To the chagrin of many, the reality genre refuses to die. And while it twitches and gurgles on its way to television’s Boot Hill, the forlorn format appears bent on exhausting every possible variation.

How many times have we seen opposites locked in the same house? We’ve watched horn-dog bachelors and millionaires share mansions with marriage-minded females. And, most recently, we’ve seen wives swapped all over the red and blue states of America.

But while those reality shows have centered on cultural difference, “Survival of the Richest” (7 p.m., WB) invites its participants and viewers to engage in full-throated class warfare.

On “Richest,” seven silver spoons share posh digs with seven strivers. The seven wealthy participants have a combined wealth – all inherited – exceeding $3 billion. The seven poor participants have amassed a collective personal debt to the tune of $150,000. Some work several jobs and have little material wealth to show for it.

Each poor player will be teamed with a rich counterpart every week to compete in various tasks, such as working as a wench or serf waiter at a medieval-theme restaurant, building a Habitat for Humanity house or cleaning out the bathrooms at a racetrack.

The most striking aspect of “Richest” is the unvarnished obnoxiousness of the pampered participants. They’re not merely clueless, like Paris Hilton on “The Simple Life,” but proactively loathsome. One woman makes fun of homeless people. Another player brags, “I like to make waitresses cry and then sleep with them.” Only one of the bunch appears to be educated, but he uses his proficiency in several languages to show off and annoy everyone else.

Tonight’s other highlights

¢ Justice arrives from beyond the grave on “Ghost Whisperer” (7 p.m., CBS).

¢ Danny and Mike pose for a calendar on “Las Vegas” (8 p.m., NBC).

¢ Scheduled on “20/20” (9 p.m., ABC): five wealthy people who started with nothing.

¢ The new series “L.A. Forensics” (9:30 p.m., Court TV) offers a weekly glance at one of the nation’s busiest crime labs.