Search for Paris’ new BFF not going so well

The search for Paris Hilton’s new best friend is not going as well as the heiress would have hoped. The first kink in the plan? The turnout at the New York City casting call for “hot bitches and fierce guys” turned out a paltry 40 to 50 people, according to most reports from insiders. In fact, at least one media outlet that was genuinely interested in doing a story on the process of casting the newest Hilton hanger-on was told at the last minute that no press would be better than any press.

Hilton reacted as any young person in her position would — by posting to MySpace for damage control. Hilton claimed there were “NO open calls for the show” and that “every event is exclusive and hand-picked by invitation only ... I didn't want my potential BFFs to have to wait in a long open-call lines.”

Not only were casting calls listed on Web sites such as Realitywanted.com, but the group of wannabe Hiltons had to wait through one call at Nikki Beach, then those who made the cut were directed to a second round at the Shoreham Hotel. OK! magazine reports that the scene there was “pure chaos,” and that some folks brought their own real-life BFFs, and they got to audition, too.

Finally, there was a waiver to sign and complete, but not your typical one. This form required hard-hitting questions such as, “If Paris was getting all the spotlight and paparazzi were only taking pics of her and not you, what would you do?”

Production on the 10-episode series is set to begin in late May.