TV Guide Channel Nabs Lisa Rinna

Actress, boutique owner, Dancing with the Stars contestant, mom to two girls, wife to actor Harry Hamlin ... now Lisa Rinna can add a new title to her resume... red-carpet host and fashion expert. Lisa has signed an exclusive, multi-year contact with the TV Guide Channel to replace the mother-daughter duo of Joan and Melissa Rivers. Thank goodness! If that isn't enough, she is also set to appear as Roxie Hart in the Broadway hit Chicago this summer, opposite her husband, fellow DWTS alum Harry Hamlin.

Lisa will make her TV Guide Channel debut this September at the 2007 Emmy Awards. In the meantime, she sat down to dish the dirt.

TVGuide.com: Today's announcement came as bittersweet news because it's kind of a shocker that Joan and Melissa are no longer with TV Guide Channel. What would you like to say about it, Lisa?
Lisa Rinna: I have always been a huge fan of Joan and Melissa Rivers. Joan really started this whole red carpet phenomenon! I remember going to the Oscars and waiting in line to talk to Joan Rivers. Because that's what you did. Everybody wanted to talk to her. I am so honored to even be trying to step into the shoes that she created. I can never be Joan. I will never try to be her. She is a comedian and she's brilliant. I will just come in and be Lisa Rinna. You never want to be the one that takes over where somebody else was, but I guess we've all been in the same position. It just happens in this business. Everything happens for a reason.... Obviously, they were meant to go and do something else at this time.

TVGuide.com: Once again, you and your Soap Talk co-host Ty Treadway are Daytime Emmy nominees for outstanding talk show host. Interesting timing?
Rinna: Yeah, how about that? [Laughs] We were cancelled in July, so I find it quite ironic that one would get nominated for an Emmy for a show that was cancelled. Thank God it did end because look at all the great stuff I get to do now! Things happen for a reason; that's just always the way I've lived my life. I think it's all so cool and I'm honored to be able to step into this [TV Guide Channel job] and bring my love of fashion and my excitement for hosting. This has all been such a brilliant ride for me.

TVGuide.com: At last year's Daytime Emmys, you told me you had no prayer of winning. What about this year?
Rinna: It's even higher stakes this year, so I feel the exact same way. Not only do you have Ellen nominated, you have Rachael Ray and Tyra! [Laughs] It will again be an honor to be nominated.

TVGuide.com: So tell me about the little show you're doing with your husband, Harry Hamlin.
Rinna: I'm doing Chicago on Broadway, baby, from June 19-July 29. Isn't that cool? I am playing Roxie Hart. Harry is playing Billy Flynn. In the movie, Renee Zellweger played Roxie and Richard Gere played Billy. There's been a bevy of Roxies on Broadway — everyone from Brooke Shields to Chita Rivera to Melanie Griffith. It is one of the great roles for a woman.

TVGuide.com: Sounds like you're in great company with this awesome part.
Rinna: Are you kidding me? She's a child in many ways, she's a murderess, she's a celebrity-seeking fiend. I can certainly relate to all! [Laughs] She's loveable and a great, great character.

TVGuide.com: You'll have to be a celebrity-seeking fiend on the red carpet, too. Are you nervous at all about asking stars the tough questions for TV Guide Channel?
Rinna: I've had a taste of that. I worked for Entertainment Tonight last year covering Dancing with the Stars, and I did a lot of other stuff for them. I also did stuff for Access Hollywood. I will be doing it the Lisa Rinna way. A lot of [red-carpet reporters] don't walk the walk. They're on one side and the celebrities are on the other. I can relate to celebrities in a human way because I've walked the red carpet and lived that life.

Photo from TV Guide.