, and appearance on the television series The Simple Life alongside fellow socialite and childhood...
searches for her new BFF
Best friends forever
Best friends forever or BFF is a close friendship typical of teenage and young women. Such relationships are common in high school but, rather than lasting forever, tend to deteriorate when the parties go to college....
("best friend forever"). Following the success of the original US version
Paris Hilton's My New BFF (season 1)
The first season of Paris Hilton's My New BFF, also known simply as My New BFF and Paris Hilton's American Best Friend Forever internationally, premiered in the United States on September 30, 2008 and is the first incarnation of the My New BFF franchise...
, another US season and two international spin-offs followed. All versions were produced by Ish Entertainment (a subsidiary of Lionsgate Television
Lionsgate Television
Lionsgate Television is the television division of Lions Gate Entertainment, an entertainment company. It is located in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.- Productions :The following is a partial list of the division's productions:...
) and in association with the original network on which they aired.
First season
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on September 30, 2008. Sixteen women and two men competed in challenges in an attempt to become her new best friend. Four of the female contestants were eliminated, almost straight away, in the first episode and hence did not feature in promotional material (photo shoots, TV spots or even the opening credits) for the show at all.
Guest stars included Benji Madden
Benji Madden
Benji Madden is an American guitarist and backup vocalist for the band Good Charlotte, which he co-founded with his identical twin brother, Joel Madden.-Early life:...
, Kyle Richards
Kyle Richards
Kyle Egan Richards is an American actress and television personality. She is known for returning to television with her sister, Kim Richards, on Bravo's The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.-Early life:...
, Richie Rich
Heatherette
Heatherette is a fashion company and design house run by and former Club Kid Richie Rich, located in New York City. Heatherette came out with a bang in 1999 when they began collaborating on t-shirts and leather goods as a hobby on their living room floor...
, Traver Rains
Traver Rains
Traver Rains, born March 4, 1977, is a TV personality and celebrity fashion designer and photographer.- Biography :Traver grew up on a fourth generation AQHA Hall of Fame Quarter Horse ranch in Simms, Montana. He later moved to Dallas where he received a degree in Economics and International...
, Kathy Hilton
Kathy Hilton
Kathleen Elizabeth "Kathy" Hilton is an American actress. She is the mother of Paris Hilton and Nicky Hilton.-Personal life and family:...
, Fergie, Simple Plan
Simple Plan
Simple Plan is a Canadian pop punk band from Montréal, Québec. The band has had no line up changes since its inception in 1999. Members are Pierre Bouvier , Jeff Stinco , Sébastien Lefebvre , David Desrosiers and Chuck Comeau...
, Chris Applebaum
Chris Applebaum
Chris Applebaum is an American music video director, who has worked with a diverse range of artists, among them Rihanna, Hilary Duff, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Mandy Moore, Natasha Bedingfield, Fountains of Wayne and Britney Spears...
, Perez Hilton
Perez Hilton
Mario Armando Lavandeira, Jr. , better known as Perez Hilton , is an American blogger and television personality. His blog, Perezhilton.com , is known for posts covering gossip items about celebrities...
, Dirt Nasty, Allison Melnick
Allison Melnick
Allison Melnick is an American socialite, bar owner, and reality TV star originally from Long Island, New York. She is perhaps best known for appearing on the reality show The World According to Paris, where she is seen frequently accompanying Paris Hilton as she shops or travels...
, Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
, Nicky Hilton
Nicky Hilton
Nicholai Olivia "Nicky" Hilton is an American businesswoman, fashion model, socialite, celebutante, heiress and fashion designer. She is a great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton and younger sister of Paris Hilton....
, Keyshia Cole
Keyshia Cole
Keyshia Myeshia Cole Gibson born October 15, 1981) is an American singer–songwriter and actress. She gained nationwide acclaim when her 2005 debut album, The Way It Is went platinum. Her sophomore album Just Like You went into production shortly after that and was released in September 2007...
, Hanna Beth Merjos and Nick Swardson
Nick Swardson
Nicholas Roger "Nick" Swardson is an American actor, stand-up comedian, and writer. He is best known for his recurring role as Terry Bernardino in the Comedy Central series Reno 911!, for his work in Happy Madison films, most notably the 2011 film Just Go With It, and for his new Comedy Central...
.
Though Hilton was forbidden from revealing the winner before the show had fully aired, she had on two separate occasions accidentally referred to the winner as "she" - first on the September 25, 2008 airing of the Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
, and again on the October 7, 2008 airing of The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
.
On December 2, 2008, it was revealed in the finale that Brittany Flickinger had won the contest.
