Fox bows to 'Temptation'

HOLLYWOOD — Critics were somewhat surprised when Fox ordered another go-round of "Temptation Island" for the fall. Not because the show is so tacky — Fox has gone tackier in recent months, what with "Paradise Hotel" and "Mr. Personality" — but because the ratings for the second installment of "Temptation" were pretty dismal, and the show appeared to have been off Fox's radar altogether.

"We actually, in retrospect, don't think the second edition was dismally rated," said Fox Entertainment chairman Sandy Grushow. "We've actually managed, as a network, to do worse on Thursday nights since that show was canceled.

"We actually think there is some life left in that franchise."

Gosh, I hope not.

SCI FRIED: Ever since Fox found a hit in "The X-Files" on Friday nights, the network has made multiple attempts to re-create that success with other shows in the science-fiction genre. Shows ranging from "M.A.N.T.I.S." to "The Visitor" to "Dark Angel" have come and quickly gone.

This fall, there's no sci-fi in sight. Fox has programmed a pair of sitcoms ("Wanda at Large" and the new "Luis") and the drama "Boston Public."

"Friday night has been a dilemma for the company for some time," said Fox Entertainment president Gail Berman. "We have gone to the sci-fi well a lot of times in hopes of catching that lightning in a bottle one more time. So this year we said we're not going to do that on Friday night."

"We finally heard you guys," Fox Entertainment chairman Sandy Grushow said. "You've got to give us a little credit."

NOT SO ENTERTAINING: "Cedric the Entertainer Presents" is indeed on Fox's fall schedule. It is also dead as a doornail — canceled. Axed. Kaput.

Which, oddly enough, is not contradictory.

The show struggled both creatively and in the ratings last season. Six episodes never aired, and Fox programmers plan to use them between the end of their post-season baseball coverage and the return of "American Idol" in January.

"We don't have any plans for the show after that," said Fox Entertainment president Gail Berman, who added that "We'd certainly be happy to work with Cedric again in the future."