Tuning

The bland ‘Life’

Fox is presenting another video that should make Paris Hilton ashamed.

The leggy socialite is starring in the network’s new reality series “The Simple Life.” It debuts at 8:30 tonight, with another new episode following at the same time tomorrow.

Miss Hilton and real-life gal pal Nicole Richie (daughter of singer Lionel Richie) abandon their posh lifestyles to live on an Arkansas farm for a month. Cameras track their every move, from the local dairy farm to the home of the Ledings, the amiable clan that takes them in.

The alleged appeal of the show is twofold: mocking the simple life while simultaneously ribbing the rich girls. Fox’s show scores a bull’s-eye on both fronts. It just can’t be bothered to entertain us.

About the only reward in the first two segments is watching Miss Hilton admit she doesn’t know what Wal-Mart is. That’s a moment destined to hit the pop-culture echo chamber.

Fox clearly hopes for a hit in the grand tradition of E!’s “The Anna Nicole Show.” Instead, we feel little for the two spoiled princesses, whose barely audible complaints aren’t witchy or funny enough to spark our interest.

The canceling of Miss Hilton’s promotional tour to support the show won’t help. She is keeping a low profile following the release of a poorly lit home movie in which she has sex with ex-beau Richard Salomon.

Money can’t buy you love, nor can it rent some much-needed anonymity.

Tracy’s travails

“Saturday Night Live’s” Tracy Morgan has arrived. The likable comic has a mediocre sitcom to call his own.

“The Tracy Morgan Show,” debuting at 8 tonight on NBC, finds Mr. Morgan heading up a typical blue-collar brood.

As midseason fare goes, “Morgan” could be worse. Just don’t expect much in the way of originality or laughs.

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