THE Paris Hilton-Nicole Richie reality show, “The Simple Life,” brought home the bacon Tuesday night when it raked in more than 13 million viewers – the top-rated show in its hour.

The show plunks rich-girl friends Hilton and Richie into the middle of backwater Altus, Ark. – then follows the action. It definitely didn’t hurt “The Simple Life” that Hilton has been the subject of screaming tabloid headlines for weeks now. The heiress to the $360 million Hilton hotel chain had been in hiding – until Tuesday night – following the release on the Internet of a randy sex tape made several years ago with an ex-boyfriend.

But she showed up at the opening night party for the new series in L.A. – though a pair of beefy bodygaurds made sure reporters could not get near enough to talk with her.

There are five more episodes in the series.