Parents' Guide to Nikki Fre$h

The Simple Life debuted almost two decades ago, but Nicole Richie's "clueless rich person out of her depth" shtick has aged very well -- hence this fun, frivolous romp. Now she's in on the joke, satirizing herself ably but also making surprisingly cogent points about health, the environment, and wellness in general. Richie definitely presents herself as an airy-fairy dreamer who only gets anywhere because of her wealth and connections. In Nikki Fre$h's first episode, she gets her husband and brother-in-law (Benji Madden, also of Good Charlotte) to sign off on a million-dollar budget making an album for "people, kids, bees." She follows through by rapping about how important bees are to humans and condemning the U.S. practice of discarding vegetables that don't meet a beauty standard.

Lionel Richie fans should note that Richie's famous dad shows up in episode three, gamely hitting a farmer's market to try the honey that Nicole has harvested from her beehives. (Along with honey tastings, her booth sells beekeeper-friendly products like a black-veiled hat that Nicole says is good for fall and winter, but you do need a lighter color for "resort season".) He's just here, he says, to support his child who's "a little cuckoo," his exasperated-but-loving act clearly all part of the game. And he's not wrong about Richie, who's daffy and colorful. She walks around a grocery store hawking a "modern Cabbage Patch" doll with an actual cabbage head, a tampon seemingly made out of Spanish moss, and something called Crystal Granola that might have real rocks in it. It's a goof, but it's a charming goof, and she makes a good case that bees matter and ugly vegetables need respect, too (just ask Aretha Franklin). This series is an odd but compelling kick, and don't be surprised if you see more of Nikki Fre$sh and her "parent trap" earth songs elsewhere around the internet.