This season was also picked up for international distribution. International airing began in January 2009 on MTV Germany, in April 2009 on MTV Asia and MTV Latin America
MTV Latin America
MTV Latin America is a cable television specialty service aimed at residents in Hispanic American countries. It was launched on October 1, 1993 as MTV en Español. The channel is a Hispanic American version from MTV...
. ITV2
ITV2
ITV2 is a 24 hour, free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998, and is available on digital television via satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. The channel has the...
, the network that aired the U.K. version, Paris Hilton's British Best Friend
Paris Hilton's British Best Friend
Paris Hilton's British Best Friend is a British reality television show where Paris Hilton searches for her new British best friend and is the second incarnation of the My New BFF franchise....
has also licensed the rights to air the U.S. version, titled Paris Hilton's American Best Friend Forever in listings guides (though not on screen) to avoid confusion with the British version, and this season will also air on 8TV
8TV (Malaysia)
8TV is a private Malaysian Chinese television station, previously known as MetroVision Channel 8. Metrovision closed on 1 November 1999. 8TV was officially launched on Thursday, 8 January 2004 as 8TV after being acquired by Media Prima Berhad....
in Malaysia. The series premiered in Australia in May 2010 on MTV Australia
MTV Australia
MTV Australia is 24 hour general entertainment channel specialising in music and youth culture programming which serves Australia and New Zealand. It is operated by Viacom International Media Networks Australia owned by Viacom and primarily features imported shows as well as locally produced...
.
The DVD of this season was released in Australia on September 28, 2010. It is a 3-disc set, including every episode of Season 1 & three of the four specials aired on MTV.
Second season
Hilton said that she did not stay friends with Season 1 winner Brittany Flickinger because "I loved her and I trusted her, but sometimes people get too caught up and they change."
Season 1 contestant Onch appeared as a co-host, dubbed the "Life Pet" by Hilton. Natalie Reid (a professional Paris Hilton-lookalike who also appeared with Hilton in The Simple Life
The Simple Life
The Simple Life was a reality television series that was broadcast from December 2, 2003 to August 5, 2007. The first three seasons aired on Fox, and the final two on E!...
), made a special guest appearance as Hilton's double in the premiere.
Other guest stars included Santino Rice
Santino Rice
Santino Quinto Rice is an American fashion designer and television personality. He is best known for his appearances on the reality television programs Project Runway, RuPaul's Drag Race, and On the Road with Austin and Santino.-Early life:Rice was born and raised in St. Charles, Missouri...
, Kathy Hilton, Doug Reinhardt
Doug Reinhardt
Douglas Francis Reinhardt is an American baseball player and television personality. He is best known for his appearances on the reality show The Hills and playing baseball for the minor league affiliates of Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and Baltimore Orioles...
, Allison Melnick, Lil' Kim
Lil' Kim
Kimberly Denise Jones , better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and actress who was a member of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A.....
, Three Six Mafia, and Kathy Griffin
Kathy Griffin
Kathleen Mary "Kathy" Griffin is an American actress, stand-up comedienne, television personality, New York Times best-selling author and an LGBT rights advocate. Griffin first gained recognition for appearances on two episodes of Seinfeld, and then for her supporting role on the NBC sitcom...
.
This is the first and so far only format of the series to include straight men in the competition. The U.S. first season included two gay men and the U.K. series included one gay man. As David and Chris were added to the competition mid-way through, in episode four, they do not appear in promotional material for the season.
On August 4, 2009, it was revealed in the finale that the contestant Stephen Hampton had won the contest.
This season also aired on MTV in Australia, ITV2 in the UK, 8TV in Malaysia throughout 2010 and on MTV in The Netherlands throughout 2011.
U.K. series
ITV2
ITV2 is a 24 hour, free-to-air entertainment television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It was launched on 7 December 1998, and is available on digital television via satellite, cable, IPTV and terrestrial platforms. The channel has the...
in the UK. Hilton shot the majority of the series in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, with portions of the first and last episodes shot in the U.S. Twelve women and one man competed in challenges in an attempt to become Paris' British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
Best Friend.
Guest stars included Charlie Sheen
Charlie Sheen
Carlos Irwin Estevez , better known by his stage name Charlie Sheen, is an American film and television actor. He is the youngest son of actor Martin Sheen....
, Martin Sheen
Martin Sheen
Ramón Gerardo Antonio Estévez , better known by his stage name Martin Sheen, is an American film actor best known for his performances in the films Badlands and Apocalypse Now , and in the television series The West Wing from 1999 to 2006.He is considered one of the best actors never to be...
