Paris Hilton's Dubai BFF
Paris Hilton's Dubai BFF | |
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File:BFFCast04.jpg Paris Hilton at press conference. | |
Starring | Paris Hilton |
Country of origin | ![]() |
No. of seasons | 1 |
Production | |
Running time | 60 Minutes (including commercials) |
Original release | |
Network | Dubai TV |
Paris Hilton's Dubai BFF is a reality television show from Dubai, where Paris Hilton searches for her new best friend in the Middle East. It is the fourth incarnation of the My New BFF franchise. This season has not yet aired.
Season information
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/99/Dubaibff.jpg/350px-Dubaibff.jpg)
Shooting started on June 17, 2009 and shot for seventeen days. In these seventeen days Hilton desires to find a new BFF in a group of twenty female contestants - ten Arab citizens of Dubai, ten of other nationalities but currently living there[1][2].
Hilton has also never been to Dubai before, so part of the show will include her initial reactions to her first trip to the United Arab Emirates. The last episode of the show concluded with a final shoot in Los Angeles. The first episode will kick off with a social event in The BED Lounge, a club in Dubai. Tickets to attend the event were sold freely[3].
On June 17 Hilton started posting pictures of Dubai and the places she's visiting there on her Twitter page. Parts of the show will probably take place here. Hilton's pictures included a slide called the Leap of Faith[4][5] and an aquarium[6].
Lions Gate, the international distributor, received interest in Paris Hilton’s Dubai BFF during the recent L.A. Screenings, but won't start shopping the program until after production is done. It's expected this version will also eventually screen in the U.S., most likely on MTV.[2]
On October 29, 2010, MTV Latin America announced this series as part of its 2011 line-up under the title Paris Hilton's My New BFF in Dubai. This is the only network to confirm plans to air the series since production finished in April, 2010.[7]
Cultural difficulties
Dubai TV executive, Ziad Batal explained that this version “would have to be compatible with cultural sensitivities as Hilton is known for her wild partying.”[8] Ish Entertainment co-founder Michael Hirschhorn expanded on this, explaining that the Dubai production won't be quite as racy as the U.S. or U.K. editions. Alcohol, normally a reality TV staple, won't play a role on this version. Swearing, sexually explicit conversation or risque clothing will be kept to a minimum. The production had to receive several layers of approval before moving forward; even Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai, had to give his blessing.
Legal issues
Legal issues have affected the airing of this version thus far.
A suit was filed against producers by an American woman with no connection to the program, Lisa Miceli, in June after she felt the show, including Hilton and Ish Entertainment, had attempted a "hostile takeover" of her life, including attempts to interfere with her alleged personal relationship with Sheik Ahmed Bin Saeed Bin Al Maktoum, of Dubai, whom she said she plans to marry. It is thought promotion and airing of the series has been halted due to this, however the suit has since been dismissed, allowing for plans for the series to proceed.[9]
While it was originally expected to air in Winter 2010[10], 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.[11]
No official outcome for the suit has been announced, however contestent Gelareh Monajemi has said "Now all they can say is (it will air) at the end of this year."[10]
Status
Table will be filled in as the season progresses and the announced contestants are eliminated.
Contestants | Episodes | |||||||||
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1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
Contestant #1 | ||||||||||
Contestant #2 | ||||||||||
Contestant #3 | ||||||||||
Contestant #4 | ||||||||||
Contestant #5 | ||||||||||
Contestant #6 | ||||||||||
Contestant #7 | ||||||||||
Contestant #8 | ||||||||||
Contestant #9 | ||||||||||
Contestant #10 | ||||||||||
Contestant #11 | ||||||||||
Contestant #12 | ||||||||||
Contestant #13 | ||||||||||
Contestant #14 | ||||||||||
Contestant #15 | ||||||||||
Contestant #16 | ||||||||||
Contestant #17 | ||||||||||
Contestant #18 | ||||||||||
Contestant #19 | ||||||||||
Contestant #20 |
- Key
- The contestant is a female and an Arabic citizen of Dubai.
- The contestant is a female and not an Arabic citizen but currently living in Dubai.
- The contestant became Paris' new BFF.
- TTYN - Talk To You Never, the goodbye message for eliminated contestants.
- TTYS - Talk To You Soon, the goodbye message for eliminated contestants that Paris wants to keep in touch but not be best friends, Just Friends
References
- ^ "Paris Hilton's Dubai BFF series will film as planned". Examiner.com.
- ^ a b Schneider, Michael (June 1, 2009). "Paris Hilton pursues Mideast 'BFF'". Variety.
- ^ "Paris Hilton to launch The Bed Lounge, at InterContinental Dubai Festival City". Eye of Dubai.
- ^ "Riding the Slides today @ The Atlantis". Twitter.
- ^ "The Slide is called - Leap of Faith, Goes Straight down! So scary, but fun!". Twitter.
- ^ "Love the Aquarium". Twitter.
- ^ "MTV presentó novedades de programación para 2011". tvlatina.tv.
- ^ "Paris Hilton to film "My New Best Friend" in Dubai!". Al Arabiya.
- ^ "Judge dismisses Viacom, MTV from Meadville woman's civil suit over Paris Hilton show". GoErie.
- ^ a b "Paris Hilton's Dubai BFF may air in late 2010". ParisHiltonSite.
- ^ "Hilton's Tv Show Caught Up In Lawsuit". ContactMusic.