The carpet’s been pulled out from under the Rivers

Joan and Melissa Rivers‘ move from E! Entertainment Television to TV Guide Channel may keep them off the red carpet at September’s Emmy Awards. The comedian and her daughter had been expected to provide TV Guide Channel with the fashion commentary and celebrity interviews they were known for on E!.

But E! has an agreement with the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences for exclusive live cable coverage of the Emmy arrivals scene this year and next, an academy spokeswoman said.

“We are currently looking for other options to accommodate TV

Guide Channel’s interests,” the academy said.

TV Guide Channel said in a statement that it was continuing to explore all of its options regarding the Emmys.

“However, our agreement with Joan and Melissa, and our success together, is in no way contingent upon the execution of a live Emmy show this year,” the channel said, adding it is considering a variety of projects with the mother-daughter duo.

And it’s the wig that bothers her?

Oscar winner Nicole Kidman has turned down an offer to walk down the red carpet with Michael Jackson at the upcoming MTV Music Awards.

“I had never even met him — it was a little strange,” Kidman said.

“I keep thinking of those ridiculous photographs of Michael in a shocking wig at Disneyland. So call me crazy, but it just didn’t tempt me to want to accept.”

Guess it’s Bennifer again for a while

Don’t look now, but Ben Affleck has been romantically linked to his “Daredevil” costar Jennifer Garner.

Affleck, who was reportedly dating TV executive Enza Sambataro after his split from “Gigli” co-star Jennifer Lopez, has reportedly been enjoying romantic outings with Garner in Vancouver, B.C., where she’s filming the “Daredevil” spin-off “Elektra.”

Garner is rumored to have recently split from her “Alias” co-star Michael Vartan — who just happens to be making the movie “Monster-in-Law” with J.Lo.

Paris decides to simplify her life

The party is over, however, for Paris Hilton and her Backstreet Boys beau Nick Carter after seven months of dating.

It was Hilton who ended the romantic relationship, said her publicist, explaining: “She’s concentrating on her work.”

Carter told People magazine he feels good, despite the breakup. “This is the time of my life,” he said. “I’m back in the studio ready to go on tour with the guys.”

Wanna bet which comes first — book, or baby?

“Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling announced on her Web site that she is expecting her third child.

“I always wanted three children, so I could not be happier,” said Rowling, 38, adding that the pregnancy would not affect the release of the next book in the Potter installment, “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.”

“Let me reassure you that book six remains well on track and, fingers crossed of course, I don’t foresee any baby-related interruptions or delays,” Rowling said. “I still can’t say for sure when it will be finished, but I have written a lot, and I really like it.”

The birthday bunch

TV producer Norman Lear is 82. Actor Jerry Van Dyke (“Coach”) is 73. Actor John Pleshette (“Murder One”) is 62. Singer Bobbie Gentry is 60. Actress-director Betty Thomas (“Hill Street Blues”) is 56. Singer Maureen McGovern is 55. Actress Roxanne Hart (“Chicago Hope”) is 52. Country singer Stacy Dean Campbell is 37. Singer Juliana Hatfield is 37. Actor Julian McMahon (“Profiler”) is 36. Comedian Maya Rudolph (“Saturday Night Live”) is 32. Singer Pete Yorn is 30.