Joan Rivers replaced by Lisa Rinna on red carpet

New York – Joan Rivers is being replaced by Lisa Rinna as TV Guide Channel’s leading red-carpet host. The actress will make her debut at the Emmy Awards on Sept. 16, the network said Wednesday.

Rivers, 73, and her daughter, Melissa, 37, launched TV Guide Channel’s red-carpet programming in January 2005. They had previously appeared as red-carpet hosts on E! Entertainment.

“TV Guide Channel is very appreciative of Joan and Melissa Rivers’ contributions to the success of our red-carpet programming over the past three years,” Ryan O’Hara, president of TV Guide Channel, said in a statement. “We wish them the best in their future endeavors.”

Rinna, 43, recently appeared on ABC’s dance competition, “Dancing With the Stars.” She starred on “Melrose Place” and “Days of Our Lives.”

Rocker says friends want him to kick habit

London – Pete Doherty says people close to him want him to kick his addiction to drugs.

“The people I’m closest to have had enough. They’ve said it’s drugs or them,” the Babyshambles frontman said Wednesday at a court appearance to review his progress in complying with a treatment order.

“A lot has changed in the past week,” Doherty added.

He didn’t say whether the change involved his relationship with supermodel Kate Moss, 33, or had anything to do with his April 12 concert appearance with Carl Barat, his former partner in The Libertines.

At the same concert, Doherty referred to Moss as his fiancee.

Appearing before District Judge Jane McIvor at Thames Magistrates’ Court, Doherty indicated he still wasn’t clean.

“I’m quite keen to show a negative test as soon as possible really,” Doherty said.

Director tries opera

Prague, Czech Republic – Czech-born filmmaker Milos Forman is back in Prague to stage an opera at the Czech National Theater.

“I never did an opera on a stage,” Forman, 75, told a news conference Wednesday. “Filmmaking is a piece of cake compared to theater.”

Forman won Oscars for 1975’s “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and 1984’s “Amadeus.” His screen credits also include “The People vs. Larry Flynt” and “Man on the Moon.”

He moved to the United States in 1968.

The jazz opera “A Walk Worthwhile” by Czech authors Jiri Suchy and Jiri Slitr dates from the 1960s, when it had a run of 64 performances at their small theater, Semafor. In 1966, Forman transformed the opera into a TV movie.

Now, more than 40 years later, Forman is back to transform it again for a big stage – aided his twin sons – Petr and Matej.

The first night is scheduled Sunday.