, Rick Hilton, Kathy Hilton, Akin Konizi, Chris Leger, Scott Henshall
Scott Henshall
Scott Henshall is a British fashion designer.Before becoming a fashion designer Henshall owned shops around Hartlepool before moving to London to become a designer...
, Boyd Hilton, Will Geddes, Mark Durden-Smith
Mark Durden-Smith
Mark Durden-Smith is a British television presenter. He began his presenting career as host of Sky Sports live rugby union coverage, which included weekly English Premiership fixtures, domestic and European cup competitions and Internationals Tests, including the English home Six Nations matches...
, Jade Jagger
Jade Jagger
Jade Sheena Jezebel Jagger is an English jewelry designer, socialite and former model.-Early life:Jagger was born in Paris, France. She is the only child of Bianca , a Nicaraguan-born actress and philanthropist, and Mick Jagger, an English musician and actor...
, Kate Michelson, Jackie Collins
Jackie Collins
Jacqueline Jill "Jackie" Collins is an English novelist and former actress. She is the younger sister of actress Joan Collins. She has written 28 novels, all of which have appeared on the New York Times bestsellers list. In total, her books have sold over 400 million copies and have been...
, Tamara Beckwith
Tamara Beckwith
Tamara Beckwith is an English socialite, noted for her coverage in glossy celebrity magazines such as OK! and Hello! magazine.-Early life:...
, Olivia Lee
Olivia Lee
Olivia Lee is an English comedienne, actress and television presenter.-Life and career:Lee is from a Jewish family. She studied acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama...
, Scott Mills
Scott Mills
Scott Robert Mills is a British radio DJ, television presenter and occasional actor, best known for presenting The Scott Mills Show on BBC Radio 1...
, Vanessa Lloyd-Platt, Callum Best, Steve Shaw, Julian Bennett, Benji Madden, Allison Melnick, Nicky Hilton and Barron Hilton.
Scenes featuring Hilton partying with Katie Price as well as a performance at the BBF mansion by Good Charlotte
Good Charlotte
Good Charlotte is an American rock band from Waldorf, Maryland that formed in 1996. Since 1998, the band's constant members have been lead vocalist Joel Madden, lead guitarist and back-up vocalist Benji Madden, bass guitarist Paul Thomas and rhythm guitarist and keyboardist Billy Martin...
are believed to have been shot, but did not make the final cut in any episodes.
The first episode featured cameos from American BFF contestants Brittany, Onch, Vanessa, Kiki, Sinsu and Lauren while showing Paris' going away party before departing for London. In the finale, Vanessa, Onch and Lauren are seen again when Paris introduces the British finalists to some of her American friends. They are also seen with Brittany at Barron Hilton's birthday party in the same episode.
Contestant Laura Meakin was added to the competition in episode two to replace Kat McKenzie, albeit temporarily, due to illness. For this reason, she does not appear in promotional material for the series. McKenzie later died, on July 3, 2009.
On March 19, 2009, it was revealed in the finale that Sam Hextall became Paris' British Best Friend.
Producers licensed the U.K. version for U.S. airing. Paris Hilton's British Best Friend premiered in the U.S. April 6, 2010 on the TV Guide Network It also aired on MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
during 2009.
U.A.E. series
Hilton also starred in another international version; Paris Hilton's Dubai BFF in DubaiDubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
.
This version follows Hilton as she puts a group of twenty three young women from all throughout the world, but currently living in Dubai, through a series of tests to see who would best complement her lifestyle. Hilton had also never been to Dubai before, so part of the show includes her initial reactions to her first trip to the United Arab Emirates. This is the first format of the series not to include any male contestants.
Production began mid-June, 2009, shot for seventeen days; the finale then concluded with a final shoot in Los Angeles. In late-December 2009, Hilton updated her Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
saying she was recording voice-over and interview scenes for the series. In April, 2010, it was reported that Hilton had just her finished work on the series.
Legal issues delayed the airing of this version for over a year. While it was originally expected to air in Winter 2010, Lionsgate Television executives claim producers at Uniqon Emirates, LLC signed a written agreement, worth US$8 million, to co-produce and distribute Paris Hilton's Dubai BFF in the Middle East. Uniqon Emirates failed to pay more than $4.7 million to cover the production and distribution costs and Lionsgate filed a federal suit for breach of contract in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on February 2, 2010.
