Replacing Richie ‘Simple’

With the production start date for the next installment of Fox’s reality series “The Simple Life” approaching, the rumor mill is going into overdrive about the future of the reality franchise starring socialites Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie, reports CNN.com.

The falling-out between the former best friends over the past year has been well documented. Now reports have surfaced that in the new season of the show, targeted to begin production in late spring-early summer, Richie might be replaced.

Sources said that both Hilton and Richie are under deals to appear in at least five seasons of the show, but their options for the upcoming installment have yet to be picked up. According to syndicated entertainment newsmagazine The Insider, the show’s producers are considering Kimberly Stewart, daughter of singer Rod Stewart, as a potential replacement for Richie.

– Knight Ridder Newspapers

‘Pie’ star faces DUI charge

“American Pie” star Chris Klein is facing a drunken driving charge in San Diego, reports The Associated Press.

Klein, 26, was arrested by San Diego County sheriff’s deputies Feb. 5. He was charged last month with two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence and driving with a blood-alcohol content of 0.20 and above. The legal limit in California is 0.08.

Arraignment is scheduled for April 29, the district attorney’s office said.

A mug shot of the actor was published on The Smoking Gun’s Web site, which first reported news of the arrest. Klein was arrested under his full name, Frederick Christopher Klein.

Klein was featured in the 1999 film “Election” and played Chris “Oz” Ostreicher in 1999’s “American Pie.”

– Knight Ridder Newspapers

Jameson suing over show

Porn star Jenna Jameson (born Jenna Massoli), who’s been making inroads into mainstream culture with her best-selling bio, “How to Make Love Like a Porn Star,” is suing her publisher, Regan Media, run by trendsetting power editor Judith Regan.

The quarrel is over profits from a planned reality show by the A&E cable channel about Jameson’s day-to-day life. Jameson says Regan has no right to profit from the A&E deal since the TV negotiations happened before her book contract.

Regan is countersuing, claiming that Jameson’s contract gives Regan media exclusive rights to negotiate any TV deals.

Reps from Regan and Jameson did not reply to calls from the Associated Press seeking comment.

– Knight Ridder Newspapers