No official outcome for the suit was announced, however the series failed to air on Dubai TV
Dubai TV
Dubai TV is a channel offered by the Dubai Media Incorporated . It replaced Emirates Dubai Television in June 2004. Dubai TV broadcasts programmes predominantly in Arabic. The programming caters to family Arab audience specifically in the Persian Gulf region and is available in Australia, Europe,...
, the announced original network for this version. MTV, being the original stakeholders for the franchise, came to the seemingly doomed series' rescue. MTV assumed world-wide airing rights for Dubai BFF and the series began airing on various MTV networks throughout the world in early 2011. Producers initially stated they planned to also licence the U.A.E. version for U.S. airing , however the U.S. MTV is still yet to add Dubai BFF to their schedule.
On June 12, 2011, it was revealed in the finale that Reem Al Alnezi became Paris Hilton's Dubai BFF.
This is currently expected to be the last incarnation of the franchise.
Undeveloped continuations
Producers originally indicated that the they planned to build My New BFF into a global franchise, with Hilton searching for BFFs around the world.Hilton expressed interest in doing further versions of the show in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
During an interview in July 2009, Arika Sato
Arika Sato
born May 26, 1986) is an American Nisei television personality and host.Born on May 26, 1986 at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Torrance, California, Sato is the second child of Tomoko and Yutaka Sato from Tokyo, Japan. Born to first-generation Issei parents, Sato grew up speaking fluent...
, who was a contestant on the U.S. My New BFF second season, said she had been in touch with Hilton since shooting wrapped and had been made aware Hilton would be doing further versions of the series beyond the one that was currently shooting in Dubai.
While promoting the second season in Dallas, Hilton told fans she is definitely shooting a third U.S. season for MTV.
During an interview in July 2009, Season 2 runner-up Tiniecia Goldsmith told fans to expect a third U.S. season, saying the ratings for Season 2 had been much higher than Season 1.
On September 30, 2009, Hollyscoop.com reported Hilton is currently busy prepping to shoot the new season of My New BFF.
On October 1, 2010, it was announced that Hilton will star in a new reality series, The World According to Paris
The World According to Paris
The World According to Paris is an American reality television series starring Paris Hilton. It premiered on the Oxygen Channel on June 1, 2011...
, on Oxygen
Oxygen (TV channel)
Oxygen is an American cable television specialty channel with television programming marketed towards women, with a format similar to Lifetime.- History :...
in 2011. The new series will showcase her real life more closely and will not be a part of the My New BFF franchise.
Hilton has emphasized she no longer wishes to "play the dumb blonde character" she portrayed herself as in My New BFF and The Simple Life, suggesting that the My New BFF franchise is finished for the forseable future.
Later, Hilton went on to clarify that it’s “probable” that her BFFs from each series will all be brought together, for a "showdown series" of sorts. While emphasising that other countries across the world have still asked her to film further versions, she's said “I’ve really enjoyed doing it, but I have enough BFFs”.
Hilton has since given the final word on the future of the franchise by stating; “[Producers] call almost every single day, from every country around the world, wanting me to do BFF shows. Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Germany, Russia, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
; I've been offered to do it everywhere. But I feel like I've really grown up and the show is something that was really fun, but I'm 30 years old now and I feel like I've moved on from that show.”
Hilton added that she is still in touch with former winners from the series and contestants who didn't make it to the final.
Awards & recognition
- 2009, nominated in the Teen Choice AwardsTeen Choice AwardsThe Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with...
for Choice Reality/Variety TV Star - Female Paris HiltonParis HiltonParis Whitney Hilton is an American businesswoman, heiress, and socialite. She is a great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton . Hilton is known for her controversial participation in a sex tape in 2003, and appearance on the television series The Simple Life alongside fellow socialite and childhood...
and Choice TV Show - Reality/Variety. - 2009, won Fox Reality AwardsFox Reality AwardsThe Fox Reality Awards is an awards show to honor achievements in reality television. It was broadcast by the Fox Reality Channel from 2006 to 2009 when the channel was replaced in 2010 by National Geographic Wild.-Favorite Fight:...
for 'Innovator of Reality TV' - Paris HiltonParis HiltonParis Whitney Hilton is an American businesswoman, heiress, and socialite. She is a great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton . Hilton is known for her controversial participation in a sex tape in 2003, and appearance on the television series The Simple Life alongside fellow socialite and childhood...
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See also
- Paris Hilton's British Best FriendParis Hilton's British Best FriendParis Hilton's British Best Friend is a British reality television show where Paris Hilton searches for her new British best friend and is the second incarnation of the My New BFF franchise....
- List of Paris Hilton's My New BFF episodes
- List of Paris Hilton's My New BFF episodes (season 2)